they came home with me, 2012
I'm pretty behind on this one, and thought of just skipping it entirely, but since I was keeping track of shopping all year, I thought this post was necessary for closure.
January 2012
- Margaret Howell shirt
March
- Orla Kiely for Uniqlo scarf
- Seafolly bikini
May/June
- Uniqlo linen shirt
- Massimo Dutti linen knit henley
- MHL by Margaret Howell cotton-linen sailor top
July
- Filippa K navy cotton twill shirtdress
- COS cream chunky cotton knit tank
- Pointer cream canvas sneakers
- Massimo Dutti low-heeled t-strap pumps
August
- Sam Edelman low-heeled sandals
November
- Carven shirt
December
- Massimo Dutti dark red linen knit pullover
- Massimo Dutti navy sleeveless shift
Miscellaneous
- Undies from Muji, Stella McCartney, M&S
Gifts
- H&M lace tank, Cole Haan flats
So, 14 items for 2012. Two more than I would like, more if you counted things that were given to me, and I was battling to keep the count down in December - I felt a powerful impulse to buy something, anything, and I was saved only by a) the expenses of my trip to NZ and b) that niggling feeling that I didn't love any of the things I had my eye on, though I liked them well enough.
I'm perturbed by the way I associate shopping with reward - for working hard, for doing well, to celebrate. I feel most like shopping after a period of unusual stress, or when I get good news. It feels dangerously impulsive. It's okay if it's a long-desired, planned purchase. But quite often it's just me blowing off steam. So I need to watch that.
I also shop more lavishly when I'm on holiday. Again, just a pitfall I'd like to be careful of.
I'm also continuing on my never-ending quest to become more organised financially - probably worth a post all on its own - but part of it is becoming more disciplined about budgeting. Clothing-wise, if something exceeds my budget, I'd like to be more organised about putting money away for it.
Unusually, I have a list of things I’d like to check off in the months to come. I don’t usually make lists and often I never know I want something until it’s right in front of me.
- Glasses.
- A small leather crossbody bag for casual use. My Chanel reissue – my only small purse – is sometimes just too much.
- New flat shoes. I don't have my eye on anything, but I see a few pairs of shoes wearing thin, so I plan to keep an eye out for good replacements.
Incidentally, I have already cracked open a new year of shopping, by purchasing some decidedly trendy trousers, which are of course not on my list, because I've never quite grasped how to make lists and stick to them...
(You can tell I wrote this post in a hurry, because I didn't even dress it up a bit with a picture or two.)
January 2012
- Margaret Howell shirt
March
- Orla Kiely for Uniqlo scarf
- Seafolly bikini
May/June
- Uniqlo linen shirt
- Massimo Dutti linen knit henley
- MHL by Margaret Howell cotton-linen sailor top
July
- Filippa K navy cotton twill shirtdress
- COS cream chunky cotton knit tank
- Pointer cream canvas sneakers
- Massimo Dutti low-heeled t-strap pumps
August
- Sam Edelman low-heeled sandals
November
- Carven shirt
December
- Massimo Dutti dark red linen knit pullover
- Massimo Dutti navy sleeveless shift
Miscellaneous
- Undies from Muji, Stella McCartney, M&S
Gifts
- H&M lace tank, Cole Haan flats
So, 14 items for 2012. Two more than I would like, more if you counted things that were given to me, and I was battling to keep the count down in December - I felt a powerful impulse to buy something, anything, and I was saved only by a) the expenses of my trip to NZ and b) that niggling feeling that I didn't love any of the things I had my eye on, though I liked them well enough.
I'm perturbed by the way I associate shopping with reward - for working hard, for doing well, to celebrate. I feel most like shopping after a period of unusual stress, or when I get good news. It feels dangerously impulsive. It's okay if it's a long-desired, planned purchase. But quite often it's just me blowing off steam. So I need to watch that.
I also shop more lavishly when I'm on holiday. Again, just a pitfall I'd like to be careful of.
I'm also continuing on my never-ending quest to become more organised financially - probably worth a post all on its own - but part of it is becoming more disciplined about budgeting. Clothing-wise, if something exceeds my budget, I'd like to be more organised about putting money away for it.
Unusually, I have a list of things I’d like to check off in the months to come. I don’t usually make lists and often I never know I want something until it’s right in front of me.
- Glasses.
- A small leather crossbody bag for casual use. My Chanel reissue – my only small purse – is sometimes just too much.
- New flat shoes. I don't have my eye on anything, but I see a few pairs of shoes wearing thin, so I plan to keep an eye out for good replacements.
Incidentally, I have already cracked open a new year of shopping, by purchasing some decidedly trendy trousers, which are of course not on my list, because I've never quite grasped how to make lists and stick to them...
