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?

Sorry, by link I meant that instead of comfort eating, one comfort shops (as someone else already suggested). What you say: you'll feel "happier/prettier/better" - exactly! Instead of food giving you that quick fix feeling of comfort, it's shopping instead. Hence the illogicality of buying things you already have and/or don't need: it's not about their usefulness in and of themselves; it's what they stand (in) for.

I agree. I hope me going cold turkey on the comfort shopping doesn't mean I'll end up comfort eating instead!

RamblingRosa - it could be me writing your post. I always feel like I just need one more dress, shoes, etc.

I agree, Pen and RR. (Although of late, I have been doing both )

I have found many ways of justifying the purchase of near-identical (or identical!) items; some of them even seem quite reasonable.

Ultimately, though, when one has more clothes than occasions to wear them, the difference so subtle that most people would not notice, and there are other things to spend the money on, one has to ask: is it worth it, even if it is perfect with 75% off?

Well.. I'm still doing well. Drove right past TKMaxx yesterday even though I was itching to go in an rummage.

today wearing silvery grey Zara trousers with black shirt. Found an old Morgan cardie that I'd forgotten about too (cashmere no less).

Sterling work, lunar. I am avoiding going into the town centre at the moment. My 3 fave shops - Jigsaw, Comptoir des Cotonniers and Noa Noa - all have sales on, and I just have to keep away!

LOL Phase - well, quite! I also find that reminding myself that even if an item is enormously reduced in the sales, I am still not saving money by buying it, particularly if I never needed it in the first place! That's the trick the sales play on one: you tell yourself that you mustn't miss the chance to save money, when in fact, the sales are just another way to spend money, albeit perhaps less than if you'd bought said still-unnecessary item 2 weeks earlier...

I am currently wearing 4 layers on my top half and probably resemble that episode of Friends where Joey wears the whole of Chandler's wardrobe.

Feel particuarly virtuous as not only am I wearing 2 of my ridiculous number of cardigans, the heating isn't on full blast, thus saving me money there too.

Maybe layering is the way to go for us thrifty people!

ooh Penthesileia, comptoir des cotonniers is a dreamy shop full of clothing joys. Am not going to check if they have an online store.. (sits on hands)

hmm fell off wagon ..I get Brandalley emails and they always make me feel like I'm saving money as the prices are so much lower than in the shops! Got this coat for only £39, plus a Traffic People silk dress and a t-shirt. It won't arrive for weeks though.. And I am still waiting for an All Saints and Odille lingerie order.

realised when I was doing my inventory that I have lots of beautiful clothes and there will always be more lovely things, but it has to stop somewhere! I agree that the shops are very clever at making us want to buy things we don't need.

I've just been putting a shelf in my wardrobe and a new clothes rail as old one was knackered. Having the clothes all out on the bed made me realise something - I've considered it before as well but never shared it.

When I was younger and more chaotic, I had most of my clothes slung casually over an old armchair. It got a bit unmanageable and the wardrobe was always empty!

BUT the nice thing about it was I would have the clothes around me and visible all the time (yay to one room/bedsit living!) and they felt integral to my life.

Therefore it was far easier to get my head around wearing them. I would see randomly thrown together items that looked great on the chair, so wear them together next time...that kind of artistic advantage was great.

I think it might be nice to try this again, ie keep things on a chair rather than hung up. Just for a while, and see where it leads - I have a feeling others might benefit from this too, if one could only get past the mess angle and turn off my OCD ualities for a few days!!

Silver that's just it - where to stop?

My manta used always to be 'only if it's charity shop' or 'only in the sale' as I started to have slightly more money...

but then the income went up and I didn't have that limit any more. It was hard to draw an invisible line.

Now have reverted to 'only sale' as we have less again, and it feels like home

In fact I'd say it was a relief. I can lookat posh stuff and think 'yeah yeah but not for me' - it is like being in a museum - look but don't touch, I don't have to own all the lovely things in the world to appreciate them!

Far far easier than being able to choose almost anything, at a push.

I think we're safe on that front, tired, thank god. They just have one of those arty-farty "look at the elegant French ladeeez" type sites.

But they have some nice stuff. Sigh.

Hmmm. Maybe I should draw up an inventory of my wardrobe to distract myself from thoughts of that lovely grey dress I saw in the window... Let alone that amazing sheepskin coat...

LOL @ you in layers. Yes, indeed! V. thrifty on all fronts.

I'm only in 2 - long sleeved tee & cardigan - today, as have weird, distorted by bf-ing hormones, bonkers inner thermometer which means I always feel too warm at the moment.

That is a very pretty coat, Silver. I like the colour especially.

Flight - good point. Things get hidden in the wardrobe, don't they? I think that's why I sometimes end up buying much of the same (esp. black "everyday" dresses for some reason ) - you forget what you already have.

