Updated shopping wish list
Most of you know that I’ve been on a self-imposed clothing/accessories/shoes shopping ban since January 1st.
Well now that the ban will be over on May 19th, I’m starting to compile a small list of items I would like to buy. And then after May 29th (when I come back from Toronto and NYC), the plan is to continue the shopping ban for the rest of the year. That might be a bit ambitious, but I think I can do it. I did a 6-month shopping ban last year, and am just about to complete another 5 months.
For those that are curious, there’s on real reason why I put myself on a shopping ban, except for the fact that, while I want a lot of things, I don’t actually NEED anything. And, I love keeping personal finance interesting, so challenging myself to something like this is really fun. Yes, I said fun. :)
A few weeks ago, I took a look at my shopping wish list that I compiled back in December. Then I compared it to the items that I purchased during the Boxing Day sales. I like the idea of keeping an ongoing list of things that I’d like to buy, because when I do end up going shopping, I will have a focus. Instead of aimlessly wandering the mall and buying whatever looks good. Or impulse shopping (which is probably my worst habit). Having a list means that if whatever I’m looking at isn’t on that list, I must have not really wanted it, or haven’t thought the purchase through enough yet.
Here is my updated shopping wish list:
Brown leather bootsBought in December- Skinny black leather belt
- Black skinny pants
2 pairs of tights (grey, black)Bought in December-
Underarmour compression shortsBought in December - 2 or 3 pairs of running socks (bought 2 pairs in December, but would like a few more pairs)
- 1 or 2 tops (would love to refresh my wardrobe with new basics)
- 1 or 2 cardigans/sweater wrap (wear them nearly every day to work)
- Brown leather belt
- Fun spring/summer dress (have 2 summer dresses but neither is work appropriate)
- 2 high impact sports bras (haven’t bought new high impact sports bras in 8 years)
- Athletic shorts (why are all shorts so, well, short these days?)
- 1 or 2 pairs of field hockey socks (haven’t bought new FH socks since high school – over 10 years ago!)
- ADDED trench coat (have never owned one before)
- ADDED black work flats (wear them every day for work & replace them every 2 years)
- ADDED 1 pair of casual jeans (my only pair of casual jeans ripped beyond repair a few months ago)
There is no way I will buy all of the items on my list (it’s a huge list). And like I said before, they are all wants, not needs. Plus, I’ve had some of those items on my list of “wants” for years, but have never found anything that I really like (hello black skinny pants!). So we’ll see what NYC has to offer. Tops on my list is a pair of casual jeans (almost desperate for a pair at this point), black work flats, and the running socks.
Do you keep an up-to-date shopping wish list?
28 Responses to “Updated shopping wish list”
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I sort of keep a running list, in my head and in blog draft post… currently I'd like a teal and a deep purple top/cardi, neutral work flats, and a couple of work dresses (at least one of them in a bright colour). Oh, and brown leather boots! I've never bought really expensive boots but I think I may need to invest in this next pair.
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Hi there, long time reader, first time commenter. :) I am the biggest list making nerd that I know, and yet I have never made a shopping wish list for clothing. I think mainly because half the time I go looking for something specific and then can't find it anywhere (so annoying when what I want is not "in style" that season). Then I generally end up buying something else that looks nice but I rarely wear because it doesn't work with my existing wardrobe. Maybe a shopping list will help deter me from such purchases. ;) Funny timing too because I'm going shopping this afternoon!
My recent post Cross It Off the List!
Hi Kristen, Your list looks great. Trench coat was on my list this year and I got a great deal on a London Fog trench at the Bay during Bay days. It's a classic so I think you'll wear yours forever, especially if you get it in a neutral like black or stone (mine is olive).
I keep a running list of shopping wants and, inspired by your blog, have instituted a shopping ban till fall. I really just wear the same 10 or so outfits to work every day, with a few outfits for going out, dressy events, etc.
Whenever I buy a new piece of clothing I try to put together a casual and dressy outfit with it before it goes in the closet. This way when I have 3 minutes to get dressed I already know what goes well together no matter the occasion.
