Anyone interested in a "use it all up", "don't buy any new clothes this year" thread?

[Penthesileia]

This may come across as a rather anti-Style and Beauty thread...

For all kinds of reasons - we're a bit stretched financially this year; environmental & ethical; intellectual, etc - I've been thinking that this year, I ought to try to:

a) use up all the beauty products I've accumulated before buying new ones

b) try not to buy any new clothes (except necessities, such as tights, should I ladder them, etc.), as I own lots of nice clothes and, frankly, although I really adore shopping for new clothes and having nice new things to wear, I simply don't need them; plus, I've come to feel that I ought not to buy clothes that are not ethically sourced, if I can manage it, and this is quite difficult - so what's more environmentally friendly or ethical than not buying anything at all?

Anyway. I realise that this is rather self-indulgent, and it's a luxury of a kind to choose not to buy more stuff (I say this because I know that there are many on MN who don't have much to spend on themselves). However, I was hoping to find some like-minded souls who might like to support me in giving up my shopping addictions.

I know this is entirely vacuous and frivolous , but we could (occasionally) post what we're wearing, how we're accessorizing or innovating to make our old wardrobe feel new, etc. Obviously, this thread might appeal to people who are already thrifty (kudos!) and who might be able to give tips, etc.

So, is there anyone out there who wants to join my challenge?

Hi there everyone!

I actually did this for a year and it changed my life. Here is a blog post I wrote about it. www.lobelia.net/wordpressblog/2008/10/buy-nothing-new-my-year-is-almost-up/

this really seasoned me for when I had my first child, just 6 weeks ago, and we purchased absolutely nothing for him, instead used our network of friends and family for used items and asked that all gifts be secondhand or homemade. Not that everyone listened, but most people did! We also are eshewing any plastic toys that aren't hand-me-downs.

When my year started in 2008 I didn't think I could do it, but it was surprisingly easy. Now I only buy what I reaaly need and I no longer use shopping as retail therapy. After all there's enough stuff in the world already eh? All the best in 2010! X

I did this last year and managed to not buy anything not in "the rules" until august then caved. I am trying again this yr. Our rules were:

1. can buy new shoes for children
2. can buy new clothes for children only if needed ( unlikely as both have hugely bulging wardrobes)
3. can buy things for house if they were already planned for this year ( we have a rolling plan of renovation/updating) this yr we are making over the family room so can buy the blinds,sofa and tv as planned.
4. birthday presents
5. can go out to dinner/cinema but not excessively

Hi Lobelia..congratulations on the birth of your son..here's hoping you can be an inspiration to us all..i had a brief look at your blog,secretly thinking you would 'look like a do-gooder'..whatever that was supposed to mean!and nothing like the sort of person i was or would mix with..sorry for narrowmindednessbut you look like an ordinary(albeit v pretty) lady.

i was quite nervous when i first posted on this thread as my own ridiculous handle on shopping made me feel queasy(although i dont go into debt..as another poster said sometimes not having a limit creates more problems as there is always more new stuff/bargains to buy and you think 'what real harm is there')and i thought a lot of people would post rude comments about how superficial/pathetic the whole shopping obsession was.

i'm interested in hearing all the hypotheses of why we are overshopping..there are a lot of deeper issues coming out..i know it's all feeling a bit cathartic for me(sucking thumb in foetal position)

today when i was out and about locally running an errand it occurred to me that usually i would have bought a treat from the bakery to 'reward' myself then popped into the nearby charity shop in case of some amazing bargain and finished up at my tesco metro to get some 'bits and bobs' even though just did a major supermarket shop.

i successfully avoided all but made me feel a bit yuck that i generally do this kind of thing on a daily basis..i am going to aim for some mindful shopping even if i cant quite muster total abstinence.

b.t.w..gok's programm..the one where they line up the woman's clothes all in a row to show how much crap they own..i reckon mine could stretch to france!

JAJAS - omg, you've got to have an ebay clearout and get rid of some of the stuff you don't like. I so understand though, the thought of the returns process is so grim that I'm often tempted just to keep stuff for the hell of it.

Since gratification seems to be such a big part of why we all shop, i do wonder how some of us will do once the parcels that we ordered pre-this thread stop arriving. It's all calorie-free chocolate at the moment, but once that dries up i suspect some of us may struggle ... for me, i still have the thrill of a few eagerly-awaited parcels to get me through but beyond that....??

I like VB's approach - delayed gratification is a lesson i need to learn. I'm all about the quick fix and the immediate thrill. As my mother used to say - "The problem with you, Cake, is that you want everything yesterday." Too true

i am sure it has been mentioned somewere ( i haven't read all 34 pages of this thread) there is abook called "not buying it" it is written by and american lady and i bough tit thinking it would be a funny blog type read about her struggling with not buying jimmy choos , but actually it is quite hard going look at why we buy stuff, if you can get hold of a copy woth reading , it took me 2-3 goes before i got what she was saying .

Hello all, I'm not sure I can do this - being pregnant for what seemed all of 2009 the thought of getting some new clothes is the only thing encouraging exercise......