(You can tell I wrote this post in a hurry, because I didn't even dress it up a bit with a picture or two.)
Comments
I definitely find holiday shopping the most impulsive, as well as sale time, and I too tend to buy when I'm stressed out or upset. Things to focus on and acknowledge as they come up I suppose.
Good luck with your list for 2013. I;m not sure if you saw on a pair and a spare, but the idea of DIYing the Celine trio might be a good option for a cross body?
I am also looking for a plain leather crossbody bag, hopefully in burgundy. The reissue may be a bit too much for some days, I agree.
Over the new year, I got a pair of boots, the denim dress from Muji, and a printed skirt from IM (which is also something different from what I would normally buy).
But I guess, it is nice to add a bit of colour and print to brighten things up a bit.
I like how you did in 2012 and I hope to be as rational and calculated this year, hopefully!
As for lists, it's really not an obligation, it can help for those who like it but if it doesn't feel comfortable for you I'm sure you'll find something else that works.
-- andrea
http://talkingwithyourclothes.tumblr.com/
I'm not a minimalist when it comes to shopping, and I don't think I ever could be, I just like it to darned much. But I am striving to be more thoughtful, conscious and considered when purchasing, and I think the goal of having a way to save up for a big ticket item is a great one. As for budgets and finances in general, I'm a total geek about it and love buxfer.com for keeping track of everything, you might want to check it out.
www.nomadicd.com
I splurged a lot during the last weeks of 2012. Sometimes on items I didn't need but mostly on useful but expensive items and beacuse I had a lot more cash at that moment I didn't really put brakes on anything I wanted... I can't say I regret that phase but now (that I'm broke), I'm back on track and on a ban for a couple of months.
I did much more shopping last year than I had planned to, but what was eye-opening at the end of the year was the realisation that some of my impulsive, instinctive purchases turned out to be my best buys. And the more i agonised over a purchase, the less useful it turned out to be.
A few takeaways - scarves are always a good purchase, because I seem to get a ton of wear out of mine (although my closet is starting to resemble a scarf boutique!), same goes for delicate gold jewellery and beautifully-cut dresses. I need to stop looking at handbags -- unless I plan to give one away before buying any more. I have also come to terms with the fact that some of my work assignments require me to keep a small secondary wardrobe made of items that aren't expensive, so I don't mind getting them dirty, torn or worse.
Amanda: Speaking of expensive things, I'd like to stop falling for them!
Maja H: I hear you on housing! I'll like to buy a place as well but committing to the down payment for one will mean something like 20 years of debt! I need a raise...
jamie-lee: I think so long as I can honestly feel I'm 100% behind everything I buy, the number is just a number. I feel like some of the stuff on the list I could have put down and walk away, and I want to cut that!
I actually really like the Celine Trio, and saw that amazing DIY too, but I feel a bit weird DIY-ing something so distinct to a brand...
Joy: I think sometimes I justify my purchases as a reward, and other times I think I can celebrate in other ways instead of shopping.
Eileen: I want something in burgundy too, seems like such a good colour accent for the neutral colours we love. I've been scouting around for something under $250 with no luck...
Can't wait to see that IM skirt in action, I'm intrigued.
Kali Vine: I think some years I definitely buy more, just replacing basics like T-shirts and stuff. So the figure is pretty arbitrary...i just felt like having something new every month should be enough for me, and I shouldn't really want more unless necessary or something good is too good to pass up.
Andrea: Writing it down does make me rethink what I buy and realise what I could have done without, hopefully I learn from it.
Sue: I have that feeling sometimes too! Reward not shopping with shopping. I'm afraid to think of what kind of crazy shopper I could become if I didn't discipline myself.
Nomadic D: I think everyone has their own set of circumstances so I think shopping habits can't be compared based on numbers!
Thanks for the tip about buxfer.com, will definitely check it out.
Aissa: My shopping always dries up in Jan and Feb too, haha, because I am paying for my sins in Dec.
Ammu: Thanks! I agree, more and more, the instinctive buys I didn't see coming are usually the ones I love the most. I think agonising over something usually means I know deep down something isn't quite right.
miss sophie: Thanks! I like splurging on myself, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to lean on rewards as an excuse too much - sometimes I am just greedy! I feel like I don't want to depend too much on material things as a source of pleasure, and if I want to spend I'd like to direct my money to more experiences.
Fleurette: Thanks! I have a couple of expensive things on my list to and having decided that I really want those things, I think this year I am going to be more disciplined about putting money away for them.
Lindsay K: Thanks! I agree about loving what you buy being the most important thing, and I think I get closer to that every year.
I do want to do a post about my wishlist, and how I plan to set aside money for them, but need to find the time to buckle down and write it!