At some point I'll post about goals or resolutions or whatever you want to call 'em for 2012. But for right now, I want to post about what I'm "daring" myself to do this year. It's in a different category because if I fail spectacularly I don't really care so much, it's more that I just want to challenge myself to see if I can do it.
My dare for 2012 has to do with clothes and shopping. After signing up for mint.com earlier this year, I was able to see that clothes really took up more of my budget than I'd ever really noticed (probably because I didn't have a specific budget line for them, they were lumped together with "other/fun"). Each month it was $30 or $50 or $60. I began to see how here and there clothes were consuming more of my income than I'd realized. And I also began to think that probably I didn't necessarily need all of the clothes I was buying.
After evaluating my closet and realizing that I really do have a decent basic wardrobe and reminiscing about all those years in China when I lived off the same wardrobe for 10 months at a time, I realized that I could probably make some changes. So my challenge to myself is based on this postcard from when I collected WWII propaganda as a teenager (yep, that really happened, I had huge "Wings Over America" posters and stuff like that). This postcard, I also collected postcards, is from the Imperial War Museum in London.
This postcard has hung on the inside door of a variety of closets throughout the years to remind to be content with what I have. For me that's making-do more than mending because despite a year (a year, I say) of sewing electives in high school, I'm still not so hot with the needle and thread. So my challenge to myself, specifically, is to not buy any brand new clothes this year. There are a couple of boundaries I've put up and a couple of different reasons.
Parameters:
1. No shopping for brand new items from stores (the mall, Target, online) for one year.
2. It is OK to shop at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Plato's Closet, generous friends' cast-offs, etc.
3. Underthings, socks, bridesmaid dresses, and some other items I may not have thought of yet are not included.
4. I'm undetermined on whether to include shoes. I'm going to try not to buy any new shoes, but we'll see. I fear if I say no shoes and no clothes, I may end up with a whole ton of new "accessories" by the end of the year.
5. Items while on vacation or in foreign countries don't count; they're souvenirs, whole other category.
6. Gifts for other people (like my sister, whose birthday is next week).
Reasons:
1. Financial - money was going away and I wasn't really paying attention. Probably there are things I would rather spend my money on. I always bought on sale and tried to look for good deals, but I also did a lot of impulsive shopping, buying things I didn't need just because they were on sale.
2. Self Control - I'm realizing more and more that I have the self-control of a 3 year old. It's overwhelming to tackle all the areas I need more self control at once, but this is one place where I can kind of see actually having some discipline, so I'm going to start here and see if/how it spills over to other areas (or if I just fill the need to spend money on clothes buying more of other stuff).
3. Slavery - I've been gradually becoming more aware of the fact that most of the things I wear are probably made under conditions that aren't too far removed (or exactly are) slave-like conditions. Take this test at Slavery footprint if you want to feel like crap (and get a big wake up call). My biggest contribution to the ongoing slave issue was clothes. My "dare" is by no means a perfect solution to this. Not buying brand news clothes but instead probably buying the same clothes from a thrift store isn't making a huge statement, but it's a little step in the right direction (I hope).
So already this little dare has been hard. Looking at a friend's recent purchase at target.com at work and realizing there's no little "pick-me-ups" for me at Target this year. Walking into the mall (which I rarely do) and realizing how hard it is to walk straight past the Loft 60% OFF SALE without even walking in.
But then I remind myself that I managed to find something from my closet to wear yesterday. In fact, I've been clothed all week. And, there's probably even a few more outfits in my closet that could be worn before I'd even need to do laundry. Hmmm...and if I exercised a bit more and ate a bit less (see upcoming goals 2012 post), then there would be even more fun options in my closet - shopping from stuff I know I already like (because I bought it and saved it even when it didn't fit so good anymore) for FREE!!
That's the low down on my little dare to myself. And I'm welcoming all insight into thrift store shopping that you might have to share!
My dare for 2012 has to do with clothes and shopping. After signing up for mint.com earlier this year, I was able to see that clothes really took up more of my budget than I'd ever really noticed (probably because I didn't have a specific budget line for them, they were lumped together with "other/fun"). Each month it was $30 or $50 or $60. I began to see how here and there clothes were consuming more of my income than I'd realized. And I also began to think that probably I didn't necessarily need all of the clothes I was buying.
