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Sometimes Cheap is Really More Expensive

When you shop for clothes, shoes, and accessories, do you always try to find the lowest price?  Are you always on the lookout for a “good deal”?   While bargain-hunting is common for many shoppers, I’m here to tell you that “cheap” can actually be more expensive.

A Tale of Four Purses

What do I mean by this?  I’ll illustrate my point by sharing a tale of four purses.  Two of the purses were “expensive” (over $200) and the other two were “cheap” (around $50).  The expensive purses were made by Brighton and were purchased in August 2008 and December 2010, respectively.  I have carried both bags for at least 300 days, yet they are still in excellent condition and scarcely show their wear.

I bought the “cheap” bags late last year.  I carried one for approximately three months (I’m not one to change my bags all that often) and the other for only about a week.  I did not stop carrying these bags because I grew tired of them.  I stopped carrying them because they lost their shape, began to fray, and started looking terrible.  Yes, a $50 bag only lasted for a week!  I wish I could return it, but I purchased it months before I began using it and have no way of proving that it started to fall apart after such a short period of time.  So I can’t get my money back, but I can learn a powerful lesson and share it with my readers.

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Project 333 Week One Update

Welcome to my first Project 333 update!  Each week during April through June, I will post an update on my Project 333 experience.  These updates will include photos of my outfits from the previous week, as well as the insights I’ve gained and the challenges I’ve faced from doing Project 333 and dressing with less.

Overall Impressions

My first week went fairly smoothly overall.  As was mentioned by others who have done the challenge, the anxiety and discomfort one experiences while preparing for Project 333 gradually subsides after the project actually begins.  When I first saw my dramatically reduced wardrobe, it looked strange to me and I found myself worrying how I’d make due with so few clothes.  I wanted to fill in the space, but I forced myself to “be with” the space and emptiness.

As with many things in life, the strangeness of the new dissipates with time.  It now feels almost normal for my closet to contain fewer pieces and I no longer feel a rush of anxiety upon opening the doors. The feeling of “only 33” has morphed into more of a sense that I have enough.   Even so, I’m glad I didn’t include shoes and accessories in my 33 items, as those pieces will increase my outfit possibilities and satisfy my desire for variety and novelty.  I’m tracking the shoes and accessories I wear and will post photos of these items at the end of each month.   We’ll see how many I actually wear over the course of three months, as I might not need as many as I think!

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March 2013 Accountability

With all of my excitement and activity around Project 333, I almost forgot about my March accountability post!  I definitely want to keep up the monthly accountability posts, as they help me to stay responsible with my budget and shopping rules.  Knowing I’ll have to report to the “world” how I’m doing with my shopping keeps me honest!

Wardrobe Additions

I did add a few new items to my wardrobe during March, but these were far offset by the large number of pieces which were removed from my closet.  Because I returned several items in March, I allowed myself to purchase two items of clothing and two accessories instead of the mandated one of each (this is in line with my 2013 rules).

My first garment purchase was an orange anorak from Eddie Bauer that I’d been thinking about since my February visit to their store.  I am pleased with this buy, as the majority of my casual jackets are heavier in weight and I wanted some more lightweight pieces for warmer days.

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Off and Running with Project 333!

Project 333 Before and After

My closet before Project 333 and my new capsule wardrobe for April through June!

In my last article, I shared my decision to begin the minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 and my reasons for taking this radical (for me) path.  Well, it’s now April 2nd and the challenge is officially under way! In this post, I’ll show you the 33 garments I’ve selected as my April through June wardrobe and provide some highlights from my selection process.

There’s still time to join the challenge if you’ve been on the fence.   Perhaps reading about my process will inspire some of the “bystanders”!

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Why I’m Taking on the Project 333 Challenge

It’s been almost three months since I started my “Recovering Shopaholic” journey and blog.  While I’ve made decent progress and learned some powerful lessons, I still have a long way to go in healing my compulsive shopping problem.  I still spend far too much time and energy on shopping, getting dressed, and managing my overly large wardrobe.  The portion of my life devoted to these pursuits is much too large and it’s taking away from my living a full and balanced life.

About two weeks ago, I decided to accelerate my progress.  One of the best ways to grow quickly is to take on a challenge that scares you, so I’ve opted to do just that!  Beginning April 1st (no, this isn’t an April Fools’ Joke!), I will begin Project 333, a minimalist fashion challenge created by Courtney Carver of the blog “Be More with Less.”

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