'Clothed Case' for a New Year's Resolution



And to think that this is only about 1/8th of my clothes.
(Greg wanted me to show how I color-code everything - which I do, and I'm proud of it, thank you.)




Well, hello there, New Year! Here I go:


I resolve to not buy new clothes (including, but not limited to, shoes). I am nothing if not ambitious....And perhaps crazed.


In the never-ceasing pursuit called "Spend Less Money," I have faced the facts about myself: Damn, I'd save a lot of dough (hopefully) if I could just stop being a slave to the allure of buying clothes! Everyone has their vices. Some people over-eat, others drink or abuse substances/pastimes. Me? I go shopping.


I don't even think I'm particularly cutting-edge in what I wear. I'm not trying to out-style anyone but myself. And it's not lost on me (a.k.a. psychologist by trade) that I am probably compensating for some lack of something or perhaps trying to fill a void. While I work on these larger issues with my therapist, I'm going to do a little experiment this year in deprivation to see if I can kick a bad habit.


I know enough from my behavioral theory background that I am going to need a "replacement behavior": Something to do instead of pine away for the LOFT and Banana Republic's sale-o-rama. Something to counteract that craving when it hits me. Something that gives me some sort of outlet (but not the outlet mall) or positive direction in which to channel my energy.


In spite of being a member of a book club (that is named "Reading Between the Wines," which may tell you a little more about what we're about anyway), I don't think I read a complete book all year last year. Case-in-point: After raving on and on to people about The Hunger Games series, I have yet to finish the last book in the trilogy(!). Oh, the hypocrisy... (Side Bar: I have a theory about why that's taking me so long, and I think it's that I don't want the series to end, so this keeps it from being "over" for me... Same reason why I'm having such trouble wrapping up my blog series on my trip to Iceland. I don't want it to end. So if I don't conclude it, it doesn't.... But I digress.) My point is this: I need to read that damn book, because the Hunger Games movie is coming out in March of this year. I now have a deadline.


I have a ba-zillion crafty ideas just waiting in the wings (or in the recesses and corners of my room, gathering dust) for me to remember them and set aside some time to actually do them. Cork Wreath? You're next on my list. I got your number.


So there we have them - Two ideas for replacement behaviors that are fully legitimate. Oh, and I could devote more time to playing with my kids, though part of my desire to shop has to do with escapism, usually meaning escaping the house, kids, husband (Sorry, Greg), and all that reminds me of domestic responsibility. We all need a break; I just choose to run up my credit card bill during mine by escaping on "errands."


I wish I could say that my inspiration to conduct this experiment of will power is about the plight of America's dependence on material possessions (oh, so true) and accumulation of things we don't need ("Hoarders," anyone?) and how we should reduce our purchase of resources such as textiles, or at least recycle them. Yes, these are all very good points, but really, um, it's about me. Me, trying to not be so shallow in my interests, and me, trying to change a bad habit.


So here are the Rules of Play:


1. I will NOT buy new clothes this year (2012).


2. I CAN borrow from others.


3. I CAN re-sale my clothes at consignment stores/sales and potentially have the credit to use towards other things...But only necessities. (So if all of my underwear falls apart this very year, I will have the ability to buy new undies, but something else in my closet has to be traded for it; thus, I must use credit earned for re-sold items.)


4. I CAN continue to consign my sons' clothes for store credit as well.* However, all purchases for their clothes must be approved by Greg, my husband, who himself buys new clothes once every ten years or so, and not even that often if he doesn't "need them" - a very liberal definition. Yellow pit-stains and holes in his underwear? Not a problem. He's still rockin' the 90's grunge look (or whatever someone gave him for Christmas in 1992) without shame. He plays hard-ball.


*Note: I am adding my sons' clothes to this list because my habit of buying clothes often transforms itself into buying clothes for the boys. This affliction of mine that bleeds into their closets, too.


Wish me luck, and please, for God's sake, don't invite me to go shopping with you any time this year. Lead me not into the Valley of Temptation, y'all!

Skirts and pants and sweatshirts, oh my! It shouldn't be hard to stop accumulating these, right??