Toying with the idea of not buying any new clothes/shoes/accessories in 2021

[TableNiner]

I spend a lot of my time looking for new clothes, ordering clothes and returning clothes. I have more than enough to last a year and wonder if I should challenge myself, just feels very daunting. I would save a lot of time, money and environmental impact. Has anyone done this or do you think you could?

I've been giving this some thought and I think I would like to do this again. It is a shame if it's true that these threads tend to peter out - the one I was one a few years back was deeply thoughtful/reflective about exploring our reasons for shopping, our habits, I learned so much and found it incredibly supportive. I hope this thread can help us all when our fingers are on the buttons and we need help to pull back from a shopping basket.

My motivation for this will be 1) that over the course of the last 14 months I nearly entirely changed my wardrobe moving away from very fitted clothes to looser styles. I stored things that I no longer want to wear but are in good condition and that I still really like, etc., and the rest went to charity. I have tons of lovely new clothes across the seasons. 2) I have no actual room for new clothes. 3) I've also stopped smoking this year and the savings from cigarettes and not shopping will total (I'm ashamed to say) 2 or 3 k. I can easily come up with something better to do with that kind of money.

I know we're not all doing this for financial reasons but if anyone needs that kind of motivation, one thing I found helpful when I did this the first time was I scoured my bank account (and wardrobe for added reference) and tallied the spend from the previous year. That was shocking and kept me to my no spend commitment for a good several months before I needed any other motivation!

I am joining too I have plenty plenty and am fed up with buy return buy return. I have put away all my tailored work clothes barring one suit just in case of client meeting any time in next 6 months. Have also completely rationalised skin care and the shizzle in the shower - just shampoo conditioner soap and face wash (one of each).

I did this last year, I did buy a handful of things but less than I would have bought in the average month.

This year I'm making it a crafty challenge- with the exception of underwear, tights and knitwear (I don't knit) I'm only allowed new clothes if I make them myself.

I am doing this with beauty, no more make up, creams and lotions, until what I have is used up.

I need to do this
My clothes buying was out of control in 2020 (mainly did it out of boredom).

@lindyloo57

I am doing this with beauty, no more make up, creams and lotions, until what I have is used up.

This is a good idea. I have cancelled my Birchbox because so much of it sits around then gets chucked out. The other week, I spent more than I should have on a beauty site because if you spent over a certain amount, you got a free mascara. But I already have about 5 mascaras! It’s madness. I’m going to have a good clear out of my wardrobe and makeup/skincare shelves so I can see what I have already.

I do this alternate years. This year is a no clothes buying year. In November I stocked up on lounge wear and a warm cardigan. I never buy clothes on line as it's too much faff to return. I usually buy from charity shops and tkmaxx. Can I check if it's ok to receive clothes as gifts. And if my mum has a bag to take to charity I have a look through first. This should be ok as it's not spending money on clothes.

I'm going to try to abstain from online shopping - after the sales 😄.

I have too many clothes that I don't even wear to justify buying more. I also seem to make a lot of fashion mistakes. I need to really be sure that something of flattering before I buy.

Won't be able to manage a whole year, but should be able to make it until April. Hate winter clothes/colours anyways. So drab.

I have just downloaded the 30 wears app - it lets you count how many times you wear a garment

Well done to everyone giving this a go in one form or another. I’m allowing second hand clothes and gifts - my birthday might be a lifesaver!

Bananalanacake, you'll have your own reasons for doing a no-spend period, for me it's both the money and the acquisition of more stuff when my cupboards are full. You might like just the saving money side of things whilst maintaining some turnover in your wardrobe, that's ok!

I'm busy deleting adds on here when they come up. This no spend will be hard for me but I am really committed.

I like the 30 wears app. It makes it into a game to wear all the clothes you already own!

I feel like gifted and second hand are OK. Charity shops probably won't be open until Spring anyway, so hopefully I will be well detoxed by then.

Anyone else having to overcome the urge to scroll through shopping sites? Whenever I sit down and get a minute of peace, or get distracted online, I keep going to my favourite shopping sites and wasting time scrolling through. Luckily, most of it is clearance junk at the moment. It really highlights to me that I'm terrible at buying stuff for the sake of it and wasting so much time shopping.

Me too. I really want to stop that habit of scrolling through shopping sites. It's such an ingrained habit! I use the leechblock firefox addon to block som sites.

And me. It’s hard if you are interested in clothes and fashion, e.g certain threads on here!

Well I had a nice surprise this morning, a "lost" parcel containing a top I had really wanted turned up, from way back at the start of Dec.
I was still chasing the refund but have emailed to say it's turned up.
It's like I bought it in advance knowing I'd need something to cheer myself up this week

This is so hard! I'm also doing DJ and that's nothing compared to this! I have nothing else to add, just that I'm still in!

I am sort of in... I bought a few things in the sales, but just practical things I really do wear a lot of, like wool jumpers and long sleeve tshirts.

I have a list of 5 items* which I am allowed to buy this year. Also will buy tights and underwear etc and if something breaks completely, I will replace it, IF I need it.

*leather brogues, leather bag, 1 x summer dress, 1 x pair of shorts for summer, 1 x pair of country boots for next winter

As in, the things I bought in January sales are the last things in buying, other than The List this year.

Ok.... I’m in. I LOVE beautiful things, it’s going to be hard!
But... I need to pay down debt, put money aside for daughters uni and stop being so bloody obsessed...

First challenge though... just did a spectacular fly fall on a tramp and ripped my only exercise pants and on same tramp list my favourite necklace that was expensive AND new :(

So, my idea, is keep selling stuff, use $$ to buy new pants (essential item)

I usually buy only from ebay and charity shops, other than underwear and shoes and a few basics like long sleeved t shorts which I can't reliably get second hand. I'd like to have fewer, better clothes and inspired by another S&B thread, I'm trying to save up for quality, sustainably made basics that will last. So I'm with you on buying nothing for a few months at least, while I wear my wardrobe, purge/recycle/sell what I don't use, and make decisions about what I really need.

Nearly two weeks in and I'm getting used to deleting the emails advertising further sale reductions or exciting newness arriving ... lockdown is helping, I'm feeling meh and not so interested in clothes etc. WFH so practically wearing the same clothes every day, and house is cold so it's just layers of jumpers and cardigans. I do miss the parcels arriving though!

Lockdown is definitely making it easier. I've unbookmarked any clothing sites and am unsubscribing from e-mails as soon as they come through. Have also had a sort out and put summery/special occasion clothes that I don't need right now into vacuum bags and stashed them in the bottom of the cupboard. So far this has made it easier to find stuff in the morning, and I've also come across a few things I've forgotten.

Yeh i tried last year and i did buy less... but i've just bought a load of overpriced yoga gear from sweaty betty. I never go anywhere. I will try again this year!

If anyone’s interested there’s a great blogger called A Small Wardrobe with a really interesting capsule wardrobe comprised of non typical items. ( usually they’re banging on about blazers and trench coats). Every time I watch her I want to go and clear my wardrobe out. She’s on You Tube. I would love a stylist to come in and help me identify some stylish outfits that I hadn’t thought about that must be nestling in my wardrobes ( plural)