I think I've reached that point where I realise that there will always be something nice to buy, but that I need to take stock. As you say, where does it end? That dress? Or that coat? etc... I think I have to begin correlating my purchases with what I really need again, rather than simply what I fancy (which is pretty much everything! ).

silversixpence at that gorgeous coat!

fell of wagon - , spent £200 in sales .
most of it was xmas money and gift vouchers , so that doesnt really count?does it? ...bad bad drlove has no self control . kick my but ladies!
(it was the calvin kline dress that did it, it is bloody gorgouse though, cream a-line)

I am going to try and do this I have so many clothes that I don't wear enough and got a few nice things for xmas so don't need anything.How I will last I don't know but am determined although dp is

I love this thread. I realised today how ingrained hte whole shopping thing is. I was looking at newspapers online this morning and kept getting pop ups for ASOS (specifically that lovely Princesse Tam Tam dress LTEC bought). Then when I went out at lunchtime it was a monumental effort to restrict myself just to going to the bank and not to pop into John Lewis for a pointless browse.

I waste ££££ and worse than wasting £££ on things I don't really want, is wasting ££££ on p&p on online purchases and on sending them back.

good day chez Cake.

aside from wearing Isabella Oliver cardi (which must be at about 50p per wear by now) and old jeans, l/s top, I also...

a) had a credit note for £22 at local boutique (exchange on unwanted Xmas gift.) Did not even look at the clothes/ bags etc which would have certainly entailed further outlay (not going to get anything in that shop for £22, not even on sale) I picked up some coffee spoons and a board game which are for the enjoyment of more people than just me

b) received a JoJo order that I'd made before Xmas - clothes for dd (I love to shop for her ... ) to "put away" for when she is 4-5 (currently 3 and a half) ... took them back to the store as I will no doubt forget that I've bought them before she turns 4 or 5 and will end up buying more stuff anyway. While in store, resisted buying cute cashmere-mix cardigan for dc3 - reduced and would complete the set he was given at Xmas.

c) for myself, bought Castor Oil for OCM. £6 and will last me a couple of months.

Good(ish) day here.

Took ds to pet shop - he was adament he "needed" some guinea pigs (he's 2.5).. Purchases made - nil

Popped into Matalan. I shouldnt have. They had a massive sale - could have bought loads.... resisted all but a lovely thick purple and grey striped hoody for ds, and a couple of tree decorations to put away for christmas - but they were reduced to £1 and on BOGOF too so bargain really

Part from that nothing other than the rolo doughnuts that I bought because they are scrummy and the diet starts monday

On the clothes/weight issue - I buy clothes when I am fat as a) nothing I have fits, and b) I'm in search of the holy grail that will make me look fab. And I buy clothes when I am goal weight as everything looks so much better, and I know what size I am, so dont have to try things on so can grab and buy in seconds

with you on that Geordie - I buy clothes whether I'm big or small ... big because nothing is ever quite right and small because everything looks sooooo fabulous and I get double kick - 1. the purchase and 2. my reflection

Oh I really need to join this thread. Have just returned from holiday, having packed very lightly and was disgusted by myself when I opened the wardrobe. I have far too many clothes.

I need to learn some self-control. I tend to decide that one thing will transform my wardrobe and then fixate on it until I have it. Invariably, I will be bored by it within a month.

TTC and am excited at the prospect of a new maternity wardrobe. That has genuinely been the prevailing thought in it all.

Impressive restraint there, LTEC! I too have to avoid projection shopping for DD though (ie. if I can't buy for me, I'll buy for her... ).

Am ROFLing at redllamayellowllama drooling at thought of new maternity clothes!

drloves8 - that Calvin Klein dress sounds nice... Picture? Not that I'm trying to enable you or anything...

tattycoram - yes, absolutely. At one stage, I was ordering stuff from NAP and the Outnet and then returning nearly all of it for one reason or another, all for £10 a pop.

Yep. It hasn't stopped me doing a Toast sale order, but after that, enough.

Great thread! I can see myself in lots of posts. Bought absolutely loads last year... have lots of same things... really could do with stopping!!

Last items purchased were from LaRedoute following a thread about a dress. Got the parcel before Christmas, and then bought a winter hat on Christmas eve as it was just sooo cold and really needed one. Nothing bought since then!

We don't have many shops up here, but online shopping is my weakness. I've taken to just deleting any emails coming through about sales before looking at them. Need to be strong!

Beauty products much the same. Even after a massive clear out I still have absolutely loads. Will try to continue the year with no new purchases.

Hey, can I join? Haven't bought anything for ages but yknow I have clothes and still things I haven't worn for a while. Haven't got any money at the moment anyway so attempting to only buy essentials and be creative (freecycle/borrowing/reusing/making) for everything else...

FlightAttendant (and others) - I know what you mean about the fun of it. Used to LOVE browsing charity shops and TK Maxx (though I guess I had time to browse too) and liked finding unusual, bargains. But whizzing into Primark and buying a new fashionable, disposable jumper, . I used to have two huge wardrobes with curtains for doors too so could see all my clothes much easier...

Well, anyway, today am wearing jeans that have massive rips with purple leggings that I bought but have never worn underneath . Feel actually a bit funky and not so frumpy (even though have spent all day at home). I like the challenge - my personal one is to try not to wear jeans every day!!

I have bought a farhi jacket int he sale today, to go with a pair of trousers I got int he sale a couple of weeks ago - justified because I need a new suit fo rwork (they insist on suits, mine don't fit any more) and this was a bargain (ish) on the plus side I have resisted the toast sale