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Got a style/sustainability question? Know of an Etsy seller I should check out? Want to tell me about your vintage Fluevog collection? Whatever it is, feel free to drop me a line: DianaLynnSmiles *at* gmail.com. (replace *at* with the @ sign)
Hi and welcome! I'm Diana, and this is my blog, Smiles Go With Everything. As the title suggests, I write about a little bit of everything, but the majority of my focus is on style and sustainability and how the two interconnect. In between are sprinklings of baking, gardening, crafting, and whatever I feel like sharing.-
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Tag Archives: Shopping Ban
Shopping Ban: Reflections
So, I just recently wrapped up a 21-week shopping ban with the new year. During this ban, I was allowed $15 per week to be spent on second-hand, hand-made or vintage items. I was allowed $50 of additional free money per month that could be spent however I wanted, no restrictions. I also had a separate shoe budget, allowing three specific pairs of shoes (ballet flats, black knee-high boots, brown pumps), up to $100 per pair.
I only cheated a couple of times on my ban, most notably when I bought my Fluevog Heathers. I think there are several reasons for this. One) my shopping ban had enough flexibility (and at times, ambiguity) to allow me enough room so as not to feel too constricted. Whenever I feel like I’m being forced into a particular set of rules, I tend to rebel. Having that $50 of money per month that could be spent any way I wanted helped me to feel like I was completely depriving myself. Two) During most of this period, I was barely making enough money to pay my essential bills. It’s a lot easier to stick to a budget when you have no money to spend. Many weeks I would have liked to have bought more, but I was waiting on my next paycheck so that I could actually make rent. Three) The accountability that came from posting what I bought each week helped. Sometimes, I would consider buying something that was outside the parameters of my ban. But when I realized that I would have to admit it the following Saturday, I decided that it just wasn’t worth it.
I think this ban was a good learning experience. It really helped me to curtail overspending. It made me think much harder about what I buy. When you have a limited amount that you can spend each month, you debate purchases more. Overall, I’m a lot happier with the things I bought during this ban than most of the things I bought when I was overspending on clothes in the previous months. Satisfaction and enjoyment of the things I buy matter much more to me now. I’m learning to buy things that I love, and it’s really changing how I look at my wardrobe.
I’ve decided to take the month of January off from my ban. I felt like I needed a little time where I can buy whatever I want without restrictions, within reason of course. I haven’t decided yet if I will continue the ban after January. Here’s why: One) I’m really hoping that I get a full-time, permanent job in the next few months. That will mean making more money, and it will also mean that I will need to develop my work wardrobe. Part of my reasoning for the shopping ban was that I’m not making that much money right out of grad school. If I can get a job that actually uses my degree, I will want to spend more than this ban allows on clothes, and I will have the resources to do so. Two) I’ve realized that my wardrobe is lacking some staple investment pieces. Many of these pieces are over $50 new, and I would prefer to buy the best quality that I can, even if it means buying hardly anything else in that month. It would be difficult to fit in these investment pieces into the current ban parameters.
For now, I’m taking a wait and see approach. I will certainly have a clothes budget restriction, but I’m not sure if there will be a full-on ban again. Still, I feel that the experience has been very valuable, and I’m glad I did it. I learned a lot from it, and I feel like I have a much more thought-ful approach to shopping now.
Shopping Ban: Week 21
Well, this was the last week of my shopping ban, since I decided to end it with the New Year(for now). I really wish I had some good pictures of what I bought this week, but unfortunately, they haven’t arrived in the mail yet.
I had $21 in ban money left. I bought a lovely Boden wool sweater vest on Ebay for $21.50. I also bought some patterned fuschia Hue tights on Ebay for $4. So I did go a little bit over this week. And it was the last week. But I’m not really that upset about it, because I was really tempted to spend a lot more than that this week, and I managed to have self-control for the most part.
In a few weeks, I’ll be reflecting about my experience with this 21-week shopping ban, as well as considering what I might do (or not do) about my shopping budget in the coming months.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the New Year!
