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.

Thank you for saying so.

It's the end of the month, so a time for a little summing up. I've returned a couple of things I bought earlier on. So Cashmere expenditure is still around £500 but offset by eBay funds at ~ £230 so far. I'm planning on zero expenditure until Christmas. Plus continuing the eBay selling, as I gradually retrieve my Winter Wardrobe from various cupboards.
I don't need anything - mantra going forward ...

So in September I did order a stitch fix box with the 70% discount, I was really happy with 4 of the 5 items and its filled some gaps in my wardrobe. I also got some bits in Superdrug as my skin was really struggling, although I think this is because of a change in washing powder in hindsight.

I could really do with a 'between seasons' jacket, but it needs a hood and I'm really struggling with finding something suitable.

I definitely do not need anything.

The only thing allowed between now and end of year is a top for parties, if I see anything nice.

My October low-buy had just gone down the drain after I dropped my phone on the pavement. New phone, new earphones and new phone case (and while I was at it I also bought a laptop case for my laptop - but considering the weekends events, that's just a smart move)

Very miffed.

I did, however, return the arket wool trousers as they weren't great fit. I did pick up a vest top from the sale rack (I think I have about 4 in different colours now) but I'm still £50 up so considering that a victory

Kind of lost track on my spends this year not that I've really brought anything much recently even though I really need to get some bits it truly feels like I'm walking round the shops with a flashing illuminated sign saying "please take my money in return for clothes" I literally cannot find anything I need/want/impulse buy.

Think only thing I brought in September was

£20 for 2x cotton tee shirts from John Lewis. I love them!

I bought a couple of second-hand dresses in different styles during September, as well as a couple of tops (floaty vest top, nice button down) for work. Total cost £16.50.

I also saw a lovely biker style jacket in brown that really tempted me, but it was quite pricey, even second-hand, due to the brand so I restrained myself (somehow I already have 7 jackets and coats of different styles/thicknesses, and definitely didn't need another!!).

Also spent £39 for a pair of brown ankle boots from M&S (my last pair were totally worn out by May, when I stopped wearing them - I walk to work etc. so they got a lot of wear).

My current wardrobe makes me happy and should take me through autumn at least, but hopefully winter, too. Can't wait to wear my bright purple winter coat again. 💜

For the entire year so far, incoming clothes / bags equalled 16 items. One was a gift and all but 4 items were second-hand purchases, which I'm pleased about.

Good luck all.

Since I last checked in, I’ve bought one new sweater from Toast and picked up several secondhand items - a raincoat, two sweaters and a few tops.

Not counting the school uniform and whatnot for DS! Also got DH to send his holey sweaters to be repaired, £60 for 3 cashmere sweaters via Nearly New Cashmere in N Yorks.

Doing my seasonal wardrobe changeover, I was really thorough about what fitted and what didn’t, so I took a whole pile for tailoring. Feels like I have 10 new items to enjoy, but actually it’s just stuff I had but didn’t wear. That was £70 well spent for me!

Declaring the purchase of a hoodie that I had my eye on forever and it's finally came up in the sale

I was aiming for 12 pieces for the year ( not including replacement underwear tights etc) and I have already bought 10 and two presents so that's 12 in, though more than 12 out. I could do with a pair of loafers, a lightweight but warm cashmere scoop or v neck jumper also I would like a new jacket/ coat and a winter dress so that would be 16 items which is a bit above target

Still only bought 4 pairs socks since 24th March!

I hope I can have your level of self control one day netcam! I got two turtlenecks, two blouses, two dresses, a necklace and a jumper the other day.

Looking forward to the 2024 challenge! It's not gone amazingly this year for me but I've spent a lot less than normal.

Maybe I'll do a netcam next year -- I admit I thought wtf when 2k was spent but tbh it makes a lot of sense!

I've bought a carefully considered long sleeve running top, because I'm still running outside and only had one very old hoodie layer to run in. It's second-hand and works well, albeit slightly form-fitting due to it being one size too small (but it zips up!). Cost was £5.50.

Netcam you've done amazing! 👏 I'm not sure your strategy would work for me, but it seems to suit you very well.

