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.

I've just bought new underwear and before that new shorts (sweaty Betty - reduced), and I still need new shoes for hobby (not expensive £25.00). Otherwise it's just been small purchases from Vinted and not frequently.

Not too bad I think.

I've also just got to add I made over £250 on eBay in June which is good. And I spent back £100 of that on three items - 2 Zara dresses & a pair of Vionic flip flops. I need a spreadsheet as my memory seems to be highly selective 🙄

I need to sell some things after a wardrobe clear out. EBay or Vinted though. I might try Vinted first.

Vinted is very easy to use and its easy to print the postage labels which are paid for by the buyer, I find that people do try and knock you down on price though.

Ebay things probably sell for more, but you as the seller need to pay the ebay fees so its only really worth it if things are selling for more than a fiver.

I've bought a new swimsuit for my summer holiday but other than that I've done really well. The funds for the swimsuit came from selling some stuff on Vinted.

I’ve blown my nine item limit, I think. One pair of wide legged, bright pink satin trousers- £17 in the sale. One oversized blazer in a beige check, that I have to say I’m very pleased with. Having spent months resolutely NOT buying stuff just because it’s the new shape, it does feel really good to be wearing something that is absolutely the new shape. So shallow and wrong. And I just bought an outsized linen shirt to wear on holiday, and a like-for-like replacement of my favourite bright pink tshirt, which I have managed to get grease stains on.

I gave up this month, bought too much, spent loads. I'm definitely not buying as much in general and I'm buying better. If I don't totally love it, it doesn't come home with me. Hope to do better next month

Now done 4 months no clothes/shoes/bags purchases. Feeling enabled! Trying hard to keep this going. In this weather none of my existing summer dresses are coming out anyway, definitely don't need any new ones.

That’s excellent. Does it get easier as time goes on? I’m still selling on eBay and spending the money on gaps in my wardrobe but as I fill the gaps more gaps seem to appear so I’m getting a bit suspicious as to whether these gaps really exist or am I really feeding and growing my desire for new things. Browsing for gap items takes up time and I get sidetracked into seeing other new things that weren’t on my list to start with. My tiny slimmed down wardrobe is growing again ! I think I need to put the brakes on and go for complete no spend like you .

@Noodle421, I think I just decided I wasn't buying anything anymore and stopped looking. I find it easier in the summer as it's warmer and I'm happy in a t-shirt and shorts or a simple dress. Not that I've worn many of my summer clothes so far this year. Still waiting for real summer.

@Netcam that’s the key - stop looking and then you can’t get tempted. I’ve been happy with my careful and intentional purchases over the last year so far but I think I need to stop soon otherwise I’ll be spilling into over consumption again. Everything I’ve spent so far has been ebay money (mostly) but that will be running out soon as I have nothing left to sell. It’s been an interesting exercise !

I think you need to write down your genuine gaps in wardrobe and then check list again a week and then a month later to see if items are still gaps
it is not compulsory to own certain items so many capsule wardrobes say you must have a dark blazer you must have a white button up shirt a cashmere jumper etc but that might not work for you, if you have 8 pairs of trousers and only 3 shirts you have a gap, or if you are a jeans and t shirt person and your white t shirts are sort of pale grey then you need a few more perhaps
maybe the gaps are there for a reason; you got rid of all your longline cardigans for example because they don't fit or make you look short or they are wrong colours so it's not a gap as they don't need replacing as they were wrong for you anyhow

Yes, it all takes a lot of thought if done properly. When I slimmed down my wardrobe, I kept the pieces I liked and which fitted me well and then bought basic, often neutral items (some might say boring!) to work with these garments to make an outfit. Prior to this I had an assortment of clothing which didn’t go with anything else. I’m almost reaching my objective of having a cohesive fully functioning wardrobe but I’m still getting sidetracked and tempted all the time. Will have to stop browsing soon.

@Noodle421, I do agree that stopping looking is a good plan. I also think now I have stopped looking and thinking about my wardrobe I am more inclined to just throw an outfit together without much thought, which is a downside. When I was thinking more about it I was better co-ordinated and made more effort. Again, in summer that is easier as I'm not wearing loads of layers to keep warm.

@Netcam also, it must be quite liberating not to give so much attention to clothing etc, more time and headspace for other things. I agree, there’s definitely a balance to be struck.

