Ashamed of myself

I'm in my late 60s and have had nowhere near 44 handbags in my lifetime....

Luckylegs- ifyou want it then it’s yours. You’ll havetoPM me with your address.

I have one double wardrobe with clothes in and a chest of drawers for knickers, socks, swim wear and nightwear. 1 pair of sandals, one pair of red ankle boots, worn all winter, a pair of joules wellies and a pair of flat shoes. Going to replace the flats this week ready for the good weather as the others have dropped to bits. Handbags,well I have one leather backpack and a shoulder handbag. I do like shopping BUT why do I need a load of stuff so instead if I fancy a dress I will make it, also jackets the same. So I don't have many of them. Stuff we don't need or outgrow goes to St Mungos for those living on the streets.

I'm loving this! Just keep giving to the charity shop. I regularly give away clothes I no longer wear.

You need money and room to store them to give in to the urge to buy. I was guilty of buying things in 2's. When I think back on what I have spent I think in terms of how many hours I had to work to pay for them. That is sobering. I also think of all the repairs I could have made to the house if I had not spent it, and the risk employees in sweat shops go to earn just a miniscule proportion of the cost to buy clothes which lose their value the moment you leave the shop.

When we are downhearted, shopping always lifts the mood. That is fine, but how long does that last? Conservationists and those concerned with climate change told us last month that we are ruining the planet by buying so many clothes and Britain is the worst country for it. Does that mean we are the most downhearted? It is not very easy either to recycle. Sometimes it costs more in terms of energy used to recycle.

It is strange how we criticise the addictions of other people yet do not consider our own addictions to shopping. I watch the 600lb life programme and almost all of them look back and blame their alcoholic or drug addicted parents, yet cannot see that their addiction to food must surely be affecting their children in like manner. I suppose because food and clothes are readily available and everyone needs to eat and clothe themselves it does not actually register in their minds as an addiction.

I had a year of buying no clothes and still could wear a different outfit every day from the clothes I owned.

The clothing/fashion industry as a whole now contributes 10% of the world's greenhouse gases, 2nd only as a polluter to the oil industry.You should never throw away clothes so that on top of everything else they take up space in landfill - give them to charity shops or clothes banks. Anything not good enough to be worn can be washed and put in a bag clearly labelled "clean rags" and given to a charity shop so that the fabric will be recycled.

Great idea for Lent, whether you’re religious or not, is to give an item a day to charity...also the money saved by having a ‘buy free’ month could be used for treating family/friends to a nice meal...just a thought?

Wow how this resonates with me! When I was young(I'm 73 now) I had very few clothes the majority of which I made myself. Then I was married and had 4 children so my priorities changed and they came first obviously. Now I am retired and can buy clothes as much as I like. I am still frugal so only buy in Sales or charity shops. Shopping really is my only hobby,sad eh? I also have things in different sizes as my weight fluctuates like everyone else especially Winter/Summer. I loved jumble sales as a teenager and now we have charity shops instead which is a bonus as everything is sorted and sized and reasonably cheap.
I do have a fair few handbags but that is because I match my bags to my shoes. Also rather a lot of shoes because I loathe getting rid of any in case I can't afford them when I get old!
Coats? I think my husband might divorce me if I buy any more! I have a drawer full of bras because one of these days I will actually buy one that fits comfortably for more than the first day! Actually I don't know why I bother with the bras as I very rarely wear one anyway!
I've just noticed that Marks and Spencer's has a Sale so I must end here and pop down!

Our clothes for cash man sorts the clothes, some go to homeless charities, others to the needy, the rest are bagged up and sold on and the money is then fed back into charity. Whatever is over goes to the Salvation Army and they then sell in on. He will also take bedding etc and items of furniture all to pass on. It seems that nothing is wasted :-)

I have around 200 pairs of shoes! I never throw any of them away! HOWEVER I did have a mishap as some hush puppies were soled in a molded type material which disintegrated when I walked through Cirencester last year!!!

Luckylegs you can luxuriate in the thought that you are one of those who are keeping the retail businesses in business.

I remember that song, but who sang it Lemongrass? X

Sorry that should have read , I remember that song, but who sang it Lemongrove X

My downfall buy books! I keep telling myself " no more" but the little devil on my shoulder goes "oh that looks so good" and into my shopping trolley etc it goes.

I have a rule of 1 in and 1 out....sometimes 2 out. I hate clothes shopping and my wardrobe is 3 ft wide and there’s plenty of room in there. I prefer shoes...but only have about 4 pairs boots .... two pair trainers and use pumps in summer ( about 6 pairs). Don’t like sandals as I have to walk about 30 miles a week and sandals are very uncomfortable.

My spare mo ey goes on books...I can’t stop buying them.

My weakness is buying lovely,unusual, organic cotton clothes for our Foster Children.
The little one we have now is our last, so that pleasure will soon stop.
I have been ruthless with my own wardrobe as we are downsizing, though most of what I have sent to charity shops was bought some time ago(and often hardly worn)
Now I live in tunics and trousers, winter weight or summer weight, and easy to wear dresses for 'smart' days.
I will confess I have bought quality, usually in the sales, as I prefer the fabric and fit.
Shoes? Odd shaped foot thanks to lots of badminton, so fitflops in the summer, 2 pairs of identical ankle boots in the winter (sooooo comfortable) with one pair of comfortable shoes each for summer and winter smart days.
Handbags, now that's another story, but this Lent I am putting one item belonging to me in a bag, and donating to a charity shop at the end of Lent. So far, 4 hardly used/unused bags, though some have been gifts and not my style.

However, do not ask me about my book and Kindle purchases!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenfinan.........200 pairs of shoes ??????????

Oh yes - I cant resist books. Our local library often has a sale on and I cant help myself. Once read I return them to be resold or give to charity.

@llizzie2, very true. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Addiction comes in many forms and we all have to examine what our own individual weakness is. Addiction is not logical. Smokers, drug addicts and alcoholics know that their habits kill but still find it hard to quit.
Their argument is the same:
“Life is short, I enjoy it so I will continue.” This thread is a welcome opportunity to reflect.

Luckylegs
Oh. My. Gosh.

I dumped eight pairs of shoes, sandals and trainers last week. I intend to buy new sandals this year. However, I still have 20 pairs of mixed shoes in my spare bedroom. I have a pile of tops, t shirts etc stacked up 4ft tall. Jumpers, many to be sorted through and charity shopped but I don’t really like any of them anymore. Such a waste of my money. Luckylegs you are not alone..

I love Skechers shoes, since recommended on GN a few years ago, they are SO comfy, however today I resisted buying a pair, why? simply because we are going to the UK next week and I want to save my money,but they do have them there!

Dont feel guilty dont let anyone here make you feel guilty.People like you and me are keeping the economy going .I can afford to buy what I want when I want it for myself and for my children and grandchildren and thers no way I will stop just because some folk think its an addiction.Its not ,why on earth cant /shouldn't I spend MY money on things I like? I'm not sending anything to landfill so its no ones business but my own .