Ashamed of myself

Pick each item up and decide if it gives you joy. If it doesn't it can go. I did this with all my clothes, bags and shoes. I managed to get rid of half.

As long as you don't get into debt I think shopping to cheer oneself up is not a bad thing. It's better than drinking or gambling. People are too judgemental.

So far this year I have bought one pair of black leggings. And thrown one old pair out. I think it’s too easy to buy too much ‘stuff’. So I only go to the Trafford Centre now when I ‘need’ something rather than ‘want’. Actually it does work - DON’T LOOK! Once you look, you will find.

Cleared make-up this year filled a supermarket bag for life bad girl that I am in my defence haven't had a clear out for 5years+

Several years ago (after putting on stones and stones due to illness), in a fit of pique I gathered up all of my clothes, threw them on the bedroom floor and asked the lovely lady who was helping me with cleaning and things at the time to ‘help yourself’. She took almost everything. The rest went to the charity shop.

It was just so upsetting seeing all those clothes ranging from size 10 to 14 and not being able to get into any of them.

On reflection, there were far too many so it may have been a good thing.

I bought some cheap marquees and now, after a very long time, I am starting to downsize to tents.

There, that should kill two birds with one stone. Covers this thread and the ‘brings tears to your eyes’ one

Lucky

Awwwwww Breeze. Don't let it get you down.

I did a 'massive sort out recently.
I had clothes stored in sizes too big and too small - just in case I gained weight / lost weight.
I have saved only those that fit me now and so I daren't put on weight ever again.

I have run out of space. Every wardrobe, cupboard, drawer is filled and it can't go on. Only yesterday with weather being awful I thought I should start a clear out. Ridiculous situation with clothing, shoes bought for special occasions and then never worn again, usually a bit more costly than I would normally buy. I find with tshirts, jumpers they hardly last a season unless paying a lot of money hence the build up in numbers. I am constantly being told by DH I do not need to support the economy on my own and think of all the pollution these great big tankers create bringing your cheap tat! Has a point I suppose. First messy day it's definitely going to be a clear out, starting with his stuff of course!

Luckylegs
Your money your life ENJOY.Cheers

Crikey. I've only got 3 pairs of sandals

Thank you for your lovely understanding non judgmental replies. GG didn’t let me down. I’m not showing off, I realised about the handbags and all that yesterday and texted a couple of friends to confess (one of whom MADE me buy the new handbag last week) and then thought it might be interesting to post it on here. I always regret posting on here, without fail, I wish I hadn’t done it.

We can afford it, we have the room, quite a lot came from charity shops in the first place but I just have this compulsion if I see something I like. My daughter despairs saying “you’ve already got something like that”! I enjoy clothes etc. I wish I could be minimalist but I like to have a choice whatever I’m doing.

I am going to give a load to the charity shops this week but I think I’ll have to spread the bags out amongst a few! I will try not to buy anything new this year!

I am exactly the same, but with books!
Every single room bar the bathrooms, have huge bookcases - overflowing with books.
I had hoped once I’d opened my own book shop that it would stop. Sadly it has not.

It's your money to enjoy and spend on whatever you wish. Don't feel guilty. Clothes, shoes and handbags are much nicer than what some people spend their money on. If it makes you happy do it ?

A few years ago when DH was away I got all my shoes out and counted 70+ pairs (not including boots!)....have got rid of some since then, but have also bought more, oh dear! My wardrobe sounds similar to yours Luckylegs but I am doing the Lent charity shop thing, one item a day in a bag for charity = 40 items down! Trouble is when I take things to charity shop I always see something else I like!