It is, I have gone through phases like that when I buy nothing for ages. Then I feel like I want to make an effort and improve my 'look' and spend ages looking at new clothes. Then I forget about it for months and don't care. But yes, it is good to focus on other things I think.

The weather and the cost of stuff is restraining me, but I definitely relate to ending up spending too much time browsing and getting very sidetracked. Kind of blame online shopping, which is becoming more essential, as it promises the earth but doesn’t, for me, usually deliver. I feel like if there was a single good shop that I knew would have a range of sizes and quality simple clothes, I’d go in every couple of months and that would be the end of it.

I do struggle with being a bit bored with my clothes and feeling like I need something new. Obviously I don’t. I’m doing much better this year than last though and really starting to learn my triggers and my pitfalls. Many times this year I’ve nearly bought something and stopped myself and now can’t even remember what I was intending to buy.

I read the curated closet by Rees recommended by
@Cyclingmummy1
it really helped me focus on what I needed , what
my look was , I still get tempted but now I can focus instead of looking at a load of stuff that is just stuff

Glad it was useful @Mercedesbenz2022 I've picked it up again this week when I was tempted by the sales. I've reined myself back in and sent most of the order back.

I’ve totally fucked it up now. Two pairs of bamboo running leggings, justified because half price and I was down to two usable pairs. And bamboo, so less awful than other options. One bamboo sleeveless top for running, same justification. One oversized striped linen shirt for casual/beach. Two white vests because realised more fitted tops look better with the shirt. And two casual/beach dresses, because my existing stock has been getting gradually scruffier, more frayed and more stained for years, and I’ve been looking unsuccessfully for anything not polyester, white or ridiculously expensive for ages. So I count those and the exercise gear as strategic purchases.

I bought a couple of jumpers to fill a gap from when I cleared my wardrobe out.

What I've found by the low buy year is that finding time to identify the gaps and buying a couple of nice pieces to tie together different outfits is much better than being frustrated at lots of not quite right combinations and then adding more items or buying new outfits when I need to go somewhere.

Checking in to list a jumper and a t-shirt. August isn't going too badly for me. I bought both items separately and both times I didn't buy anything else that I didn't need just because I saw it

Confession! First clothing purchase since 24th March, nearly made it 5 months. Just bought 4 pairs of Icebreaker merino hike light mini socks for £46. These are my favourite socks and at half price I felt it was worth buying a few more pairs. I got free delivery over £40 and even though I had added a dress, a hoodie and some trousers to the basket, I realised I didn't need them and removed them all before checking out.

DH and I have just been on a walking holiday to Yorkshire, Northumbria and the Lake District for 3 weeks in our micro caravan. I didn't have enough hiking socks and ended up wearing my last pair for 4 days hiking, so I think I'm justified. I would usually hand wash some and hang them out to dry but the weather was too wet for this.

On a positive note, we only spent £857 during the whole 20 day trip. This included campsites, petrol and parking plus one ice cream each from a campsite shop. On top of that we had paid about £150 deposit for the campsites. And we brought food with us which miraculously lasted the whole 20 days so we didn't even buy any extra on top of the grocery shopping we'd done before we left.

I have also just spent just over £200 on DS2 before he starts 6th form in September. I bought him a shirt, a jacket, some trainers and a new bag. But he wants to be well prepared for his new adventure and he will have a fairly long commute each day, probably an hour each way. It's such a great opportunity for him, he has got a place at the new Cambridge Maths 6th form.

DS1 has also just got his A level results and did brilliantly. He worked so hard for his 4 A levels and ended up with 3 A stars and an A, which is amazing for regular comprehensive school 6th form. So we celebrated last night with steak and chips, wine and posh chocolate cake which was much appreciated. He is going to Durham uni to study Maths.

Netcam your son must be quite brilliant💐 Such lovely news. We also celebrated with steak, champagne & Ottolenghi's chips with Feta & oregano 😂.
I'm being fairly abstemious for me. Expenditure so far has been £20 on Eyeko Mascara & eyebrow stuff. My current Mascara is dried up & old and this brand is the only one that doesn't irritate my eyes.

Nothing but a nail polish to declare. I did go clothes browsing yesterday with DH, thinking there would be lots of lovely A/W stuff that I wouldn't be able to resist, but I didn't see a single thing that I liked that I don't already own a version of. I have loads of nice clothes so shopping my closet until next year hopefully 🤞