Feeling Frugal for 2015

[FrugalMcDougal]

I'm planning a clothes/ make-up buying ban for at least the start of 2015 and just buying things when I really need them.

I have a good amount of clothes and accessories and think I could be much more creative in how I wear them instead of going for my old favourites when I'm rushing in the mornings. I want to make the most of what I have.

I'm aiming high and imagining myself planning the next day's outfit the night before.

Anyone interested in supporting each other and sharing outfits?

Well, I've just splurged on some new jeans and a gorgeous cashmere jumper. However, both of them fit my brief of buying things that I will get a lot of wear out of that are better versions of other things, so I'm very happy with them, even though they might not be entirely in the spirit of the thread!

Today's outfit = black coated pencil skirt (M&S sale), black turtle neck (M&S), black opaques, black biker boots (old), snakeprint scarf (Old M&S), black coat (Red or Dead but from a charity shop).

my mini splurge was, believe it or not, socks! I'd bought dh "posh " socks for his birthday and realized 6 months later how lovely they still were. I became sock-obsessed!

So I asked for some for Xmas, dd got me 4 Burlington ones. And in the sales I bought 10 pairs, they arrived today. Some Falke, some Calvin Klein. I am in sock heaven and have thrown away the sad stiff cardboardy tesco etc ones that I seemed to have had for years.

As I did the order in December, I'm still feeling frugal 2015

Who knew socks could be so exciting!

Been shopping today but bought nothing for myself, didn't even look. Kids both needed school shoes so that was what we bought. I am on the look out for a new pair of trainers but didn't see any I liked. Today was just jeans (next) and long sleeved t (h&m), comfy black boots M&s.
I need a trip to boots for some no7 airbrush away but I have a voucher so that won't cost me anything. Tomorrows plan is to sort wardrobe and put outfits together.

Just wanted to report that I went into town today and didn't buy any clothes/shoes. I had a browse in the shops but felt no temptation at all. Quite how long my present motivation will last, who knows, but I'm hoping this thread will help.

I really don't need anything new at the moment!

Spent my Christmas money on a silk shirt from Whistles and a leather oxblood skirt - the skirt was £75 reduced from £150 and I know I'll get loads of wear from it. Got an extra 10% off the shirt as it had a mark on too - the first time I've ever asked for a discount!

They both fit into my wardrobe and will go with other basics. I tried a gorgeous off-white sequinned Whistles top on but just can't justify it given how little room I have in my life for sequins-type events

Today I wore a blue skater dress with a beige belted mac and ankle boots and a gorgeous orangey bag - one of my HoC colours.

Trainers - the skirt sounds gorgeous.

Ok, so have unsubscribed from marketing emails and am going to avoid window shopping at all costs.

I've been thinking about the purchases I've made over the last year. Although I bought more than I shoukd have, I definitely chose better. I didn't buy anything that I haven't yet worn, and most of my purchases became wardrobe staples. I did clear out and give away a lot of clothes, but there's still room for more. I'm trying to subscribe to the Mari Kondo principle of 'does it give me joy?' when it comes to clothes to help with this.

I definitely need to stop buying make up, particularly lipstick! I've only recently started wearing lipstick but now have a good collection of colours and definitely don't need more!

Nothing inspiring outfit wise from me today as the weather was really bad. M&s all the way - grey 5 pocket jeggings, black jumper with grey roses, clarks biker boots, berghaus holburn parka and a red and black wool scarf!

Well done daim
Another day of friends for lunch today. I've worn an old print dress (DPs - £22) with a necklace I got for my birthday, opaques again. felt good and have still spent 0.

Just one more day of the Hush sale to survive

Thanks to whoever recommended the Barbara Daly primer - cost a fraction of the price I would normally pay, and works like an absolute dream. Great stuff!

Of course my Skin's Shangri-La from Lush ran out so I had to buy a new one today...costs the frigging Earth but I love it so much and so does my hard-to-please skin. Got £10 off anyway from a body lotion I returned, so could have been worse!

I bought two new mattresses and three storage boxes today. They were planned for and needed though, and none for me, ds and dds are the recipients.

Well, I've done my traditional sale shopping so that means no further purchases until the summer sales roll around. I hope to have a 3.5 by 2.5m dressing room next year: I only want high quality stuff to move with me as my space is limited, which means I've been picky in the sales. I've bought new underwear, falke tights, classic pieces from places like Toast, Brora and Hoss Intropia, comfy clothes from uniqlo to lounge around in, a new work bag from philip lim. I've counted out about 50 pieces of new unworn clothing, 6 coats, 6 jackets, 12 scarves, 4 pairs of gloves, 4 hats and 25 pairs of shoes/boots and photographed the lot, and packed them away into storage to be opened in the new house: I certainly don't need any more.

I'm either wearing out and throwing out, or donating the rest to charity before we move. I have lots of useless things like ball gowns (haven't been to one since my twenties), worn out socks and underwear, ill fitting work clothes etc that need to be purged. I'm spending 2015 basically wearing the worst of my wardrobe, so I feel like I've had use out of it, then dumping these clothes. It's been very therapeutic!