I tried this last year as I'd had DS2 in October 2008 & wanted to resist the' buying clothes to make me feel less fat but won't fit me/suit me in 6 months' syndrome. I managed about 5 months until I crashed & burnt big styley by splashing out on a £160 Jaeger cardi! oops! But it is lovely & will last forever!!
My 3 rules were:

1: I can buy anything from a charity shop! (I found a cashmere cardi in Help the Aged for £3 in my first week!)
2: Anyone can buy clothes for me!

1. I can swop clothes with friends/family (clothes swopping party - excellent fun!)

It did work well as it made me think about putting items together in my wardrobe that I wouldn't normally have worn together & it has made me think harder about spending money on clothes now. Spending a bit more on quality is usually a good thing!

This year I'm being a bit less ambitious (more realistic) & am planning on not buying anything at it's full price.

Good luck!

Hi Bodsmum! Yes, I'd imagine that I might come off as a goody goody sometimes. So glad that I pass for normal on closer inspection!

Good luck in 2010 and thanks so much for all the kind words. Loving being a Mum! I'm 37 and never thought I'd have kids so it's all new and wondrous to me. x

Hi Lobelia, your year sounds great - but a real challenge! I have generally been following your rules (second-hand, basically trying not to buy so much stuff) anyway last year, but really want to focus on it this year. It forces you to be more creative I think- I just made two bed sheets for the kids out of one big one I didn't need anymore .

Congrats on your baby - it is amazing how many toys can be made/found (as your child gets bigger)
-kitchen stuff, saucepans and spoons and dried pasta
-piles of bedding make great climbing mountains
-use packaging and cut up shiny wrappers to use for 'sticking' activities.
you get the drift...

(sorry for slight tangent but you inspired me )

I'm watching that! It's very interesting.

Catching up on posts and it struck me that I also can't go anywhere without buying anything.

I hadn't really connected the two but I'm trying to do all my grocery/household shopping online at the moment - if I pop into the supermarket or local shop I end up buying extra stuff and that satisfies my shopping urges a little bit.

So I guess I must be a bit more addicted to shopping in general than I thought. But it's good to know I'm not the only one!

Same here with the supermarket shopping. I've done the first 2 shops of the year online and saved quite a bit. I looked back on some older receipts and see that I could easily spend an extra £20 or more (!!) on various sale/special offer things that we don't really 'need' and certainly aren't food related!

Took dd food shopping after Christmas and she picked up a t-shirt marked down to £1 but going through her clothes the other day and she has at least 5 t-shirts all with horses on. Really don't want her to end up like me, so must try harder to set a good example.

ahhh have fallen at the first hurdle. Gave my mum a lift to town and she wanted my opinion on a couple of things..bought an eyebrow pencil as tried to pluck my own and managed to pluck half of it off in the middle and got a really lovely autograph top in my size last one reduced from £59 to £10.00, would have been criminal not to...

it was in sale and not full price ..(leaves thread with head bowed in disgrace)..

lupo, the eyebrow pencil was essential (I don't think anyone here would suggest you manage with a crayon).

The only really alarming thing about your post is that you mention said top is in your size... Do you sometimes buy things that are not in your size?

If bargains are not a particular weak point of yours, then I suggest you draw a line under it immediately and hold your head high

I am considering this.

(a) Can it be allowed on grounds of necessity; and
(b) Will I look weird?

Am reasoning it can be attached to current boots thus avoiding extra expenditure of something like this....

Message withdrawn

I am still abstinent but finding myself obsessing shockingly over that Paul smith dress, as per my 'catch me' thread. Oh dear.

Have not bought any clothes yet.
Stil deciding what to get with my Boden returns in exchange.
Don't really like much in the spring collection,thankgod!

No phase , i always buy stuff in the right size, just that it was the last one left, and reduced and gorgeous..so I saw it as fate lol

and in my size ..(meant to add)

I'm really trying to do this. My only exception will be if I get a job I can buy some work trousers, perhaps with my first pay packet. I also need gloves but that.is.all.
I don't have a gloriously stuffed wardrobe, we've been very skint for years but I do have lots I don't wear so must do better! (I'm also keen for tips on how to improve what I have).

Well, I just returned from Westfield and bought... nothing! Beyond some stacking cups and food for DD, some Heatech thermals for DH and some essential groceries for us. Was thinking of this thread the whole time. Which is lucky as was in Mimco looking at pretty hair accessories (which I never wear) and was about to buy when realised am not to purchase, and I wouldn't use it if I did. Phew!

LTEC - be strong!! Does that Paul Smith dress fill a hole in your wardrobe or do you have something similar anyway?

MrsSeanBean - those crampon things actually look v useful, esp as you can just add them to existing boots. OK for 'round the 'burbs? Description indicated for extreme sportsmen only, but I guess shopping is a sport for us.

Have a box of ASOS clothes to return to make me feel extra virtuous. But the fun will be in exchanging the earrings DH bought me for Christmas (did not like) - new jewellery is a beautiful thing!! Even if it is only costume...