So, I got through Aus Aug with minimal "damage" -- really only departing from my no-buy ways to get a great floral dress, and at a bargain, at that.

Since it ended, I pulled the trigger on the Matisse red booties, which I had been eyeing ever since Angie posted them here. I have also bought three other things -- all either simple basics or inexpensive trend items: a new long sleeve black tee, since my old one is starting to show a bit of fading, a short-sleeved black and white tee from Old Navy, and the quilted black sweatshirt from Target. Total spent on those tops: $75. Considering my usual monthly fashion budget, this is pretty darn good. (We'll ignore for the moment that all my new purchases were black, but I think that just means they're easily mixed with what I already have.)

So it seems like Aus Aug was a good chance for me to step back and take a bit of a breather. I've still perused some of my usual online shopping sites, and I've wandered through a few shops, but I haven't had a particularly itchy trigger finger. I'm also pretty happy with what I have for the moment. Since we're not quite into fall weather, I'm more anxious to wear some of my new fall purchases from NAS than to buy more that I still can't wear until the weather cools.

Oh, and it's always nice to get a Nordstrom bill with a total due of $0.

I've also culled a few more things from the depths of my closet -- a special occasion dress I've NEVER worn, some random items that don't feel like *me* anymore, etc. As I start to put away the sandals and shorts and pull out the boots and sweaters, I think I'll get a better sense of how to keep up a more thoughtful approach to buying. Hubs and I are looking at tightening our budget in the coming years, so it's a good time to pull back.

How about you? If you took a month off of buying, has it caused you to extend your cautious ways? I know Anna has been on a roll of non-buying, for one.