Shopping Ban: Week 20
So this week, I had $40 in free money left, plus $15 for this week in ban money. I didn’t do too much shopping since it was right before the holidays, but I had some good finds on Ebay. I’ve mentioned before that free money is money without restrictions, while ban money can only be spent on second-hand, handmade or vintage. Here’s what I did with my free money this week:
Tsubo Acreas $35 on Ebay
I love it when a pair of shoes that I have been coveting suddenly shows up at an awesome price on Ebay. I’ve been craving some Acreas for awhile now, and I’ve also been wanting to fill the gap of a nice pair of red pumps in my shoe wardrobe. These babies fulfill both, and they still leave me with $5 in free money left. I used that $5 to buy a leather belt that accepts interchangable buckles. Why did I buy that? Because I won this:
That’s right, a John Fluevog belt buckle. Village Shoes was having a contest on their blog, and I won! I got this belt buckle, some shoe goodies, alpaca gloves (which I unfortunately can’t wear since I’m allergic. Look for a giveaway soon.) Oh, and this scarf. In super awesome soft cashmere. Thanks Village Shoes!
As far as ban money goes, I bought a slightly used teal American Apparel tank top on Ebay for $9. It’s in the wash right now, so I haven’t had a change to take pictures. I’ve got $6 left in ban money for this week, and no free money left. I’ll leave you with some lovely Christmas goodies I got yesterday:
A gift card to Fossil from the fam, and an adorable crane game/ toy grabber/ teddy picker necklace from Etsy. My boyfriend got me that one, because he knows how much I love to play crane games 
Shopping Ban: Week 19
Just two more weeks and this shopping ban is officially done! I still haven’t decided exactly what I will be doing in the New Year. My plan right now is to take the month of January off from any type of ban. I’ll still have my regular budget, but no restrictions on what I can buy. I feel like I just need a short break from restrictions to keep from feeling constrained. Also, I want to take this month to do a super-thorough wardrobe inventory , this time also looking at winter clothes, leisure clothes and work out clothes.
My idea for a possible shopping plan for next year is to try to identify the twenty-two items that I most need, and then buy two items a month for the remaining eleven months of the year. I would have a set amount that I would be allowed to spend on those two items, but I could buy them anywhere. I would be emphasizing finding quality pieces that fit real gaps in my wardrobe. However, part of me worries that I still might feel constrained from the lack of flexibility.
Another possibility is to have another shopping ban focusing on buying second-hand, handmade and local. I like this idea, because I’d really like to start exploring local boutiques. It could be blended somewhat with the first idea as well.
The one thing that’s really keeping me from deciding which to go with is my job situation. I’m working two part time jobs right now, and they are paying my bills alright. But one of them is grant-funded, and may or may not exist after March. The other is substitute teaching, which will take a two month break (with no pay) in the summer. I’m trying to get a full-time, permanent position, but right now I don’t know when that will happen. If my financial situation changes, for better or worse, my shopping plan will likely change. Also, I need to start paying off my student loans in February. So we’ll see – for now I’m not commiting to a new shopping plan/ban yet.
Anyhow, what did I buy this week? Well it turned out that the beautiful Anthropologie skirt that I ordered last week didn’t fit right, so I took it back. I think that I just don’t like the way fly-front skirts fit. That brings my free money back to $57.50. I bought a pair of heather gray Hue tights while returning the skirt at Anthro, spending $12.50 in free money. That leaves me with $45 in free money.
To make up for not getting a nice, casual skirt that fit, I found something that I think should work better on Ebay:
Ann Taylor LOFT Denim Skirt $14 on Ebay
Since I’ve figured out that I don’t like how fly front skirts look on me, I went ahead and bought this side zipper denim skirt on Ebay. Hopefully, it will work out better for me. Since it’s second-hand, that’s $14 from my ban money.
I also managed to luck out and find my green Boden skirt I wore the other day in a larger size. While my skirt looks cute in pictures, it really doesn”t fit very well. The lining is always riding up. I found it on Ebay in a larger size, made an offer for $30, and got it! I think this one will fit a lot better. That uses up the remaining $25 in ban money, plus $5 of the free money.
I also managed to get some awesome stuff this week without spending money.
I had some giveaway luck:
Ugg Dakota Moccasins
A few weeks ago, I won an Ugg giveaway over at Pomegranate and Patchouli. I originally wanted to get the Classic Cardi boots or the Short Uggs, but the prize was a $100 credit towards a pair of Uggs on Shopbop. I would have had to spend extra money to get either of those boots, and that’s money that I just don’t have right now. So I opted for these fantastic slippers, and I adore them. My feet always get cold around the house at night, but not with these babies on!
