Day 364
Author: Michelle
Description: Day 364 Of My No Shopping Challenge-WOW!
Date: 2014-03-31T10:00:00+00:00

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# Day 364 Of My No Shopping Challenge-WOW!

posted on 31 March, 2014

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So who’s counting the days down-not I 🙂 I can’t believe that a year has passed since I’ve gone shopping. In fact, I can’t believe that the year has passed in the way that it has. There was awhile where it was super slow, then it sped up, and then it slowed down again. Maybe, that’s just how life works.

I am quietly amazed that I actually stuck with this challenge. Clothes are big part of how I express myself outwardly. I use fashion as a creative outlet. I’m not an artist in the traditional sense, but I love the process of crafting a well thought out outfit that expresses my happiness, my excitement, and yes,even my sadness.

In the months before the challenge I’d become partial to blues. I think because I find the color so soothing. Sky, water, and blue icees on a hot day. I also like deep green that reminds me of grass freshly mowed on a sunny and cool Spring day.

I’d also become attached to a lot of greys and black. Though those colors can be chic. I wore them to cover up my extra weight and the grey echoed the flat emotional state I was in when I began my challenge.

## Day 364

My clothes were worn day after day and slowly my favorite pieces wore down, developed holes, and some items even exploded. Yep, I had two pairs of pants explode…in front of other people.

Socks wore through the quickest with holes showing up with alarming frequency as the year sped along. I understood why Ma from Little House In the Prairie was always darning socks.

I discovered that having a ridiculous amount of underwear was a wonderful thing. I’m embarrassed to say that I still have a ton of new pairs in the neverending bag of new undies that I purchased in preparation for the yar.

I gave away bags of clothes. They weren’t “me” anymore. I also found myself overwhelmed by them as if the number of items in my closet were almost smothering me.

I saved money. Thousands of dollars. That money went to trips. I went to London and was a bridesmaid. New York City on my first mommy/daughter trip in years. I went to St. Louis for FinCon13.

I thought a lot. About money, its power, the power that I gave my money. Where I spent my money on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

I became even more committed to the idea of spending locally, spending ethically, and spending in line with my values. I have developed a spending strategy that is inline with my values.

## Here is My Shopping Strategy

- Buy local or from American Manufacturers-As much as possible I’m trying to buy my clothing items locally. It’s hard to do but I do have an ongoing list of great businesses that produce in my area.

- Ethical Manufacturing-I am not interested in buying from countries where the manufacturing standards are questionable.

- Buy from Thrift Stores-I love thrift stores! It’s hard for me to believe that I used to hate thrift shopping. I’ve discovered an online thrift store that I’m OBSESSED with! Check out my thoughts on it HERE. You’ll become obsessed too.

- Clothing swaps-That I ironically never participated in during the challenge.

- Shop My Closet-That’s a no brainer! I’m trying to really, really be intentional about using what I have so that I continue to save money while looking my best.

## What I Discovered From Doing This Challenge

I found that I spent a lot of time thinking about change. Changing my life, my home, my circumstances, and my finances.

I found myself surprised how my intention to not shop for fashion became a much bigger internal conversation about how I felt about myself. There were moments when I would shop because I was depressed, lonely, and bored.

I rediscovered and actively worked on my Gratitude and began to truly appreciate what I already had: good health, a loving family, great friends, and yes, some great fashion LOL! You don’t do a challenge like this one and not change.

## Moving Forward

I want to get rid of everything. I want color and low tops (yep I said it). Pumps and skinny jeans. I don’t want these things just to have them. I want to have them because I’m letting go of last decade Michelle. I’m over that girl and I’m sure my friends are too. I’m looking forward to a fresh start.

## What Do You Think Your Clothes Say About You?

## Do You Have A Spending Philosophy?

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#### Michelle

I am an obsessive foodie, but not self-righteous with it, love travel, meeting new people, helping you look good, and am freaked out by people who don't enjoying reading...something! Grab a Perrier, read my blog, feel free to drop me a line! Hope to hear from you soon.

#### Latest posts by Michelle (see all)

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## Reader Interactions

### Comments

1. Michelle (@BudgetBloggess) says

   31 March, 2014 at 5:41 am

   Congrats on surviving your no fashion spend! You have done amazing! I know how difficult it is, trying to do one myself that started out unsuccessful but as of April 1st I’ll be taking over the no fashion spend reigns from you, LOL! 🙂
   I understand about wanting to reinvent yourself, it shows how much we’ve grown and changed.
   Way to go! Show us some pics when you do go shopping!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     1 April, 2014 at 9:26 pm

     Thanks Michelle! It was rough at times but I made it. Sadly, I can’t buy anything new until this weekend! But, I do plan on ordering 2 pairs of shoes. I’ve decided to lower my clothing budget for the year even more. We’ll see how it goes. I’m now passing the reigns over to you!! I’ve also decided that I need to lose some weight before buying too many items (think pants). I can’t wait to breath some fresh life into my wardrobe.

     Reply

2. Athena says

   31 March, 2014 at 4:53 pm

   Such an accomplishment! Congratulations again!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     1 April, 2014 at 9:27 pm

     Thanks Athena!! I can’t believe I made it. Am retooling my wardrobe and my budget as we speak. Might post some pictures soon.

     Reply

3. sophisticatedspender.com says

   1 April, 2014 at 9:00 am

   Yay for you! My friends always tell me that I only wear black, white and grey. I am totally working on adding more color to my wardrobe (and my blog)! Congratulations!!!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     1 April, 2014 at 9:28 pm

     Crystal, I’ve already told you what I think-LOL! Color is our friend.

     Reply

4. Tonya@Budget and the Beach says

   1 April, 2014 at 9:35 am

   Congratulations on making it a year!! I need more undies so I don’t have to do laundry as often…actually I need a lot of things so I don’t have to do laundry as often!

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     1 April, 2014 at 9:30 pm

     Thanks Tonya! I can’t believe I made it. There is a reason why I have thousands of pairs of unmentionables-you can never have enough.

     Reply

5. anna says

   1 April, 2014 at 1:55 pm

   I love your post, and congrats on a whole year of no shopping! I love your descriptions of blues and green, and it sounded like a great growth process. 🙂

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     1 April, 2014 at 9:39 pm

     Thanks Anna! It was kind of intense and I can’t believe that it’s finally over. Wearing these clothes have been making me feel crazy in the past of couple of months. I didn’t realize that I was in the process of reinventing myself.

     Reply

6. Mela says

   6 March, 2016 at 5:23 pm

   Why you didn’t invest the money you saved….I don’t know….for retirement money…?

   Reply

   - Michelle says

     6 March, 2016 at 6:02 pm

     Great question-I was already investing for retirement and I had unsecured debt and other expenses to manage. I was also helping my mother out and that was more important.

     Reply

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