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Getting a grip! Welcome to the September No Spend/ Low Spend S&B challenge

171 replies

Laska42 · 31/08/2014 17:32

Welcome to the continuing NO Spend/ Low spend clothes challenge for September.

A huge Well Done to all who stayed with us for August. We had some great no spend results, even if we didn’t all make it, (Oops Laska Blush) but we all learnt what our triggers are and we all spent less.

So, a definite success; and now it’s time to sign up and pledge to get a grip in September.

And a big welcome to old and new S&B obsessed MNers - who just can’t stop buying it all - to join us in our quest to get a grip.

So, what’s it all about?

We all LOVE new clothes, but are short on the willpower to resist, and quite frankly its getting too much ..

We have wardrobes and chest of drawers utterly and totally rammed... a lot of us did make an effort to get rid of some of it last month, (though, come on, we probably do have more we can shift Wink).

We have piles of clothes and shoes we've even forgotten we have, (some with the labels’ still onBlush) .

And it’s a new season -Danger Time-.

But we want to get back into control and wear the lovely things we have and stop being a slave to every new catalogue, website and blog ..

We want to resist the sales and offers and we want our friends and neighbours to know us better than the postmen and the local couriers !

We know they want us to buy into their new lifestyle looks , but we are stronger than them.
-Throw out your catalogues as they arrive!
-Unsubscribe to online shops!

-And let’s get creative and stay stylish without spending even more £££s and without adding to the piles of unused stuff we already have...

So here we go again...

Some Rules
Either commit to No Spend or to a set budget.
Exceptions to No Spend are tights, underwear (knickers and bras) and to replace something that has Genuinely worn out.
Last month we decided that if we did get something then a One in One out policy was a good idea

Lets help each other kick this habit!

We know its hard and we will have to continue to be accountable to each other ..BUT WE CAN DO IT!

So Who's in again? Smile

OP posts:
ShoopShoop · 03/09/2014 23:00

Day 3 done. I'm actually finding this really hard!! Had a horrific couple of days at work and seemingly I used to use shopping as a way of relaxing. Blush I keep putting things in baskets online....so far have managed not to "checkout" Confused

Laska42 · 03/09/2014 23:14

yup and me also... but seem to be buying things for other people! (that wasnt the idea!) got pair of jeans in charity shop for DS (mind you he is unemployed and broke I see it as a duty to pick up good jeans for him in charity shop if i see any) also a scarf for mum in same charity shop .. (its really nice she will love it.. However thats not the point. .. i will keep out of charity shops for rest of month if i can..

OP posts:
MrsEboJones76 · 04/09/2014 07:42

Yeaterday I returned a pair of shoes I bought last month that were sitting unworn in my wardrobe. I'm guilty of impulse purchases at times so am setting myself a strict rule that if something is not worn in 14 days of purchase, back it goes.
Horrible morning at work yesterday which led to me rewarding myself in my lunch hour. Some high waisted black skinny jeans. My old ones had fallen apart but even so I recognised it was a pick me up purchase.
Money spent to date £59.
I have also cancelled a second Zatchels order due to ridiculous wait times so more money flowing in the right direction Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/09/2014 17:36

Nothing bought since I joined this thread, but being back at work makes it much easier to avoid temptation!

cardigal · 04/09/2014 18:16

Still no spend and quids in - returned an item and got £25 back. Resisted the urge to respend it :)

dawndonnaagain · 04/09/2014 19:30

Okay, it's only been four days, I did win the ebay item so I'm hoping that'll see me through. I have done an in house audit, I have two pairs of never worn (still in box and labelled) winter shoes, three pairs of boots. A good half dozen jumpers. As I say, the only thing now is if clothes start falling off me due to weight loss, but that's hard work and a bit of a fantasy! Grin

Petal02 · 04/09/2014 20:40

Coming to this late - but what a great idea!

I spent £40 on a pair of shoes yesterday (before I saw this thread) so I'm not counting them.

My challenge this month will be work wear. I work in a smartish office, and we all wear smart trousers and nice tops in autumn/winter. I always need a few new tops at the start of the autumn season, as I usually chuck out my older winter tops (they never last that long) when spring starts.

So what's a reasonable budget for 4/5 work tops, bearing in mind I tend to shop in Next/m&s for work clothes? My challenge will be to stay within that budget.

Laska42 · 04/09/2014 20:45

I stayed in the office lunchtime..cant shop there!

However am going away tomorrow for long weekend in Brighton.. so wont be posting as i dont do mobile internet..

(I dont need anything and have plans to visit people eat out etc , and planning on staying well away from the clothese shops. Keep your fingers crossed or me ! !)

