Travel > sweaters

The extent of the situation. The only thing missing is the big box of sweaters that lives under my bed during the warmer months and my entire vintage stock which is off-limits, but definitely not an excuse.

I've done a lot of talking over the past few months, but not a lot of doing. I've flirted with the idea of documenting all my purchases here and shaming myself into frugality, but gave up before even starting because I thought it would be too much work. Why not just become frugal? Isn't the idea of being careful sufficient? As I'm still writing about it, well, no, it isn't for me. I needed to find a way to keep my good habits up, but also support from peers: there's no fun in getting rid of a habit that brings you some kind of pleasure if there is no challenge or new pleasure to replace it with. This idea of a challenge is very motivating to me, and when Stevie posted this, it was all I needed to really start acting towards my goal.

You see, I really, truly want to visit the UK next Spring. I received some traveling money from my parents for my graduation, and I'd like to built up on that fund especially as I've had to take a bit from it to pay for mundane things. I felt very guilty doing so, and I really want to push myself to keep my eyes on my great shiny traveling goal. Traveling, and the knowledge I can be resolute enough to save up to do so will be much more gratifying than any new sweater, no matter how fluffy or soft (here, I'm picturing an actual sweater from work I've been coveting, oh dear).

I put together a few rules to keep myself in check especially as shopping is part of my job. I do some buying for both the vintage shops where I work and the online vintage shop I own, and not mixing shopping and professional buying will probably be the most challenging aspect of keeping to my new resolution. There's a few things that, should they appear, I won't pass up (the perfect grey cardigan and a pair of dressy pants come to mind - my finickiness regarding both is enough to maintain my integrity towards my goals), but I won't actively seek out or buy anything online as I tend to do. High street stores are not a danger with me, but the low price vintage shops where I work can be incredibly tempting and I will have to prepare a lovely mental slideshow of various UK locations to keep me afloat on the bad days. Or maybe I should make myself a travel tip jar, in which could I tip myself on days when I feel like I need to be rewarded? Stevie talked about star charts in her great *motivational* post about her frugal goals, and I plan to start one for myself - total Camille-bait.
But before all else, I need to be honest with you, or I'll feel like an impostor: I sorely need a few pairs of black tights and will not refrain from procuring them, travel tip jar or not.

It felt very good to check today as a successful day in my diary, and I think the experience will provide me with an undeniable proof to a theory I've been harboring for quite some time: that I'm actually always wearing a variation of the same thing.

Stevie and I have already started documenting our (one) daily outfit(s) on instagram under the tag #oldootd, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Fiona comes up with. You're very welcome to join us - there's nothing like company to keep (my) motivation up!