https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:39:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2296659 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:29:27 +0000 Anonymous 2296659@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am on a second year-long fast from buying new clothes for myself, unless I can not find &nbsp;used what I really need. &nbsp;This is a good time to refrain from buying. &nbsp;Everything will soon be on sale. &nbsp;Then shop early for stock sizes disappear quickly. &nbsp;Where most of the women are big the small stuff goes on deep discount. &nbsp;Here people are in good shape and the small sizes go first at full price . &nbsp;The sales have lots of XL sizes. &nbsp;This also goes for tall boots. &nbsp;Salesmen would point out the sale rack narrow shafts. &nbsp;NOw I need to look for them in September or earlier. &nbsp;I should do shopping road trips. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2296258 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 04:57:04 +0000 Zaeobi 2296258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, chameleon trousers, how intriguing... I'm sure they look fab on you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2296173 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:00:04 +0000 April 2296173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They're a very golden olive - not my favorite olive near my face but for trousers, quite nice.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2296151 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:20:11 +0000 Zaeobi 2296151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@April<br /> What would you say is the colour of those trousers - can't tell if they're tan/ gold/ olive? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2296001 Mon, 12 Dec 2022 13:12:19 +0000 April 2296001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Zaeobi, I have gotten obsessed with Wrappily and their recycled giftwrap, paper ribbon, etc.</p> <p>And now to turn back to fashion and things that squeaked into my closet just before my shopping pause, I tried on two sizes of the DKNY faux suede paper-bag pants that<a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-happens-when-you-dont-buy-ahead--"> Chris987 showed here</a> and one is perfect, so they're staying.&nbsp; Also a pair of Clark's olive suede booties seems just right - those had become a HEWI for me and I know they'll get worn frequently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2295818 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 10:09:31 +0000 Zaeobi 2295818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess the key thing is spending time with the people you love, regardless of what (or whether) you're celebrating! </p> <p>I suspect I grew up like Mr April's family; even for Eids, we never really got 'gifts' as such (my mother &amp; I used to organise an annual gathering at the community centre, where we would give the younger kids small gifts, but the rest of us didn't really expect anything). And like Jenni mentioned, I'm not sure we could all 'predict' what the other would like anyway - DH has said he'll buy me some noise cancelling headphones for my birthday, so I guess going to shop for that together will be the best of both worlds! </p> <p>I'm sorry about your lipstick but sometimes the giftwrap (i.e. what it comes in) is more important than the gift itself, haha! I know some people take great joy out of carefully wrapping up everything for others - picking out the colours &amp; textures, etc. I like the 'reusable' gifting approach of giftbags/ eco-friendly paper etc </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2295772 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:02:05 +0000 Jaime 2295772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are so right about the lip balm being better in a gold tube. Younger me would have scoffed. Anyway, no big gift giving occasions around here except for January when 3/5 of my family have birthdays. We do give like to give small Chanukah gifts (not such a big thing here) but have never managed to beat giving all three kids Airpods years ago. The only present they all could enjoy equally . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping/page/2#post-2295746 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:56:14 +0000 Angie 2295746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, <b>April</b>. You are a GREAT story teller, and VERY crafty. I did know that, but forgot. The laundry disaster had me laughing, although I know it wasn't funny! I loved the delightful ending </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295740 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:44:56 +0000 Jenni NZ 2295740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel like rather a Grinch for about a decade on this topic. We started giving Christmas money instead of gifts in 2013, at which point our children were 22, 20 and 17. Our son at 17 already had the personality of preferring money to gifts, as I had begun failing to choose what he liked when he was 13/14, and the girls were at the point of preferring to choose for themselves as well. And about the same time the extended family stopped giving to each other with my in-laws being in late 70s/early 80s and really really not needing material things to clutter their house more. Now 10 years on with them 91 and 86 even more so. I dread clearing that house when they are gone.<br /> We get together with the extended family for a festive meal but no gifts are exchanged. Last year I did buy for baby granddaughter. This year she has been taken to Vietnam for 5 weeks so the other grandmother (who did not meet the baby until she was 16 months of age) can have a well-deserved turn. But that grandmother is Buddhist so I suspect Christmas will not be celebrated particularly.<br /> Sometimes my husband and I choose something we want and “give” it to each other. I have long felt there was too much commercialism around this time so do not mind no gifts. I used to have a hard time choosing gifts for my staff year after year and now I have sold the practice in 2021 ( although I still work there) I do not have to, yay! