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.

Completely agree it's hard to know what is going to become a favourite! In the past I've ended up with about a third of my clothes being worn endlessly in different combinations and sewing them up to try and prolong wear and other things that clearly weren't right. I think I'm getting better but everything seems a bit of a gamble.

I think the key is do I want to put it straight on. If I buy things for a future point it often never materialises. I bought a cardigan last week that I've not taken off so have high hopes for it. That's why sales can be so dangerous as things often don't match the season.

The green sweater with the gathered sleeve was whistles sale I think. Didn't get much use over the summer but wearing it to death now.

I try to avoid black but haven't done well on that this year.

It's got be a capsule! I don't overthink my clothes this much not to end up with a capsular wardrobe.

I'm checking in briefly, having avoided any Black Friday purchases, although I did buy the John Lewis advent calendar which wasn't strictly a 'need'. But will cheer me up during a busy month leading up to Christmas.😁

I haven't bought any clothing (second-hand or otherwise) since my last update. I did buy one pair of ankle boots from M&S in October, but they were needed since my old ones were letting in water.

It hasn't been easy this year, but also hasn't been as difficult as I thought it might be. I'm now planning a no-buy January this year and will try to keep buying second-hand where possible. Happy holidays all.

My only Black Friday spending was on postage for things I’d sold on eBay. Quite proud of that!

The only new clothing I’ve bought in the last couple of months are tights/socks - which are replacing worn out pairs.

This year I've tried to buy less and get good quality items in the sale. I bought a jersey top in the Seasalt sale and I've worn it quite a lot.

I need a blouse for work so I will see what's available in the sales. There are some lovely ones in Hush but are quite pricey at the moment.

It's taken me all year but I finally realised this is the way to go yesterday. We were at our local outlet centre doing some Xmas shopping. DH said that if I saw anything then he would get it for me for Xmas and I suddenly realised I didn't actually need anything. Normally I would have jumped at the chance of a new bag, coat or anything else really, but no nothing. I retired earlier this year and I just don't need the amount of clothes and accessories that I bought previously. All I did was get some dance trainers which I'd budgeted for and stocked up on my skincare in the Cosmetic Company as they had an extra 20% off. Got some lightweight trousers in Sweaty Betty which also has another 25% off. DH is the same - he says he doesn't need anything.

We've decided that rather than buy stuff we're looking our present money to each other and are going to have a weekend in London next year to the in with a theatre trip that we've already got booked.

I’ve tried to buy sensibly this year.

I did need a few party clothes for work parties/meals out so I bought a warm pleated glitter midi dress from Next and a long sleeved sequin top.

I was also diagnosed with plantar fasciitis this year so got a sparkly pair of court shoes (Next forever comfort), a pewter grey pair of ankle boots (Oliver Bonas) and some suede knee high cowboy boots (Next). The latter I’m toying with returning and even the pewter boots as my contract was terminated last Friday but I do need footwear which I can fit my PF insoles inside and which are comfy!

I also bought with mostly with a GC from my birthday a lovely Whistles jumper (pale blue with red stripes). Have worn it lots, so comfy and it suits me.

@fishandchipies - I know this sounds cheeky but got lovely Next green button blouse and Hush sample sale yellow sigh of light pattern animal blouse both BNWT. Was going to put on eBay but they’re both size 12 I think if you were interested? They’re very much work blouses too.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns Thanks, that's kind of you but they are the wrong colours/sizes for me. Hope you manage to sell them

thanks for reviving this thread!

since my last update, I’ve bought two ‘new-new’ thermal tops, taking my total of new items of clothing in 2022 to a whopping three.

Secondhand is ahem a very different matter, especially as I volunteer in a charity shop and have to actively hold myself back from getting things just-because.

having said that, I am definitely getting better at knowing what I actually wear and have sold loads (over 100 items!) of old / unsuitable stuff on Vinted, so I am getting somewhere near a capsule wardrobe. Now I need to be more ruthless with the stuff I like but don’t wear enough to justify the space. A 2023 project!

The only things I have bought recently have been an oodie style jumper and two pairs of sheepskin slipper boots to help deal with the cold. Also trackie bottoms and underwear to replace stuff that has been worn out.

My target for next year will be to lose some weight so I can access more of the clothes in my wardrobe.

I've spent the year revamping my wardrobe (partly due to hitting 'middle age', partly due to Covid casualisation) and as a result spent quite a bit and ordered lots of stuff and returned it too. I've got a low carbon footprint in pretty much all other areas but clothing is my major weak spot. Having a new item that I love, and being able to put a nice outfit together every day, really makes me joyous.

I've tracked all purchases and it's taught me quite a few things, especially the mistakes, which I hope, along with just not needing anything, will help me in future with making better choices and in making my appreciation of them last. It kind of helps, even though it's awful, that so much clothing is poor quality at the moment. I don't want it.

Definitely aiming for low buy 2023 - and really I'm better going no buy as anything other than total abstinence ends in disaster.

I did get a few nice bits on eBay, it's just that can be quite hit and miss.

Still on just one single pair of shoes that I had to buy because mine broke on holiday.
So £40 spent in 2022 on new clothing/footwear. It's been SO hard!!!

Ive rather enjoyed my low spend this year. I have bought some things, but they were things that i needed that allowed me to wear a load of other things in my wardrobe. I now have far fewer clothes, which means i can actually find what i have. I'm going to try and do low spend again next year. How many clothes/shoes does someone really need?

Hi everyone.

So 2022 ended up at 40 new items.

Annoyingly only about 20 of these ended up being really good choices that have had lots of wear and worked well with lots of other things.

Of the ones I'd say weren't great choices, they tend to be very fancy or bold and need either the right occasion or mood to pull them off.

Overall I'd say it was really helpful for me to track what I was wearing and I'm much more aware of what things I should be replacing in my wardrobe even if I didn't achieve the goal.

That first coat in January that I bought I think was the best choice I made all year!

So 2023... improvements to be made.

Well I was a bit rubbish this year and did end up buying quite a bit but in my defence I’m now 3 stone lighter than I was this time last year! So a lot of it was necessary really.

I did do a major clear out of all the bigger sizes and took them all to charity shops. Including an unworn major bargain coat from M&S that I was hoping I’d get away with wearing as it’s a style that looks good big but it was ridiculously big in the end. Was slightly gutted about that!

I’m not rushing out to buy lots though. I don’t actually need a lot of clothes. Very casual lifestyle really so just a few dressier things needed.

That's amazing work @Peridot1 well done.

Really wish I'd stuck to 12 items. I think having to give so much thought into which item was just right definitely helped me make better choices.

Coming in at the end of 2022 to say that I’d really like to join a no-buy thread for 2023 if anyone’s starting one. I went a bit mad in 2022 - lots of work stresses and life changes - and spent way too much on style and beauty. Going to buy nothing in 2023 apart from literally basics that I can’t live without (eg toothpaste and underwear lol) and no luxury brands.

New thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4704669-no-buy-or-low-buy-2023

@GranolaHolmes @Mrcpy @Peridot1 @dreamingofsun @rosiebl