Well you know you have my support! It's not always easy, but I find it definitely rewarding to SYC/SYB. I am into May's budget with a blue boots purchase last week, but it's birthday time and I expect I'll have gift $$$ to cover at least some of them.
I sometimes do play catch up with a month's budget but never get ahead more than that and it truly does keep me in line and considering purchases thoroughly before buying.
I also find that 'true love' is more recognizable under these constraints. For instance, I never got a red blouse among the 3 contenders I was considering, and am still waiting on charcoal gray slacks, but hit BUY immediately on those blue boots. They called to me in a way the things on my list did not. So I will work my budget around them and hold off on other things

Tee hee hee, gardening heels, so funny. This thread has me giggling,,,such great suggestions that I want to join in. I am trying a little SYC/B myself while waiting to see what kind of clothes I need for new job. And I LOVE to browse so the idea of a small budget to keep us "alive" is great! Great idea!

Shannon, I am a gardener also, would a gardening thread give us something else to post about while (with pictures too) to distract while waiting for SYB to pass?

Mo - I found reading the thread when you were on your SYC/SYB so inspiring and I'm really hoping I can have that same type of success. I have found that I've made a few purchase mistakes lately (through thrifting so not a lot of $$$) because I've felt some sort of frenzied need to buy buy BUY! It's like I always have to have something new coming into my wardrobe to keep it exciting. I love my clothes and just need to play with what I've got and enjoy them. Thanks for your support.

Jayne - of course you can join in...the more, the merrier (and the more support)! I'm not sure about a gardening thread - for me personally, that just creates some pressure to make my garden perfect, get pictures, etc. and I don't know if I really want to do that, you know?

So we have Shannon, Deborah and Jayne ready to embark on May Madness - as of May 1st, only allowing ourselves $5 per week for thrift shopping with no new purchases and working with our existing closets. Anyone else want in?

Shannon, Have you done an analysis of your recent purchases and assessed your recent successes and failures?

Consider what you think is a success for you and what is a failure. This is going to be different for different people. For some it is a low cost per wear. For others it is finding the perfect piece, even if it only gets worn 2-3 times per year.

I understand the strong pull of thrifting something that doesn't cost very much, but is it a success if it isn't what you really wanted and doesn't get worn?

You've summed up exactly what my issue is: it ISN'T a success if it isn't what I really wanted and doesn't get worn. You buy enough items @ $5 or $10 but never wear them it is still money wasted and you probably could have purchased one good fitting item instead. Old habits die hard I'm afraid.

Don't get me wrong - I have thrifted some fabulous and well fitting items that I couldn't be more pleased with (my vintage pieces, the recent black Nygard blazer with the leather collar, etc.) but I've also purchased some ill fitting items. Need to get my head on straight.

Shannon, I hear you and will cheer you on!

Another way to redefine successful shopping: rejecting the not-best and delaying the good stuff to go back and think about what it will go with can be its own reward. I did just that for my birthday --- went shopping with voucher in hand, tried on bunches of things in three different locations across the city... came home empty-handed and happy!

A year ago, I'd have come home with bagfuls, and then taken days to unstuff and restuff my drawers, then saved the 'good' clothes and agonized over how to wear these new orphans! Yesterday, I felt I'd done well to determine which looks suited me and to take time to figure out which THREE specific tops would be best to get if that's all I got this year, and to give myself time to see if I could find them online, saving another trip across town (or cities!). AND it means I can think about what to wear them with calmly and carefully over days and maybe weeks, as well as getting a little ahead on saving for a more expensive purchase (shoes, in my case!).

I realize this is harder to do when thrifting, as stock turnover is higher, but sitting and prioritizing wardrobe wants can be as fun as window shopping too. And maybe you can play with different colours and silhouettes before you shortlist which you want most, then go shopping again for those specifics to help you stay on track? (For instance, if you decide you want a red shirt, you don't even look at the yellow and blue and whatever else is calling your name... or your wallet!)

Fruitful made an excellent point. When I find myself overshopping, I cut back on the inspiration. That means I read YLF less often, skip fashion magazines, emails from stores, catalogs, etc. For me its much easier to "just say no" if the temptation isn't there in the first place.

I will keep you accountable since I am much better to tell others than do it myself :o)
I should SYC because I liked the freedom of not having to think about shopping for the only month I did it but at the same time I feel I need some items on my wardrobe.
Also I noticed that when I plan more activities I shop less.
(Maybe this was not very helpful, sorry)

Shannon, are you doing Bella art challenge ? I think that is a good way to start.

Mandipa and Rita both make excellent points. Sometimes delaying what you want gives you the time to mull it over and decide if it's really the right purchase for you and your wardrobe at that time. I found that to be true for me over my SYC/B this year. I found a great white jacket. Waited a month and then found an even better one, at 1/4 the cost to boot. The feeling that we must grab it while it's there is a strong one, but it is so very true that something else (maybe better) will soon come along. That was a hard one for me.
I also nickel and dimed my way through a wardrobe for years. It's great fun to score a deal and to get 4 shirts for the price of one, but at what cost eventually? That is also a very hard habit to break, and I'm only partway with that one. I'd say 1/3 of my purchases are quality pieces (still on sale whenever possible) and 2/3 are still probably bargains of some sort (eBay, final sale, etc). It's a process, so be kind to yourself when you don't quite hit the mark.

It's breaking the habits that is hard. Getting out of routines and cycles.

Also, remember the mantra when thrifting/sale stalking "Would I pay full price for this?".
Sal did a challenge a long time back of $10 a month I think and she might have those posts still on her site.

I will join Celia on the keeping them honest role You guys rock!

Hey hey, don't dis gardening in heels (says she who has done that, but not really on purpose)

Such fabulous support - you ladies ROCK!!!
Aida - no WIW posts with you gardening in your heels???

*giggle* Outfit #4 here. I blame my husband

Hehehe yay for gardening in heels! If I were a designer, this would have me on a tear to design heeled garden clogs.

Mo and Rita's comments really hit home. There are sooooo many items that screamed buy me initially - but their screams have died down a lot over time so that I no longer feel I need them. Cleaning out my closet and looking at the huge donating pile also really puts it into perspective how much I have NOT saved $$ wise over the years. It was still $$ well spent, as I was experimenting more at the time, but now that I'm not, the waste feels far more needless.