OP posts:
ShoopShoop · 04/09/2014 22:58

Day 4 done. Still no spend. Did spend on DD and DH, who genuinely do need a few bits and bobs. DH too hopeless in the sartorial department to do his own and DD has impeccable taste, but at 3 is too young to shop without assistance Wink

CeeceeBloomingdale · 05/09/2014 07:10

Right, I'm in. I've spent money this month but only on things that will be my birthday presents and will be reimbursed so I'm not counting them. I'm a winter and have enough clothes for this season. I won't promise no spend as I need a couple of things for work if I see them but definitely in for low spend. I'm dangerous in a sale so new season should be ok for me.

cardamomginger · 05/09/2014 09:45

Doing quite well. No spend on clothes, but renewed gym membership and got roots done, so not as 'no spend' as I would have liked. But, just made a big sale on Ebay (Mulberry bag) and my Dad gave me a generous cheque for my birthday, which all helps!

samesizetoes · 05/09/2014 09:46

My boss gave me a £20 debenhams gift card as a thank you for some extra work I've done recently so that is going to be my spends for this month. I don't think I've ever bought anything from debenhams before, maybe a bra a decade ago but certainly never any clothes. I might have to have browse to see if there is anything my style. I do need a nice cardigan or thin/fine knit jumper. Do you think I could find one for £20 in debenhams?

MrPop · 05/09/2014 09:48

I've not bought clothes or shoes so far which are my personal Achilles heel but yesterday I bought a few toiletries (shampoo and miscellar water) and also 3 books. I'm allowing myself this kind of thing but need to make sure I don't replace one type of shopping for another!

Have a few things to send back still and waiting for £ to return to my account. Am also on a bit of a de-cluttering mission now, have been pruning a lot of things I haven't worn for a while.

PeachandBlack · 05/09/2014 09:58

I'm going to bow out for this month. I had hoped to hold out until payday on the 20th but have taken advantage of some big discount codes to get things I've had my eye on.

Good luck to everyone with your efforts, I'll lurk to see how you're getting on.

ShoopShoop · 05/09/2014 13:59

Oh dear.....I picked up my two Hush dresses from thre post depot today. I ordered them in August. I love them both so am keeping them. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't like at least one of them. Oops.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/09/2014 16:03

SameSize The clothes in Debenhams tend to be somewhat n the depressing side, imvho, though some of them do have a Warehouse concession and they occasionally have a few nice bits. Personally though, I'd be tempted to spend the voucher on makeup or perfume. :)

dawndonnaagain · 05/09/2014 18:20

I had my haircut today, but it's been booked for ages and it's the first time in two years. Does that count.
I'm so tempted by some velvet shoes I've seen, too. This is hard!

Apatite1 · 05/09/2014 18:35

My scarves from last month have arrived: all v nice. Still not spent anything this month.

samesizetoes · 05/09/2014 19:48

You're not wrong there Remus, I had a quick look in there whilst I was walking through town this afternoon and most of it looked awful, certainly not my style. Some new makeup might be the way to go Smile

CoconutAmericano · 06/09/2014 10:10

No clothes bought so far. I did however buy a bread maker albeit a cheap one from lidl, and the various flours, recipe book etc that i needed so i have spent but my new bread making skills will hopefully save me money in the longer term Smile
Heading into town now. Not going to buy anything other than yeast! My bank balance is still healthy.

SofaCanary · 06/09/2014 11:03

Hello, may I join you please?

After an unfortunate accident on Net-a-Porter last night (I finally caved and ordered the leather jacket of my dreams), I really need to impose a draconian spending ban for the remainder of September and beyond

daimbardiva · 06/09/2014 12:00

Joining again...August wasn't toooooo bad for me. 3 lapses - all Boden and all fast becoming wardrobe staples so don't feel too bad. Determined to make September clothes buying free... although my Converse are at the end of their long life I fear.... :/

cloutiedumpling · 06/09/2014 13:43

Oops. Bought a belt on ebay. I will wear it loads though.

SofaCanary · 06/09/2014 14:55

Talking of ebay, anyone got any experience of flogging stuff on there? Is it a pain in the bum or pretty doable?

I should really sell my two old leather jackets to recoup some of the money I've shelled out for this new one.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/09/2014 16:03

I took DD to Westfields (Stratford) and we bought NOTHING
Not any of her Primark bits
H&M
Select
I didn't even go into M&S
Quick waft round John Lewis.

She got a sausage roll (Greggs) but that was it.

Pats self on back - actually it wasn;t an iron will, it really wasn't good.

Lakeside and Bluewater OTOH..............Grin