70 days later....

Waiting for son, Sam to do his Range Rover experience at Dorford Hall in Nantwich

Lots of concentration!

My keyring creation!

It is now the 8th February and I am surviving! Not just my challenge, but this cold, damp and muddy weather! Brrrrrr!

As for my challenge, every catalogue that comes through the door goes straight into the recycling and every email or social media post is unfollowed before I even look at it! 

If I could sum up how I am feeling in two words it would be that I am now a 'mindful consumer' of all things, not just clothes and shoes. For instance, I really, really had an urge to have an online browse at a shopping site - any shopping site, it didn't matter! I think I missed the simple art of mooching and not necessarily purchasing. I ended up on the Coach handbag site where I saw a lovely bag in the sale, and I repeat IN THE SALE! Handbags are fair game in this challenge (and this one was £350 down to £140), so I thought maybe I would think about it for  little while and return to purchase it in a few days. So that is what I did for a few days to make sure I really did need this handbag!  I didn't buy it and I don't regret not buying it. I didn't actually need it, even though there was a little part of me saying 'you haven't got a navy blue handbag!' and this one is sooooo lovely!

I was very proud of myself for resisting and it has paid off. For the first time since I can remember I ended January in credit! I think the positive impact on my bank balance will become a real driving factor for me in this challenge as I become more mindful about what I need and what I purchase going forward and see a positive effect on my finances as a result.

January was also the month that I committed to learning to sew! I have joined my sister in law Iona and her friend Caroline for sewing lessons with the lovely Alison. In readiness for my first lesson, I got the old sewing machine out and had a little play with some scraps of fabric I had tucked away in the attic and produced some very useful key rings. I was chuffed to bits with the results, so made one for my friend Sarah who also loved it! My aim is to make a few and sell them at my forthcoming Clothes Swapping party in April with the proceeds going to JDRF. 

Last night I finished reading 'The Year of Less' by Cait Flanders, which was a lovely story about Cait's journey undertaking numerous challenges like getting rid of debt, quitting drinking, but it was mainly about surviving a year only purchasing essentials and things on her 'allowed' list. Much of it resonated with me such as feeling the need to shop when I am feeling low. Though I haven't quite managed to quit the drinking as well yet! One step at a time Kate.......! 

I am passing this book onto my 'No new clothes or shoes for a year'  buddy Sam to read next and then to an old school friend Sarah who has also vowed to stop mindless consumerism for a year as well. If you fancy a read, give me a shout and I will pass it onto you next.

Talking of my challenge buddy Sam, we had a very enjoyable walk along the River Dee last week chatting about our challenge and how we are finding it. Like me, Sam has found it to be quite empowering and a revelation as to how much time and money was wasted shopping. She also has an 'I can't believe you are really doing this!' Husband!  I will ask Sam to do a guest blog at some stage to give you her perspective on it all.

I also found that I shouldn't underestimate the power of my story on other people. At a recent course as part of the awkward introductions, we had to say who we were, what our company did and give one interesting fact about ourselves. So I told them I was 2 months into a 12 month self imposed clothes and shoes shopping ban. One of the girls on the course almost had palpitations at the thought of it! However, by the end of the two days and after the usual Husband 'you could never manage that' chat, she has decided to join me on this adventure and not buy any new clothes or shoes for a year! I don't think she will manage handbags though!!! Good luck Faye!

So here we are in February already, with Spring and all the joys it brings just around the corner. I can't wait! Hopefully you will see me sporting a summer skirt that I made myself next time you see me!

Wish me luck!

K xx