I had a trip to Revolve Clothing Exchange this past week as well. I had brought in some items, and I had a good bit of store credit. So I got: two t-shirts (including the one I wore yesterday), a skirt, a headband, a pair of earrings and a brooch, all without spending a dime! I love exchange stores.
Hue Tights from Anthro, Headband, Earrings and Brooch from Revolve
Mix Noveau Skirt
Gap Striped Tee
So after all that, I still have $40 in free money and no ban money. Two more weeks to go!
Shopping Ban: Week 18
After cheating on my shopping ban last week, I kept myself in check this week. My bank account was pretty low after buying my Fluevog Heather boots, so it wasn’t too hard. However, there was a trip to Anthropologie. I tried on this gorgeous skirt in a 12, but it was just a bit too snug. I asked the store associate if they had any 14′s, so she ordered it for me from the Anthro website, no shipping fees attached! I love Anthropologie. I haven’t gotten it in the mail yet, but hopefully this size will work.
Passage of Time Skirt $49.95 (on sale)
I also got a fantastic freebie this week. The wonderful people at Dansko noticed my blog and the fact that I wear a lot of discontinued Dansko styles. They offered me a free pair of new Danskos, and I happily accepted. So please welcome the lovely Dansko Sally in brown:
These shoes fill the gap for brown shoes that I was looking to fill at the beginning of the ban. I realize they aren’t pumps, but honestly I like them better than traditional pumps. You’ll be seeing plenty of outfits with these.
So overall, I didn’t spend any of my$24 of ban money this week (which can only be used on second-hand or hand-made items). I spent $50 of my free money (which can be used anywhere) leaving me with $7.50.
Shopping Ban: Weeks 16 and 17
Well folks, it was bound to happen eventually. With only a few weeks left of my six month shopping ban, I finally cheated. Not just a little cheated, but $175 cheated. Now what would I buy for $175? These stunning beauties.
Way back when I was first craving the goldenrod Fluevog Malibrans, these caught my eye. But back then, they were way out of my budget, at over $300 (if I remember correctly). I had hoped to buy them on a trip to Chicago, but then ended up not going. They went on sale in the spring, yet I still couldn’t afford them. And then Fluevog discontinued them. And my heart sank. I wanted these gorgeous blue boots so badly. While recently debating if I should keep my orange Fluevog Fiorenzas (which I am), I tried to decide what my ultimate shoe purchase would be to replace them. These boots were the first thing I thought of.
And then last week, they showed up on my Ebay saved search e-mail for size 8 Fluevogs. They wanted $200, I offered $150, we settled for $175. I bought them only a couple hours after they were listed. And I don’t regret it one bit. Even though they made me so broke that my last three meals have been ham and cheese sandwiches. They were worth it. Do I feel guilty? Not at all.
Since it’s so close to the end of my ban (which will be January 1), I’m not counting this against the money left, since it would take up all the ban and free money left. These are my Christmas present to myself. Yes they were cheating, but one of my philosophies of style is: If you absolutely fall in love with something, and you can afford it, buy it right then and there, because you never know if you’ll find it again.
Now, to actual ban money. Since it’s been two weeks since my last ban post, I had the $4 left over, plus $30 from those two weeks. There’s also $7.50 left over in free money, plus the $50 of free money for December. Why am I not counting my shoes against this month’s free money? Because I really need some tights, and I’m not buying those second-hand. So that’s $34 in ban money and $57.50 in free money.
And I didn’t really buy much, since I was broke from the shoes. I bought a 3/4 Boden dress on Ebay at a mere $25 (they retail for over $100). It’s gorgeous, but I need to get it altered, so I’ll take pics after that. That leaves me with $9 free money and $57.50 free money.
**(And technically, I still haven’t bought the third pair of shoes I was allowed during the ban, a pair of brown dress pumps. And I’m getting a pair soon for free, so we’ll just let these boots replace the pumps ban-wise. Not that I’m trying to justify. I have no regrets.)
Shopping Ban: Week 15
Last weekend, I hit up a bunch of local garage sales. I found some awesome stuff, but ending up getting a lot of duds also. That seems to be how it goes with garage sales. I’ve only taken photos of the items I’m keeping, but I counted the total money spent against my ban.
