| Climbing Mt. Everest seems like a more obtainable goal. |
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| Written by OHmommy | |
| Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:00 | |
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EDITED: I'm not crazy people. Apparently it's called a "clothes diet" and the NY Times just wrote about it. I'm ahead of the game, yo!
I'm thinking about doing something totally crazy for my 33rd year of life.
Not like a mid-life-crisis-I'm-going-to-climb-Mt.-Everest kinda of crazy, more of a crazy personal challenge to test myself. Like my 365 photo challenge. It's no shocker that I am uber competitive. I've spent the majority of my life involved in one team sport or another and what I've learned is that the healthiest form of competition, most rewarding, are inner based. Challenging yourself.
One of the most memorable lessons my mother taught me was when I was 22. I want to reconnect with that lesson. Learn from it. And model it for my children. Standing in the middle of Saks she said "If I buy you those designer stilettos today, what will you have to look forward to when you are 33?" I respected her sentiments so much that day, I actually envisioned myself surrounded by a sea of stilettos at 33.
Which brings me to my latest personal challenge. One that I am 4 days into it and have 361 days left to go. A challenge I designed myself.
For an entire year I will not shop. If you know me, really really know me, you understand the magnitude of that statement. No new shoes, purses, clothes, jewlery, accessories, etc for me. Nada. I don't need anything. I have everything I need and so so so much more. I plan on working with what I've got and recreating new outfits with the gazillion accessories I have bursting out of my dresser drawers. Of course I will share with you any life changing advice I stumble across on my challenge - like how to wear a pashmina twelve different ways. I need to reconnect with the mountain of things I have accumilated and even managed to neglect throughout the years. Become you know more "resourceful" and fall in love again.
Hold my hand because knowing my luck I will find the world's cutest LBD tomorrow. |
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:14 |
Comments
Good luck!
I have only shopped for myself this year with gift cards I received as presents!
I'm really trying to practice self control.
I'm really trying to practice self control.
Good luck. Keep us updated!!
Also, I guess I have to say good luck to you. It's not going to be easy. At all.
Although I do know what you mean when you say you don't need anything because you have it all, shopping is like therapy to me sometimes, and I like new things.
I do enjoy getting things for others, though, just as much as for myself. Always thinking about friends, my children, my parents, my grandparents, and always picking up something for someone else is just as rewarding.
I recently, instead of having a garage sale, gave 3 gigantic bags filled with toys, books and clothes to a pregnant mother who requested stuff for her baby-to-be. That made me feel good. It wasn't so much a challenge, but as a way of giving back.
Anyway, I'm rambling because I'm kind of sad for you but I understand making and sticking to goals. And just think about the money you'll save - maybe another Europe next summer!
xo
Best of luck - I can't wait to follow along your journey!
Good luck, we need top come visit!!
beware: you may transfer your shopping habit into buying stuff for your kids, husband, friends, etc. Beware.
Maybe you could strike a deal with yourself, like if you donate a pair of shoes to a thrift shop, then you can buy one new pair for no more than $30. Or something like that.
I know, I'm an enabler, right?
I'm still mouth agape after reading this blog post ... but am proud of you!
Do you have a correlating goal/plan for what you'll do with the corresponding amount of money that you would have spent in the next 361 days? That's my side-car challenge to you to come up with something in writing for where THAT money goes ....
Good for you, PK!!!
I'd probably have to drive to Ohio for you to hold my hand cause I'm not sure if I've got the willpower.
OY!
Good Luck
Jst think of all the great presents you will get from family and friends!
Best of luck. I like how you challenge yourself to make yourself better. Kudos.
Hoping it will teach me to be more creative.
Good luck, it will be an interesting ride
There are a lot of fashion blogs out there where women post pictures of how many different ways they can remix an item into a different outfit so everything looks new. I post outfit photos so you can check out my blog (aworkingmomscloset.blogspot.com) but also take a look at my blogroll on the right to see some of the other ladies.
You can do this! You'll find yourself getting more and more creative and it will be so much fun!!!
I hope that this challenge will force to be more creative. I can't just keep buying things because "I have nothing to wear" THAT'S a lie. I have plenty.
Obviously I'm not a shopper. Perhaps I'll take over your habit for you. Someone has to help this economy recover and it looks like you refuse to do your part!
Karen
People can take me shopping if they want. Ha. I'm just not shopping or paying for anything myself.
I really want to be creative and work through my wardrobe as it is.
So, you can still buy like, a new thing for the kitchen? Is this just clothing-related?
You've tempted me...
I LOVE Rima's comment!
I should join you but NOT shopping and NOT eating my favorite foods are two things I can NOT do at the same time!! ;-P
It will be hard, but you can do it!
I have not..done that...so much.
Oops.
My point is, you're right. It sounds like an excellent challenge to just try and work with what I've got. I'm in!
Lucia
I could NEVER! but I did put myself on a HUGE budget for the past year and didn't let myself spend more than $150 a month...which was REALLY hard.
oh my god.
i don't think i can go a MONTH without shopping let alone a whole year? holy shit.
It's all perspective - and while it has been hard and frustrating at times, it really has been fun. For example, this past winter I wore some of my summer dresses with tights & cardigans/sweaters & boots for a different look. I really mixed and matched and used my closet to its fullest ability.
Even now we are almost caught up from my husband being jobless and have a bit of extra money I find myself really thinking about purchases. Do I really need it? Can I get multiple seasons out of it? Is it classic or a trend? And, typically I will put it back on the rack and tell myself that I will wait two weeks. If I can't get it off my mind during that two weeks than maybe I will buy it. 9 our of 10 times I forget about it which means I didn't really need it in the first place.
And, DH & I created a list of goals for ourselves as a family which also helped curb my shopping habit. Safety expense net, mini family trips, new living room flooring, new paint colors in several room and other home improvements. And knowing we want all those things makes me really ask myself if I need something that only benefit me and not us as a family.
Good luck! I know you can do this!
gotta lose weight first. i'm day 3 into my personal diet.
sixitemsorless.com/ It would be a challenge in a challenge!
can't wait to hear how your challenge progresses over the year.
Very best of luck to you!!!
You will window shop. Salivate.
I did it because I felt that consuming was consuming me. It really changed the way I look at shopping. And money. And living rather than buying. Being rather than buying...
Use the time you'd spend at the mall doing the things you wished you had more time for...
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