My recent post A Skirt for My Momma
I've never made a shopping list for clothing but I think that I should. It would make me rethink whether I really want the item. I've also never done a shopping ban but I think that I might because it will eliminate impulse buys.
My recent post Ys Pay Raise!!
I have a similar list going in my head, especially as the seasons change and I want new pieces for the new weather.
I just bought a trenchcoat myself and have worn it every day since I got it. Definitely a good investment! I got mine from Banana Republic for about $200 with a coupon. If you are travelling to the US, look for it at a BR there – the prices are lower.
My recent post Weekly Money Check-up- May 9th
Yes, I will definitely be checking out BR for good deals while I'm there. Everything is so much cheaper in the USA! :)
I like your idea of a shopping lists. I've created lists like these when I'm planning a big vacation and I take inventory of what I have and what I would need (and perhaps what I could get while away).
Do you put cost limits on the items you need to buy?
I hear you on the sports bra. A good one is expensive, but perhaps worth it. I hear Shock Absorber is the best, though I've never bought one. As for jeans, I would highly recommend you look into Second™ denim Co. yoga jeans. If you haven't tried them, they may change your life as they did mine! Cheers.
No, I don't usually put cost limits on what I buy. I usually do some research online, then check out the items at the store. If it's something I really like and it's expensive, I'll wait and scour the internet for coupons and sales. But I'm willing to pay more for something that I will keep and wear for a long time.
I've heard the same about Shock Absorber, so will make sure to check them out. I've never heard of Second Denim Co, but will also check them out. A while ago I bought a pair of custom jeans from Indie Denim with a Groupon, and love them.
The ShockAbsorber is ok (I used this brand for years), but the best sportsbra I have ever used is the Fiona bra by Moving Comfort. It is seriously the best bra I have ever used for running. You can find it at Running Room stores and other sports stores. You can get it for about 1/2 of the price if you go through an internet retailer like FreshPair (who ships to Canada for free!).
I will be sure to check out Moving Comfort the next time I'm near a Running Room. Thanks for the recommendation! I've never heard of that brand before.
I only have a shopping list for big items. We use it because we know we cannot buy everything and have to decide on priorities. The list includes dishwasher ($600), pro knife with cutting board & sharpening kit (>$600), dyson city ($350), slicer, and so on. We recently bought the dishwasher after a common agreement that manually washing was enough… Next is Dyson I think as we are sick of vacuuming 6 minutes ata a time (we have a dyson portable).
It's useful to have a lit for big items as they make a dip in the budget every time, in your case, clothing seems like a big item as you buy a lot. In our case, we don't buy a lot of clothing, they are less "desirable" or "necessary" than the kitchen/household stuff :)
Yes, that reminds me I should start a "household" shopping wish list as well. There are so many things that I want, but nothing that I actually need in the short term. Thanks for the motivation! :)
When you are ready to pick up a Dyson, check out the Dyson Canada website. Dyson Canada sells refurbished Dysons (with a 1 year warranty) for about 1/2 of the cost of the new product. I bought one about 2 years ago, and it is great. I figured that any vacuum would be "used" right after I took it out of the box, so why pay more? :-)
Ohhh! Thanks for the tip. I've been coveting a Dyson for years now.
I'm not sure if the black skinny pants you're looking for are casual (like jeans) or work appropriate. I suggest Urban Outfitters for the skinny jeans ($80ish) and belive it or not, the Gap for work appropriate pants. I have some slim fit, black work pants that are only $68.
Yes- I always have a list going. It helps me remember not only what I want, but also things I'm planning on purchasing (ie. a dress for a friend's wedding) that I might forget to budget for.____Currently, I'd love a new pair of flip flops (mine just broke, and flip flops are totally appropriate for my PT job- and then again when I start school) and a particular sweater from Anthropologie that I'm hoping goes on sale. I keep checking back on those two things, but I'm waiting until the end of the month to purchase anything.____On a longer-term list, I'd really love a mint green cardigan, a well-made pair of casual jeans, and a pair of black flats. I'm being very picky with all three, and don't want to purchase the cardigan or jeans until I lose a bit of weight.
