No buy or low buy 2023

[TheOGCCL]

Starting a new thread for the new year. I really must do better. Pretty sure I am in need of nothing after my 2022 spending spree.

Ironically I think this board sets me off a bit.

I’m better with a blanket no spend but how dull. Still thinking about my ‘rules’, eg set a budget or an item limit.

I need to avoid the sales as many mistakes happen there.

All welcome who want to cut down for environmental or ethical or financial reasons, or simply the satisfaction of buying second hand, or the ease of getting dressed when you have less stuff.

I can recommend Lauren Bravo’s book How To Break Up With Fast Fashion.

Its a bit like eating meat, if we all collectively did it a bit less, the world would be a better place.

Just to reel this thread back towards low spend/no spend.... (but I think the dressmakers should totally start a thread on making clothes - I'd read it!) It's effectively the end of the month for me as we go away on Friday and I won't have a chance to buy anything even if I wanted to!

In May, I spent:
£45 on kids presents and toys(we had so many parties to go to, plus I got DC some outdoor sand toys)
£50 on a housewarming gift to a friend
£134 on skincare (replacements for existing items)
£70 on 2 clothing items; a pair of linen/cotton shorts which were on my wishlist and which I adore, and a boatneck t-shirt which wasn't, so that's a bit of a slap on the wrists
£15 as a complete impulse buy - I got some earrings at the Barbican gift shop which I loved and which are totally my style. But they were an unplanned impulse buy....

I think what I need is a small guilt-free spending allowance a month. This month, the unplanned shopping was £40 (15 for earrings, 25 for the top) and although I don't think that's terrible, it might be useful to budget impulse buys - dunno, what does everyone else think? On the other hand, I made £35 on Vinted which offset the cost nicely

I'm also in the process of revisiting my wish list. I realised there were a few things there I didn't really need, but I would like to add a few items, so more on that later.

Thank you @AnnieSnap I think I will look around for a new (well perhaps secondhand to see how I get on) sewing machine. I think that would help marvellously with no/low spend going forward.

Also. Agree with @Pigtailsandall that a dress making thread would be a nice idea.

I tried one in the crafts section, but it’s like a dark corridor where one goes. I’ll try starting one in a more popular area and give you a heads-up!

Yes, do please start a thread.

But also am I allowed to be a bit sniffy at feeling 'policed' for the minor (but relevant) thread hijack?

Thanks for all those fabric supplier suggestions AnnieSnap

My pleasure @DaisyWaisy Thread now up and running @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

I have just stumbled across this thread, and think it might be good for me. Accountability is what it's all about - I found that posting on the Couch to 5K threads was much the same.....can't miss a run.....what will I tell my thread-mates??

Anyway.....clothes......I love them and buy far too many. But DH has been out of work for two months now, and we have cut our spending to the bone, and I'm finding it quite an interesting exercise NOT spending money frivolously. I have a vast wardrobe to shop from, but I'm also a huge charity-shopper (the two are possibly related). I'm busy selling on eBay to raise a few pounds from stuff I don't need.

All this means that any clothing purchases (and there will be some!) definitely need to be "considered", and I am going to stick to charity shops as much as I can for anything I do need.

While sorting stuff for eBay I found a new-with-tags skirt from H&M that is still in the current range. I don't have a receipt anymore, but I should at least get a credit voucher, so that will be a little treat for no outlay. I'm pretty well equipped for the summer, no holidays planned this year (see "out of work" above) so we'll see how we go.

"But also am I allowed to be a bit sniffy at feeling 'policed' for the minor (but relevant) thread hijack"

Yes, but I agree it's very relevant to a thread like this, and being able to make or alter own clothes cheaply.

I'll have a look for the thread @AnnieSnap Is it in chat?

@theatrical its in Style and Beauty 🙂

Since my last post, I haven't bought more clothing - been too busy at work to browse much! I did spend £55 on a replacement of skincare items, but that's allowed.

I've enjoyed the sewing chat, too, even though I do all mine by hand since we don't have a machine. Maybe one day!

Can I come to the creative thread? I don't have a creative bone in my body and broke the machine every week at school but I think it's so clever how people do it :-)

Finally replaced my trainers that got a hole in them! £35.

@FirstTimeMum072022 please do come over and join us 🙂

Well I've gone to absolute pot this weekend with this no spending lark. Shall declare when I've decided what to keep 😭

I got through May and managed to wait until June for this purchase. I also put back two thirds of my shopping cart before purchasing 6 t-shirts. So I'm quite pleased with myself for that.

I’ve been really good this year about buying clothes, but I still have a problem. I was looking for a sweatshirt yesterday, as I’m going away for the weekend. I couldn’t find it, could hardly move clothes in my drawers and it was pretty depressing realising just how many clothes I have - far too many and shameful. I have 3 drawers full of bags, most of them Boden. It’s had to sell them (clothes and bags) because I’ll get a small fraction of their value, but I will never wear/use all of this, so clearly I have to. I know it’s my own fault. Nevertheless, it’s stressful and frankly, upsetting. I need support girls 😔

Well I'm reporting in to declare a one-off exception this month. I've bought several pairs of Vionic shoes from Tk maxx, which I will live in for the next year.They're normally really expensive at full price. Plus £150 on dresses & shirts from M&S in that really lovely olive green. I wear my M&S dresses in cotton & linen for years. So longevity is not an issue. However this month was totally unplanned, so I now need a no- spend 3 month period. Plus, I now need to eBay several items, that I just haven't got around to doing yet to affray costs.