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295697 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 19:16:32 +0000 April 2295697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, some of my relatives are huge fans of fruitcake (not the kind my Grandma used to make out of sawdust and jujubes, always burnt) so I always make at least two and mail them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I make a lot of clove fruits (apples, oranges, etc.) this time of year and this year I discovered that small pears work great and look like little Christmas trees when finished.&nbsp; A few of those will become gifts.</p> <p>I also do some hand bookbinding, and am using circuit boards that Mr. A doesn't need anymore as the covers of a notebook for a friend's new son-in-law.&nbsp; That one's not finished yet but I need to get busy on it.</p> <p>But perhaps my best homemade gift followed a laundry disaster.&nbsp; I washed a load of white towels with my white terry robe, which had a tube of my darkest shade of lipstick in the pocket.&nbsp; "Berry Parisienne" then went through the dryer as well and melted onto all the whites.&nbsp; But, the shiny gold lipstick case was clean as a whistle after its little tumbling sauna, so I bought some flavored lip balm, removed the stick of balm from its tube, and filled the empty lipstick case with the lip balm.&nbsp; This is for my five-year-old friend who visited this summer, because everyone knows it's way more fun to have some boring old lip balm if it looks like a fancy gold lipstick... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295657 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:54:18 +0000 April 2295657@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, so many things I want to respond to!</p> <p>Christmas for me growing up was a big deal, and it was also my grandfather's birthday.&nbsp; My mother would host the extended family for midday Christmas dinner at our small house, and then around 5 pm the whole thing would shift into Grandpa's birthday party.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I heard a useful rule of thumb for avoiding spending a lot of money on a lot of (junky) toys for the little ones.&nbsp; You can limit gifts to<br />Something they want<br />Something they need<br />Something to wear<br />And something to read</p> <p>My son was raised with Jewish traditions so we didn't have to worry much about a mountain of presents except on his birthday.&nbsp; Mr. April was raised in a Jewish family as well - a family that didn't celebrate anything in a major way and weren't particularly observant either.&nbsp; Needless to say, both son and husband love the festivity of Christmas beyond all reason, now that we've decided to celebrate whatever makes us happy.&nbsp; I'll put something on the Off Topic thread about how we're doing Chanukah this year.</p> <p>I am nodding along vigorously to everyone saying they get caught up in the end of year sales frenzy, and/or the lemming tendency when a YLFer posts something amazing.</p> <p>Thank you all for responding thoughtfully and with some detail! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295603 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 08:19:15 +0000 Sal 2295603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are a lot of emotions around Christmas and shopping and spending, it's complex!</p> <p>I am on a no-shopping for clothing for me period.&nbsp; I purchased a dress on the 1st of Nov and am holding off anything else til 2023.&nbsp; But I am still shopping for gifts and a few other things.</p> <p>I am always conflicted between wanting to support my favourite retailers and between not spending too much, nor accumulating too much.</p> <p>I don't tend to buy gifts too far in advance, but we also don't purchase too many.&nbsp; I have been doing a lot of travel for various things lately (in NZ) and so my money is being spent there.&nbsp;</p> <p>I find a bit of a shopping ban really helpful in terms of making me use what I have and think about what I really need.&nbsp; I tend to switch around when it is every year depending on what we have on for the year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295602 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 08:07:41 +0000 Zaeobi 2295602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I shall join you for a No-buy December - I had some orders come through from November now but am already dragging my feet on packing them up to be returned, lol... </p> <p>That said though, I *am* cheating slightly in that I don't celebrate Xmas My birthday is in January though &amp; Chinese New Year is around then too, but I already bought DH his present this summer (a chess themed shirt!) </p> <p>Gift giving wasn't a big deal for me growing up (we'd often regift, &amp; cash in a card counts as a cultural appropriate 'gift' for us haha). Friends were usually frugal with my birthday too (since it's right after Christmas, meaning everyone is broke :P) but I do miss finding Boxing Day deals! Instead, I buy whenever I see something special, &amp; gift it on DH's birthday / our 2 anniversaries / when I fly home to see family. That's plenty of occasions for me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295599 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 08:02:38 +0000 Sally 2295599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t shop much at Christmas. My extended family are overseas and in some ways that takes the pressure off. With an elderly mother I have had to take on a lot of responsibility for Christmas so I try to keep it simple. My son is into sport and not much else so his gear is all bought by his dad and i just give him fun outings etc. I just want to read my books and catch up on my movies/ tv during Christmas, so food that is easy to organise gets my vote.