My favorite things to find at garage sales are costume jewelry and fun accessories. I found quite the batch. I think the purse may be vintage. There’s a tag inside that says the brand is Heiress. I’ve already worn the pearls once. According to the person I bought it from, that heart charm necklace is real silver. Awesome deals all around.
Blue Long Sleeve Tee: Gap
White Long Sleeve Tee: Banana Republic
Gray Cashmere Blend Turtle-Neck: Ralph Lauren
These might not be as exciting as the accessories, but the fact is that my winter wardrobe is pretty slim. I’m sure I’ll be grateful for these layering tees when the temps start to drop. The turtle neck is gorgeously soft and it has beautiful flecks of blue and purple in it. Unfortunately, I doubt I’ll get to wear it more than a few days a year, unless I travel out of state. It rarely drops below 40 here.
I also went to a clothing swap party last weekend. A few people asked what it was. While it varies from one to another, at the swap party I went to, everyone brought clothes that they no longer wear. We organized them on tables, and then “shopped” for new items from what everyone else bought. I didn’t really find a lot, but what I did get I like.
So I got a very itchy but very warm Gap lambswool sweater – I think it will be good for layering on those rare cold days. Some Bandolino heels that are gorgeous though uncomfortable. I really don’t have any sexy, strappy dress shoes, so I figured getting a free pair wouldn’t hurt. A funky red beaded necklace and some bohoemian chic earrings. And a purple and black sarong, which I’ll be grateful for next beach season.
Born Sokal Flats: $50 on Ebay
You may remember that when I first started my ban, I decided that I could only buy three pairs of shoes under $100, one of which would be a pair of ballet flats. Last week, I finally found what I was looking for. I’d been eyeing a couple different styles of Born flats on Ebay for months now, but nothing came up at the right price. I actually bought a pair of Born flats at a local Dillard’s recently, but had to return them because they were painfully tight. Finally, I managed to catch these for a mere $50, which is significantly less than what they sell for new. And I absolutely love them. They provide decent support for a flat, have a delightful Audrey look to them, and are in a gorgeous patent. A word of warning though – they take breaking in. I wore them for an eight hour work day this week, and my feet are yelling at me now.
So all in all, how did I do? I had $24 of ban money available and $7.50 in free money. I spent $20 total at garage sales, and the swap was free, so that leaves me with $4 for next week, plus the $7.50. The shoe money is in a different category, and doesn’t count against ban money.
Shopping Ban: Week 14
This week I had a huge haul of awesomeness. I had a total of $36 in ban money available and $20 in free money.
I made a trip this week to a boutique near where I work. That job is wrapping up soon, so I wanted to visit and support this shop one more time, since it’s pretty far from where I live. I tried on several items of clothing, but nothing was clicking. I was about to leave when I spotted this lovely handmade necklace. I asked how much it was, figuring it was likely out of my price range. When I found out it was a mere $15, I snatched it up right there. I’ve been debating if this purchase should be considered ban money of free money. Since the idea behind my shopping ban is focusing on second-hand and handmade items, I think it’s okay to count this as ban money.
Layered Chain Necklace and Earrings Set $15 at Velvet Rope
I also hit up several garage sales last Saturday. It wasn’t really planned, I just happened to notice one while I was out, and then discovered that there were about six garage sales on that one street. Buying clothes at garage sales can be really hit or miss. Often the styles are extremely dated, the clothes are in gross condition, and there’s no where to try on anything. But sometimes you stumble upon some dirt cheap jewels, and that’s what happened this week. There were several duds that I ended up purchasing, but they’ll all go to a clothing swap I’m going to tonight. Here’s the jewels:
I absolutely love these – so much so that I wore them the day I bought them. One important note when buying used earrings – always sterilize them with alcohol before wearing.
Liz Clairborne Faux-Leather Purse $2
This was my most “expensive” garage sale find of the day, and so worth it. I’ve really been wanting a nice, medium sized purse that can hold my essentials while going out (and can zip closed). This one fulfills that perfectly. I would rather have real leather, but for $2, this is fine.
Sonoma Green Printed Tank $0.50
It’s cotton, it’s green, and it’s the perfect length for layering. Need I say more?
