December already, I am tempted

Took Ma shopping, she bought a scarf and skirt and I bought her the slippers she chose for Christmas.  There was a 40% discount sale and things (clothes) seemed a real bargain.  I was tempted and would have bought at least three items of clothing for myself.  But didn't.  And I am feeling the strength building up and the desire slipping away, well slightly at least.

Getting easier

Today I threw out a pair of thin socks with an enormous hole in the heel - too big to darn usefully.  A bit scary with at least another four months of sock wearing ahead. But my wardrobe is still full of many things I don't wear and I'm feeling positive about this now.

A small victory

I went to Hempstead Valley, my previously favourite shopping mall with the flagship M&S, Wallis etc to get computer ink, a cup of coffee and lunch.  I walked past the clothes shops without looking and it was a bit sad.  However, I did manage to spend money on a few (non clothes) Christmas presents and a four piece red and white dinner set for the Big Day.  It felt quite decadent, even though not expensive.  Reminding me of when I first learned about the complete set of crockery exclusively for Pesach in Jewish homes, how extravagent!

Panic over

Sam came yesterday and explained that her wedding consists of a small group of close family, two friends each for her and Sandy, and a lunch afterwards.  So my one winter dress will do.  Chris says he prefers the summer dress with the cleavage, I'm always self conscious in that, but will consider it.  Nothing new needed after all.

M&S sales down 10%

I wonder if it is my social duty to help boost the economy...I never thought my year without clothes would have such a dramatic and instant effect!

Oh Liz! I'm disappointed

Liz was tempted by a M&S jumper and hat and has fallen off the wagon, after only one month.  We had a laugh when she told me but I am sad.  She is thinking of an alternative, maybe selling her car, but can't give up the pleasure of clothes shopping.  It's like a drug.

oh no!

Sam is getting married.  In February.  And there's a partner-of-the-father-of-the-bride size hole in my wardrobe.  And funnily enough, it's annoying me that I will have to find something rather than seeing it as a window of opportunity to break my no clothes for a year commitment.  Several friends, bless them, have offered to lend me something, sort of overlooking the elephant in the room which is that I am at least three dress sizes bigger than any one of them.  I've resolved to get my outfit from a charity shop, it's the least compromise I can manage.  First, I looked at hire sites and was horrified at what the mother of the bride (there wasn't a more appropriate category) is expected to hire.  Outfits in shiny satin which would make me feel so uncomfortable.  Poor Chris, he's dreading having to wear a hire penguin suit.  We are both so much jeans and jumpers dressers.  I'm kind of burying my head in the sand right now but know that I will have to start the charity shop trawl soon and that means travelling to posher places and I know I won't be able to find what I would normally have fun shopping to buy.  Misery!

Burning with desire?

Used my new burning bin for the first time today.  It was very windy and the smoke rushed out of the little chimney very satsfactorily.  I burnt three more store cards, old credit agreements and bank statements.  There is a nice pile of ash for the compost now.  I must get a life - this was the highlight of the day...

Cutting the cards

It's a bit miserable really, and only 10 days in - will it get easier?  Today I cut up three store cards, threw the lovely new shiny catalogues in the recycling, unopened and decided that the allotment will be the recipient of my thwarted shopping energies.  Only the allotment won't be ready till next year...what's an addict to do?

Wobbling a bit

We are discussing a winter holiday to celebrate Chris' 70th birthday and I'm thinking of my old,patched shorts.  It would be my default reaction to buy lots of new clothes.  Also, my friend who is an agent for those lovely Neals Yard organic beauty products keeps offering me 20% off.  It's difficult.  On top of that, I'm enduring one of my periodic cycles to lose weight so am feeling extra deprived. Ouch!

October 1st at last

Well, here we are.  Jane and I have exchanged emails about our last minute online shopping but I have the security of two parcels to arrive next week which will hold off the panic for a while.  Now it's  the reality of buying no clothes, or body and beauty products (my extra commitment) for a year.  I'm expecting  the hardest point will be from next spring onwards when the new season clothes arrive and I unpack my summer stuff to discover half of it is no longer desirable, or fits.    This means I also won't be able to gain weight.  I tore my shorts when cycling this week, and there are no summer shorts in the shops now so I mended them.  Chris says I will look like Orphan Annie...we'll see.

Three days to go

Shared experiences with Liz and Jane at the weekend and we had a good laugh.  Jane is being more grown up in the count down days but Liz and I have been panic buying.  I bought a lovely Monsoon skirt last week which of course goes with none of the tops I have (apart from black) so I'm hustling around looking for an aubergine jumper -  and it seems as if that's not this winter's colour.  Having searched through all my online shopping favourites, I have deleted them  today.  The Shopping file now  contains only boring sites like Lakeland and Amazon. What will I do for evening browsing now?

Eight days to go...

