Tomorrow I can start shopping again for the first time in a year

[sophy]

Having successfully completed my No Shopping in 2008 challenge, I am in desperate need of some new clothes.

Although sadly most of the money I have saved by Not Shopping has dissipated in the credit crunch.

Still, there will be enough for a poly tunnel and a fruit cage, to further my veg-growing endeavours.

And to buy the accoutrements for the pigs I am getting in the Spring.

Feel very proud of myself for what I have achieved. Wish I could stick to a diet as rigorously as I have to my non-consumption vow.

how fantastic sophy! well done you!

BLimey - well done you. You deserve a very large star (home made out of recyclable cardboard, of course ) Can you tell us more about how you did it? What was the most difficult part?

so what were you allowed to spend money on?
I'm fascinated as to the rules and what you found the hardest

Was allowed to buy food, toiletries, cleaning stuff and things which grow.

Not allowed clothes for me or dc, shoes, books, newspapers (well cut back from 7 to 2 a week), toys, house things, presents which were not edible or plants-- anything non-consumable.

Kids birthday presents were hard, although managed to get through year recycling a lot.

Did buy new shoes for dc and a couple of bits of school uniform but nothing else.

And ran out of socks quite quickly, until Mum took pity on me and bought me some.

Xmas was tricky and I faltered a bit with stocking, and ended up buying some books for the dc to give dh as presents.

Benefits were read far more books (from library) and rediscovered some old favourites from wardrobe which would probably never have worn again otherwise.

Also more time.

I can imagine that presents were difficult (probably less so for adults, as you could maybe make things for them). Interesting about the socks - not something you (or was it the DCs?) can easily do without. So what are you going to buy first?

Underwear!
Shoes to go with jeans.
Ironing board cover.
A couple of new T-shirts or tops.

Don't actually need much else! That's the thing, you realise how easily you can get by without new stuff. At the start of the year I thought i was never going to manage as I needed a new smart coat and a new casual outdoor jacket. But guess what, I don't feel I need them any more.

lol at the 'underwear!' . Have fun.

That is fantastic Sophy! I truly admire you! Wow! Amazing!

Hi Sophy, how admirable, well done...dont think I would last a month never mind a year, Im amazed! Did you do it because you had to or as a life challenge?

I am soo impressed by what you have achieved. I feel I need to kick the shopping habit, which has been partly bought on by my H leaving and me buying new clothes to boost my confidence. How / why did you do it. Do tell us your secrets??

Sophy, this is one of my resolutions for 2009 - no new clothes, shoes, handbags, makeup, blah blah etc for me this year for as long as i can possibly do it.

Does anyone else want to do this this year?

what's your top tip Soph??

Congrats.

Were you allowed to eat out? Restaurants and cafes would be my downfall.

wonderful - great to hear about this
ds1 wants his new year's res to be buy less stuff
i want to encourage him but not resolute enough to follow suit yet!

Amazing - well done to you!

Parsnips - was for a challenge, to reduce overall consumption, but financial benefits were huge too and obviously very welcome. The idea was to spend money saved on eco-initiatives.

Elastamum and oneliein - I dsicovered quickly that a lot of shopping is about entertainment and also for morale boosting. So key was to avoid situations where I had to "kill time" by planning alternatives and organising time better, and look for alternative morale boosters -- e.g. trip to a museum or to library to read a magazine.

Givetedogxmaspud - dc were quite pleased when I said I could shop again! Don't think they really got it. But it shifted the onus for their consumption onto them -- I was very strict with them and if thet wanted something they had to buy it with their pocket money.

Artichokes - eating out was allowed, which admittedly made life easier. My motivation was to reduce the amount of stuff in our lives, and food and drink I viewed as legitimate consumption. Having said that, I probably ate out less as I wasn't shopping so wasn't going to High Street and stopping for coffee and muffin etc.

Had an hour on the High St yesterday and I must say the shopping experience was grim!! Don't think I will be going back to my previous levels of consumption after this.