The year before last I drove 200 miles to help my sister clear her garage as she was selling her house. Apart from an old washing machine it was filled floor to ceiling about 10 feet deep with black bin bags .We went through them all, more than 30 of them with me ruthlessly going bin, charity shop or keep item by item. 3 bags contained curtains which went to charity as she was moving to a house with much taller windows but the rest contained clothes. Some still with tags. I found it very shaming but it took us 2 days. I did not appreciate she still had more than that still inside the house. Yes she could afford the clothes but it somehow felt immoral and when I went home I spent days editing my own much much smaller collection of stuff. I still only wear a tiny fraction of what I own but try now to be more careful with what I buy and go for well made more individual pieces rather than cheap mass market stuff. I also do keep taking bits to charity shops if I buy more as unlike my sister I refuse to put in more wardrobes, or in her case move to a bigger house!
Watch Sewing Bee and be inspired to repurpose.. That's my project for this summer

Yes, I don’t drink or gamble or any other vices. I do do other things, lots of them and try to keep away from shops.

I wish I knew how to put stuff on eBay because it breaks my heart to just chuck it to the charity shops but they rub their hands when they see me coming. I don’t think I could go through all the aggro with eBay, packing up, getting paid. I’ve bought very little there as I was stung with an item so I’m very wary.

As someone said, it’s beautiful suits and shoes bought for weddings that I can’t bear to throw away so I just keep them. A lot of t shirts and jumpers are too short now so I can get rid but I always think I could wear a cardigan over so end up keeping. I try to give friends clothes but they don’t want them either. I’d better get off here and get the makeup, lotions and potions sorted!

Urmstongran Ha, Trafford Centre - STAY AWAY! it's fatal. I go for a specific item and cannot resist coming back with something I like, not need, like. Bags are my thing, not bothered about shoes. Buying a little top or jeans brightens my day. Note to self, must check my t shirt stack!

I have a thing about handbags, and ended up with plastic boxes full of bags. Last year I culled them and now have three or four. Charity shops love to see me coming. I have an ongoing collection bag which sits in my bedroom. As soon as it's full I donate it. My daughter put her charity stuff in my car yesterday. She said she was sick of driving it around and she knew I'd actually take it to a charity shop.

How many years have you been buying these, Luckylegs? I rarely dispose of footwear but have nothing like this number. I love my shoes and keep them all in their right boxes, but have far fewer handbags.

Loads of my ' not worn for years' clothes have made it to bin bags but not yet out of the house. They have been in there about 2 years but I still cannot bring myself to get rid of them ' just in case'. I DID take some shoes to the clothes bin in local car park but they were ones I never much liked anyway once I got them home & they had been in wardrobe at least 10 years.
Maybe this week I WILL take those bags down. Maybe.

We’ve moved several times and I’ve cleared out each time, supposedly downsizing! The last move was 9 years ago but the box of handbags was moved from loft to loft so I suppose it’s the last 20 years or so. I’ve got them all lined up in our hall so my daughter can choose any she wants and then I’ll cull them very hard. I’ll do the sandals bit by bit as they fit, are comfortable, just depends on the height really. I do use most of them during the course of the summer, it’s the handbags I’ll have to bite the bullet. We have a local selling page so I’ve tried to sell handbags before but they don’t seem to go. I’ll try the Kipling ones there, I’ve got 8 of those!

I don't have a large number of shoes because I can never get any to fit me.
On the other hand I vowed that I would not buy any more trousers as I have so many but couldn't resist seeing some cutoffs for the summer in M&S the other day as I had 20% off on my Sparks card.
They are clever these retailers giving me money off as I cannot resist a bargain!

Such sensible advice on here.

I too am trying to follow donating 40 things for charity for Lent. So far the pile is mainly books.

You have made me consider how I hoard clothes and accessories too Lucky. As one ages, some clothes simply no longer suit - so they can add to the charity donations for me. Also the 2 year rule is sensible.

If only I were sensible

DDs and I are trying not to buy any clothes this year. We are allowed underwear and socks/tights, and we can swap with/lend to each other. There's a family wedding in June which will be a challenge.

You say throw it out but where does it end up?
Eventually landfill or the ocean.
Our society is so wasteful we have to learn to use less and cut back on everything from water onwards.
Having stores of clothes doesn't seem anything to be ashamed of as long as they are still worn and used by some one.