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.

At €17 I'd be tempted for it not to count, but I am not to held as some paragon of virtue on this thread. I have ishoos. 😬

I actually bought two coats in October but sent them both back as wasn’t keen on them. So I have been looking for a coat. A dressier one than my normal.

Of course I’m on a diet so hoping to not be this size next year…….. ……………

Too good a bargain to let go though.

Moving house possibility on the horizon, so I've been pretty good...although not stopped browsing! I have cut down my range of trousers by nearly half because I've been wearing mostly dresses this year. Down to 2 pairs of jeans.

Recent purchases included:

• Light denim jacket (charity shop £5)
• short sleeved stripe t shirt (M&S)
• cotton forest green jumper (John Lewis; actually that may have been bought in 2021)
• Fancy (Ines de la Fressange) black crossbody handbag (charity shop £3 - amazing find, which never happens for me!!)
• comfy warm purple hoodie

I've been trying to wear more of what I have and donate what doesn't work for me anymore. Have got rid of 2 charity shop bags so far and one full of rags.

I still want a floaty maxi dress and a pretty, colourful bag for spring-summer but I'm trying to find these second hand or resist it this year (fewer things to move, my future self will thank me).

@Peridot1 I've started to try to lose weight too. I have perfectly nice clothes they are all just a size or two down. It will be like getting a whole new wardrobe if I can shift the covid stone (or two 😉)

Sometimes trying to lose weight sends me shopping to fill the gap that eating too much leaves so it's a balancing act.

Send strength

Same here @GranolaHolmes. I definitely have a whole new wardrobe in smaller sizes. I’m down 11 pounds so far but it hasn’t shown in clothes yet. I do have a lot to lose.

Sending you lots of strength!

@Peridot1 well done on 11lbs down.

I've got a stone and a half to go to be able to use my whole lovely wardrobe of clothes.

Interesting article about Shein
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/apr/10/shein-the-unacceptable-face-of-throwaway-fast-fashion

Verity that is a good article.
I have bought too much ..autumn here in Southern Hemisphere and after 2 autumn /winters buying minimally ( wearing scrubs at work) I have bought more than intended.
I am lucky - I look for locally made stuff and will pay for that.
I am hoping the cost-per- wear over years of my lovely new clothes will make their cost worth it!
Time to stop !

I'm doing extremely shite with this, I must admit. I blew £230 on skincare/toiletries on my trip to Paris, although admittedly its really to replace existing items this year as they get used up, plus a few gifts.

I bought a jumpsuit from Thought, in the sales, and I love it. So soft and flattering. I also bought a blazer with I did not need, but again, I love it. I've already worn both several times.

But the sad bit us that what I actually need is a swimming costume, a sports bra and a regular bra. And I have to go to the shops for those which I hate.

I read that article @VerityPJohnson made me feel sick. I have a wedding to go to and did the unthinkable and ordered an outfit off BooHoo. I sent it back as I felt guilty for buying new (and from a terrible company) but now I'm just imagining it rotting in landfill.

Other than that and two basic, plain t-shirts, I'm doing well with only buying 2nd hand clothes for myself. I have bought my kids a few basics like tops and leggings. We have been getting a lot of hand me downs but then leggings tend to get holes in quickly because they've gone through 3 children already

I did splurge on some olaplex a while back because my hair was breaking from bleaching. It was a waste really and I just need to cut my hair off. Also impulse bought some lip balm. I already have 5 lip balms. Why?!

I was going to do a no buy 2022 for clothes. I broke it by asking my husband to get some jeans for my birthday and now I broke it again in and bought a top I couldn't resist from a shop. I will get back on it and attempt no buy for the rest of the year. If I can buy 2-4 things instead off the usual 10+ that will be a good outcome for me.

@Rocket1982 You didn't break it for your birthday gift, in my book! Though it depends on your rules. You can get back to it!

I've bought not 1 but 3 summer dresses (2 are work-appropriate), but they were all second hand so I can donate them back at some point if we do move house and I don't need them anymore. Feeling content, at least for now.

I have to confess to falling off the wagon a bit. I have lost almost a stone in weight too so there's a definite link.