Faded Glory Pink Flannel Shirt $1
I admit, this is one I’m not completely sure about. Faded Glory is a Kmart brand, which I normally hate. I’m not super crazy about dusty pink either. And it’s a bit short. But, I’ve been desperate for some cozy flannel lately, so this will fill in until I find something better. Then off to Goodwill it will go.
Um, two dollars for an Ann Taylor tank that looks awesome on me and was probably over $30 new? Hell yes.
I sort of have a rule that I never buy anything I could knit, because I would like it better if I knit it myself. I’m so fussy about seams and finishing and details, that most store-bought sweaters are disappointments (the exception being J Crew cashmere). However, I still need to knit more pullovers, and the cold weather (if it ever gets here) will not wait for me to finish them. So for fifty cents, I’ve got one more pullover for this season. I’ll put my knitter’s snobbery away for a bit. And after all, it is really cute and comfy.
So counting the items I bought but aren’t shown because they didn’t work, I spent about $12 at garage sales on clothes. Not bad. I also bought a new robe at Target this week, because my old one was literally falling apart. That was $12.50 from my free money. So what’s left? After the necklace and the garage sale, I’ve got $9 left of ban money. After a $12.50 robe at Target, I’ve got $7.50 in free money. And today, I’m going to more garage sales and a clothing swap. Whee!
Shopping Ban: Week 13
This week, I had $14 left from last week, plus $15 for this week. What did I buy?
Simply Pretty button ring from ShopKim $8
I’ve mentioned several times that I’m lacking in the ring department. I am also very, very drawn to purple lately. This ring satisfies both those needs. I love the nice touch of purple it adds to outfits, and I’ve already received several compliments. If you haven’t yet, go check out ShopKim’s rings. She’s got a great selection (and she’s also a regular reader of this blog : )
Anything else?
Beso V Neck $10 (on sale) Anthropologie
Way back in week 3 of the ban, I tried on this lovely purple blouse. But back then, it was over $50 and I just wasn’t ready to spend that much on it yet. However, good things come to those who wait. I heard on Effortless Anthropologie that there were some amazing in-store sale prices right now, so I had to check it out. The fit on this blouse is a bit loose, and even though I usually wear a medium, a small might have been better. Still, I think I can make it work, and for a mere $10, it’s worth the try. I also bought a beautiful brown and tan stretchy belt for only $20. You’ll be seeing it soon.
So, all this leaves me with $21 of ban money and $20 of free money. I smell a consignment store trip coming… : )
Shopping Ban: Week 12
Would you believe that since starting this shopping ban 12 weeks ago, this was the first time that I made it to a thrift store? Clearly I need to go thrifting more often, because there were some great finds. I had $7 of free money and $30 of ban money to spend, and I think it went well. I went shopping at Second Image with Alechia last Saturday. I admit that thrifting the Saturday before Halloween isn’t necessarily the best idea, but it was worth it. Here’s what I got.
This was probably my favorite find of the day. A beautiful, modern black and white print, a slim fit, a nice neckline. The only part I’m not crazy about are the cap sleeves, but even those aren’t that bad. And it’s a cotton/modal blend, which makes it really soft. This will be receiving heavy rotation.
Target Navy Striped Cardigan $4
I really like this cardi a lot. I love the sweet, nautical look of it. And it’s 100% cotton.
Ann Taylor Factory Silk Skirt $3
Nylon Slip $3
I love how this skirt fits. It’s technically a petite, but I like it when skirt lengths hit above my knee, so it’s just fine for me. I’ve also been desperately hunting for a non-polyester slip, and I found a nice nylon one at the thrift store. That may seem to have a slight ick factor to some, but once it’s washed, it doesn’t really bother me.
I still can’t decide on this one. I think it’s super cute and super flattering, and would be oh-so-fun to wear on casual winter weekends. But as you may know, I have issues with polyester, and I forgot to read the fabric content on this one while I was in the store. It’s 40% poly, 60% cotton. I’ll give it a shot and see if I can get over my fiber snobbery. Otherwise, I might try knitting something similar, but it probably wouldn’t be ready til next winter. Maybe a variation of Knitty’s Henley.
This is another one I can’t decide on. It also has a high polyester content. I love the neckline and the sequins, and the fit is very flattering. But now I’m not so sure that all-over navy really suits me.
So that was a total of $24, and I had $38 to spend. So I’ve got a total of $14 left over. I think I’m starting to get the hang of budgeting!