After evaluating my closet and realizing that I really do have a decent basic wardrobe and reminiscing about all those years in China when I lived off the same wardrobe for 10 months at a time, I realized that I could probably make some changes. So my challenge to myself is based on this postcard from when I collected WWII propaganda as a teenager (yep, that really happened, I had huge "Wings Over America" posters and stuff like that). This postcard, I also collected postcards, is from the Imperial War Museum in London.
This postcard has hung on the inside door of a variety of closets throughout the years to remind to be content with what I have. For me that's making-do more than mending because despite a year (a year, I say) of sewing electives in high school, I'm still not so hot with the needle and thread. So my challenge to myself, specifically, is to not buy any brand new clothes this year. There are a couple of boundaries I've put up and a couple of different reasons.
Parameters:
1. No shopping for brand new items from stores (the mall, Target, online) for one year.
2. It is OK to shop at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Plato's Closet, generous friends' cast-offs, etc.
3. Underthings, socks, bridesmaid dresses, and some other items I may not have thought of yet are not included.
4. I'm undetermined on whether to include shoes. I'm going to try not to buy any new shoes, but we'll see. I fear if I say no shoes and no clothes, I may end up with a whole ton of new "accessories" by the end of the year.
5. Items while on vacation or in foreign countries don't count; they're souvenirs, whole other category.
6. Gifts for other people (like my sister, whose birthday is next week).
Reasons:
1. Financial - money was going away and I wasn't really paying attention. Probably there are things I would rather spend my money on. I always bought on sale and tried to look for good deals, but I also did a lot of impulsive shopping, buying things I didn't need just because they were on sale.
2. Self Control - I'm realizing more and more that I have the self-control of a 3 year old. It's overwhelming to tackle all the areas I need more self control at once, but this is one place where I can kind of see actually having some discipline, so I'm going to start here and see if/how it spills over to other areas (or if I just fill the need to spend money on clothes buying more of other stuff).
3. Slavery - I've been gradually becoming more aware of the fact that most of the things I wear are probably made under conditions that aren't too far removed (or exactly are) slave-like conditions. Take this test at Slavery footprint if you want to feel like crap (and get a big wake up call). My biggest contribution to the ongoing slave issue was clothes. My "dare" is by no means a perfect solution to this. Not buying brand news clothes but instead probably buying the same clothes from a thrift store isn't making a huge statement, but it's a little step in the right direction (I hope).
So already this little dare has been hard. Looking at a friend's recent purchase at target.com at work and realizing there's no little "pick-me-ups" for me at Target this year. Walking into the mall (which I rarely do) and realizing how hard it is to walk straight past the Loft 60% OFF SALE without even walking in.
But then I remind myself that I managed to find something from my closet to wear yesterday. In fact, I've been clothed all week. And, there's probably even a few more outfits in my closet that could be worn before I'd even need to do laundry. Hmmm...and if I exercised a bit more and ate a bit less (see upcoming goals 2012 post), then there would be even more fun options in my closet - shopping from stuff I know I already like (because I bought it and saved it even when it didn't fit so good anymore) for FREE!!
That's the low down on my little dare to myself. And I'm welcoming all insight into thrift store shopping that you might have to share!
I just went through my wardrobe the weekend before New Years. I do this about every three months and it is great...highly recommend it. I often shop at Goodwill and other thrift/consignment stores. Even better is shopping through other people's closets when they're giving things away! It's FREE. I do this like its my job...oh wait...it is my job, haha! My other job, of course. Good luck to you as you re-evaluate your wardrobe and help fight the battle against modern day slavery one footprint at a time :)I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteYay Jen! I think Goodwill and other consignment in Atlanta probably has some great stuff. Bigger cities are always best. What prize do you get if you win the dare?
ReplyDeleteThere's a great consignment store in Decatur...Finder's Keepers...has great deals!
ReplyDeleteAmy Mo