The Great American Apparel Diet
no buying for one year

Allison T

I'm based in Canada, in my early 30s and am a manager in the public sector. I've loved clothes and shopping for as long as I can remember so this is going to be a real challenge for me! Growing up, my mother would often buy clothes for me in spurts. Sometimes at the beginning of the school year or a new season. We were quite poor though so this only happened on an as needed basis at various discount stores. I think I've always associated pleasant memories of shopping with my mother with new clothes. To this day, I still have a habit of holding off on buying clothes and then splurging as soon the gates reopen. It's such a huge adrenaline rush, especially when I purchase things (anything really!) on sale! I've always spent within my means, that's not really the issue, but I feel really guilty about spending so much on myself and my personal needs especially since I don't particularly need everything I've purchased. My goal by the end of these next several months is to find a happy middle ground between my current spending habits and pre home purchase/super saver days and successfully diverting my energies towards personal and professional growth as well as maintaining and building on the relationships that matter most to me. I'll also be very happy to gloat to my husband (he’s the saver, I’m the spender!) come the end of this year about how much I've saved!