Well, I'm here to post an update. I bought something. I almost didn't confess this, but I really want to reform my ways, so I am confessing it. I was shopping with my daughter and saw a pair of jeans I told myself I needed and I bought them. I've already worn them three times so there is no returning them.
First, let me explain my 16 year old daughter's shopping. I got tired of the spending on her clothes, she didn't buy things a lot, she prefers yoga pants and free t-shirts, but she often decided she had needs at inopportune times in my budget, so I calculated a clothing allowance for her that she get's monthly. She saves it up for things like homecoming dresses and uses it to fill gaps in her wardrobe. She hadn't bought anything at back to school, she had been saving, so this trip was essentially to purchase some winter things. This plan was actually pure genius because it has completely alleviated any stress I might have felt about her spending in the past and it has taught her to work within her means.
So anyway, I was with her at the mall and I caved. I didn't post this for a week as I considered my failings. I have decided to just get back on the wagon. I am not justifying the purchase, they only cost $24.00 after coupons and sales yadda yadda yadda, but I am not going to vilify myself either. I will finish out December purchasing nothing else, and I fully intend to start 2017 as a no buy clothing year. I'm not sure if a whole year is realistic for me. It may morph into a only purchasing replacements and worn out things, maybe some undies, but I'm going to figure out my own rules in the next two weeks and either start a thread for the year, or jump on one if someone else started one. Overall December is an improvement, but not enough for me, so I will try again and try harder.
I will say this, I was back at the mall this weekend with my husband, who NEVER shops, but had to buy a blazer for a work function. So there we were and my guilt was so strong over cheating before, that I bought nothing. It felt good. I need to focus on the feel good feeling.