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 don’t want to be draconian about what people should post - it’s not my right anyway! Just felt this started to read like a “what to buy” thread rather than a “no buy” thread at certain points.

Anyway, my own successful strategy is: when I’m tempted by something, I add it to my Pinterest. This gives me a little endorphin hit, like I’ve collected the item but don’t need to physically own it. Sometimes I’ll look through my Pinterest and curate the pins. Sometimes I’ll delete quite a lot of the items as I no longer want them - this is quite rewarding, and reinforces the knowledge that impulse purchases tend to be regretted. If an item sticks around for a long time, and I still want it every time I look at it, I‘ll consider buying it in 2024.

I do the same thing with wishlists @Mrcpy. It's a good strategy. I have some very questionable things on my ASOS wishlist whiCh I'm glad I didn't buy

I use Pinterest too - I pin what I've bought on one board and what I'd like to buy on another, and at present the like to buy one is there to remind me of things I've seen once my three month ban is over (by which time I may or may not still be interested!).

I love this quote 😂

I too only have one face so I’m trying for a no make up except to replenish my mascara and foundation when they run out.
Im also not buying any perfume this year, I have too much.

It's not my thread but I was on the Low Buy 2022 thread and it was quite light-hearted, "lets keep each other accountable but no probs if you fall off the wagon" -kind of way. I can't see anything wrong with sharing wishlists; I think for me operating a wishlist is one of the most successful strategies of staying focused on creating a coherent wardrobe and curbing random spending in other arenas too. I didn't think this was a serious mental health support group - more of a way for people to pause and think about their purchases before going ahead and pressing the Buy button.

I have about 7 items on my wishlist - I have bought 3 items this year, 2 out of my wishlist and one, well, fail. Fair in the sense that it wasn't on my wishlist, but it is something I am using a lot already. It means I can still shop and browse and update my wardrobe, but in a way that actually adds to the whole, not random stand-alone pieces.

I think a wish list is an excellent idea. I used to purchase totally random things, without a thought of what they would go with or when I would wear them. I find it really interesting to see what other posters are buying/wanting to buy. I tend to be tempted with stuff in the sales, but am trying hard to stop that, not always successful but I am trying😁

I'm going to continue posting what I purchase here. I'm using the thread to track my progress. The thread title is "no buy or low buy 2023". So it is not strict no-buy. I'm doing low-buy and I refuse to feel bad if I purchase a little more than planned. If I'm purchasing less and spending less than usual that's an improvement and worth celebrating IMO. If people want addiction support there's forums on Mumsnet for that, this is Style And Beauty forum. If anyone has an interest in taking no-buy further there's a thread in another forum for "no buy 2023", which I think is about all non essentials. No way could I do that! 😂

I'm a shopaholic. I agree it's seen as a bit of a joke and people don't take it seriously. I guess at the level I'm at it isn't serious. I'm not harming my body like with other addictions. I'm not getting into debt for it. The money I spend on it isn't going to fund organized crime. But it does have some negatives: cluttered home, less savings, feelings of guilt for environmental reasons. I'm trying to do better. I'm hoping I can look back over the thread when the year is up and see how much less I've bought. Just writing it down here every time I purchase something makes me more aware of doing it.

My favourite sale catalogue came recently and instead of being straight in there buying up things because they're bargains, I realised I've already bought what I wanted most when it was full price to ensure I didn't miss out. I don't need the things in the sale catalogue, they're things I like not love and I mainly want them because of the discount, so for now I'm sitting on my hands.

I did caveat that in my low buy I'd need to purchase tights, loafers and more office wear this year (possibly on that last one I probably have more than enough). So I did post a sort of list.

It helps me not to deviate from that list and holds me accountable. I'm not looking for bargains I don't need, or at least that's the plan.

So far not a thing yet this month, a faux fur gila i brought in the m&s sale before Christmas i picked up Sunday fitted, I paid for that with Christmas money, a fur coat from hush sale is going back didn't fit, I didn't need really need it, I ordered a allsaint sequin dress in the sale it was too big, so i have ordered a small, all that is left to be pick up is some levis jeans from next sale and one more hush sale dress, I don't really need any summer clothes so hoping too save money there. I have also listed more clothes on ebay.

I agree with PPs. And I think wish lists are super useful so you don't buy (or hopefully even look much at) random stuff that you won't wear or use. Maybe it's better when we do report our purchases, that specific details are left a bit vague - at least until the sale is over...?

But I'm very lucky since I don't have any kind of serious shopping addiction, issues with debt or anything like that. In fact I try to save a set amount every month (which I never touch) and then save extra on top by paying twice for any non-essential purchases that I really don't need. So it's like an extra savings mechanism for me, and if I don't have enough to buy 'want' item/s twice, then I don't do it - I wait until I do have enough for it. But definitely have more 'stuff' than I need - a first world problem, but I'm trying to do better.

I bought (completely forgot I even bought them) two pairs of trousers in Zara. I was buying kid’s clothes and must have automatically added a couple of things for myself. They are both going back.

And I have a dilemma. I need a new everyday coat. I saw one I liked and then I saw a cheaper one in Zara and bought that instead (1/4 of the price). It’s fine and it would do the job but I am fixated on the more expensive one and telling myself it’s a better buy. But I honestly I can’t separate wanting it more or am I justifying it more only because I like it.