I never have done a list like this. Perhaps if I did it would keep me on point!
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Some people are super picky and don't like the thought of wearing someone else's used clothing, but I love thrift stores and have recently found fabulous jeans that fit me perfectly and only cost $3! I find cute dresses and work clothes all the time too. They are brand names and usually in excellent condition, someone just gained or lost weight or for some other reason cleaned out their closet and I get the benefits!!!
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Ugh! I hear you on the super short shorts! I don't want to show the rest of the world where my thighs rub together!
My recent post Happy Mother’s Day
I have been searching for so long, and apparently shorts that aren't super tight booty shorts just don't exist anymore. Whatever happened to the good ol' days when shorts came down mid-thigh? UGH.
I also keep a running list in my head. Right now I would also like a trench coat, a teal top, teal and purple flats ( I think they'd be fun!) and some new jeans. Also, new black flats couldn't hurt since I wear them all the time and I would also love a pair of black gladitor sandals!
My recent post Work Woes
I do keep a "want" list – not just of clothing, but in general of shopping things. A good bit of my list is on amazon.com where I can refer to it and check prices. I also find that when I want something, if I add it to a list and revisit it in a few days, I often find I don't really want it any more – or at the very least I realize I don't NEED it. It does help me to keep from impulse buying.
My recent post Changing My Perspective on Things
I have a vague list that's floating around in my head, but I really start to writing down lists and sticking to them. I think before I go on my next big shopping trip to the states, I'm going to make a list of items I want to get. In terms of household items, I started scribbling down things I'll think I'll need when I purchase a house and oddly enough, I find that list easier to make other than a clothes/recreational shopping list.
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I find your shopping ban very impressive – i don't think i could ever do it. But here's the thing: I love to shop, and work at a very corporate place where business clothes are a must, but i don't pay a lot for them. I shop the sales that have been marked down three times and then use coupons on top – so i end up paying on average $7 for what was originally a $70-$80 blouse. I worry that you're actually overspending on clothes when you limit when you buy them, because that window when you allow yourself buy clothes might not be sale time, you know? so you pay full price for items that will marked down in a few weeks, but by then you're on a shopping ban! i just wanted to give you my two cents, from one bargain hunter to another. :)
I guess my reasoning for being on the shopping ban is that when I do see things that are on crazy sale that I want, I have to stop and ask myself: do I really need them? Or am I just buying it because I want it, and it's at a good price. How many of those items do I already own?
When I was off my shopping ban back in December, every item I bought was on sale. In fact, I did most of my shopping at the outlet mall with multiple coupons in hand. I will very very rarely pay full price for something, and that's only if I've done everything I can to see if I can buy it cheaper. For example, a few years ago there was a pair of $250 boots that I really wanted, but couldn't bring myself to spend that much. So I internet stalked them for 6 months, and every shoe store I went into, I looked to see if they had them. Finally I saw them online for $130 after tax & shipping. So I snagged them. And I've been wearing them on a regular basis every since.
It will be interesting to see how I react to sales and items not on my wish list when I'm off my shopping ban next week. :)
It's not that I'm super picky, and I wish I could wear used jeans (already broken in!), but my body shape is weird and I've only found a couple of brands that fit me without the need for alterations. I like perusing used clothing stores for cute necklaces and tops though. :)
I think I always have a list like this going on in my head. Now that summer is just about here, I could use some more shorts. BUT I also NEED some dressy capris since my job doesn't allow shorts (not even dress shorts, but I sent a suggestion in today about that!) and even though they allow skirts, I feel uncomfortable in them during work times.
I am like you though in the fact I want more basic t-shirts & tank tops. I don't necessarily need them but I really would like.
I am also on a shopping ban but I am actually thinking of lifting it even though it's only been a few months. I've actually broken it, buying 3 items since the middle of January (two shirts, one bra). I'll just put myself on a "don't buy so many clothes throughout the year" ban. ;) I think I can actually stick to that one.
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