No buy or low buy 2022

[GranolaHolmes]

Ive just made my final purchase of 2021.
I want to have a "no buy" year with regards to clothes.
But I'm wondering if I should make it a "low buy" so I don't feel too restricted and then rebel against myself.
I could give myself a limit to the number of purchases for 2022 say 12 items maximum for the year?

Anybody done this and have tips for avoiding failure on the challenge.

Oh dear, have counted up after doing returns and I'm at 16 items for the year so far. Need to have a word with myself.

I'm doing OK. I've put on a lot of weight over the last three years and a stingy streak in me doesn't want to buy any new clothes in a larger size. To be honest, it is probably because I'm trying to kid myself about what dress size I really am. As a result I've not bought much at all. Wardrobes are still straining though because I really do have too many clothes, even if I'm too fat to wear most of them.

Hello!

How is everyone doing on here?

I was on here at the beginning and then fell off the wagon 😮

I've just done a wardrobe clear out which I'm hoping might inspire me to stick to a more minimalist wardrobe... Definitely shouldn't be buying anything else based on what I've got rid of.

My weakness seems to be RIDICULOUS shoes which I cannot even walk in 🤦‍♀️

I'm at 17 items, which is good for me, not counting second hand from ebay, just received another pair of jeans from there, I must stop now.

Vinted has been my downfall too! I'm thinking of deleting my account...but it's good for selling on 🙃

Hi been watching this thread from the start and it inspired me to have a go, as i have all the clothes i need for my lifestyle. And at the risk of not meaning to sound braggy i havent bought anything. It sort of helps that i dont want to go up a size, but sales are my real weak spot

I've still bought nothing new in 22. It's getting hard now the summer is here. My T-shirts look a bit tatty but I'm managing. I've bought a couple of second hand bits from charity shops but otherwise, managed with all my existing wardrobe.

I didn't buy anything for the month of May mostly because of Ulster bank pulling out of Ireland and having to move everything elsewhere! I had a funeral to go to and managed to cobble an outfit together from what I have but could do with some new clothes suitable for those occasions.

How is everyone in this thread doing?
I had to stop watching S&B for a few months because it just gave me so many ideas and desires. I didn't buy anything for months, which was great. Then I visited my friend in August and she has an awesome charity shop close by, and I bought 2 stripy t-shirts for £1 each, one v-neck, one crew neck, and a hoody for £2.
I also found I had JL vouchers, about to expire and worth £120, so I went a bit nuts with those. I got a pair of insanely great Levi's for £30 in the sale, a lush Baukjen jumper and a pair of brown culottes. Tbh I've already worn all of these several times and I love them so I can't feel too guilty. So total expenditure £4, and I did some serious decluttering and took a bag of clothes to the charity shop. Also sold 2 dresses at £25 each so that's a bonus.

I really want a new warm outdoor coat, though. I love fall clothes so it's very hard to stay strong.

Hello there!
I think I'm doing kind of well really, definitely much less shopping and much more thought to the decisions. I've lost a bit of weight so a lot of of my good stuff is fitting again and so the urge to buy new stuff is less. Saying that I did order two dresses to try on this morning actually but very likely they will be sent back. Will decide over the weekend.

Have managed only second hand in 2022! Bought some great stuff and some duff disasters. Also bought some bits to alter, with varying success. Need to find the time to sort it out.

Have mostly stuck with second-hand only, too, although I bought an 'emergency' pair of jeans one day at the beach when it went suddenly rainy, windy and cold. In all I've bought half a dozen new items (two bras, which were desperately needed). And there's not a huge pile of stuff 'to go' but actually I took it to the charity shop. I do need a pair of boots soon because mine from last year are wearing out and no longer waterproof (I walk 12,000 steps per day). But I'm pleased with how it has gone overall.

I failed, completely. I have been trying to buy more preloved, but the quantity hasn't diminished. I have had some really good bargains though (Laura Ashley jumpsuit new with tags and also a Hugo Boss shirt) in our local charity shops, so I'm not feeling too bad!

Having said that, I have looked at my wardrobe now and am making a conscious decision to really rein it in. I've taken a lot of stuff to the charity shop and have a few things which I'm planning to try and sell on Vinted.

I've identified a couple of gaps - I could do with a good white shirt and also some navy ballet pumps for instance - but am trying not to browse.

I have also failed quite spectacularly on the low / no buy, mostly thanks to discovering some charity shops on eBay.

However, despite my extravagance with second hand clothes, I have only bought one (one!) new item of clothing - a bra - so far this year.

I'm going to call it a draw?

This thread just popped up in my Threads I’m On. I’d forgotten all about it.

I think I’ve been rubbish really! I’ve definitely bought skin care I didn’t need. Ditto books. Not too much clothes. I’ve lost 2.5 stone so lots of things are now too big so I’ve been doing a gradual clear out over the year. I did buy some swimwear to take on holiday but then found a box with some in that now fitted so took the new stuff back. Did the same with a pair of shorts. I did buy a couple of dresses for the holiday.

