How to nOT buy clothing or jewelry for an entire year - ends May 19 by Cats&Scales

"A worthy effort to get you to really think about the value that you and your culture places on clothing."

How I did it: I kept to the goal pretty strictly for the most part. I allowed myself to shop for my own wedding and the wedding that I was a bridesmaid in, and I did pick up a few unnecessary (but perfect!) finds in the course of the year (shame on me!). I started out knowing I would make exceptions for basic items and wardrobe 'necessities' like if my black shirt got ruined somehow I would replace it. And I bought as much underwear and socks as I needed.

I think if I had tried this back when I was in high school, I would have had a much harder time with it. (Peer pressure and all that). Since I work in an office full of mom-aged women, they really don't notice or care if I wear the same clothes every week. (It's a wonderful work environment, being the only one my age, but I digress). I did get tired of my clothes at times, but there is nothing wrong with having the same clothes until they wear out, so I did my best to push past the consumerist mindset I'd grown up with as a kid in America. ;)

Now that it's over, I'm VERY glad I can go clothes shopping again. When I started this goal, I was much more fired up about anti-consumerism. A year later, I'm still very much aware of the negatives in a consumerist society, but I also try not to romanticize other cultures and places that don't have the 'extra money' to just go shopping for a day. I think my mindset now is to see it for what it is, keep it in check, and enjoy the freedom to dress myself however I like without abusing it. 

Lessons & tips:

  • A loophole: make your own clothing! That doesn't go against the thought process behind this goal: to swim against the current of the consumerist mindset that men and women have about clothing in the Western world.
  • AVOID GOING TO CLOTHING STORES. That's like taking a recovering alcoholic to a bar. I made all my guilty little purchases walking through one part of the mall to get to another or going out with friends "just to socialize".
  • Another loophole: Make exceptions for special events that you don't have something appropriate to wear to. But don't make every event into a special event. ;) If you are going to multiple weddings in a season, don't buy a new dress for every single one unless you are someone 'important'. =P


 

May 19, 2011, 08:50AM PDT | 2 comments | 7 cheers


Comments:

Plorange

Wow! I’m so impressed and inspired. I’m going to start out small and set a goal of a month for myself. I wonder how much money i can save by not wasting it on random items that i find in a store that I like. I have been going through my clothes to get rid of things I don’t need and/or want and I found so many thing that I only wore a couple of times because I didn’t like it or it didn’t really fit me. Your goal makes me wonder how much of that could have actually been avoided. Thank you

May 19, 2011, 09:35AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

Cats&Scales

You’re welcome!

That’s definitely the best thing about this goal is it really forces you to consider the things you want to purchase.

May 19, 2011, 12:41PM PDT | Respond to this


Cats&Scales has gotten 7 cheers on this entry.

 

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