Sep 03
I just want to say that I’m so grateful that I have a place to talk about TGAAD with people who understand what I’m doing. Over the past few weeks I have mentioned the diet to a few of my friends and they all look at me like I’m crazy!
One of my closest friends (and best shopping accomplice) had no reaction at all when I told her what I would be doing for the next year. When I called her on it a few days later, she replied quietly “It just makes me very sad for you, Jessica.” She then proceeded to talk about some shoe club she just joined for the next 20 minutes.
Now, I know that TGAAD diet makes an exception for shoes - but I do not. Shoes, handbags, and scarves are a serious problem for me so they are banned too! I mean, seriously, why does a person who lives in Florida need 20 scarves?… and I probably have twice that many pairs of shoes.
Anyway, I’m getting off topic. Thank you all for being here, posting often, and reminding me that I am not alone in this.
Tweet This Post
Sep 03
I gave up shopping for myself on August 1, 2010. At the time, my goal of not shopping for one year seemed surreal but possible. Now, one month and 5 (count them, 5) dreams about shopping later, I realize this is going to be hard! Everywhere I go there are beautiful items of clothing that seem to scream my name. I have recently put in the recycling bin a JCrew, White House/Black Market, and REI catalog, respectively, without even looking through the pages. I have realized that I could not look “just to look”. Maybe it will get easier. Maybe designers will start putting out really ugly designs for the next year so I won’t care. Maybe not.
Tweet This Post
Sep 03
So the TGAAD started on Sep 1 and on Sep 2, I flew to Glasgow for a business trip! Normally I will do a bit of shopping while on business trips, but this will provide a great environment for me to redirect my attention and my money! For starters, I don’t have extra room in my suitcase. I have the perfect clothes for the conference and the weather. I would like to spend my money on experiences (although the museums here are free), and on taxis, and on local single-malt scotches! Given all that and the exchange rate (which is not favorable for the dollar), I should be able to keep my shopping impulses in check, relax, and enjoy myself.
Tweet This Post
Tagged with: diet, fashion, shopping, travel
Sep 03
I too was tempted by the Banana 40% off coupons. I went in on 9/2 to get a price reduction on a pair of jeans (yes, I had succumbed to the “one last shopping trip before 9/1″ for “needed” black pants and ended up buying pants AND jeans), but I couldn’t use the coupon on the jeans because they had just gone on sale, for about the equivalent of 40% off. So I had this coupon burning a hole in my pocket. I didn’t even look at the clothes, but I went straight for the jewelry. I bought a necklace (it WAS a good deal), but I had just bought 2 other necklaces this past weekend, boutique shopping in my neighborhood.
Let me back up a little… My motivations for joining this diet are: saving money, saving space, curbing my consumption habits, and developing my personal style. I’ve never had a knack for accessorizing, and I own very little in the way of accessories and jewelry. I’ve been building up a nicer clothes wardrobe the past few years, mostly nice work clothes, but I’m not that great at putting together an outfit.
But if my main goal is to save money, I need to be really careful about buying accessories and try to find a balance there. I bought the 2 necklaces last weekend in anticipation of this diet, thinking that if I can’t buy new clothes, I’ll need other ways to combine what I have in new ways. I’m excited about that, but I’m seeing now that buying jewelry, accessories, and shoes could easily just replace clothes in my shopping and spending habits. I’ve been thinking (and bragging to my bf) that this diet wouldn’t be so hard for me. Two days in, and I’m already learning something about myself. It’s going to be a struggle to figure out how to balance my various diet-related goals in the coming year.
Tweet This Post
Sep 02
I was kicking myself when I walked by (and then into) Banana Republic today. I recently ripped up some 40% coupons I was desperate to have again as I looked at the new merchandise and spotted a beautiful hat (which isn’t technically clothing, right?). I found myself wishing I hadn’t acted so rashly, since my little trick would indeed prevent me from spending money.
In the end, when I walked out empty-handed, I consoled myself by convincing myself it wouldn’t have been much of a deal anyway. Although 40% in my head sounds like “Wow, almost half price!”, once you add a 15% tax the discount becomes only 25% off the ticket price, which – frankly – wasn’t that good in this situation. Hopefully this logic will still come in handy after my year of clothing shopping abstinence has ended. I’m such a sucker for a sale.
Tweet This Post
Sep 02
Happy September everyone! Along with that, congratulations to all of you who joined the diet. I don’t have much to say right now, but just wanted to let you know a couple of thoughts that rolled along as September came…
As a student in a professional school with a limited budget, it’s easy to go on a small session of “retail therapy” and go to a discount outlet store to “treat” myself to something “small.” But when September came along, I started to think about what I could do with that money–I could spend it on hanging out with friends (happy hours after work!), experimenting with cooking (cooking that duck confit dish I’ve always wanted to but never got around it), buying books to juice up my brain or to start new (rock climbing?) or old projects (oil painting!) that I’ve always wanted to do, but was always “budgeted out.”
Cheers to the delicious home-cooked dinners with family, nights out on the town with your girlfriends, books you’ve always wanted to read, projects that were on hold, and to the simple and real joys of life!
Tweet This Post
Sep 02
Instead of spending money on clothes (as I would normally do) I splurged on something beautiful and important… a bicycle helmet!
I didn’t know there were such things as attractive bike helmets! I have head gear, but if I ended up in an accident it wouldn’t be there to protect me since my current helmet is so ugly and uncomfortable that I never wear it. Friends have been nagging me to wear a helmet for ages, so I figured now that I have a little extra cash (thanks to TGAAD) I should get a helmet I actually like. After all, as with clothes, the best helmet is the one you actually wear.
Tweet This Post
Sep 02
And I’m doing better than I usually am on the 2nd day of any diet. 
My copy of Lucky magazine came in the mail today, and I was going to throw it out. But I figured I would keep it and leaf through it once. For one, I’m going to be exposed to fashion advertising whether I like it or not, so I might as well train myself to ignore it. Second, I will be able to resist buying new clothes if I can get back in the habit of being creative with what I already have, and I will most likely be using fashion advertising for inspiration. Third, I want to remind myself how RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE a lot of clothing is, and Lucky is actually good for practicing my “They want $235 for that sweater? Get real!” attitude.
Tweet This Post
Tagged with: diet, fashion, shopping, temptation
Sep 02
With very little time to anticipate joining TGAAD (I only learned of it last Saturday), on the 31st, I quickly ran out to Banana Republic for one last trip. I’ve been an at home mom for 2 1/2 years, and am about to reenter the workplace, so I knew I needed one decent suit. While there, I ‘knew’ I also needed a nice pair of black pants. Mixing and matching with my closet, this would get me through a year. I mean, one pair of black pants, one suit may mean a lot of laundry/dry cleaning, but I can do it.
To celebrate Day 1, I spent three hours in my closet planning a quick reorganization. I ended up with a huge bag of shoes and a huge bag of clothes to send off to charity. And that was just going through pants and dresses. Well lo and behold, I already do have black pants. EIGHT PAIR. (and I don’t think that counts capris)
So for those of you who like me are doing this for the 1st time, I strongly recommend a big reorganization of your wardrobe…you may find things (oh also 10 black dresses!) that you didn’t even remember you owned.
Tweet This Post
Sep 02
I’ve been reading the comments about unsubscribing from retail e-mails, catalogues, etc. What a good idea! I had not thought of that. What I *did* think of? Um . . .buying stuff before August 31. Did anyone else do that?
Tweet This Post
Tagged with: retail
Loading ...
