Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Scary Proposition

The past few weeks, ever since the end of Lent, I have been thinking about the imbalance of wealth in the world.  I've especially been focused on clothing.  For an American woman, I don't really have a lot of clothes.  However, compared to someone living in an undeveloped nation, I have an obscene amount of clothing.  I'm not really a shopper either, but if you get me in a clothing store, odds are I will end up buying something.  


Lately I've been wondering, could I handle taking a vow to not buy clothes for x number of weeks?  Whenever a "special" occasion comes up, many of us (mainly women) tend to panic and run out to buy a new outfit because we decide we have nothing to wear.  But is that true?  Do we really have nothing to wear?  Or do we have a lot of trendy clothing that are past their expiration date.  Which means that we need go out to buy more trendy clothing that will only be worn for that one event and then put in the closet until the next special occasion comes up and we start the cycle all over again?


Taking a challenge like this would be a great test, although I confess I don't know if I'm quite ready for it.  But it would probably make me a better steward of money and resources.  I might become more careful and plan better when I do purchase clothes.  I would probably end up being more selective as to both style and quality.  I would make sure my clothes were timeless and not trendy and make sure I have multipurpose clothing that I would carry me through a variety of circumstances. 


Not spending any money on nonessentials during Lent has made me much more careful about how I spend money.  It is a habit that I like and want to continue.  As I slowly get out my warm weather clothing and put away my sweaters, etc., I think that I probably do have all the clothes need to carry me through the spring and summer.  


I don't know if I'm quite up for this challenge because I worry that something will happen to a staple piece of clothing and then I can't replace it.  But I did manage to make it through the entire Lenten season without any such emergency.  Something for me to think about...

4 comments:

Shona~ LALA dex press said...

I think you can do it. Actually, I know you can do it. It's really not THAT scary, people have to deal with things in their lives that are a lot scarier.

How long are thinking about taking this challenge? You say X number of weeks, but give me a number. I'm putting you on the spot because I would be willing to take this challenge with you. Just as long as it does not take us into fall + I do need to buy some new underwear soon (sorry if that is TMI).

Oh and one more stipulation. I do have an agreement with my boyfriend that if I run a certain distance that he will take me to the special running store, have my gait analyzed + fitted for good running shoes.

Cherie said...

Shona,

Hmm, I have to think about that. You're right, it's not that scary, especially since I haven't purchased any clothes since Ash Wednesday. So I'm thinking about the month of June. Or maybe July. What do you think?

Shona~ LALA dex press said...

I was just over at my friend's house, the one I do my monthly grocery shopping with in Nashville. Our shopping trip starts at this REALLY GREAT thrift store + we are spending an increasingly longer amount of time there every month. As it turns out her Saturday morning schedule has changed + we have to push back the time we leave for the day. This completely coincides with my thinking that this stop needs to be eliminated from our trip. I ran this by her and funny thing is she was having the same idea! This is where I do my impulse buying every month.

July sounds good. I will be in June Lake, CA the beginning of July + that sounds like a good start.

You have my e-mail so if there are any details you want to sort out...

Cherie said...

Shona, Okay, July it is! I'll keep in touch.

June Lake! I used to go there as a kid and have many memories of camping there.