I have worn the same capsular wardrobe all winter of around 40 items but I really felt like I needed some colour.

I bought some vans high tops in a lilac colour that I just love, and two bright coloured sweaters that I'm just so happy with too.

I did buy a skirt and sweater that are definitely more winter wear and am actually regretting this purchases now as probably won't wear them much now with the weather changing.

So not a horrific disaster but I'm getting through my 12 item limit far too fast for my liking knowing I need new summer sandals and a wedding outfit still.

Help.

I’ve been a bit rubbish too @GranolaHolmes. Bought a linen shirt and some sandals.

I’ve lost a stone too but for me it’s not really enough to make a big difference in clothes sizes just yet.

I’m going to Australia in ten days so need to get organised for that by sorting out my summer clothes. Need a big sorting and trying on session which I won’t have time to do until next weekend.

Oh just remembered I bought some trousers and a white blouse too.

I was wondering about this thread the other day. I bought a property and was doing very well on no buy until we completed this year. And now (!) I have bought:

1. Black trousers
2. Three-piece linen suit (this was to celebrate the property purchase)
3. Red dress
4. Orange/white halterneck top.

Sigh. I think going cold turkey and getting over the purchase line meant I went slightly crazy. It was incredible how much money I saved by not spending anything on clothes... Will need to get back to it!

My aim in January was to buy no more than 12 items, so far I have purchased 5, but am pretty confident I don't need any summer clothes so am hoping I don't buy any more for several months.

Anyone else not fallen off the wagon too? I'm on my 5th month and haven't bought anything 'new'. Doing this with a few friends and we have allowed ourselves to buy second hand if needed but otherwise nothing new is allowed. Feeling great about sticking it out!

@rosiebl Well done - that's really great! I've been pretty sensible since my last update. I have bought a second-hand skirt, and have felt tempted at other times, but the rate (and cost) of new things coming in has definitely slowed this year. Hoping to hold on to better habits into the future.

I've tried to reduce the number of purchases. I bought four cotton tops in the January sales that will be worn until they go into holes. I also bought a new dress that has had quite a bit of wear. I don't need to buy any clothes for summer, but I think I'll need to replace some trousers soon. Like others, I'm trying to lose weight so I can access a lot more of my wardrobe.

I decided when reducing work hours in 2019 to see how long I could go without buying anything other than underwear, socks and footwear. Other than one new top have managed to do this, the pandemic and wfh helped no doubt.

Yes, I'd probably have bought more if I'd had social events to attend over the last two years. At the moment I want to lose weight so I can shop my wardrobe, rather than wearing the same few things over and over again.

I'm still here. Have ordered a few things and mostly sent back. I need to count up but I think I will likely exceed my 12 item limit. I do need summer clothes but shouldn't need any more when autumn/winter come around so may not go over by much.

I did manage to stick to a 40ish item wardrobe for 6 months over the winter but those clothes are wearing out and I'm craving lighter fabrics and colours for warmer weather.

Just found a hole in a trusty pair of joggers and jumped at the opportunity to buy some new ones (nice 2nd hand joggers seem to be impossible to find). But....I bought two pairs and also a cross body bum bag I didn't need. I've been pretty good otherwise so I don't feel too bad. Not convinced I can pull off the bum bag anyway 😂

I'm having an awful year. Have realised I'm not happy with my personal style and have a better idea of how I want to look so this is enabling all sorts of new purchases. It's making a difference but I already have clothes so it seems wasteful and there's lots of returns too.

Was reading about the Diderot effect this week which came to mind when thinking about why when we slip, it tends to mean more slipping. Once I've finished revamping my wardrobe I think cold turkey is the only way for me.

jamesclear.com/diderot-effect

Doing okay-ish here. No purchases the last month beyond a slip (much needed for one of my wrap dresses, but had never found the right colour until recently).

I do have a summer wedding in Italy for which I may need to buy something as my trusty summery wedding standbys no longer suit: have lost my pandemic weight but my shape seems to have changed: am two inches thicker round the waist but hips and bust are the same. Am only mid-30s so a bit irritated - is this "middle age spread" already?!