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

[Laska42]

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 ) 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 ).

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

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?

So in August I only bought some bargain much needed Levis, plus a dress from Great Plains in the sale. I sent it back as it was a bit big and ordered a smaller size. Have now got that so will see if that fits better.

Also bought lingerie which was excluded from the challenge and was bargainous from here.

For my birthday work gave me some money to buy something and I bought from ebay a lovely dress. Fingers crossed it fits. Otherwise I will have to put it back on ebay.

Got my eye on a gorgeous top from Karen Millen. May just splash out and buy after payday.

So far , no spend

No spend for me either, all Aug and so far into Sept!

Resisted a pair of silver ankle boots today. Almost almost caved. But didn't! I am doing far better than i thought. Every time i think about buying something i think of this thread and how i end up on a roller coaster of emotion/adrenaline. The high from the purchase followed by the low when the guilt sets in. It's just not worth it.

I was going to go to Matalan on Wednesday (been on a training course but in the end, I decided to go home and do housework rather than spend money

Then I got a 25% off voucher on Thursday - whoah some kind of cosmic planets collide thingie going on here .....so I bought lots of jumpers and cardigans (that I needed) and saved money
OK, didn't save , spent less

Karbea, that's amazing! I've now spent my £100 limit for the month on a new coat, and went £1 over. I'm not sure if it will fit, as my usual size was sold out (hence the rapid buying!) so I may still have to return it. If I do at least I will get my £100 budget back again!

Well i could resist no longer. I bought the silver ankle boots aagh! They were cheap (ish) at €60 which leaves me a whole €40 to blow before october lol but i am going to try and resist. I thought about those boots all day so i had to try them didn't i?!

Can I join? :)
I'm on the one in money, but it's gone very quiet.
I've only spent £200 ish this year. I've just had a bit of birthday money and for once it's not burning a hole in my pocket, cus I've been cutting back for ages.
But I'd quite like some grey skinny jeans so I might get some if I see some with that-that's all though.

Wow fox i admire your self control, fair play to you! Does it get easier then, the longer you budget? You absolutely deserve some fabulous grey skinnies enabler

No spend so far, however I'm off into town tomorrow for a new bra with my gift card. I know I'll end up having a browse around the shops but I'm going with a different mind set.

I will make sure I try anything on before buying (another new shopping rule of mine) if anything, that'll slow down the spending process and give me time to think about it instead of always grabbing things in a rush.

I think so, but I'm always reading s and b so there can be temptations.
I used to buy things "that'll do" and just waste money on odd things that don't go with other thing, things with tags on left hanging in the wardrobe- all the usual mistakes. It took a while to get a grip.
I added up the yearly spend and tbh I realised I could have a few nice things for a lot less that I love/get worn loads instead of all the tat/clutter.

I like your boots btw

Thanks, and i know what you mean. You can have a lesser amount of great quality beautiful clothes that make you feel brilliant or you can have piles and piles of shite for the same cost or even more!

only thing is everything I buy now is analysed to death- drives my DD mad! Takes the fun out of shopping - job done

Epic fail today.
Brown boots - £110
Navy boucle jacket - £70 ish
Two tops - £35 each
But, in my defence they fill gaps in my maternity wardrobe so I should be ok to the end of the year. And I didn't buy the £365 grey cashmere roll neck wrap
I shall bow out of thread

Half way there, troops! Fox I also admire your minimal spending.

Behemond sounds like you got some useful bits - will you be up for the challenge in October??

Coconut I like your boots. As someone on the other thread said, you will have to make sure you wear them and don't save them 'for best'. They will put a smile on your face when you wear them!

Yes mrpop definitely up for it in oct. Yesterday was my first me specific shopping trip this year and I set out to buy some boots and a jacket. I also left plenty of stuff behind so came home feeling rather disciplined!

Today I went to a shopping centre that I'd never been to before, lots of lovely different shops but I managed not to buy anything for me, picked up 3 gifts for friends. I did have a nosey round H&M and earmarked a few items!

Going out for said friends' birthday next weekend and I'd usually buy something new. I'll have to have a dig through my wardrobe.

Unlucky 13 for me - I blew £270 on basics

I decided to reorganise and declutter my wardrobe this morning which led to holes that needed filling in one go and rather than wait two weeks I did it this afternoon

Apologies.....off to eat chocolate and drink wine. Well, if you're going to fall off the wagon you might as well have a soft landing :)

I have just fallen off the wagon - it pains me to say that, but I saw a pair of burgundy boots (something I've been looking for for a while) which were a v good price and I didn't think they'd be available in October.

But I am planning on not spending anything else this month so hope you'll still have me on the thread!

Just spent my gift voucher on a new bra and a pair of tights although I had to top it up with £2.95 of my own cash I can live with that. I tried on a parka but resisted to buy however I'm now thinking I do need a new coat as my only other coat I own is far too big for me after losing a few stone since last winter. I might have to hunt around for a discount code.

Help!!! I am weakening!!! I have seen a lovely scarf on ASOS (only £12!!) and a fab bag in M&S (which has 20% off!!!).

I must resist!!! But it is so hard... Help me stay strong!!!

I was naughty yesterday and ordered some trousers from the Sweaty Betty sale, with extra 10% off. Only £11.50, but I don't need them. Am thinking of either cancelling the order outright, or sending them straight back without even trying them on. And my Zatchels order from the beginning of August still hasn't arrived. Again, thinking of cancelling, because I know as once I see the bag I will want to keep it.

I do not want to be spending money!!!

Zatchels order cancelled . But feel virtuous.

Still nothing for me. Feeling a bit depressed by it though as I'm meeting a friend for lunch and we normally do a bit of shopping afterwards...

Cardamom well done! You have been doing great and well done on cancelling the zatchels order. Try to hold onto those virtuous feelings.

Sometimes I just like the 'thrill' of the buy rather than the item itself

Karbea isn't this your second month of no spend? You should pat yourself on the back! Maybe you can shop vicariously through your friend??

Well I have now fallen off the wagon in a big way - buying one thing seemed to open the floodgates to buying a load more. I was really pleased with myself when I was managing to stay strong so I will try again definitely. I just don't have the budget for a lot of shopping. As usual it was the discount codes that got me.

Thanks MrPop! Not going to keep the Sweaty Betty either - will try and cancel, but might just be easier to let them come and then return them

I know what you mean about the thrill of acquisition rather than the actual item. Also know what you mean about one purchase opening the floodgates! Can you return anything you have bought? You can always get back on the wagon - it is comfy with cushions .