Wednesday 31 March 2010

End of No Fritter Challenge

Agh! Done. I cannot believe I've bought absolutely zilch and believe me I've been tempted. On the one hand I've nearly cried at the missed opportunities - the amazingly simple but wearable Gap shirt dress (all gone), a white Zara t-shirt with bow detail (gone) and a few other things that fell into the nice basics for wardrobe, camp. I've realised how easy it is to freshen up ones wardrobe by buying something new but I've realised this is a habit. A habit, I've so easily adopted over the years and now I've broken it.

Believe me it has been a chore rearranging and reassessing my wardrobe sometimes on a daily basis. I've made every piece work and worked things I've not bothered with much. As a result I've knackered my Gap khaki chinos, a couple of knits and during the cold spell a black H&M polo. However, it feels so good not to have spent anything and really worn what I've got. I have no intention on going on a spend frenzy, I think I prefer the new me.


Technically I've not saved a jot for buying a significant and stylish item but I've dented my post graduate debts and not added to them at all. I will once more be at liberty to purchase anything, although my finances currently don't stack up enough to do so. Believe me when I do I'll probably blog about the item for a week!

So how did you do - those that embraced the challenge?

17 comments:

  1. Wow! Congratulations. Although I was definitely more discriminating and only bought "basics" I did bust my shopping ban. I have found, not surprisingly, if I don't go to the shops, I don't buy anything.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have been so careful with my money lately that after buying a number of essential spring pieces for my 10-year-old daughter today, she had to take a nap from the sheer overwhelmingness of the experience. True.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well done you, you must feel very satisfied with yourself. I also think you will be enjoying your clothes so much more and making your wardrobe work harder and more interesting xxx We should all take a leaf from your book xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. So proud of you and envious! WELL DONE. Right. You have inspired me. I'd like to try the no fritter challenge for April. Was the hardest bit the start??? Or the middle?

    Meanwhile My dinner guests LOVED my pink cutlery and praised my use of COLOUR which is cheering during these difficult economic times.

    Sometimes, in the blogsphere (word I HATE) everyone's a Critic. Which can be irritating.

    I will try to Embrace a Non Fritter Mindset.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well done you! I bet your first purchase will be very satisfying :) I didn't do the challenge, but I have been very good over the last few months so that I can justify buying some great Summer items when the time comes!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done. You win on 2 levels. 1, you sucessfully completed you challange and 2. Best of all you have reduced your debt. Brilliant. Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well done Kate! I haven't bought much and seem to be constantly skint myself lately, there is so much I want but can't get. School fees, keeping daughter 2 in Uni and dressing them all seems to be the order of things around here, oh and the money OH lost at Cheltenham would have paid for a family holiday in the sun!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh dear, I wish I had known about this formal resolve. I tried to start the new year mindful of shopping, but the "want" reallllllly piles up. I bought a pair of shoes, and a pair of sandals, and a pair of pants...a purse...a pair of mittens...crud.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well done!!! There's something deeply satisfying about wearing your clothes to death, isn't there? Keep up the good work!
    Vix
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats on this! It isn't easy to hold back especially when you are tempted by things you really want. I don't think I have done much frittering during your 3 month challenge. Everything I bought I think I really needed.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am impressed. Every time I bought something I remembered your experiment and thought twice about it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations! I guess it's much more difficult than it sounds because rewarding ourselves with shopping is often quite a habit. I recently realised I had been terribly good with saving money - just to turn around and spend all the money I had theoretically saved.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well done - 3 months is a looooong stretch and look its a new season and new things to behold and enjoy. The thing with clothes/fashion, its to be worn, which means they do get worn out and need replacing. You certainly learnt the hard way and I admire you for that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good on ya mate! (sorry lapsed into Aussie-speak there). I will be interested to know what the first thing you do buy is going to be - keep us informed please.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well done! I have only bought absolutely necessary things but then my idea of necessary wont be in the dictionary LOL x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting, much appreciated. Sorry about no longer offering anonymous comments but spamming had become a very annoying issue. xxx