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?

Betwixt and Between

This is a busy week for me, which is good news as some money will hit my bank at some point. I'm still sticking to the no fritter and am on course to turn everything around financially. The No Fritter challenge almost draws to a close only 15 days to go and apart from a rush on Percy Pigs last week I can hold my hand on heart and state (so far) I've done good, bought nothing.

Career is still a sticking point. It is not something that will change in a day or week but I'm having to work at going forward. I had a film bid rejected yesterday, but the work I've done so far is a great building block to continue with the project. Rejection is always a toughie because it dents hope and at some point rejection if continuous, spells the end of a dream. But I favour the Winston Churchill view that with every no you are closer to a yes. Though this has to be tempered with not appearing like your taking part in a delusional X Factor audition!

Now if I could get another piece of work between now and April and magic myself to an Italian size 38 I'd be clicking the shopping cart on the Outnet for this Alberta Ferretti skirt.

Thought for the week - focus!

I continue to not spend any money on anything! This is becoming easier. I am forced by circumstances to not spend but because I started off on this with a no fritter attitude rather than a spending ban I think that helped.

A reminder - the point of not frittering for three months is to save what you would have spent in shops on lots of little amounts. This should generate a more substantial sum, enabling you to purchase something wow that you love. If I did have a pot then I'd buy something from Dolce & Gabbana

I've managed to not increase my debts and have begun to really pay them off. If I'd frittered then I would have added to them. It does mean I can't get a wow item but I'm doing really well, aided by capsule wardrobe week to use what I have effectively. Even though I been out styling private clients and basically dressing them in what I would buy, (because it suits them and it is of course visionary!) I have not succumbed. Yah! This makes me feel good and has broken a habit, the magpie habit. It also has meant I have had to be motivated to do other things.

The other things I have done are exercise more and revolutionise my diet. The diet has changed. Thanks to the marvellous comments on my size matters post I was challenged to research dietary issues more thoroughly - thank you Deja Pseu.

I ended up with a book called Can We Live 150 Years by Mikhail Tombak.

It is a brilliant book, but not for the faint hearted when it comes to digesting matters of bodily functions. I have to say no one has made me understand or get eating properly. The man is a genius and although I pale at the thought of self administering an enema, the moment I have a spare pound or two I'm off for a colonic irrigation. Apart from the cost of the book, I've managed to improve my well being, turn the tide on my fat hips and smile my way through no money.

My very own Mrs Doyle

Seven weeks (and a bit) in and counting on the no fritter challenge. That means there is only 5 and a half weeks to go. So far I have bought nothing and spent nothing. This means my overdraft/credit card/MA loan are all decreasing. I hope that I will be on target to pay everything off by the end of the year.

To date the weather has been an enormous help in preventing shop browsing and therefore reducing temptation. Sadly the effects of this have probably been counterbalanced by more blog viewing and magazine consumption. I have been building mental pictures of a new wardrobe in my head. However I do feel able to resist temptation and have felt strangely liberated from the cycle of consumption.

I feel my adherence to the no fritter challenge will be helped by participating in The Small Fabric of my Life's Spring capsule wardrobe challenge, although I am hoping the weather gets warmer in March.

But in the midst of keeping going, my very own Mrs Doyle appeared in the form of Mrs Fab of Looking Fab in Your Forties. She hilariously commented 'go on treat yourself' in reference to my MA award. It was a real 'go on, go on'! I will not be breaking my resolve to treat myself of anything, although I did polish off very easily the champagne left over from Sunday (that's how frugal we are being these days!).

Avast Mrs Fab, oh go on then...I might be tempted to treat myself to a great pair of shoes for my graduation in July. I fancy skipping in Westminster in these....

The make do effort increases

Far from falling at the first hurdle, and many presented themselves not least the leather Zara shorts, I've stayed the course. I've not even frittered a penny on knickers or sock and believe me I could so with some new underwear.

I have had to buy beauty products but have stuck to creams for face and body. I've abandoned expensive ones and have settled fro points make prizes purchases at Boots. Anything I get on my Advantage card is splurged on make up. Without this I would not have got the Chanel nail varnish 505 Particulière.

I've opted for Eucerin, Olay and Nivea or Dr Nick Lowe - it depends on the £5 off voucher and any bonus points I might get. All of which have done no harm to my face. In fact I haven't noticed any difference. The Eucerin Q10 one has been my favourite.






Work is slow and although I'm not earning much nothing is being frittered away. I'm hoping I can build on this to extend my good behaviour and stick to it. The longer I go the better my chances are at becoming solvent again.

I know it isn't easy to change habits, I'm still munching those rich tea biscuits and I need to stop but I'm rather alarmed at how good at personal finances I've finally become! Why did it take so long...

Make Do Motivation

I figured you needed sums to motivate you to not fritter for a few months.

12 weeks of Grazia = £23.40
Daily cappuccino over twelve weeks = £117
No weekly little clothes or other purchases at say £20 a week = £240

A no spend on these items would give you £380.40 to buy one quality item with.... food for thought.
What would you spend £380.40 on?


UPDATE - the example of cost saving measures above are just that, examples. The No Fritter Challenge is simply as thus: all you have to do is not buy a single item of clothing from now until March 31st. Save what you might have spent or were tempted to spend and then go an buy yourself something truly fabulous.

New Year Style Challenge

There's no place for waste, there's no place for waste....okay not as catchy as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz with her red shoes but it might be a handy mantra for you to adopt for the first three months of 2010.

Normally one's new year resolutions are quite self centred in the sense they revolve around self improvement, endeavouring to do more, be better at x or y. However it is hard to do this in isolation and often the focus brings no visible reward (unless on is aiming for slimmer hips!).

I've noticed and noted how many of us on the fashion blogs without a disposable income worthy of our fashion fancies often lament not being able to buy an item that is more expensive....YET there is much evidence of FRITTERING. Therefore the resolution I'm proposing you to adopt is 'The No Fritter Challenge 2010'.

It is essentially very easy to undertake. All you have to do is not buy a single item of clothing from now until March 31st. Save what you might have spent or were tempted to spend and then go an buy yourself something truly fabulous.

Basically you have to make do until the 31st - there are no exceptions even £2 on an item from a charity shop could count towards your fab fund.

I want you to savour the moment you purchase the item you love in April.

If you want to be part of the Make Do Style resolution just use the image below and put it on your blog to show you are participating and remind you of your goal. Then in April all you have to do is post you and your purchase!


**UPDATE** essentials are allowed i.e socks, tights and underwear if you are really desperate but it has to be an emergency!