I went through loads of jeans the other day and had a trying on session and have lots that now fits which is good. I’m still clearing stuff out as I had sooooo much. Trying to create outfits from things I have and maybe add in some basics like a good white shirt.

the good news is that the charity shops have done very well from my clear out!

@GranolaHolmes well done on the weight loss! That's excellent news!

I've been very good at not buying books and using the local library instead. That's saved me a fair few ££s this year. I went a bit ott with skincare in a trip to Paris, but again it's stuff I'm using. I'm wearing less and less makeup but have reinvested time in looking after my skin and I think it's paying off.

I just have too many lovely things on my a/w wishlist.

I've not done too badly this year and haven't bought much new stuff. Some underwear, cotton tops and a second hand dress. I've also recently bought an oodie and two pairs of sheepskin slippers for the winter to fight the energy bills. Our heating is on a thermostat and kicked in for the first time this morning so I think I'll get a lot of wear out of them.

What I really need to do is lose a stone in weight. Then I could fit in to lots of lovely clothes in the wardrobe.

I forgot the thread too, but I'm wearing the TN loafers I posted about earlier right now!

I think I've done OK but not great; I've had a couple more gym bits including some running shorts when it just got too hot for leggings which I don't mind, but I bought two new dresses from All Saints on a whim months ago and I've worn one of them once which has annoyed me. I think that's about it for new stuff - the rest has been from eBay. And I've done my own advent calendar with last years' F&M box.

I did buy a vintage tweedy coat on Vinted yesterday for twenty quid after seeing a lovely one on another thread, even though I already have (a slightly different) one. I ought to stop looking at this board 😂

I had read the thread and didn’t think it was going to be realistic for me to do a low buy because I was changing jobs but in reality I’ve still been WFH more than I thought and whilst I have identified some gaps I’m still under my 22 in 22 for buying which was mostly skewed towards the beginning of the year. I still need to have a massive sort out though 😬

I have failed spectacularly because I am in the process of trying to be a bit more fashionable and stylish and that’s involved experimenting with things I haven’t tried before. It’s working in so far as before I had lots of clothes but seemingly nothing to wear and now I still have lots of clothes but putting outfits together and feeling happier about myself is easier.

I had perfected the warm weather, now I need to crack winter, at which point I would hope I can drop back my shopping permanently and start saving some money too. All I want is to be able to grab a nice, simple outfit each day without lots of thought and faffing.

I am thinking a lot about what I am buying and spending more if I think something will be a good buy. I have also had some good finds on eBay.

So I feel I ought to do this. But I have a spare amount of money left over every month and I almost always splurge.

Doesn't help that in street next to my work there's a designer sales shop (I've mostly got Hush bits from there) and two of my friends locally own boutiques.

@TheOGCCL - I am very similar to you. Over lockdowns I think I lost or rethought my sense of style. I don't need or want smart workwear now, though I see in e.g. Next Directory that's now back as a category.

In my teens/early to mid 20s (late 80s-90s) I used to be very good with clothes/money, I deliberately bought from Hobbs (Marilyn Anselm) (shoes and clothes), bought a pink belt in Fenwick to match a lovely dusky rose trouser suit from River Island. I'd buy suede shoes in Pied a Terre and local boutiques which were expensive and Joseph/Katherine Hamnett if I could afford them.

Ok I've attached a picture of the purchases for this year so far that have most definitely earned their keep and been worn regularly. Not the ones that seemed like a good idea at the time but have turned out to be a disappointing choice.

It seems I'd be within my 12 new items if I'd only bought these. Urgh.

What do these items tell me though. Lots of jersey type stuff. Mostly comfort is key perhaps?

Going completely against the grain of this thread, I like the tone of the green top (first row second from left). Can you pls say where it is from?

Granola those are lovely pieces. I know what you mean, but it's easier said than done. I find it very hard with shoes, which I mostly buy new, but which may or may not always be as comfy when wearing them as you first thought. If clothes don't fit well and make me feel good wearing them, I find they just sit there hardly worn.

I think that's why I prefer second hand shopping (where possible) because the initial quality check of 'will it fall to pieces after one wash?' question is answered for you, and it's also easier for me to part with something that doesn't work (even if it was originally expensive) since I didn't pay full price and I can get the 'cost per wear' to a good point much faster.

Like a dress for New Year's that was nice, I wore it twice, but loud pattern was not entirely my vibe, so then it sat in my closet for ages, so - time to go. Or the pair of navy Craghoppers I just found for £6 - I think I'll get loads of use out of them, but if I don't, at least it wasn't a £50+ mistake!

Nice mini-capsule you've got there Granola 😜

That’s often a good sign for keepers - they play nicely with multiple other items so get a lot of use.

Having said that, the question of how to know what will become a favourite is so hard to define. I have a box several large boxes of charity bits that I took a punt on but that don’t quite work, so my ‘autumn clean’ job is to get them listed on Vinted. As moi says, at least they weren’t expensive mistakes!