<br /> I don’t think I have bought much this even from thrift shops. I’m going to do some reflection over the holidays and see what I need next year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295593 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 06:16:25 +0000 rachylou 2295593@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is such a busy time of year for the bakery, I will do very little shopping. No one has given me their wishlists either. Stocking stuffers and a gift for my mom and Cormac for xmas morning. If my brother doesn’t come until New Year’s, I will hold off shopping for him. And everyone else is gonna wait a long, long time. I don’t plan on anything new to wear either. It’s just too crazy this year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295568 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 01:22:10 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2295568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yikes, if I want your advice on the “use first” suitcase in my move, Angie, I’d better get packing! It’s fun to hear how fun your holidays are. Mine are going to get a lot smaller, and I’m not sure how they’ll go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295561 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 01:13:06 +0000 Angie 2295561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with <b>Suz, Olive Green, Sloper&nbsp;</b>and <b>Irina :)</b></p> <p><b></b>I&nbsp;thoroughly enjoy&nbsp;the small amounts of Christmas shopping that I do in advance.&nbsp;<b><br /></b><br />My spirits are&nbsp;lifted at the end of the year! It's a very fun time and I relax for the first time during the year. The last two weeks of Dec, I allow myself to switch off from work completely. No clients. No blog posts! I try to take a much needed short break.</p> <p>We LOVE Christmas at the Cox Castle. December is magical because it's just Greg, Sam, Jo and me. We have a LOT of fun together as a tiny family. We don't have extended family really, anymore. And the few family members that are left live far, far away. We don't travel over the holidays unless we take the doggies with us. So that takes a lot of the pressure off. Our decorations are the same every year. No stress! And we put those up Thanksgiving weekend. It's a fun family day! Most of the presents under the tree are for Sam and Jo, so it's hardly a consumer frenzy. Presents for others are small and easy. We see our close American friends before Christmas and have small intimate dinners together. No gifts. Lots of opportunity to dress up though! We love hosting for them. (Pre-Covid, and now for the first time again this year - how refreshing!). We avoid the tourist crowds in Seattle, but we love the festive lights and ambiance. And I LOVE cooking and eating all our Christmas and New Year's yummies! It's relaxing. I can't wait to be off soon!!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295552 Sat, 10 Dec 2022 00:07:40 +0000 Irina 2295552@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find myself an odd one out - I used to love Boxing Day sales and looked forward to it. After anxiously searching and buying gifts for my family and friends, I enjoyed some retail therapy after Christmas.&nbsp;<div>There are so many sales now through a year that makes Boxing Day less special.&nbsp;</div><div>I bought less things and more consumables and experience type of gifts for my family this year.&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295550 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:58:47 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2295550@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet, when I buy things throughout the year, I enter them in the calendar with the recipients name on Christmas Day. Then when I’m ready to wrap, I have a list of what’s for who—if I can remember where everything is!! </p> <p>I’d love to move to fewer presents, but my family, driven by our mom, isn’t into it. Even if she does get someone tickets, she insists on getting something like a CD for them to unwrap. My son isn’t into giving presents or receiving them on a certain day. Once we aren’t celebrating in my parents home any more, we’ll probably travel over the holidays. I’d love it if that is a tradition once in a grandma. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295548 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:48:14 +0000 Olive Green 2295548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love finding gifts for people all year and they get them immediately, lol. The suspense would kill me otherwise.&nbsp;<br />So Christmas is done, really, except for the food and drink, which I lay out with pleasure. Love catering a feast. Such richness! That is really my present to myself.&nbsp;<br />DH of the same mind, exactly. Thank goodness.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295543 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:33:21 +0000 Bijou 2295543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love the idea of making Christmas presents too. My sister is an amazing cook and makes beautiful Christmas cakes to give as gifts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295541 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:24:35 +0000 Janet 2295541@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do like taking shopping breaks now and then -- usually once or twice a year I'll dial it way back and avoid the forum and other fashion sources to reduce temptation. It helps me get off the treadmill.&nbsp;</p> <p>This time of year can be a lot of pressure. My husband and I have sort of organically pared down our gift-buying and focus on experiences and making memories instead. But I know once grandkids come into the picture (it's being talked about!), all bets will be off and we'll be spoiling a little one with fab toys!&nbsp;</p> <p>I do enjoy picking up little gifts for my closest friends and family. Ornaments that make me think of the recipient, fun snacks, humorous or pretty little artisan items from independent shops and artists, that are not high budget but just let someone know I'm thinking of them. <i></i>&nbsp;I tend to buy these things throughout the year, when I find them, especially when I'm traveling.