SYB progress and SYC until July

This year I pledged to track my clothing purchases and stick to a monthly budget. It's been a bit of a shocker realizing how much I was shopping. It wasn't the money as much as how much buying clothes had become entertainment and shopping was a hobby. So far I've done reasonably well with my budget each month - March which was the month of my birthday was not great, but other than that I've managed to balance the books, so to speak. Well, I've bought A LOT in May for the summer (from what I've read I'm not alone) and I'm through my May budget and have some things ordered that will use up most of June's if they work out.

So I am in buy nothing, SYC mode until July at the earliest. As such I may take a break from YLF for a while, since it does tend to feed into my shopping habits, as wonderful as you all are. However, I hope to drop in occasionally, especially since there are some capsule and remixing challenges I want to do and post about.

(Not to mention the house we're trying to buy and the book I'm trying to finish writing, but that's for off topic!)

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Funny, I am on the same page with you. Even with my b-day gift $$, the amount of clothing remains at the limit. I have 2 items on the way in the mail and should buy nothing until July ends to stay on track.

rabbit

Yeah I need to be with you guys too I think. I'm trying to figure out if sunglasses count as clothes and shop only by swapping out returns or using unused store credit after culling not awesome older clothes.

But I do still want to photograph outfits and build capsules as much as I can, because that's where the real visual learning happens for me.

Beth Ann

I think in terms of seasonal purchases, more than monthly ones. I tend to do bigger shoppes in April/May and September to mid- October. Smaller refreshers happen in late Summer and post-Holiday.

My income drops precipitously in the summers, so I'll have to be vigilant, too! I'll be remixing alot --- just like you, Rabbit!

Sharon

I need to join this group! I have spent my winter budget up until the end of July. And the reality is that I have enough clothes to make perfectly good outfits until the end of winter-it is only my love of novelty that has me visiting the shops.

Maybe we could start a SYC thread and post our outfits once a week? That would provide the dual purpose of advice and accountability.

Alassë

I need to take a break through July, too. FOMO on HEWIs is the difficulty.

Ingunn

You're in good company, Laura. I've done the same as you, and after several red numbered months in a row, I am now basically on SYC until August. Please let us know how you are doing, and good luck with the house and book. How exciting for you!

In the interest of disclosure, here is how this year's shopping has stacked up so far. I decided to spread May birthday purchases into next month and essentially shop my closet until July or August.
I'd intended to buy an average of an item every other week, or around 26 things. I'm on track for an item every week and a half (assuming I can control myself this fall!) or 34 items. I have a pretty well rounded out fall/winter wardrobe, so I think it won't be too hard. And the FL weather won't feel like fall until I've moved (hopefully) back to Tahoe so that's another thing I have on my side to keep shopping in check.
The CPW hit list on the side has blue items in Tahoe (big blue, get it?) that I can't whittle down because they're not even here where I can wear them. The black items are here with me.

Total spent so far - $1011. Plus $250 in gifts. Leaves roughly $750 for the rest of the year.
That's the honest nitty gritty from here lol!

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Mo, I love to read this kind of detail, so thanks for sharing the nitty gritty. You've been doing pretty well if you look at it through the lens of the whole year.

I think the weather fed into my shopping this year. I didn't buy a ton in 'winter' but for us the spring came early and now we're basically into summer, and last summer I was heavier so I needed a lot of refresh of the late spring and summer stuff... That's my excuse, anyway!

I love the idea of an accountability thread with WIWs. Maybe a remixing challenge too?

Gigi

I'm trying to SYC (SMC?), but I have very few spring and summer clothes...so I'm just trying to buy stuff that's a 10/10. Last year I survived on a few pairs of shorts (still OK this year), which I paired with about five shirts. Two of the shirts were Old Navy polos [recoil in horror!] And I wore the same three outfits to church every single weekend. Blech.

Laura, I hope you can stop in and visit us every now and then. July will be here before you know it. :^) I know it's hard when you can't shop. Although I often get upset that I am hard to fit, the one good thing about it is that it puts a built-in damper on shopping!

Mo, I saw your "CPW hit list" on your spreadsheet. Does each one of the tics equal $20? So you can see at a glance how many times you need to wear an item to get the CPW down to $20? You're actually not doing bad for the whole year, Mo. :^) You're so responsible!

Category