Today is my assistant Erika's 24th birthday! It also marks the end of a 6-month goal she set for herself on New Year's day- not to buy any piece of clothing, not a single pair of shoes, and no fashion accessory. She recently wrote about what she learned from her 6-month of no shopping on her personal blog and I would love to share it with you.... So, here are E's Revelations:
"As many of you know, I made an New Year's resolution for myself to not buy any item of clothing, shoes or accessories for 6 months! It was no easy thing for me to do; I LOVE shopping! I LOVE fashion! and I LOVE looking for great deals!
So as July 1st is inching closer and closer, I think I need to take sometime to reflect on the past six months and see how this goal has changed the way I dress, shop, spend money, and value the things that I have.
Here are some of E's revelations:
*Out of sight-out of mind!
I found myself avoiding shopping altogether in order to not find something I "couldn't live without." If I wasn't around retail stores, I wasn't thinking about buying things.
*Cold turkey is pretty tough
I knew cutting spending on all non-necessities would be impossible; we all have vices and things we enjoy. So I allowed myself to spend a little money on a few things:
1. A trip to Washington DC to visit my best friend. Although I did spend the money on the plane ticket and food, I also saved money by staying with friends and avoiding clothing shops.
2. Adorable measuring cups from my favorite store Anthropologie. They were on clearance and I knew I would never find anything like them again-- they were, afterall, Russian Stacking dolls!
3. Crafting items. This is one area I might have cheated a little on- I can't go long without wanting to make something. I did drastically limit the amount of craft items I bought and am now listing the items I made my Etsy store or giving them as gifts.
4. Going out. While I am lucky to be a girl- which saved me a lot of money- I do enjoy a delicious meal and going out and did splurge a few times.
*I have a lot of great things!
I knew I had a lot of great clothes before I began this goal, several items being quite old. A classic item will always be classic-- hold on to your classic items! Splurge on something you know you will wear a lot- make sure it will last forever.
*Figuring out the things I really need
Not being able to buy anything for 6 months, I was able to evaluate what I had and what I could really use. I created a list of items I found myself constantly wishing I had. And it was surprisingly short!
1. A red cardigan was something that I was constantly wishing I had in my wardrobe.
2. Sunglasses,
3. belts (brown and black),
4. a watch,
5. cowgirl boots
6. Gladiator sandles
7. a nice nude bra round off the list.
I told you it was short! This made me really use the things I have and appreciate how great they are. I don't need new things to look and feel great!
*Get Creative
I became more and more creative with my outfits; I began to combine interesting colors, added unique accessories, and wore things confidently that before I wasn't so sure about.
*Make sure your clothes fit
We tend to avoid wearing things that don't fit us just right and I have a hard time finding clothes that fit me well. Making sure that my clothes fit well by having them tailored made me so much more comfortable wearing nicer clothes. And..... I wear them a whole lot more now.
*Hold on to the things you love
My boss, Cindy and I have had several discussions about my goal throughout the last 6 months and she has told me on multiple occasions about items of clothing she donated that she is now kicking herself over. "Erika! I had this great, expensive leather jacket that some girl in Soho has found in a vintage shop and now is looking fabulous in!" Moral of the story, hang on to those things you love-- they'll be back in style!
Now this whole experience was also to help me save money. As I have reviewed my finances, I realize that I can't revert back to buying; its just not in the bank at the moment. So I have decided to use my birthday to get the things I really need...and maybe a few things that I really want, then continue my goal through the end of the year! Another 6 months to evaluate, save, get creative, focus on other things!"
Click here to check out Erika's blog, E's Cup of Tea
Posted on
Mon, June 28, 2010
by Erika Barczak
filed under