&nbsp;<i></i>The kind of thing that you can give without anyone ever feeling like they owe you a gift in return. We also do some gift certificates for things like Goldbelly for our people who live far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>The bad thing about buying these things year-round is that sometimes I forget what I've already bought, and then at Christmas I realize I have like half a dozen things for one person, LOL.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295540 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:21:17 +0000 Anonymous 2295540@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep- I'm with you. I hate how consumerist Christmas is, and No One Needs More Stuff. I refuse to buy things that aren't practical, consumable, or experiences. My mom got tickets to a concert and a play. My dad got swim stuff he needed and was dawdling on ordering. DH and I don't buy each other gifts-we just order what we need. </p> <p>I definitely have some things that need replacing, but don't see doing much beyond that for next year. I'm still actively decluttering my own stuff and mom's- which makes me loathe to bring in anything more.<br /> #teamgrinch </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295536 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:56:17 +0000 jussie 2295536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep it can get a bit over the top, so much spending in a short period of time. I try to set a budget and stick to it for gifts. It would be really nice to have more time to shop for gifts, so I could get more thoughtful, personalized things for people. Currently I am a bit prone to giving generic gifts: things like chocolates and hand cream as I am time-poor!<br /> Also inflationary pressures have greatly increased the cost of food now which is unfortunate.<br /> In terms of my own regular clothing spending, I stick to the same schedule as usual during the Christmas period, I don’t increase or decrease it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295534 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:39:32 +0000 Helena 2295534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lisa, you're not being a downer - you're being honest - and on topic since it's about shopping or not at this time of year! Just my two cents but I think you're representing what a lot of people are feeling this year!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295532 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:06:26 +0000 LJP 2295532@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I apologize for being a downer . I find this time of year tough emotionally and should know better than to let it all out . And no , SF , no one here , least of all me , is barfing after drinking . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295529 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:56:12 +0000 Carla 2295529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;Having left money on the table the past few years, I spent right up to the amount I budget for my annual clothing allowance this year! &nbsp;No regrets. :-D</p> <p></p> <p><div>I read a book called ‘Unplugging the Christmas Machine’ as a newlywed in the early ‘80’s. &nbsp;It left&nbsp;a lasting impression, and gave me the confidence to create a holiday that works for me and mine, and to change things up as required! &nbsp; &nbsp;<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/unplug-the-christmas-machine-jo-robinsonjean-c-staeheli?variant=32117301510178">https://www.harpercollins.com/.....heli?varia</a><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295527 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:49:47 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2295527@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, yeah—stockings. Already have that set for my son. When he’s here, we’re going to a well-known Christmas market as a final goodbye, so we’ll get everybody else’s presents there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295525 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:37:46 +0000 Suz 2295525@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do some of my holiday shopping early, whenever something strikes my fancy or seems ideal for a person&nbsp; &nbsp;--&nbsp; and most of it late, as in the week before Christmas&nbsp;&nbsp;:)&nbsp; And I honestly like it that way. I enjoy spending a day or two in the shops (even busy ones, masked up, these days) and a day or so online, figuring out donations and gifts to send to distant friends. But I don't have a big list of recipients. Mr. Suz, the adult child and I fill stockings for each other and that's it. Of course, just because the items are small in size doesn't necessarily mean they are inexpensive but there is often some overlap, and we also do silly things, and home-made things. And a lot of "consumable" stuff -- a subscription to a cheese of the month club, for example.&nbsp;</p> <p>This year, I also seem to be doing a <b>LOT </b>of clothing shopping in the past month --&nbsp; however, most items have gone back.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/attempting-a-period-of-almost-no-shopping#post-2295514 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 20:52:21 +0000 Dee 2295514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>LJP,&nbsp;</b>I agree,&nbsp;this time of year always creates a certain anxiety in me. You’ve got the media pounding out messages of consumerism etc…so much pressure about gifts, dinners, decorations.&nbsp;</p> <p>I’m definitely not buying as much as previous years, I want to cut back on shopping and my gifts are going to be fairly practical, but somehow I couldn’t resist a great deal on a grey cardigan for myself. It was exactly what I’d been searching for, so I caved.<br />So much for my good intentions.&nbsp;</p> </p>