NO-vember - YouLookFab Forum

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NO-vember

viva

Veteran

Just keeping myself honest. Suz prompted a little self reflection this morning, and I'm taking a month off from personal clothing and accessory spending in order to slow down, take some time to get to know new purchases, and reassess my wardrobe. Have you ever taken an intentional break like this? What helped you? What did you learn from it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as I know you will. Ps posted a pic of my pups in order to use the real time posting feature from my phone.

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Urgent

24 replies

Latest reply was from Lyn D.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'm feeling sort of the same way and hope to be able to have a NO-vember myself. I have a closet full of clothes and have not even worn some things once yet and others maybe just a couple of times. I need to step back and evaluate which things are really "me" and which ones I need to let go. I've taken long shopping breaks before - mostly because I was just too busy working and wore a "uniform" of sorts to work because it was just easier that way. The past two years I've done a lot of shopping and now I have a good selection of things that I enjoy but don't wear often enough.

Cute pups!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm pretty sure November will be a break for me too. It will be made easier for me that I'll be spending the better part of the month on a cattle ranch. Not too many shoe stores there, so I should be safe! Darn good thing, because Shoptoberfest did a number on my credit card.

P.S. My pups say hi!

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Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I'm in the same boat. My spending for this year is done, and the budget is exceeded by 15% - so, enough already.

This isn't all that difficult, though. I find that when I take my mind of it, it is a lot easier. Turning to other activities helps, and I also have to stop browsing the web for fashion inspiration, at least web shops. Some creative input is ok of course. I regularly have small shopping breaks, and intend to start one from now through December.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I'm a great one for cutting down other people's spending. Not sure I will be able to stand as firm myself -- I still have a few needs as well as wants. Oy!

I support you in your NO project!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Hee hee. I was thinking of this a couple days ago when planning the no repeat challenge but scared to commit to cutting myself off completely. Lol.
I did it last year if I recall. Seems a good time to cool one's jets for a bit.
I'm in!

Lisa

Veteran

I think this is a perfect time to take a break from shopping and give one a chance to reassess their wardrobe. I'm going to join you. The longest I've done in the past is 30 days so two months is a good challenge for me. In the past I've tried to come up with new outfit combinations on those days when I started to feel bored with my wardrobe.

deb

Veteran

I was going to join you in this but then I remember the Nordstrom Half yearly sale. Maybe I will do No-December.

Thistle

Veteran

Super cute fur babies!!

Honestly, telling myself I am "taking a break" feels like deprivation, and then I want to shop all the more. I know, I know, but there is the truth of it.

What has worked for me is taking all of my current clothes and flipping the hangers on them so I know what I am wearing and what I am not! This forces me to look at choices I am not making and think about why. Then I cull with the promise of cultivating again later.

This has worked well for me as it feels less like deprivation and more like active involvement.

karymk

Veteran

Hi Viva. I don't think I've ever intentionally taken a break for longer than a month. It means I have to stay out of magazines and off the blogs too, because that is totally what drives my lust for new stuff!

How do you upload pics from your phone? I tried it and haven't figured it out. I only have the "old" iPhone. Is that it?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(I love your beautiful pups. Janet's too. Makes me emotional and tearful. My heart has sunk).

I usually do this in Jun and Aug. It's a great exercise. Wear the heck out of your clothes and enjoy them.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I am taking a break this month as well. Going to soend the month wearing as many different options as I can. I have lots of jackets and I hope to wear and determine if they are all keepers.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a good idea. I always think that I'll do less shopping for myself during the holiday season, but when I'm looking for presents for other folks I keep running across things for myself! I've had some SYC periods and have always found them helpful and illuminating.

Anonymous

I HAVE to take a spending break. I have a couple things on my wiish list that are not needed and I definitely have enough to wear. I stopped working last January but whipped through savings like mad this year. I find it especially hard coming on to this site and seeing all the fabulous new things, not to mention ads. Anyway, I don't expect I'll have any trouble not buying from now thru March mainly because I won't have a shipping address. My goal for 2014 is to save my money and think very hard on what I really want added to my wardrobe.

Anonymous

Oh, and love seeing the dogs

viva

Veteran

Thank you for all the lovely comments on the dogs. They are my heart, but truth be told, I cannot see then without also seeing our first and most wondrous dog who left us 15 years ago. They imprint on us forever, Angie.

I am so glad to hear I am not the only one who occasionally has to put on the brakes! I will use that hanger trick in order to encourage myself to be more creative with what I have and I will look to you all for help. So glad to have this place to come!

gryffin

Veteran

Just wanted to say your fur babies are adorable!! Good luck with your No project!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Enjoy your shopping break, Viva. But please don't stop posting. I need my Ines fix. And you are so so so right. Our dogs imprint on us forever. And we imprint on them. Love your pups more for me. Xo

Lantana

Veteran

I am going abroad in 5 weeks so am trying to save up some spending money. A NOvember followed by a DOcember strikes the right balance for me.

KeepTheKey

(website)

I shall join the NO-vember group!

Seriously, my closets (yes, plural) are overflowing with wonderful options. No new stuff!

Also: kitties!

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claire

I'm in! I need to reign in my spending for a bit and most things on my list are wants, not needs.

And here's my baby girl....

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Sveta

(website)

Veteran

This is what I told myself after NAS: break until December. Did not happen, alas!
This time I think I am done until New Year. Promise!
Here are my babies: don't you just love how cats sleep?

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qfbrenda

Veteran

I definitely need a NO-vember. I just bought a great jacket and some boots that I LOVE. I need to take pics of outfits with those new things and call it good for a while. We have Christmas shopping to do, a trip coming up, medical bills coming from my youngest's broken arm, a house project we just finished... we need to be replenishing savings, not spending more.

viva

Veteran

Ah...all the kitties and pups! I love them all.
Karymk, are you using the YLF app on your iphone? It's so easy to upload photos with the app that it would take more time for me to explain it here than for you to upload using the app. You should be able to get the app even with an older iphone, I think. That is the way to go.
Lantana, I love the idea of a NO-vember followed by a DO-cember! That is genius, and might be just what I need to get me through the next 28 days (but who's counting?).
Qfbrenda, I am in a similar boat with expenses -- no broken arm thankfully (although have been down that road) but my husband has some surgery coming up which will have its own bills, and we're also planning a trip, and of course there is Christmas....so lots of reasons to pull back for now. Somehow, that doesn't make it easier, just makes it more necessary.
Traceyliz65, Keepthekey, Qfbrenda, and anyone else who's trying to make do for a while...definitely post your outfits. I'll be doing the same. Time to shop the closet for a while. (Don't worry Angie, I so love YLF I can't give that up, too.)

Lyn D.

Veteran

Thanks for the inspiration Viva, I have this in mind too.
It is a spend-y time for me now, with my DD's Birthdays, X-Mas and school book buying for 2014.