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?

I have a gazillion day dresses. Maybe I am overdressed though...!

I have lots of dresses,Warehouse silk ones,Great Plains and Boden fifties style,White Stuff tunics,but these French Connection ones are so simple and comfortable,IFYSWIM.

ahhh, I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to be able to give up shopping..since joining/reading this thread I have bought/got the following:

Grey great plains wide leg trousers (ebay so not expensive)
Ted baker jumper (ebay)
scoop neck grey jumper (ebay)
grey button through jumper (republic)
Betty jakson top (not sale)
Autograph top (sale)
purple tunic dress (gorgeous and sale)
Next indigo denims
phase eight top (pressie)
knit tunic dress (xmas pressie)
Black boots (xmas pressie)
two pairs of shoes (to add to the other 57, but in sale)

Arrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhh

To be fair most was with money in my account, not credit card and out of money I keep back for me ... (most of what I earn goes to cover ds school fees).

I am going to carry on shopping I think, but only buy stuff I really like as above because a) it gives me pleasure and b) I never get into debt or anything.
So I will read this thread still, good luck to you all as I am sure you are all doing this for various reasons...

Flightattendant. I will plough on with my talk of Dorothy Perkins and Next, and I haven't bought a thing since before Christmas [smug].

I wouldn't blame her if she didn't - it's been taken over by the still-shopping-but-with-a-good-excuse faction!!!

Not that I'm perfect or anything...but I think the whole point of the thread was to stop buying stuff, not just to buy it slightly more judiciously.

I can understand there are different levels of this addiction, and mean no offence...if the thread is helping some then that's great.

nowwhatdoido I see your Dorothy Perkins and i raise you a New Look

morning all - Just to be clear FA - DH bought stuff for himself at liberty - I didn't . He is a worse shopping addict than me so it would have been impossible to persuade him to join in.

Today I'm lazing in caramel sleeveless wool thingy on top of white asos top and skinny indigo jeans. Feels suitably cozy for a Sunday

Sounds a lovely outfit Hells.

So is the general consensus that if we do just want to shop more judiciously we shouldn't post on this thread?

I'd be happy to form a 'judicious' thread. Don't want to be judged, neither for my taste in diaries nor for my (now more occasional) purchases.... Nor for their provenance!!

Yeay - count me in ltec.

I'm mostly here to chat to my favourite S&B ladies and would like to start planning my judicious spring/summer wardrobe.

Good luck to those ladies who are going to buy nothing though.

cool. Off I go.

me too will join the other judicious thread instead ..

i went to M&S to get FIL a pressie and i picked up a dress and put it back down.

every time i go out now., i can hear the MN voice in my head saying 'noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!'

having said that, can i ask for BOden vouchers for my birthday in June having dissed the new range, i had a proper look in the catalogue and there are about half a dozen things that would be perfect, and timeless

i had to buy some cleanser and tner as had run out,but am currently using up all the 1/4 bottles and dribs and drabs of shampoo etc so will be operating on a one out one in regime for beauty stuff

had to throw out some tights with holes in.but have enough left to last a while yet

Ltec I have no problem with your taste in diaries, it's very nice! But I do feel that it makes it really difficult for people to carry on with the resolution not to buy anything if loads of us are coming on here saying 'well we bought this and this' - hope that makes sense. Good luck with other thread and enjoy planning spring wardrobes!

Hi Lulu! Same here...I keep going back to the 'look in the wardrobe and see if something you already have will do' type thinking. It's refreshing isn't it - I have chucked some tights also, but have got lots left thank goodness.

When I am tidying the house I keep being grateful that I'm not buying any more stuff - there is so much clutter here already.

Birthdays are very different imo!

Also looked at sink this morning after washing up, and wondered what it would look like at the end of the year once various things have been lost and broken, and we have about one plate each and a fork between us! I figured it would be much quicker to wash up.

Lulu the other week I poured all the shampoo ends into one bottle...less space and easier to manage. You have to balance it for a few hours upside down though which takes a while if you have several!

Whilst I find it fascinating reading about what everyone is buying/not buying, I shall be staying here, because I am totally serious about not buying any new clothes this year.

I have found myself taking extra care with the clothes that I have now. Handwashing bras, where as before I would have chucked them in the machine.

I intend to ask for a Space NK voucher for my Birthday in April, although by then I might have come to the conclusion that cheaper alternatives are good enough, and not need to do that.

I had not thought of that aspect, Now...very good thinking. I do tend to chuck everything in the machine and actually it does mean things don't last that long.

If we are not spending all our time shopping, and feeling we ought to be shopping, maybe we will slow down and find the time for taking proper care of the things we have...I hope so anyway.

I need to start doing that.
I often wish I owned far less stuff, too...with every item comes responsibility.

the decluttering is a good thing, i did the DCs room just after new year and doing ours too. it's pretty oragnised at the mo as we got a new bed before xmas, so had a clear out then, am being much better about bagging stuff up for charity /friends etc.. and binning stuff, rather than leaving it in a pile for another day.

I have been lurking on this thread, could you have a roll call to see who is still not buying?

Me, I'm not buying

I'm not currently buying so will lurk on the other thread ready for when I am - but for the time being, i'm skint and I have a lot of stuff so I'll stay put.

I posted a few days ago about not buying because we'd just paid for holiday (SIL getting married abroad) and it's tax return month.

Turns out, I'm due a tax rebate - yay! But we're having our windows done, and that's going to cost lots more than the rebate.

So I'll be making the most of the clothes I've got and reworking them into new outfits for the time being.

Would like to go a few months without a purchase. Will need support! I'm already feeling deprived and it's only been three weeks!

You are doing great Fleecy, three weeks, that means you started before this thread began?

Have made a bit of an effort today and am wearing make-up - something I rarely do for the school run. Plus contacts and earrings. I usually wear glasses, only contacts if I'm making an effort!

Top Shop long sleeved plum coloured jersey top, Boden denim mini skirt, black calf length boots, and a black wrap cardigan I got from Sainsburys. I had a similar one from Monsoon, lent it to somebody and they've never given it back - I'm not lending clothes anymore!

I'm using up all my moisturiser and cleanser, alternating between Keihl's Abbysine (sp?), Eve Lom and Neal's Yard's Frankincense. I reckon I have another month or two's worth, but any recommendations for cheaper alternatives?

I'm still not buying (apart from the £9.99 pair of jeans I've already confessed to - about a week ago - and a £2.99 pair of fingerless gloves this weekend).