Earlier this month I posted that I was daring myself not to buy any new clothes for the entirety of 2012. See post here. New clothes means brand new from stores; second-hand shopping is still quite acceptable. I'm just going to give a brief update on what I've learned in the first month.
1. I don't really miss it all that much. Of course, it's only been a month, and the month right after Christmas and during my birthday (not that I received many clothing items then), but maybe I've been pleasantly distracted from wanting new clothes because I did receive other new things (toaster oven! new bedding!)
2. I think it's worked out pretty good financially. I definitely didn't realize how much was disappearing in little ways here and there from month to month last year. Things didn't seem quite so tight at the end of the month this time, right before payday (yes, I only get paid once/month, I've actually only ever had jobs that pay once a month as an adult, I'd have no idea what to do with that whole bi-monthly business, yes, this is quite the tangent). It'll be interesting to see if that repeats from month to month.
3. Last weekend a friend called up wanting to go shopping on Saturday evening. I can't buy anything, but sure (actually, shoes & accessories are still possible buying items). One of the things I realized while thoroughly perusing the racks (all that extra time with nothing to try on) was that I don't actually spend very much time thinking through clothes purchases at all. I was in a store that I used to frequently buy things in and the longer I was there, the more I thought that the clothes were kind of cheaply made. I had the time to notice since I wasn't so distracted by price and fit. Also, I could pay more attention to style, what people are actually wearing (or being told that they're supposed to wear). I'm hoping this year will make me a more thoughtful shopper when I do return to the world of clothes-buying.
4. Finally, I realized that the things I saw which did catch my eye would like much, much cuter in a smaller size (this involves other goals related to health and exercise that I haven't published for the world to see. yet.) Having the freedom not to buy clothes actually reinforced the other goals that I'm working towards in my life. It might just be working! Can self-control be contagiously spilling to other facets for life?
That's the update on the Double Dog Dare of 2012. In February, I've already set up a weekend of thrift-storing with a friend, so I'm looking forward to what I'll discover with that - discoveries both about myself and for my closet.
1. I don't really miss it all that much. Of course, it's only been a month, and the month right after Christmas and during my birthday (not that I received many clothing items then), but maybe I've been pleasantly distracted from wanting new clothes because I did receive other new things (toaster oven! new bedding!)
2. I think it's worked out pretty good financially. I definitely didn't realize how much was disappearing in little ways here and there from month to month last year. Things didn't seem quite so tight at the end of the month this time, right before payday (yes, I only get paid once/month, I've actually only ever had jobs that pay once a month as an adult, I'd have no idea what to do with that whole bi-monthly business, yes, this is quite the tangent). It'll be interesting to see if that repeats from month to month.
3. Last weekend a friend called up wanting to go shopping on Saturday evening. I can't buy anything, but sure (actually, shoes & accessories are still possible buying items). One of the things I realized while thoroughly perusing the racks (all that extra time with nothing to try on) was that I don't actually spend very much time thinking through clothes purchases at all. I was in a store that I used to frequently buy things in and the longer I was there, the more I thought that the clothes were kind of cheaply made. I had the time to notice since I wasn't so distracted by price and fit. Also, I could pay more attention to style, what people are actually wearing (or being told that they're supposed to wear). I'm hoping this year will make me a more thoughtful shopper when I do return to the world of clothes-buying.
4. Finally, I realized that the things I saw which did catch my eye would like much, much cuter in a smaller size (this involves other goals related to health and exercise that I haven't published for the world to see. yet.) Having the freedom not to buy clothes actually reinforced the other goals that I'm working towards in my life. It might just be working! Can self-control be contagiously spilling to other facets for life?
That's the update on the Double Dog Dare of 2012. In February, I've already set up a weekend of thrift-storing with a friend, so I'm looking forward to what I'll discover with that - discoveries both about myself and for my closet.
This was good for me to read (*and* interestingly written!). A good study on self-control, too! (Ouch!) :)
ReplyDeleteLydia Brownback has a really good (and convicting) handout here: http://www.amazinggrace360.com/index.php/conference-handouts titled "Five Hindrances to Self Control."
Your upcoming thrifting weekend sounds fun!
Wednesdays at Salvation Army thrift stores are half-price clothes days. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I got a new toaster over, too! It was thrilling.
such a good challenge, although for me it would probably be buying home stuff. :) i've definitely been thinking more about quality too. and the definition of need in my life. i always love reading what you write about.
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