I am not going to buy clothes in 2020

[DuchessMinnie]

I have a stuffed-to-bursting wardrobe and I have everything covered from beach to snow to weddings and parties. I don't need to buy any more clothes, I need to lose 2 stone so that everything in my wardrobe fits me.

I have just binged in the sales and have bought another 3 dresses, 2 tops and a pair of work trousers. I really, really don't need anything. Anyone else?

Still standing firm with zero purchases. For the first time ever at this time of the year my bank account is in the black. I am also doing the £10 a day thread so have been making a few £ on the side. I think the biggest change is that I'm enjoying my wardrobe and finding new things to wear from my existing stuff.

I spent £3 on a swimming cap as I'm doing lots of swimming and the chlorine was tough on my hair. But I don't think that counts as clothing does it? Hair is doing much better now I am wearing the cap - it really does protect it and sometimes I remember to put a bit on conditioner on before I swim to give it a bit of a treatment.

I'm enjoying getting to know all the winter bits of my wardrobe too, though its a long 5 week pay month & I had 2 lots of insurance to pay so can't say I'm noticing any bounce in the bank account.

@TheClitterati swimming cap definitely doesn't count. We are going skiing next month and I am very tempted to buy a new helmet as my old one is tired and they have nice ones with built-in visors in decathlon which would save me wearing horrible goggles. I might allow myself a teeny cheat as it's safety wear not clothing.

Also standing firm here, miraculously. I also took a look at the 10 a day thread - didn't post but read and decided to give matched betting a go. Started last Saturday, and I'm currently just past the 1k earned mark 🤑🤑🤑 which I'm pretty pleased with.

wow that is amazing Statistically!

OK so kit is allowed - I might need some waterproof trousers for camping at some point.

All good on my end! Going to go through my wardrobe today, I have a jumper dress that I bought on ebay in December (trying to at worst buy second hand). It needs to be de-bobbled. Its lovely merino wool but my goodness the first time I washed it on even a gentle wash it was a mess. So it's been sitting in my wardrobe unworn, going to try to fix that today.

if you cant sort it out bigeegit you couldm always felt the dress (deliberately shrink on a hot wash) and then use it as fabric to make lovely long wrist warmers, a hat etc.

Strange as usually merino wool is fairly robust - is it a blend?

No, its extrafine merino though, I think that makes it a little bit more difficult, the label says dry clean only (I normally ignore that, perhaps shouldn't have this time!). I managed to brush off much of the fuzz and shave off the remaining bobbles. It looks a bit better!

I have always ignored the dry clean only labels. I NEVER machine wash (they lie) !! soak all wools\silks etc. in luke warm softened water with 1\3 to half a cap of gentle, for delicates, detergent and the same of white vinegar or bicarb.

Everything comes up beautifully after 5 or 6 hours (or overnight) without scrubbing just rinse once. Drip dry , stetched to shape, flat on a dryer over the bath. I do wring the wrists and neck of course after a gentle squeeze of the whole garment.

I am trying not to buy any new clothes this year too. I am on track so far but it's only January! I have already noticed the difference in my bank account though. What do you think though - is it cheating to ask for an item of clothing as a birthday present? I really want to!

Tulip I ask for organic clothes for presents! That salves my conscience, even M & S do 'carefully sourced' cotton. I'm not quite sure what it means though!

I'm doing this, I didn't know there was a thread for it!

I have far too many clothes and I also have pretty much every situation covered. I'm allowed to buy essentials if needed, like if something I wear often wears out, but I'm not allowed anything else.

I'm also partly through losing 3st, at which point I'll throw out some bigger clothes and have a manageable wardrobe again.

I say 'throw out', what I mean is I'll give to charity or throw out.

Doing ok here still but doing a lot of online browsing 😬 we’re having some fairly major work done to our house soon though so that’s helping me focus on not spending on frivolous things. It’s so hard though!

Hi Tulip I don't think it's necessarily cheating to ask for clothing a present - I think it all depends on why you are doing No Buy? I am doing it to try to declutter, so makes no sense for me to get clothes another way!

But if you are doing it to save money then clothing as presents make sense. If you are doing it for eco reasons then perhaps a compromise: ask for something that you will wear and love and is sustainably produced?

Good points @Ardnassa! It's really a combination of feeling like I spend too much on clothes, having lots already and wanting to take positive action to lessen my environmental impact.

I went on a charity shop spree on Friday and got some really beautiful things....

Some smart navy trousers with a pretty trim
A Reiss blazer
A Michael Kors denim jacket
A burgundy leather pencil skirt
A denim shirt
A leopard print dress (but tasteful)
A sparkly vintage party dress for summer weddings

I spent £150 which is not insignificant but definitely worth it for such lovelies :-)

Still holding on, I have added a couple of things to my Amazon wishlist in the hope DH buys them for valentine's/mother's day. Main thing is a pair of elbow length leather gloves-i have 4 cape coats including a lovely purple cashmere one that I made, but my lower arms get cold when I'm wearing them

@Runneryogi gosh your charity shops are better than my local ones! That's an excellent haul.

@StatisticallyChallenged I am also considering asking for clothes for my birthday in a couple of weeks. Although I'm not as bothered as I thought I would be.

Took DD to the mall yesterday and I resisted everything even though the sale rails in Debenhams looked superb. Almost a month complete now. DP said I wouldn't last a week so I am very pleased.

Yes I’m impressed by the quality in your charity shops too runneryogi I got a fat face Cardi the other week but that’s as high standard as it goes so far! I’m likely to crack next week as it’s ‘choosing uniform’ week at work and there’s something I’d love to get but it will need a long sleeve top to go with it. Which I’d have to buy (discounted) as it’s not part of the uniform allowance. No guarantees that I’ll be allowed what I’d like though so I may be saved from myself.

Oh dear. I cheated today, right at the end of month 1. There was a designer sale at work and I bought a beautiful embroidered Erdem dress and a pair of cream leather leggings from Joseph. The leggings are amazing, beautifully soft but they are size 8. I'm a 16!!! Each item cost £30 and the leggings definitely have to go on eBay. The dress is lovely but I haven't tried it on yet. I could put that on eBay too and then my conscience would be clear.

Me too duchess although mine are fairly basic purchases. Two plain high neck cotton tops from Next, one black, one navy. Just for layering but still a fail 🤦🏼‍♀️

Get them on Ebay pronto, then it's just a business transaction

I'm still holding on miraculously, think I've only managed cos I've distracted myself by trying to make money instead

I've made it to the end of the month without buying anything. The urge to buy new stuff is receding. Will try and make it through February too.

The dress fits. I like it but don't love it. DP says he will buy it for me if I like as it's my birthday in a couple of weeks so I am still maintaining my no spend rule. So will try it on in the morning and make up my mind. Otherwise an excellent month, and I haven't even been tempted.