Laura, I am hanging by a thread! - YouLookFab Forum

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Laura, I am hanging by a thread!

PalmFronds

So last night I was about to kick this shpping ban for good. I found out that a dress I had been stalking finally went on sale at Anthropologie.I ofcourse added it to my shopping bag and went on a hunt, picking up three more things(all massively on sale too!). I made the critical error/smart decision of emailing my friends to declare the ban OVER, to which one of them wrote back "aha! I knew you would not last past labor day!"

So ofcourse now pride has me back on the bandwagon of the ban. I closed my Anthro page and did not buy a thing. but I am very very sad I cannot have my dress.

Laura I am hanging by a thread here. help me!!!

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh no!
Well, just think about the reasons that you decided to join the group in the first place, and know that you will still be our friends even if you fall off the wagon

PalmFronds

Thanks for the support Chewy, sniff!

Isabel

Veteran

Oh boy, me too, PF !!! I came so close to cheating.....with all the big Labor day sales, it has made it sooo hard. I have been looking for years for a nice 3/4 length coat and of course THIS year I see one I love . I have also wanted a mechanical watch for about 3 years and I just saw an add for my dream watch. Oh well.

So I have gone hog wild with my bookmarks. I started a wish list on my bookmarks. This really is hard. I am really learning how lucky and privileged I am....I have soooo much already.

Hang in there !!! Let's just try to get through this weekend.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Don't worry, there will be another dress...

bj1111

Veteran

*moral support* coming your way.

Scarlet

Veteran

Yessir, the only way to really manage a ban is to plug your ears and wear a blindfold. Or to simply have no money. That works too. What if you tell yourself you are specifically saving the money you would spend for something else more important?

stringy

Veteran

Write out a list of all the benefits and good things you expect because of the ban. The total money saved, the sense of pride in the accomplishment, all of those things - just to remind you of the big picture here!

Megan

Wow- what willpower! I'm super impressed

Louise

Veteran

I'm holding my hands up if those perfect items came my way I'd break the ban. You could be looking for these things for another 5 years!!! I am in awe of your willpower though x

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Oh PF, I feel for you. I hear you, this is HARD. Sorry about the dress. How did you find out it went on sale? This might fall under the category of "if you don't know about it, you can't feel the need to buy it." You know?

I just wrote about how hard SYC is becoming in my last two posts. http://www.writing4dummies.blogspot.com. One of the posts is so whiny it is embarrassing!! Why is it getting harder??

Maybe this will help -- read the blog entries from The Great American Apparel Diet. Some of the bloggers ended their year on Aug. 31, while others are just joining in.
http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/

This post was especially inspiring to me: http://www.thegreatamericanapp.....more-more/

Let us know how you hold up over the weekend! To me, it's important not to go down in defeat. Sounds like you feel the same. (((hugs)))

judy

Veteran

PalmFronds and Isabel(MA)...Hang in there! Guess that is why they call it a "challenge". It might be a good time to reflect on why those of us who signed on to SYC did so in the first place. What were you hoping to get out of it/learn/experience?

PalmFronds

Hey Ladies,
Thanks so much for the support! I was doing okay then this weekend was tough--between the dress going on sale and all the other labor days sales as Isabel said, I am cramping up here trying to keep my feet and fingers from wandering to shops somewhere in person or online!

Thanks for the links too Laura! I'll be reading and re-reading all of them this weekend I agree it does sound quite whiny at times to complain about not being able to buy something that truly is not NECESSITY, like food.I hear myself complain to my husband and think, boy this sounds ridiculous.

Judy your question is spot on: I joined the challenge because I knew I had enough clothing, I wanted to learn to use what I had instead of just adding and adding, and I wanted to put my money towards better uses(even alterations, which I badly needed). Isabel is right--I look at my closet and know I am blessed to be totally spoiled with choices of clothing, when esp much of the world probably owns two dresses per person.
So I am hanging in here, alternating between being proud of myself and being really vexed I am planning to have an old fashioned weekend of closet trying-on, which is what we did as kids when we did not have alot of money.We would go through each other's closets and have "fashion shows", my sister, mom and me. I have a few altered pieces from this last month, so I will play and keep myself out of trouble.

And yes, there will be another dress...

Dawn

(website)

Hang in there, fellow SYCers! This challenge is starting to get tough but I am telling you that not having any money doesn't make it any easier either. Instead, I have started telling myself that if I didn't spend as much on groceries this months or go out with my friends for two weekends, I would be able to afford a new dress.

Regardless, I just bought a new bike for commuting so I really can't afford new clothes, even if I tried stretching my limited budget.

Keep strong!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

PF and Dawn and Isabel, You all are so inspiring! Way to stay strong!

Max Studio - my favorite store - called yesterday to tell me about their Labor Day sale on fall clothes. Luckily it was a vm, I quickly deleted it and decided NOT to visit their website to check out the fall dresses. Whew! Potential pitfalls EVERYWHERE. Even when we're not looking for them.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Good for you! I am trying not to buy anything on impulse for a month and it's so hard...It can be done, though.

You'll be very proud of yourself, and in the end the money you save will be worth it. We have to go through this to show ourselves that it really isn't worth it to buy things and then accumulate them in our closet. The more we have, the less we enjoy the things we have because you can only wear one dress at a time, right? (-:

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Great stuff!!! You are very inspiring!

tarzy

Veteran

I am really impressed by your willpower. I think remembering why you took up the challenge in the first place was an excellent way to get back on track. I know it can't be easy, and I'm rooting for you!

taylor

Veteran

You are all hanging in there so well MUCH impressed !!!

PalmFronds

Well, crisis averted for now
First I did my homework and read through all the blog links Laura sent me(thanks!)
Then I deleted every single emil I had come in for sales this weekend.Pitfalls isn't the word Laura, it is craziness!
And tonight I did what I should have been doing in the first place: I went playing in my closet. I had four skirts altered this month so that they now actually FIT, and I also have a reunion coming up so I went through various outfits to match the skirts as well as potential reunion outfits. And at the end of an hour, I decided the obvious truth had become even more obvious: I don't NEED any clothing at the moment(aside from some hose), and should get a grip on myself and find some other way to enjoy leisure time besides shopping. I have already been exercising up a storm, so next up will be experimenting with cooking.Or perhaps dressing my DH :-)))
So I am trying my best.
Thanks so much for the support ladies!

Tanya

Veteran

I just wanted to say how impressed I am with all of SYC-ers and that I think you are doing a wonderful job. Your will power is very admirable.

Megan

Laura- stores call you to tell you about sales?!

Scarlet

Veteran

Is there a thread somewhere where people decided to join this challenge that describes what people are hoping to get out of it? I can't find it.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Here's the original thread:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ive-months

quail

Another one chiming in to say well done! I'm so proud of all of you ladies and I love reading about all the treasures you're finding in your closets. I know it must be hard, but reading this post made me think about how invasive advertising is. Do you guys feel like you are being targeted by advertising? Do you think a large part of wanting to buy something new is triggered by ads? I know that it's definitely true for me.

Lisa

Veteran

I find all the SYC participants quite inspiring. Kudos to you all for sticking with the challenge. And I find the realizations along the way very interesting too. Often I am nodding my head in agreement.