Anybody still hanging in there with No-Buy July? - YouLookFab Forum

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Anybody still hanging in there with No-Buy July?

MsMary

Veteran

I am!! I bought one thing from the NAS and then I decided I didn't love it, so back it went!!

Woo-hoo!

I must say it helps that I have been super-absorbed with another project (which I am not currently at liberty to discuss but hopefully will be able to tell you all about shortly). But it's been surprisingly liberating to have a shopping-free month for the very first time in at least three years!!

Who else is still on the no-shopping wagon?

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30 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Anonymous

Sigh. July has been my biggest shopping spree in my entire life.

I look forward to hearing about your new project … when the time is right.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Good for you!! That's two months running now?
I'm on that slippery slope. I only used Paypal credit, and bought a skirt for an upcoming concert because it is overseas and waiting would have it here long after the show. Then I got a HEWI cold shoulder tunic (last one!) also with Paypal credit.
I wanted to buy nothing all month, but I'm okay with my half assed success LOL.
I do have 2 tanks and a tee lined up and ready to buy once the calendar flips!

MsMary

Veteran

Mo, it's almost two months. I did buy the HEWI orange blazer last month when it went on sale, and have been very happy I did so. I've worn it once a week since I got it!

Anonymous

Yes! I haven't bought anything, and won't for a while as I have had to make some big home improvement purchases! I am pretty sorted until the fall though, and honestly I am not minding wearing the same two outfits + variations on the weekends.

Nebraskim

Veteran

Not really. I purged a lot of my summer stuff in the spring and have filled some holes with items bought on huge summer clearance...like some new better fitting white pants (old were size 16; new are 12s) and some sandals. But I have cut back my spending and increased the purging, trying to pare down to a finer balance. I am leaving the office world in early August, so I am adjusting to a different set of wardrobe needs.

Tanya

Veteran

Urgh, if you asked a couple of days ago, I would have said yes, everything went according to the plan. But than these past few days a major crush happened, an utmost and complete disaster as I bought bunch of things! I will post about it later in the evening. And I am going on full and complete no-buy August!

To quote: "The best laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry." Sigh...

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Yup, although I'm majorly crushing on a dress from Anthropologie. Decided to get it August 1st.

I am also using a side project to distract me - trying to find a conference to go to with my credits this year; it's hard to find something both educational and in a fun place!

Also; I've been stepping it up with my planners.

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Flicker-Spark Studs

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Dahlia Links Bracelet

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anne

Veteran

Well I wasn't trying to do no-buy July but I guess I have done it so far. Except for getting some shoes mended, which cost over half my months clothing budget.

Marley

Veteran

I'm still hanging in there! Technically.

abc

Veteran

I broke it. But June and July really made me stop and be mindful of my buying and spending so when I did break it I did a way better job than I would have before.

My buys:
Cole haan Nassau sandals via rack
Cole haan air tali snakeskin wedges via rack
Red EF blouse via amiable on style exchange
Dark magenta EF dress (Shannon drape dress copycat) via ebay
Two pairs of Zumba shoes via amazon

Apparently I am buying in twos now. Haha.

I'm not beating myself up over any of it. Some were wardrobe holes. Some were hot weather needs leftover from months ago and highlighted by being back in the heat. Some were hewis. Not gonna stress. Feeling better about being mindful.

Ginkgo

Veteran

I fell off the wagon when I took an overseas houseguest to Nordstrom Rack who needed to buy a dress -- I ended up with a pair of Born perforated low-heeled oxfords. Am rationalizing them as something I can wear in my casual everyday jeans kind of life and they did look pretty fab with the pair of taupe jeans I was wearing that day. Goodwill has already received several bags of clothing and even furniture from me this month so I still feel virtuous.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Yes! Well, in full disclosure I bought a 72c scarf at Goodwill, so technically this was a cheat - and I also bought hiking boots (full price). I had intended to buy gym/walking shoes in July as my only no-buy exception, but I need the hiking boots more and they couldn't wait since we taking a vacation the 1st week of August and I genuinely need them. Besides, gear doesn't count does it? She said hopefully.

Marillen

I haven't bought anything this July; it was my intention to save up for a nice cool-day topper.

Unless buying supplies for a costume counts?

Mellllls

Veteran

it's not intentional but all i've bought this month is gifts! does that count?

claracluck

me me me! its tough but I'm hanging on even though one of my fav british shops is having a massive sale.i might even go for a no bust august!

Alassë

Veteran

That dress is very you, Lyn*! I was doing pretty well with no-buy July, but right at the end a bunch of planned upgrade/HEWI items popped up on Ebay/Twice. Soo... hope for August?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

'fraid I've had another couple of slips. There was the JCrew one in mid july, then a couple of days I ordered DH a silk sweater for our "silk" anniversary, and they had get $50 off if you spend $100, so I just HAD to make up the difference... So technically it really didn't cost me much, but still. And I jumped at the "extra" leggings GP purchased at NAS. Oh, AND... I got a merino wool tee from Costco yesterday - found one in black, a colour I didn't have and obviously wear a lot so just couldn't walk by.

