Without reading all the answers I'd say to allow yourself some slack if the perfect item that you may have been looking for comes along, especially at a good price. I'd also allow for stocking up on a flattering style or color that you love but may be phasing out before the next season. Example: In my case that may be grey since the 70's styles had more browns.

I have actually been considering doing the same!! I haven't done this yet, but my plan is to change up my wardrobe with accessories. I have an extensive fashion jewelry collection that includes pieces in most every color, size, and shape. I'm hoping this will get me through

I'd also suggest that SYC is a great opportunity to dive into that stack of books that you haven't had time to read yet. Immersing ourselves in someone else's story can be a therapeutic way to train our brain to think about something other than what we usually think about...the same way we distract kids when they are cranky! ( I just read Patti Smith's "Just Kids" and loved it).

I did the last SYC and realized I spent way too much time thinking about clothes. It was compulsive, meaning that it was kind of an unconscious activity that I did because I had done it the day before. (and the day before that...and before that...:) ! ) But after a few months...and it did take months...I noticed I wasn't even thinking about "my next purchase", like a carrot dangling out there in front of me.

I don't mean this as a criticism, but I think we women can spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about weight and clothes and it keeps us in a bit of a mental prison. Truly there are other things in life. It's about balance, as Laura has written about and I know we all support here. When we have neglected our bodies or our wardrobe for a long time, the pendulum has to swing over to giving it some attention again, it's a remedial thing...but at some point, the pendulum has to come to rest in the middle, where we feel at peace about it, no? SYC helped me feel that, so thanks to all who did it last time and I support whoever wants to do it this time around.

I'm considering joining in. 3 months, starting January, would be perfect for me. All the spring clothes are always so tempting, but there is absolutely no reason that I should be buying them until the end of April at the earliest. My winter wardrobe is pretty set.

I have a couple of dresses that have gotten snug enough this holiday season that I not reaching for them. I'm hoping that if I firm back up a bit it will be like new clothes and old best friends, rolled all into one.

Have you assessed your wardrobe in order to make any last minute purchases? I noticed Laura did this and I thought it so smart of her. I'm thinking hose and tights are the only hole I will need to fill to start.

Also, on the budgeting tip, dh and I use a budget app on our i phones. We like that we can keep it updated on the fly and synch up with each other so that the budget is always accurate.

Stephani, I would love to hear your eBay tips!!

And I just unsubscribed from ALL my shopping/retail emails!

I sometimes shop my closet (minus the shopping ban!) when I clean it out, and one tip I have is to take a close look at the things you don't wear much and see if they could be restyled or tailored to better meet your current needs. Earlier today, I took a pair of bootcut cords and took in the side seams to make them skinny. I also have a too-short, boxy corduroy shirt that I am adding pin tucks to the front for shaping and modifying the sleeves.

Judy, *sniff*! What you said was exactly why I did SYC. I just love what you said and how you said it (high five!)

Is there a seperate thread for SYCer's who are starting in January? I'm IN - and would like to know who else is doing it - because believe me, I'm sure that I will have to be talked off of the shopping ledge once or twice during the 90 day ban!

Marley, at the top of my post I linked to the initial thread asking if anyone was interested in joining me for a SYC starting in January, but I can start a new thread tomorrow on Jan 1 to really get the ball rolling.

Yay, great tips! I should check out a pile of books from the library tomorrow. Oh, and I unsubscribed to all my shopping mails. And I started working on my outfit generator, so that should help me come up with crazy outfits and keep me from getting bored AND ferret out any items that don't fit into the wardrobe.

Happy New Year!

Kari, if you do thrift/consignment, maybe consider giving yourself a small shopping "out" for that. When Sal at Already Pretty did a shopping ban, she gave herself $10 cash/week to spend in thrift stores.

Kari - though I never go on a 100% ban as I would really like to purchase items I've been waiting years for (e.g. red winter coat) when I do finally find them, the thing that drastically reduced my desire to go shopping was going shopping in my closet. I organized my new closet. Then I came up w/new combinations which kept things fresh. I would also think of "themes" for a week or a while. For example, I was teaching a week long residential class at one point and each day my challenge to myself was to wear a different white button down woven shirt. I had a lot of fun making everything else very different from the vibe (classic to trendy to a little funky) to the statement pieces.

Laura, thanks...you were our fearless leader! I couldn't have done it without you!

Kari, I haven't done SYC before, but I did a little experiment yesterday, which you might find useful.

I gave myself sometime to sit down, and jot down some outfit ideas. I looked at Kimberly's inspiration calender, inspiration pictures that I had saved in a folder of some of my favorite bloggers and my list of wardrobe items (I have a running excel sheet of everything in my closet). Then I created almost a month worth of new combos. It goes something like this:

Monday: Target sparkly skirt + teal top + br mustard cardi
Tuesday: chambray dress + flower cardi
Wednesday: red skirt+ blue oxford + black striped top + pearls
Thursday: Navy tulle skirt + white tuxedo shirt + wrap cardi
Friday: tweed dress + green turtleneck
Saturday: Old Navy red sweater + skinny jeans

You see, some of them are more specific while others are more crude ideas. I have about 24 of them. Even if one particular outfit does not work (but they usually do, since by now I have a good idea of how my wardrobe items fit me and how they work with the rest of my wardrobe), I still have quite a few that I can fall back on. Also, I will use this only as a road map, it doesn't necessarily mean I will wear each outfit on the day it was originally assigned. In any case the idea of having a whole new set of never worn outfits keep me excited and motivated and less likely to make new purchases.

the one thing that helped me was to shop for some things for my house. So, I still got a shopping fix, but it wasn't on clothes. I didn't go crazy, but I bought (much needed) new bath mats, some serving bowls (TJ Maxx... nothing pricey), some Christmas table linens and I don't remember what else... but it really did help to get to do a little bit of focused shopping.