STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

member · Hermes

I'm on a Shopping Ban - Anyone Care to Join Me?

ico · Dooney & Bourke

Here, here! I am with you!

I decided to go on a shopping ban at the beginning of June until my bday (which is on the 10th); I have done pretty well but I HAD to buy a bra (long story).
Anyway, since I don't really need anything else for summer, I can join you for as long as you'll be on the ban! I am almost done with my cc debt, but afterwards I want to save some money (part of it will be for going to Italy to visit my parents for Christmas).

I have written my resolution and attached it on the fridge; it states something like:

"Until (enter day) shopping is only for grocery (in grocery I include also stuff such as tooth paste, shampoo etc; but those have to be from the drugstore, not some fancy stuff!)
no clothes
no shoes
no bags
no CDs
no books
no magazines

I don't need any more clothes!!!"

I have a tip for you: try to avoid the shopping section and fashion mags (they are really dangerous!, as well as catalogs

Lilykind · Hermes

I am so with you! My reasons include...

I have enough work clothes. I wear my work clothes more than any other clothes, so I really don't need to buy things like weird t-shirts or flip flops. I'm kinda lucky because I haven't been really into this summer's fashions since I don't like boho that much.

I have cc debt. It really really bothers me. It WILL be paid off!

I made my New York trip and spent accordingly.

I'm adopting the same policy, only buying if I need to refill makeup or skincare items. Beware of what happens if you try to post stuff shopchicago33.

My BF is helping me out a lot and encouraging me from the sidelines.

member · Hermes

ico - Yay! Thanks for joining me. I don't have a set date to be on a shopping ban until, so I'll start slow and say I'm going to try for the next month at least and see how I do. So until July 28, for now. And I'll go from there.

I know I really should stay off the shopping and fashion forum, but I can't. I just can't. And I can't not read fashion mags - I'd go nuts!!

ico · Dooney & Bourke

shopchicago33- ok, let's see what happens between now and July 28th.
BTW, I guess I am allowed to change oil to my car, right (just kidding...)

Also, the fashion thread is a dangerous place. And I know, I can't totally avoid checking the shopping thread and shopping mags, but I try...

A trick I have discovered (this is my second shopping ban, I am accumulating experience).
Write down everything you think really you need and you want to buy, and promise to yourself that if you still want it at the end of the ban, you are allowed to buy it. With me, it works: after a couple of days I think the stuff is not necessary and I just erase it from my list. And the things that stay on the list till the end I really need, so I can buy them wothout guilt (hope this makes sense!)

member · Hermes

Lilykind wrote:

I am so with you! My reasons include... I have enough work clothes. I wear my work clothes more than any other clothes, so I really don't need to buy things like weird t-shirts or flip flops. I'm kinda lucky because I haven't been really into this summer's fashions since I don't like boho that much. I have cc debt. It really really bothers me. It WILL be paid off! I made my New York trip and spent accordingly. I'm adopting the same policy, only buying if I need to refill makeup or skincare items. Beware of what happens if you try to post stuff shopchicago33. My BF is helping me out a lot and encouraging me from the sidelines.

I will beware of posting stuff Lilykind! Just as a note though, the only time I will post things are if my boyfriend or boyfriend's mom buys me something - they tend to do that sometimes. So I'm just warning you so you don't yell at me

member · Hermes

ico - that is a great tip about writing everything down. Just last month, I actually started doing that. I write down the item, the store it's from, and the price. If i still want it at the end of the ban, I'll get it. I bet I'll be amazed at how much of it I'll probably forget all about

Meow · Coach

I am joining you, but I might make one more purchase. I am considering buying this jacket. I have that giraffe skirt from anthro and I still haven't worn it because I need a top piece to go with it. However, I am thinking that the skirt would be a really good fall piece and I might find something with a 3/4 sleeve to wear with it instead. I have about 8 things on my list that I need for Fall/Winter and after that, I am going to buy myself one nice fall/winter outfit (probably from banana or anthro) and that is it for fall/winter. We really have more summery weather here than anything else and I want to have a wad saved up for when spring/summer comes around again. That is my long term plan, anyway.

dot · Marc Jacobs

i really need to join you all.

i had alot of costs after closing on my apt and then immediately following with a vacation that i need to get over.

i don't need work clothes because my work is stuffy and no one cares about what i wear.

i don't need more play clothes because i don't even enough days to play in my play clothes.

i want to save money to go on vacation again.

and as much joy as shopping brings, i think it's time for me to control that.

no clothes, no bags, no shoes. repeat.

blubirde · Chanel

I'm sooo there. I'm on the permanent shopping ban until I can get my cc under control. Bleh. Except for books. If I'm going to be denying my inner goddess her outer wardrobe, I can at least spiritually and intellectually uplift her mind. But I'll shoot for half-price.

It really sucks though. All I can think about are dresses, skirts, shoes, bronze purses, and pretty cardis! argh... I stare and stare at my closet every day wondering what in the world I'm going to wear. I think I'll start a wish list and hand it over to my mother in the hopes that she might feel guilty about saying something mean to me and will buy something on it to purchase my affections. I'm okay with that.

Oh and I'm simply TERRIFIED of the shopping thread. I avoid it at all costs because I just know I'll want everything and I have a huge impulse control problem.

