Can I survive a year without buying clothes?

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

I like shopping, especially pretty day dresses, and I have spent much of 2013 building up a decent amount of clothes after bring pregnant and eating cake changed my shape though I have lost my preg weight now. (Only 2 years later!) .

I was having a look through the other day, and I think I could save a fortune if I made myself not shop for clothes or shoes in 2014. It could help financially to pay back the overdraft etc, and maybe just maybe I could save some money. I can definitely dress well for the year, but will people notice that I'm sporting the same clothes?

Would anyone like to join me in my quest to not shop in 2014?

I'm still lurking, as I do intend to buy clothes this year. I did a lot of this in the last year though and reaped huge benefits - financial and psychological.

I found the frugal threads in S&B and doing Project 333 really useful. I was recommended a book called You Are What You Wear which is written by a psychologist/wardrobe consultant (I know!). She writes really well about why we overshop, undershop, dress I appropriately. I still go back to it now and some of it's surprisingly deep. I had lots of 'ah ha!' moments when reading it.

Good on you who are unsubscribing from emails and blogs! They are incredibly powerful and seductive.

And so we begin .....

I hope you are all not feeling as hungover/rough as a bears arse as me today?

Good afternoon !

I got to bed at 4am and up at 1pm, Just got dressed but curled up on the sofa watching Sound of Music and thinking about the year ahead. Yes here we go, at the top of a wonderful empty slope stretching out before us.

Told all my friends last night about giving the credit card to another friend and unsubscribing to all those lovely sites. They did look a bit as heard it all before from me although I've never dispensed of the cc until now.

I'm 50 next year (gulp) and determined to be more in control of finances and spending.

Hi, will be watching how you all get on with interest! I'm not going to commit to a whole year as I will need summer things but have already unsubscribed to several.emails this morning. Internet shopping is my downfall. I calculated I spent nearly £2000 last year on clothes, shoes and cosmetics and I have nothing to show for it. I tend to buy cheap and it's all looking worn and sad already. I'm quite disgusted with myself. I certainly don't look like I spend that much on my appearance.

I was interested to read about the poster whose parents were academics. I work in an academic field myself and it's true that taking care of how you look is very far down the list for most. Makes dressing for work easy though. Nobody gives a hoot what I look like at work!

I told a few friends last night who all looked like this , as they know how much I like clothes/shopping but also that they apparently couldn't imagine not having new clothes. More determined than ever to do this.

well almost one day down inc

NSD so no clothes is covered!

A while year could be doable, but I won't.

What I tend to do is figure out what I most need or want to replace and buy just that. If you buy one key item per main season it still feels like a refreshed wardrobe and it's not too costly.

A whole year

Good idea MrsDeVere, month at a time doesn't seem quite as overwhelming a concept.

My friends were the same Macca, I would love to show that I can do it. They all find it really funny (in a nice way) that I have out of control spending. They justify any of their own spending by thinking 'Oh Belize would do that/buy that so it must be fine!'. I do laugh along but deep inside wish that I could be more sensible and grown up. They envy me my complete frivolity but I know it is not an enviable trait in the least.

also are therr others on the thread who like buying toiletries and makeup as well as clothes.

Yes! I like buying everything sadly .

Happy New Year.

Just done my last shop for 2014 .I could not resist a brilliant bargain on a leather handbag and also some underwear.

I am going to have a good sort out this week and try to wear something other than jeggins !

Good luck

yes i steped away fro ordering a 'bighair' thingy. In moments of weakness look at your spreadsheet.

Ah yes must resurrect the good old spreadsheet.

I know when I've been overspending as I stop filling it in .

I'm in, for a limited spend rather than no spend. I need (yes really!) a new pair of running trainers, some new bras and pants, and a couple of pairs of shoes. Plus if I manage to lose my last 9lbs of excess flab, I'll need at least one pair of jeans as the ones I have are builder's bumming already - though I could get those from a charity shop or eBay.

But that will be it. I am also not going to buy yet more cosmetics that end up half used (really, how many eyeliner pencils does one person need?!) I'll colour my hair at home or at the local college (they gave me an amazingly good cut for £8 just before Xmas).

I don't think I'm very profligate re clothes spending, but even so I often end up jettisoning stuff because I never wear it. May as well save the money!

if oudn myelf on an active S & B thread about pumps.

I clicked on links posted - god it so easy to just start browsing, I realised and stopped. Not even after anything at all.

I have ballet pumps in red, mustard, gray and black. Havnt even worn then hardly.

Thinker, I've hidden that whole topic as part of my treatment .

Evening all! Well managed my first NSD on clothes - one down, another 30 to go for this month! I have listed about 6 clothing items on ebay (free listings until 5th January 2014) and two have bids on already! Will put the profit form this into my savings account, rather than spending it on other stuff I don't really need.

I also have enough toiletries for everyone on this thread! I will use up what I can before buying anything else!

oh that's interesting re free listings! Will make us feel doubly good .

Ventured into town and only purchased a jumper.....for DS! Had free tea and cake at John Lewis which covered the cost of said jumper so feeling happy about that. We've decided to save for another baby so I have a good reason to be frugal.

I'm in:) I am a recently single sahm and when h was here I wasn't really allowed to spend any money so since he left I have been rather ...... Prolific ... With my spending buying lots of expensive gorgeous things I didn't really needed!!!
Result is I am just a tad £3800 in debt. Plus side is I have some lovely stuff. Downside is some of it I haven't dared wear in case people notice it's new.....
So.. New year... No spend... Clear that debt!! I like it

Can I just add that the spending includes clothes, treats bday and Xmas presents for dc and some trips out too and a new bed for dd who I realised was still in a cotbed at 4.6!!

I'm also in - I actually dont have many clothes but trying to save money as I'm also in debt. I won't go a whole year without buying anything but I'm sure I can give it a try.

I have a hoarding issue with toiletries so have been dealing with that separately for the last 2 years - having a list really helps (even if it takes ages the first time).

I wonder if having a 'stash' list for clothes/shoes is the way to go?