No-spend / low-spend September?

[FrustratedFrugal]

If you want to spend less on S&B, stick to a budget, plan your purchases more carefully, or try a total shopping ban, post your goals and updates here!

Continued from here.

Personal update:
I failed spectacularly in August but will try to be stricter with my finances in September. I have been doing no-spends and low-spends for a few months now and no longer dread checking my bank statement

I'm in. I had a wardrobe cull and trying to do a capsule for Autumn. I did buy some new skinny jeans as I went off a pair of ripped ones. I read an article that suggested you only have basics or favourites. I have really cut back this year.

I am doing mindful spending. Haha!!

Shopped last Sunday for maybe a 2 week food plan and have popped into little shops for milk. Think I am doing well so far. No need to go to Lidl tomorrow.

Ds put his shoes on for his return to school to find they were too small. Have ordered a pair which will need paying for next week. Ds2 inherited ds1's school coat so had to buy ds1 a new coat which was £22 down from £55 in Debenhams sale. Very pleased with that.

Turned down Miss Saigon tickets at £48 each as I am curbing my spending. Dh v pleased.
I need NOTHING FOR AUTUMN/WINTER. NOTHING.

I have coats, boots, jumpers, scarves, accessories, trousers......I wear a different outfit every day and that is enough.

Thats interesting info about dyeing stuff, thanks for that. The reason I bought the cords was stupid but maybe not am unfamiliar one. I bought two pairs of them. They were wonderful, great quality, great fit, super comfortable. Within months I'd lost weight so went back on the site and they only had two colours left. One was fine, the other was this pale colour. I wore them this week and thought I'd wait on colouring them. Maybe the shop will produce more. Maybe I could try a darker but not black colour. Either way I'm waiting!

I've been v good this week and have not bought anything. I keep reminding myself that I have the shopping trip booked and that is all I'm doing. Also trying to hold that mantra that I must love it. And reminding myself I have a wardrobe full of nice things. Is this an addiction?

Ps, what ate your thoughts on outfits? I never buy a coordinated thought through outfit. Instead I but individual things. I have plenty of clothes but I wonder if this is why I take so long to pull an outfit together in the morning. Does anyone buy outfits?

Calzone well done! We moved this summer and I had to buy lots of new school outfits for DC last month (a rain kit for DD2, a long rainproof jacket for DD1, waterproof boots for DD1) and I also discovered that many of their old still fitting clothes were not right for a colder, rainier climate. So it was quite expensive. But now both of them have lovely outfits, and because I am limiting my own spending, trying to stick to a daily budget, my bank balance is okay. I still need winter shoes and a few warm tops for DD2 and possibly a pair of weatherproof boots for myself. I want to walk to the office, it is a two-mile walk and the weather is often poor. When I have these figured out, I should have everything else covered.

Orlakiely there is also a third alternative - a neutral base. During the cool season, I usually dress around a neutral base: for me, a vest or tee, jeans or tights, and footwear that works with the rest, all in neutral tones (gray, taupe, blue or white). My summer base is bare legs and underwear and a vest or tee. I add a jacket, shirt, blouse, sweater, sweatshirt, or loose-fitting tee, or a dress, possibly also some jewellery. DDs also have a neutral base, usually gray marl leggings and chelsea boots and a long-sleeved gray, blue, cream, or pink tee. Everything works together if you stick to a limited palette. When I am dressing, I can do most of it on autopilot and only need to decide which jacket or dress I will wear.

I quite often dye stuff but normally only things I'm close to giving up on. As well as the possibility of the thread not taking, the dye reacts with the colour of the garment e.g. if you use navy blue dye on red you're as likely to end up with purple as navy.

I recently used dark grey dye on a beige cotton jumper (no idea why I bought it - hate beige). It's come out a kind of sludgy greenish mud colour which is actually very flattering on me but it was a suprise! Safest thing is only to dye a shade or two darker than the original but I quite like never knowing what I'm going to get. (Admittedly I don't have a very exciting life).

You can also get colour removal that you use first but I'm not keen as it makes the house smell like a chemical plant.

Your post made me laugh Flo! Re the thread not taking the dye, have you tried dye for polyester blends? When I was looking earlier in the week it was suggested 1) that you only dye cotton poly mixes if the cotton is 60% or more, and 2) that you use both a packet for cotton and a packet for polyester. The polyester dye only came in stove top rather than washing machine version. I still have this option in the back of my mind but am thinking a dark grey might be safer. They are currently a yellow/brown/fawn colour. But like I said, I'm going to wait and see as I do love the feel and fit of them and would hate to make them un-wearable!

I bought a parka in the sale but really need it as going to the Baltics in January and my current winter coat is not good enough for the cold weather up there. It's 40% off so a pretty good deal.

Just spent £12 in a charity shop on a jacket and a shirt, neither of which were on my list. Oops.

So - one week in...I am still receiving packages from my August final sales spree. Most things have gone back but I have kept a few things. And - confession time - I have also bought some new jeans this week. Some Gap high rise skinnies that will be very useful...need to deploy 70s phrase 'in my defense' suspect I might be using it a lot

Not having access to my credit cards has been very effective though. Plus having my monthly allowance.