Here are my goals:

no shopping for shoes
no shopping for clothes
no shopping for purses
no shopping for jewelry
no shopping for makeup unless it's a necessity and at a drugstore or ulta
no eating out at lunch unless forced by boss or for very special occasion
no eating out at dinner unless something special
no magazines
no cds
no dvds
no exorbitant presents to people - it's the thought that counts
nothing for the house unless it's a very inexpensive table that i need for my stereo (under $20 at thrift store is only find that will be acceptable)

-- Edited by blubirde at 16:31, 2005-06-29

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I will join as well. Like you, I have enough work clothes (that don't matter so much anyway) and no time for fun clothes.

Until July 28 (for now), I promise to:

no clothes

no shoes

no eating out frivolously

no bags

no beauty stuff, unless I run out

no books, magazines, new subscriptions to anything, or DVDs.

If I "need" to buy something, I will buy fun jewelry limited to once per week and under $20 (because I really don't have a lot of fun stuff).

I may only break this if I decide I really and truely need something to wear for my graduation on July 30. It's business casual dress, so I most likely already have something.

theotherjess · Chanel

I'm broke and going to be in North Carolina for most of July so count me in too! I probably will be buying some magazines for the car ride though.

ETA: And no unneccessary trips to Target just for the heck of it.

-- Edited by theotherjess at 19:35, 2005-06-29

crystal · Kate Spade

i am going to join you ladies!

my reasons:

i need to pay off my debt

my rules:

no clothes/shoes/bags unless some huge event pops up and i've tried on everything in my wardrobe to no avail

jewelry is not an issue for me, but i'll still say it: no jewelry

no eating out lunch or dinner unless it is a special occasion (coworker's bday, dutch date, etc.)

only purchase necessary groceries, necessary toiletries, gas, car maintenance, home maintenance

i think i can handle this & will follow through until Aug. 1st since my bday is the 6th & i'm going to vegas the 4th & 5th so i will be required to spend!

member · Hermes

Oh I'm so glad so many of you are joining me. Who wants to be alone on a shopping ban! Anyhow, would it be ok w/all of you if I post weekly threads to check in w/everyone and see how they're doing w/our ban? Just want us all to support eachother!

luckylily · Gucci

I am so in for a ban. I need to save up for my vaca in the fall. I also don't need work clothes and have plenty of going out clothes. I'll say no shopping until August 1, but might extend after that.

My rules:

Do not go to Les Amis (my fave boutique in town) Summer Sale. If I go, I will spend.

No clothes

No shoes

No make up unless replacement item

No jewelry

I am going to make one exception for myself. If the cardi/shrug I've been eyeballing at Anthro goes on sale, I'm getting it.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I am joining! I actually just need to make sure I don't spend any unnecessary money. I have to shop but not for casual clothes or crap items.

My rules:

Buy only what is necessary for new apartment

NO Crappy items from Walmart or Target

NO clothes that can't be worn to work

NO shoes that can't be worn to work

Only buy the basics/necessary items when I run out (ie toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, lotion)

ABSOLUTELY NO NEW MAKEUP!

My goals:

Become more organized

Declutter

Save as much money as I can

Sort through my closets and room and find creative uses for stuff or trash it

Sell stuff pulled out already on Ebay

jacL · Coach

Oh, I am so there! I will set my ban for one month.

The weekly check-up idea is excellent--it is the only way to keep me in line.

Good luck ladies!!!

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I'd like to join in on the shopping ban also. My sav. acct. here lately has gone down pretty badly, so I'd really like to build that back up. I'm planning on taking another trip for my birthday in a couple of months, so I'd like to save up for that.

I'm like most of you ladies here:

No clothes (my closets are PACKED to rim!!)

No shoes

No jewelry

I'll say until my birthday. Yeah - I can do this! LOL Just gotta have Faith.

kenzie · Chanel

Alright, alright, I'll join the no-shopping fun. I need to build my savings account back up after taking a month off from work.

So....here's what I won't be buying:

Clothes (unless an unforeseen event comes up)- the only exception is khaki bermuda shorts

Bags (unless I find the perfect Bronze bag, then I'm allowed, but only if it's under $100)

Unecessary products (I will use all of the bottles of shampoo/conditioner in my shower before running out to buy more)

Jewelry-- jewelry supplies notwithstanding and I can also make myself jewelry, but only *after* I've completed any orders that come in.

Make-up (I hardly ever wear it anyway and I when I do wear it, I certainly have enough already)

Crappy tabloids like USWeekly and InTouch, what a waste of money!

No eating lunch out (unless there's a specific reason, like today, I'm meeting a friend I haven't seen in almost two years)

You'll notice that shoes aren't on my list. But I really need some shoes for work and I'm excited that I can wear cute shoes with heels now!

And my goals during this ban are as follows:

Build my savings back up

Pay down some debt (which is not from shopping, but from college)

Organize my closets & continue to streamline my wardrobe (this is an ongoing process, it seems)

Take a bunch of crap to a consignment shop and donate the rest that the consignment shop doesn't take

I'll be on this ban until the week of my birthday, which is August 5.

member · Hermes

I guess I should list my rules and goals since I started the ban! Here's mine:

No clothes (unless I find the Gap skirt I've been stalking that's on sale)

Absolutely no new shoes

No new makeup, unless I'm buying to replace what I run out of

No more new jewelry

No new purses

My Goals:

Pay down some of my credit card debt

Build my savings account back up

You girls will be so proud of me - my FH dragged me to the mall last night and I bought nothing!