And I'm still spending on last minute things I think I might need during The Year.  Today, a hairbrush and shower cap, this week a totally unnecessary winter skirt and two good bras.  Did I mention that my austerity streak has extended to include bath and beauty products (save for toothpaste) too?  I eyed up the two bathroom cupboard shelves that will then be empty today and that was good.  My dentist, a very aspirational young man,asked if I was going to Bluewater after leaving him.  I explained, briefly.  His mouth literally fell open and he was speechless for a moment.  But why? was all he could manage.  Most of the men who know think it's a great idea and don't buy clothes anyway, they say. 

Three weeks to go

I am going to delete the entire Shopping File from my PC.  No more browsing in all my favourite shops, looking at what's new in.  Goodbye to Monsoon, Marks and Sparks, Lands End, Penhaligons, Asos, Poetry, Wrap, Laura Ashley, Wallis, Etsy, Boohoo, Next, Adini, Bhs, Tesco, The Golden Boot, Gabor,  Oxfam and my favourite Boden.  I have told several of these I don't want any more catalogues and on October 1st  the file will GO.  But today, I'm still having a few last peeks...

This Is It!

October 1st is the start date and I am being joined by Jane, Liz and Louise.  I am making a further committment, for 3 months initially to see how I manage.  To buy no beauty products - that's everything except toothpaste.  I reckon I can survive at least that long with what is already in the bathroom cupboard.

September 1st and not yet starting

Jane is doing The Year of No Clothes buying with me, and starting on 1st January.  She's not a Quaker, but I mentioned my plan in the Q newsletter, asking if anyone migh join/support me and have had no response.  I'm pretty sure no one reads it actually.  Anyway, it looks like I might start then too, or maybe 1st October.  I just want to unpack my winter clothes first and check I have everything I'll need.

I've decided on a start date...

January 1st.  I feel this is a bit of a cop out but it does, to me, make sense to wait till I get out my winter clothes to see if there are enough (I know there is, but hey) to last me through this and next winter.

Failed to start

Oh dear...I bought another top today.  It was 20% off, but still.  I suppose I could think that I am preventing the retail slump but that's not what I planned to do.  Talked with Helen over lunch and set the start date as 1st September.  On the plus side, cancelled another mail order catalogue which arrived today but haven't yet deleted the Shopping file which contains all my favourite online sites...

Preventative steps

The Celtic sheepskin  catalogue arrived today, I get loads of catalogues from everywhere I've ever bought online.  Full of highly desirable things, and more expensive than ever this year.  I looked, then chucked it into the recycling box AND - this is the preventative first step of many - I sent an email asking to be removed from their mailing list. BUT I've just spent half an hour or so browsing through the New Arrivals in all my favourite shops online.  HOWEVER, I didn't buy anything extra in Tesco today although I was tempted by the two books for £8, having picked up two titles I'd like to read.  Instead, I've booked them online at the library ... but couldn't resist  buying two others at Oxfam.

Cutting my Carbon Footprint

By 10% seems a realistic target.  So, if I use my hairdryer, say, 65 times a year, that would mean not using it on 6.5 occasions.  Same with the iron, straighteners, shower, washing machine, car - these are my main areas of domestic consumption.  There are some websites that help with the calculations.  I'm not sure about the shower though - perhaps it would be more manageable to reduce my time in it by 10%?  I'm number crunching and will soon set a date to start.

The new blouse, two days later

Well, I've worn it for two days and just now stained it with beetroot juice at lunch.  Is there a message here for me?  Atonement, I  put another top onto ebay.  I loved it when it was new but have only worn it once. It has one watcher so far.

Resisted temptation in Tesco

Well, they did have in some of their autumn collection and after almost six months in sandals and light clothes, woolies begin to look attractive.  So I had a careful look but fortunately nothing screamed out that I must buy it.  I wonder if,eventually, I won't even trawl through the clothes aisles after the weekly shop?  I also think that online browsing, and magazines, will have to be banned at first.

The last shoping expedition?? 11th August

The idea started when Ma gave me £25 of M&S vouchers yesterday.  Before that, I was quite decided that the Year of No Clothes Buying would start soon.  I had worked out roughly how much money I might save over the year (good) and pondered various obstacles - would I accept clothes as gifts? discount those bought from charity shops? or what if I bought material to make them myself?  My inner shopper niggled away. (Bad.) until the vouchers.  Well, of course I ended up at M&S today.  Early. A 30 mile round trip adding to the guild of my carbon footprint.  And guess what, there wasn't much I wanted at M&S (good) but I managed to buy a pair of trousers anyway (useful, bad). I was leaving the shopping centre, honestly, but made a small diversion into Wallis where I bought two lovely tops. (£71, yikes.)  I'm wearing one now, it is beautiful and I do feel good in it.  The other one is for a party next Saturday, although I had already decided I'd wear my new  dress.  I'm beginning to feel this is like dieting.  Just do it.  No more excuses.