You are all so thoughtful - thank you for sharing your stories and insights.
I wonder if we mentally average out our closets when looking at the things we love and the things we tolerate together in the same space? I think there's a common theme in the comments here about more satisfaction with what you have leading to less purchases.
@April, I really like your point about how more choices require you to be more focused. I think that might be an issue for me! I'm going to keep it in mind for future. I think I need to swing a little more to your end of the purging speed spectrum! Maybe we can meet in the middle.
@Caro, I admire your budgeting approach! I have put off setting a budget, but I know it is something I should do. It is tricky to find the right balance between planned purchases and impulse buys, isn't it? But having a set dollar amount is a great way to set some limits. Do you allot a specific percent of your budget for replacements and planned purchases vs impulses? Or do you choose an amount to spend on clothing, add up your planned purchases and do what you like with the remainder?
@Unfrumped, You make an excellent point about more satisfaction with the items you have leading to wanting less, and I think I do need to follow your example and refine my current selection. Tracking dollars spent is of course a terribly practical habit that I should adopt.
@Meli, I admire your discipline! Capping both number of items and dollars spent is a really practical way to keep your closet under control.
@Vicki, it seems like the continuous purge/refinement process has really helped you narrow down what you like. I think this also ties back to April's point about more choices making it necessary to be more selective.
@Deborah, I can totally relate to your pre-YLF closet state. When I first joined I had just purged 5 garbage bags of crummy stuff - enough to fill the back seat of my car! I am much more focused now than I was at the time. It's encouraging to hear that your wishlist has become smaller and more specific as time goes on. And of course it is not a surprise that more satisfaction with what you have has lead to wanting less. That seems like a common theme.
@Carter, Sounds like you are another person in the "refinement" phase of a closet refresh! I've found, when purging things I am on the fence about, that it helps to remind myself that if I decide I really need another [whatever] I can buy one later without too much trouble. Maybe we both need to be gutsier about removing things that are suspect and try living without them for a bit. :/
@Lisa, I love the DH closet challenge! I am a bit behind on your posts but do plan to go back and catch up. How long will you be continuing your challenge for? It sounds like a great way to find the right balance of numbers, rate of wear, and how often you like to add new items.
@Shedev, you are another admirably disciplined shopper! Setting some limits is super practically and probably a system I should employ.
@lyn*, yep, there's definitely some root disatisfaction here, I know exactly what it is, and I am working on it. But I mean, overall I am very happy and damn lucky. Plus it's easier to focus on the easy to control things like clothes.
@ironkurtin, I know what you mean - the time I spend thinking about clothes often seems silly and a bit wasteful. Buuut if it's fun, and it is, ....
@Suz, I'm glad I am not the only one who has a hard time reigning themself in. It is tricksy navigating our consumer-driven society - there are certainly lots of ways to dispose of income! I've had some success in the past with the wishlist holding zone, I think I just need to be better at sticking to it, and maybe some hard limits with help with that. It's good to know that a balance exists between minimal and full to bursting.
I want to respond to the rest but I'll have to come back a bit later
