Not buying clothes 2024

[Nonewclothes2024]

I need to stop buying clothes.
I have far too many.
I feel overwhelmed deciding what to wear every day.
I wear a uniform to work.
I have deleted all shopping apps.
I am unsubscribing from shop e mails.

Anyone else ?

I've bought nothing 'new' and have a new found love for Vinted. It actually helps because clothes take ages to arrive and once I've tagged an item it very often sells. So I've bought less and spent less than £100 this year so far,

I've brought some wonderful boots from dune today - usually wear black boots but these are brown and hopefully will help me wear more of my stuff, £150 down to £42. But they were out of some Christmas money.
Almost brought a dress for an event later in the year but I'm loosing a bit of weight and want to continue for a bit first.

I get a lot of wear out of my brown boots @Andnowshesatoddler They go well with jewel colours.

Oh one blouse was in a sale other full price.

I still haven't bought anything and am reaching the end of my (salary) month with money still in my account!

I'm going away on a minibreak soon and would normally get something new for that (it's in a warmer place than here) but am resisting.

On the tubing mascara question - I can only wear Clinique Lash Power. I don't have particularly dry eyes though but do find that every other mascara gives me panda eyes.

I bought a denim
blue belt (and got a free tote bag), a wool/cashmere jumper and some flared jeggings. All were on my list of items I was looking for. I’m sending back some work trousers that looked like old lady trousers!

Well done to the non spenders!

I’m still hankering after stuff but not buying.

On the tubing mascara front the new ELF one is great. I could never get on with the No7 one. I think the problem was the brush. I also like Lash Power.

Well, I caved and feel very angry at myself. Bought a skirt at half price for an event I have in April. but if I am honest, I didn't need it and can wear something else. I may send it back, unless it's fabulous.

Quite furious that 2 months is all I managed. I shouldn't come onto S and B as I saw it here!

I know why I am buying though. It's because I WFH and am mourning my old life where I worked in an office and had a reason to dress up. I am trying to look for other in office jobs, but it's hard post 50.

Agree, similar situation. I'm 54, DS now at uni and 6th form, trying to find a proper job after many years of self employment. Although I'm the opposite, I just wear the same casual stuff and so have no need for any clothes to dress up, so I've not been buying any. Good luck.

I’ve been logging what I’ve worn every day of February so far. In my head I’m effortlessly stylish and well dressed every day. In reality I wear leggings and a hoodie every day because I only go out to do the school run and walk the dog 🫠

I found taking full length mirror selfies helped last year. So many things looking great laid out on the bed and the clothes fitted, but not looking so great on my figure. Cured me of a lot of things I used to buy when I realized they never really suited me.

I go out a lot, if not to the office. I go to the theatre, galleries and ballet. But post pandemic, most people, even at the ballet, are dressed in fleeces and jeans.

This week I am going to the cinema and am going to dress up to sit in the dark with a friend who will most certainly be in jeans!

Like the sound of that. At least you have only 12 new items I'm afraid I couldn't buy just nothing

£32 in cancer charity shop this morning. Lady serving said I was first customer shop had been dead all morning. 4 brand new jumpers and 3 blouses.

I'm still doing well. I'm finding that I'm more mindful of what's getting past it's best. Quite a lot of my socks are really thin so it will be good to aim to wear lots out this year. I have way too many socks. I've got a really nice pair of Primark jeans that look nice and are comfy but they just aren't well sown. They are coming undone along the waistband. I'd rather chuck them and spend more on a better quality pair next year.

Still nothing bought this month. Only the one charity shop Cardigan last month.

Nooooooooo!

I bought a bag yesterday.
Only £19 but I still bought it.

And some black tights but they're more a practical need.

Maybe accessories don't count???

Tights are like cornflakes. They don't count, you get through so many.

Did you need the bag Artemis? That's the question. If you needed one in that size or colour and none of your others would do, that's fair enough. Is it to replace a worn out one or one you're selling? I think those are fine too.

The point if the no/low buy is to prevent excessive spending on unnecessary things isn't it? Unless you're doing strict no-buy for environmental reasons or something.

I’m really struggling.
since signing up on the thread I haven’t bought as much as usual but I’ve bought trousers, three jumpers, a top, a cardigan…
I need to think about emotional spending/dopamine hit.
i have therapy tomorrow so might take it there.

Try bringing it up in therapy.

I know why and when I spend for emotional reasons. Not that I’ve had therapy for it or it only touched on it briefly.

But it means recent purchases I’ve tried to be more measured about what I’ve bought and less buying for the sake of it and in a couple of cases to help local small businesses out. I think I’m a people pleaser.

Dont beat yourself up over it too! I’ve tried to reward myself with a nice cappuccino from a lovely chocolate shop and chocolates from there (still spending but less on clothes!). Think about what/who you could spend time with and get same dopamine hit rather than buying something.

Thanks @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain
i will talk it through
I think I’m afraid of giving up such an effective emotional prop!

You can do it! I’ve started doing it. Of course it won’t be easy but your therapist will help.

One word of advice with the therapist though, acknowledge any hurts or why you do things but try to move on and not dwell on them too much, otherwise you might be tempted to eg to buy a top so it makes you feel better about the therapy eg what you said. But try to work on your self confidence, you are enough etc as you. Not just by buying “stuff”. And also realise/recognise that sometimes it is ok to buy things. Maybe take a good friend or family next time you need to shop and ask for their support so you don’t buy what you need. Good luck!

The only thing I've bought since 31st December is a pair of wrist warmers from the Accessorize sale for £4.90. I didn't absolutely need them but they are black and go with all my coats. And the weather started warming up immediately after so you can thank me for that. 😂

Have been feeling more drawn to browsing this week though and very aware of the gaps in my wardrobe. It almost feels like I'm having to live with the consequences of my previous buying decisions now and I want to rebel against past me. If I'd known I couldn't buy any more cardigans and jackets, I would have chosen different colours before... And the trousers I bought in December and have only worn twice are now available in a colour I like more, too, so I'm tempted to get the other ones. Things like that. Trying to stay strong...

Thanks @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain thats good advice

@caramond I find that I need to remove temptation entirely, so I don't look at the S&B threads on here, have removed all fashion insta accounts and unsubscribed from all emails. I don't know what's in the shops because I don't look and I don't look at fashion websites because I don't get emails enticing me in. As is the case with much of my life, I've had to take an all or nothing approach to this!

I accidentally saw a Sweaty Betty post on Insta today (it was an advert) and did really like the jumper it was advertising. Other than that, my main temptation has been Claudia Winkleman's boots and leggings. oh and a slight twinge about a new pair of adidas trainers!