Any frugalistas still going strong?

[Penthesileia]

I started a thread in January asking if anyone was interested in trying not to buy any new clothes or products this year (or fewer, at least), and quite a few people seemed interested. Ironically, it also seemed to have prompted a buying frenzy in the wise and avid gals , so my intentions went a bit awry there.

Anyway: I have, so far, managed to stick pretty much to my original plan. I have only bought 2 new dresses (heavily discounted to £24 and £28 in Noa Noa sale) this year with £50 gift money from my dad; plus 2 pairs of tights and a belt. The only new products I've bought have been some Quick Thinking wipes from the No7 range with the £5 off voucher (after buying nappies for DD) and some handcream when I ran out. Otherwise, I've been working my way slowly through my massive stockpile of lotions and potions.

Oh and 2 pairs of earrings from a lady on the market. So not bad, I think. Total spend (including vouchers) less than £100.

Is anyone else still going? I'm finding it surprisingly easy now. I just can't be bothered with the shops - nothing is interesting enough to break my fast, iyswim. And I'm enjoying working through my wardrobe, figuring out what I like to wear and how.

Would love to hear how others - if there are any! - are getting on.

i have bought one skirt this year for £30 ..which MIl paid for as a birthday present. so i have been doing very well on that score...

i haven't bought any products

at cheap noa noa dresses...well done you

agree that there isn't much i'd want to buy in the shops, tis a good thing.

still, i am pg and it gets very easy not to spend money on clothig that doesn't fit now/ won't fit in a few months...

I have been unintentionally frugal - I just can't seem to find anything I like enough to buy.

So far have bought (well had bought for me - a new pair of jeans) and one pair of earrings.

I just can't seem to find any clothing I like teh look of. I may have to buy a new pair of sandals for summer though as my birkies are looking a bit sorry for themselves.

Oh, actually I did buy some aveeno handcream - and am really pleased I did as it works like a dream and I no longer have to spends £'s searching for one which my hands don't react to - so actually that's a saving

I haven't done too well. OK on the cosmetics front-only buying what I need- but have bought a few new tops and my jeans needed replacing so I've bought a couple of pairs of jeans as well. I also bought a couple of dresses I've probably bought all I'm going to until autumn though. Maybe

Definitely did better last year. (Have put on quite a bit of weight in the last couple of months so a lot of it has been trying to improve self image)

I bought one black T shirt, and replaced my facial moisturiser with a new one when it ran out (same kind), and that's been it all year.

I didn't commit when I saw your original thread but I think it's a great idea.

My philosophy is if I don't buy myself a load of summer things then I can take a good shot at a capsule wardrobe come autumn. I also had an epiphany - instead of buying mad prints all the time (which I love) I am going to sober up and buy plain clothes which I will then accessorize with jazzy things.

I have bought a few things however :

navy linen trousers

poppy print shirt

navy vest top (all the above from M&S)

yellow silk short sleeved top (from Thomas Pink)

vibrant printed longish dress from M&Co (I bought the same style last year in a very different colourway/ pattern and loved it)

a bracelet from Pilgrim (bought this in April with some vouchers I was given at Christmas - to accessorise a dress I am wearing to 2 weddings this year which is around 6 yrs old. Does that make up for spendthrift ways above?

Yes!! Still doing with my old clothes!

LOL Penth you did spark a buying frenzy of sorts but you can also take some of the credit for the creation of a really lovely thread where lots of sound (albeit virtual) friendships have been formed, stories shared and advice exchanged.

So thank you

Well done Penth, and lumpsdumps etc, that is really good going!

I lurked on the thread, interested, but I shop to replace clothes mostly - have a limited budget and limited shopping opportunities - so fairly frugalista, but not with the willpower shown here.

Hello everyone - thanks for replying. Well done you frugalistas!

Awww, LTEC - that's so nice. Those threads (I've lurked occasionally - vicarious living ) do seem really lovely and friendly.

Thanks, FOP. It took will-power initially, but, as I said, now it's quite easy.