Onwards and upwards for next week then.

Remus you seem to do really well in charity shops.

Orla, Flo seems to be the dyeing expert but I have also used Dylon machine dyes and find them very user friendly. They don't always dye stitching but I quite like that anyway. Worth a go if you won't wear them otherwise - or ebay if you think you can make some money on them?

I just saw a pair of beautiful trainers, Adidas gazelle, linked in a thread about footwear in NY. I DO NOT need trainers ffs. I hate S&b sometimes!

at being a dyeing expert - I've made loads of mistakes but when it works, you have something new and lovely for the price of a packet of dye plus a warm, self righteous glow inside.

I've never seen any polyester dye, Orla, only the Dylon ones which you can use for polyester mixes but not for 100% polyester - I've tried (despite the label saying not to) and nothing happens. As Bernice says, they're very easy to use but to be honest, if it's something you really love, I'm not sure I would. I normally only dye things if I've had enough of them and there's nothing to lose.

I took DD out - she got a coat and a couple of jumpers.
Some make-up.

I had a looksie round M&S but I had my delivery so I'd bought what I wanted.
Might try the Next jegging/jeans this week ( need to try on instore)

I bought hairdye and a Benefit mascara but resisted everything else.

I'm off to sort my wardrobe because there were a few things I really liked but I need to make sure they won't just lie in my wardrobe.

If you're ever in the market for the cotton poly mix dye I think it was called iDye. I don't know how to do links but it had directions about percentage of poly it can dye and I think it has to be lower than 40%.

Thanks orla I'll look out for it.

Please can I join?

I overspent in August and have to be really strict this month. I don't even think I have a lot of clothes, but clearly I can manage with what I have.

I recently re-dyed black two pairs of skinny black jeans, and they look really good. Satisfying!

I live in S. Europe so strictly speaking I don't need autumn clothes yet, although new collection shop windows are looking SO tantalising....

I definitely don't need any skincare products for a couple of weeks.

My new policy is to wear what I have, even the stuff I never wear, and if it really doesn't feel right, only then charity-shop it. I will force myself to try out the stuff I haven't worn for ages.

I bought things for the dogs. That doesn't count does it? I also bought a much, much needed table top "vanity" mirror. I had to.

Oh dear.

How's everyone else doing?

??42 on Clarks shoes for ds1.

I don't mind as his last pair lasted a whole year!!

Bought top up milk but still not shopped since last Sunday.

Hoping to eek the cupboards for another few days.

I bought winter shoes for DD2 , school sneakers for DD1 and a pair of black flat chelsea boots for myself. The weather has turned cold and rainy here, my footwear was feeling quite flimsy. I tried on at least a dozen different boots and traveled cross-town to find the right size. I've worn my boots for two days now, the fit is fantastic, I will wear little else in the coming months. I still have to buy a few bits, a long fleece for DD1 and some winter tops for DD2. But we have the basics covered now...

I've went through the DCs wardrobes identifying gaps for winter and then bought them a few things, mainly pjs and underwear to be honest, but a couple of nice jumpers each snuck in as well.

I am also weak and bought myself that navy sweatshirt from Jigsaw that has been on a couple of blogs - in my defence I am lacking in warm cover ups and it is so me it hurts.

I was looking for a couple of long cardigans but couldn't see what I wanted (typical)
I don't want thick and woolley or waterfall.

I bought some things for DD and found a sage green cardigan for me which I bought.
Some bodyscrub but resisted anything else.

Going to Matalan (with my 25% off voucher) tomorrow.

I spent some time in Italy and broke my no-buy for a really unexpected thing - rain boots that do not look like rain boots. Sourced in sweltering Sicily! After trying them on obsessively I decided to buy two pairs - a burgundy chelsea boot with chic rust brown soles and a black classic biker boot. Both are fully waterproof and made of silicone. Menghi shoes if someone is lokong for similar.

Otherwise, no purchases!

Ok I'll fess up.

I've replaced my Chelsea boots, no guilt there as I'd had my last pair for 8 years. Then I succombed to H&M stripy T mania and while I was there spotted a really nice slouchy jumper, 70% cotton, would have been rude not to. And then a plaid shirt.

But for September, that's really pretty good going for me.

Can I join please? I have spent a lot this month and had a really good reorganisation of my wardrobe. In my defence ( a phrase I like from this thread) I have only bought items I really love and all of them have been quality pieces. My trouble is there always seems to be just one more thing and my wardrobe will be complete - then another & then another....

I am now happy with my AW clothes and also DD's ( buying for her is my other weakness). The trouble is I enjoy shopping as a pastime. I would like a short semi casual winter coat but again it has to be just right as is not essential. Have tried on lots already and hoping just the researching will keep me happy.

My plan apart from the coat is to buy nothing ( possibly tights if needed) for a year. The 21st Sept 2016 is my goal - pay off the CC (normally do this monthly but not a hope after recent spends) and also we go to Florida next October so need to pay for that next summer.

Orla perhaps we could support each other through? . I know for me it will be really difficult to do.