@Cantonet, those were worthwhile purchases, sticking with you for the next 3 months.

I've still bought no clothes/shoes since 23rd March.

Just one pair of wool Halfinger slippers in the Shoegarden sale (£30) for the bedroom, but I'm not counting those as they are part of our bedroom upgrade. They have some arch support and are machine washable, love them already.

Realise new bed frame and mattress from Warren Evans at £2230 was a large but very much needed expense to replace our 16 year old bed. And various other bits and pieces for the bedroom.

Now DH has donated about 1/3 of his wardrobe to me and has only one drawer in each of our 2 chests of drawers, I have enough space for clothes but cannot buy any more! And our revamped new bedroom is smaller so no clutter allowed, it is for clothing and accessories only and I don't want bulging drawers and wardrobes.

And he has enough space (hopefully) for all his vinyl, books and CDs after I ad a big clearout and donated shelving elsewhere to him.

We've just been away to Sherwood Forest and Bridlinton in our Mini caravan for 5 nights. Our first trip this year and visited the in laws. Total costs about £90 on petrol, about £240 on campsites and £4.50 on parking. Brought all our own food with us from weekly shop.

After this trip ordered a merino wool blanket for the caravan to put underneath the top sheet, some lightweight hand towels and some basic washable laundry bags, ready for the next trip. These were all identified as useful things we wanted while we were away. We're still figuring some things out in there as it's only the second time we've been away in it.

We're going to a 50th birthday party tonight and I've bought a new top. I had a day out with some friends and we went to a lovely town with a few boutiques I saw this top and it was exactly my style and colour and pretty and summery and 95% cotton so it's going to get worn loads. It's a tad trendy but I have so many basics that it makes a change for me and I actually can't wait to wear it tonight.
We've had another wedding invitation, I only have two occasion dresses so I've decided I'm wearing one to each wedding so I'm not wasting time or money on occasion dresses shopping. Just so you mumsnetters know neither have a speck of white/ivory on them 😁

AnnieSnap I'm the same. What helped was acknowledging the issue exists and cutting myself some slack for that. Admittedly it's not good for the environment which is why I'm trying to do better, but nobody is perfect. I have no other vices. Don't drink, smoke, gamble or overeat. I'm kind and generous to friends. I have no debts and my home is clean. Shopping is my Achilles heel and I'm working on it. Frankly, there are far worse things I could be doing, things that would have a bigger impact on my life than a few bulging drawers. Sure, the money has been wasted, but if the shopping fulfilled some need at the time is that any worse than having some other expensive hobby? The issue is when the bulging drawers and inability to find stuff makes you feel bad, so you're right you need to declutter. You don't need to sell though, you could donate and bless someone else twice, once with the purchase and once with the charitable donation generated by that purchase. Or sell as a job lot cheaply, allowing someone else to make a profit off the items. Perhaps they need the money more than you. Your money is already gone so, unless you need to recoup losses to fund debt payments, you might be better letting it go. Avoiding the disappointment of watching your precious things not sell, putting in all the time and effort for the sale only to get peanuts back. It doesn't help. What matters is arranging your home to suit yourself in the interests of peace and tranquility, since stress just leads to more shopping, and working on being less wasteful in the future. I'm calmer these days, my purchases better thought out, my spending more measured and the urge to shop is slowly reducing. Kindness and compassion goes a long way, stop beating yourself up about it, you're only human.

@AnnieSnap I came to say what @IndianSummer78 has said in a lovely way. Be kind to yourself; we all have weaknesses. You've recognised a problem and you're being honest in facing it. I think that's great. I had some terrible money habits for a long time and buried my head in the sand which was so stupid.

The money for the items isn't coming back, nor are you getting value from them by keeping them in a drawer. So you might as well make some by selling them. Don't see it as a loss, see it as a gain x

Declaration of two dresses from Tesco - one I got with 25% off and loved so much I went to get the other colour but had to pay full.
£27

Cardigan from John Lewis £32

You have an amazing opportunity to sell your unwanted clothes. Over 12 months, I’ve had 2 selling frenzies of good quality clothes which don’t fit/suit me. I’ve made a surprising amount of money, all sold at a fraction of what I paid but all ploughed back into a small wardrobe of clothes which I now absolutely love. It’ could be depressing if I think what I paid full price but I refuse to go down that route. I’ve also had lovely messages from people delighted with their new purchases, so unexpected pleasure from other people enjoying my unwanted items.

Thanks @noodle I know you’re right. I’ll report back

Thank you @IndianSummer78 and @Pigtailsandall Your points are well made and your kindness appreciated.

Beware vinted, I've found its a bit of a trap