Thanks, I'm actually quite enjoying the thought of going into winter knowing I have a really nice selection of wool and cashmere waiting there for me. I honestly haven't looked at any clothes shops for months and have just kind of forgotten about shopping.

It wasn't exactly a strategy, it kind of happened. But I think I have enough clothes for several years at least, so hopefully will last out 2024 virtually free too!

I haven't done very well. I knew autumn would be when I fall off the wagon a little, as autumn clothes are just my favourite. I bought a dress from COS, which I love love love. I've already worn it several times. I'm not a dress person, so when I find one I love, I tend to get it, But while I was in COS, I also bought another vest top... I love their vests and there was a stripy one just calling out to me.

I also bought a jumper from Uniqlo from the Comptoir des cotonniers collection. Again, have worn it several times already and love it

In my defence, I've also continued to sell on Vinted, so the overall number of items in my wardrobe has gone down

All I have on my wishllist for this year is a plain, simple swimsuit and boots

I haven't been good this month. I hate feeling cold in winter and we have been reducing the temperature in the house to try and be green/reduce power bills. So far I've bought two pairs of woollen socks (hand made and from a craft stall that was raising money for a good cause) and four thermal tops. To be fair, the thermal tops will be worn until they go into holes. I'm viewing them as an investment as I expect them to last for years.

I'm declaring £60.00 expenditure this month. I've earned back the £500 I spent on Crush Cashmere from selling stuff on eBay. So I'm back to @£40.00 a month expenditure again. The £60 went on Shearling Fitflop slides - nice & cosy for winter from Tk Maxx ( I've wanted them for a while, but they were too expensive before) & some brilliantly bargainous Vionic Boots. I would though like to buy a couple of the Uniqlo scoop neck cotton heat tec tops next month. Plus I'm still ebaying anything worth selling.
I've just pulled out my old Winter Wardrobe & found a Boho Laura Ashley Grey silk skirt from many years ago, with a velvet ruffle which is very much back in style & a Boho style ditsy burgundy skirt from pre- covid days. I'm coming to the conclusion it's very well worth holding on to good quality clothing, especially as the general quality of new stock is declining so rapidly.My dd's are now wearing my old sheepskin coats & leather jackets, that they purloined from my wardrobe this year. Of course they pretty much wear Vintage these days. As do my ds's.

One of my thermal tops is now out of stock, so I've only bought three tops, not four

How are you all doing?
Are you still successful in your low-buying principles ? Even at such a tricky time of year.
Or have you all abandoned this thread?😄
One thing I've found I've done is that I've stopped buying H&M items because they're cheap. My free delivery is threatened, but that's probably a good thing as it encourages mindless consumption.
I have bought three items on Vinted.
Normally expensive brands, in new condition for a fraction of the price I would have paid in retail. Offset by eBay sales again.

On the upside, I have spent about 40% less than in 2022 (when I really fell off the wagon) and 75% of what I spent was in two ‘windows’ (start of Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter) which was an aim. And I feel like the things I bought have made it easier to get dressed, ie I don’t have that thing where I’ve bought loads of stuff but still have nothing to wear. Outfits come easily.

But it’s still far from low spend/no spend and am already thinking about my strategy for 2024. Probably spending more on experiences and charity and being specific about what I actually might need. And trying to work out my triggers.

I’m also finding myself not wanting to buy very cheap clothes and realising the things I’ve spent more on in years past are the ones still working for me. Not that everything more expensive is always better quality but it used to be often somewhere like H&M could provide something where it was quite hard to tell how cheap it was, but now you really can.

In November sales I bought a 3-pack of 'cocoa' brown tights and a Heatgen pair of black tights from M&S, plus a pyjama set to replace one that has a hole in the bum!

That takes me to 21 clothing items in total this year, with the majority second-hand and things I needed to fill a gap, rather than random impulse purchases, which I'm happy about. My Whering app tells me that I'm wearing 91% of my wardrobe, so the items I have seem to be working well for me. 😊

I could do better with buying extra skincare items, though. That might be a new focus for 2024, while keeping on the straight and narrow with clothing!

Still only bought 4 pairs socks since 24th March. Enjoying wearing my lovely wool jumper purchases from last year's January sales too.