Remus it is lovely . Wore it today with black tights, a grey American Apparel t-shirt and a chunky purple glass necklace with plum lipstick.

Had a spendy day again - £100 on highlights and a massive haircut - up to my chin from below my shoulders! Definitely an update on my style but it'll need some practice as it looks a bit ageing right now, my hairdresser is an ace colourist but I never like her blow dries as I think they make my hair look a bit dated tbh.

Sounds great, Trainers.

I'm still struggling with my hairdresser and trying to get her not to blow dry my (v short pixie cut) hair into a big bouffant. I wash mine and mess it around as soon as I get out of the hairdresser's nowadays, in the hope that then I'll feel like me again!

Today's outfit was a bit of a 60s/70s mash-up and very colourful for me! Heather coloured cowl neck cashmere jumper / burgundy tights / denim mini (very short) / knee high tan boots / a scarf with shades of pinky purple in it.

I love the Barbara daly range - I've not tried the primer yet but will when I next need some. I love the face lift tinted moisturiser and the goodbye yellow clear nail polish is one of my desert island products. Hate the name though!! Off for a beach walk and swimming (pool not sea!) today so nothing glam, just my usual skinnies, parka and boots!! And a nice jumper from m&s - hard to describe but it's maroon and black thin diagonal stripes, made of thin fleece and a really nice cut. I sized up as I felt it sat better baggies. Sounds horrendous but I love it and have used it loads since I got it last month.

Barbara Daly make-up is great - I love the pressed powder as it is nice and soft. I would ideally like Mac but that is a bit too expensive for me.

I would love a dressing room and am so envious of those who have one.

I have stopped asking for a blow dry at the hairdressers - now just have a dry cut for £10!

Every so often I treat myself if I'm having colours but it saves so much and hair looks pretty much the same. It does make my stomach knot a bit feeling like a tight wad but the £25 I save soon gets me over that!

daim that sounds like a lovely day. I am stuck on DIY tasks but the sun is shining and I want to get out. Would love a beach nearby. Ours is over and hour away.

Ah I've found you all again :)
I kept the Tula clutch bag so that's 3 sales purchases for me now, totalling just under £100. I don't intend to buy anything else this month.
Had drinks out for DH birthday last night. I didn't buy anything new to wear. Wore opaques, leather skater skirt and merino crew neck with the heels I got in the Clarks sale.
Focusing on enjoying the things I have in my wardrobe and trying to use things that have been forgotten about for a while. Unearthed a tan leather bag that is the right size for work so will be using that on Tuesday when I go back.

Spent £15 in New Look on a dress in the sale. It's for night time on holiday and maybe odd other occasion so won't be worn regular, but it fits like a glove and we do go on holiday a lot.

Todays outfit; skinny black jeans- NLook, long grey top- H&M, black and cream slouchy jumper-AX and black UGG boots.

Uniqlo fleece top for me (sale)

Had a clear out of clothes, I decided I will never wear the denim dress that I thought I'd pair with long black boots (because I put them into the charity shop earlier this year and haven't bought new ones)

I tend to buy clothes I like and wear them months later - at Christmas I wore a pair of M&S leggings , on Boxing Day, a red jersey dress with plain leggings. I'd had them both at least 18 months, unworn.

I had a pair of Sainsburys cord leggings that I bought a couple of months back and put them on yesterday (nothing else matched ) and Revelation they are stretchy, long enough and high enough in the waist.
May need to head back there..........

Blueeyedwonder I love the sound of your outfit. Have you worn your leather skater skirt much? I used last christmas' money to buy a slightly A-line leather skirt that I thought I'd get loads of wear out of it but I never seem to end up feeling right in it, so consequently its been a bad purchase.

I'd like to put that right as its my mission this year to get all the neglected items in my wardrobe into action again. Any suggestions as to how to wear it?

I am so in on this - was in hospital for almost a month in oct-nov and ended up buying myself loads online to cheer myself up!

I don't regret the grey Marc Jacobs mini Natasha cross body bag as I had been coveting one for over a year but I bought a lot of other stuff which is still sitting with tags on.

Remus your outfits make me I had my colours done recently and have been told I can't wear grey or black - my favourite colours. I looove the whistles boots you posted and may rebel and buy them anyway.

Today I am wearing a dark terracotta (almost burgundy but less blue/maroon) jumper dress from whistles, black tights with a diamond pattern, black suede ankle boots, gold teardrop earrings, an Alexander MCQueen leather wrap bracelet with a gold skull on it.

FrugalMc Was also dubious about how much I'd wear the leather skater skirt when I bought it but I've found it quite versatile.

I have a few slim fit merino jumpers from Gap that work well with it and sort of dress it down a bit. I'm generally quite understated.
For a day time look, I've worn it with a chunky slightly oversize knit in olive, tights and chunky ankle boots.