So I am in for 6 items. But I did purge 90 and sold a pair of shoes! So overall I'm feeling good about where things are going. And I've survived the temptation of NAS so far! Feeling pretty good about August...

Gigi

Veteran

Hmm, No Buy July? Never heard of it.

OK, I caved. I was doing well and had bought only two HEWIs—a gauzy black scarf and a summer t-shirt (tops are HEWIs for me in general)—but then I went to NAS to try to get my hands on more HEWIs. And that's when I saw the leather skirt that I had seen online and did NOT want to see in person for fear that I would be tempted! Well, I took it into the dressing room to try on but was sure it wouldn't fit. Well, out of everything I tried on that day (probably about twelve items), what do you think was the ONE item that fit? The skirt! So I bought it.

It's not a HEWI, but it will be useful, as I have no supernice heavy skirts for fall and winter for church. So I'll be wearing it for sure. But was it really necessary? Nope!

I do also have some truly necessary items on the way from Nordie's—a couple of long-sleeved t-shirts (I have only one...not good to be without these for fall) and another long-sleeved top. I also ordered a blazer that was on sale. A blazer is a HEWI, but I had to order it in olive, which wasn't my first choice, because all the other colors were sold out in my size. But I figure a person might as well order the stuff now, while it's on sale, rather than wait.

Halogen Pleat Leather Skirt (Regular & Petite)

$268.00 $118.90

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am no-buy-August.

MsMary

Veteran

Rock on, everybody!

Angie, I'm going to continue into August and it will be nice to have you on the No-Buy Bench! (I'm saving up for Seattle Shoptember and possibly Shoptoberfest as well!)

Everybody else, good job and enjoy your pretties if you bought 'em!

marianna

Veteran

July was a bust for me, but I'll hop on no-buy August!

Lyn D.

Veteran

Most of July has been 'no-buy'- and I have found that just doing other things has been a great distraction too.
My 'mini-meet' with Deborah coupled and a credit valid for July only has been my only exception
Keep-up the good work MsMary!

rabbit

Veteran

I was planning to do 'minimal buy of HEWIs' in July, and so far that's been on track. I bought ten things.

But I returned six things (and used those funds/credits to buy most of the new items) so I'm calling it a net buy of four.

Been doing some steady bit by bit culling/consigning of older clothes, and am feeling happy with the overall wardrobe cohesiveness and usability.

For August I'm trying for a true no buy. June was a true no buy too.

Runcarla

Veteran

June was a no buy month, but I didn't commit to July. Purchases were pretty minimal however.

1. A cobalt Olivia + Joy bag with a front pocket the perfect size for my train tickets
2. A thrifted knee length black pencil skirt - Rena Rowan for Saville ($2.50)
3. Navy blue straight leg Martin trousers from BR

Last week was my first week of commuting to Toronto for work. I'm exploring during my lunch hour, but Monday was about figuring out the elevators and the rest of the week was about figuring out the immediate neighbourhood (1 square city block)!

Each day I'll explore a little further. Right now I go out for about 20 minutes, then turn around since it seems to take me twice as long to find my way back.

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Kristin L

Veteran

I broke down at the beginning of the month and bought 2 tops. I haven't bought the sweater yet. I'm tempted to try to wait until Aug 1 to buy the sweater, but I may go ahead and order it.

While I haven't been as successful with no-buy July, I think just the idea of it has been very helpful. It's helped me focus on what I want and not buying something just because it's on sale.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Doing good, but I did buy one clothing accessory - a Fossil belt. And if the Kut 'Adele' or Minkpink 'White Trash' BF jeans come back in stock at Nordies, I'm buying a pair, no matter what month it is. Other than that, it's onward to "No Buy August" and "Limited Buy September" - once school and paychecks resume, it'll be new year, new budget.

MsMary

Veteran

Coming back to report that today is August 1 and I made it all the way through July without buying a single item of clothing or accessories. (Well, unless a washer and dryer count as accessories! LOL) First time in more than three years!! Amazing!!

Onward to Aesthetic Ascetic August!!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Good for you Mary!! I had 2 slips, but one is going right back, so just the one skirt for the concert. I wish I'd have made it clean through, but I don't want to sweat uncomfortably in leather through a whole show just to say I did the month. There will be other months!

Thistle

Veteran

If you exclude the Old navy purchase I made in mid June that didn't ship to me until mid July, I purchased my Burberry watch which I have been looking for well over a year and had set aside my "fun" part of my bonus for. Already worn it well over half a dozen times, but I only decided to try it as it was part of NAS.

I also bought a new bra at NAS that was unplanned as my body continues to change. I only have 2-3 bras in rotation right now, so when I outgrew one, it had to be replaced. The one it replaced was only a few months old.

While I give myself a pass on the bra, I did buy the watch . . .

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