Then do I need either really? Probably not. I keep imaging wearing it and how I could wear it every day etc

This is why I have a shopping problem! :-(

I'm not encouraging shopping on a no-buy thread but honestly if I ever buy a dupe of something, I still want the real thing. Case in point - the Woolovers rainbow jumper in grey. I bought a Tesco dupe last year, which has died, and I'm now stalking the original on Vinted.

I've bought a cross body bag from the White Stuff sale. A good neutral colour and ideal size for my holiday. I have lots (understatement) of bags but this fills a gap. I can also get rid of a couple so I don't feel too bad.

I was on the 2022 low buy thread and did fairly well by restricting myself to looking at specific items and sticking to a limited colour palette - e.g. I realised that despite loving blue, warm autumnal colours suit me much better.

I managed to only buy 2 new-new items (not including underwear!) all year, but I don’t want to count the new-to-me stuff from Vinted, eBay or my local charity shops that I didn’t really need that were ‘unmissable bargains’ 🙄. Yes, I resold most of the mistakes on Vinted but it’s such a time suck to realise they don’t actually suit, take photos, send off, blah blah.

On the money front, I follow some financial bloggers and a great tip I got is to ‘pay yourself first’ - basically instead of saving whatever's left over at the end of the month, you add up what your bills and expenses will be, add 15% contingency and then transfer the rest into a savings account as soon as you get paid. That way, you can always move some back if you need it, but often it’s ‘out of sight out of mind’. Works for me anyway!

Anyway, my own successful strategy is: when I’m tempted by something, I add it to my Pinterest. This gives me a little endorphin hit, like I’ve collected the item but don’t need to physically own it. Sometimes I’ll look through my Pinterest and curate the pins. Sometimes I’ll delete quite a lot of the items as I no longer want them - this is quite rewarding, and reinforces the knowledge that impulse purchases tend to be regretted. If an item sticks around for a long time, and I still want it every time I look at it, I‘ll consider buying it in 2024.

Thank you, another great idea which I have sort of adopted. I don't use Pinterest so just started a generic list of things I keep trying to convince myself I need. Will be interesting to review at the end of the year! Also combining it with a bit of the 'shopping my own wardrobe' philosophy and noting anything I have that I could wear instead.

I have a wool sweater which I loved when I bought it, but then I realised the colour didn't go with anything else in my wardrobe and just didn't look that nice on me. So, I've bought some Dylon and am dyeing it black in the washing machine as we speak. I hope it turns out ok as I can always use a black sweater, but never the original colour.

Feeling pretty thrifty doing this instead of getting rid of it and re-buying . Although I did have to buy the Dylon...

Okay. Here's my wishlist:

• a black Longchamp tote (I might buy this as a birthday present to myself)
• some sort of going out top, ideally not black
• a short black dress
• and I might need a new bra but not counting that

dancingsober I did this a lot last year and got new use out of stuff that was the right fit but just the wrong colour.

Several items have gone on to become firm favourites, a few others got more wear but then I noticed something else that wasn’t quite right so I sold on. Not had any epic fails with dye yet but it’s probably in the works

When I sort out clothes, I have a fix pile as well as sell, donate or rags. Some things I dye, others I do small projects like stitch up annoying pockets or reposition buttons, but never anything major. If my minimal crappy basic skills don’t improve the item, then it goes into one of the other piles.

I think it's ok to buy things but maybe the point is to be more mindful about it and only get what's needed? I'm taking the view that if I buy the odd thing or fill a gap in my wardrobe, that's fine.

@ShangPie I have also been dyeing things. A clothes company here in Aus had a promotion for Black Friday where you could send your clothes to be dyed black. So I sent a few unloved items and am waiting for their return 😃

I bought a cheap sewing machine recently second hand and my plan is to try to learn to do simple fixes on clothes to make them fit better. Take them up, in, let them out etc.

I definitely suffer from the right item, wrong colour -issue too. I was just looking at one of my denim skirts earlier - love the cut and shape but it's a mid-blue shade that doesn't seem to go with anything. Contemplating dying it black even if the end result is more of a grey (in my experience blue denim doesn't always take dye very well).

My problem is clothes and poor decision purchasing. Inspired by a classic style and beauty MN thread ‘in pursuit of elegance’ I had a massive wardrobe declutter in the summer, kept only items I love, sold loads of unwanted but often in excellent condition clothes on eBay (impulse buy mistakes). I’ve been able to identify gaps in my wardrobe more clearly and have been filling them using eBay £. I’ve bought fewer but better quality clothes. It’s been quite intense, for the first time ever I’ve thought long and hard about what really suits me. Having a list of needed items has been brilliant from diverting me from sales temptation. My shopping has been far more intentional - I’ve bought one reduced item - a shirt I’ve had my eye on for 4 months. I waited and snapped it up as soon as the sale started. I hope from now on to ‘wear my wardrobe’ with few new purchases. I’ll let you know by end of 2023 whether it’s been a success.

My experiment has had the knock on effect of me looking at other areas of spending. It’s already beginning to impact on £ saved. It feels a relief. Liberating. I’m going to start cutting down on Instagram scrolling next…

A clothes company here in Aus had a promotion for Black Friday where you could send your clothes to be dyed black

That's such a great idea @silentpool.

My sweater is looking way better. Will hopefully get more use out of it now.

Well done on the sweater @DancingSober

I'm doing well on the actual spending, but haven't yet curved the habit of looking.

I've deleted Instagram off my phone so that will help

Your summary here could have been written by me. I have not begun the year well. I’ve bought lots of things in the sales. I live them and have been wearing them though.