The No-Spend Zone

I see London, I see France...

Some women buy tons of shoes. I only buy a pair when my old ones fall apart.

And my sneakers have finally fallen apart. The decorative straps started to snap apart two months ago. I tried gluing one, but now more are breaking. Sigh. Time to buy sneakers this weekend.

And it's not just that. Amanda's dad pointed out to me last week that I ripped a hole in the back of my jeans. Hopefully the people who saw my underwear thought I was making one of those I-buy-ripped-jeans fashion statements. Guess that means it's also time to go jean shopping.

I'll go out to the mall after work today and see if I find anything. I'm pretty picky about my shoes and I always have a hell of a time finding a good pair of jeans that are cheap and fit well. There is a doorbuster sale tonight and tomorrow morning at JCPenney, so maybe I'll have some luck!

Amanda is working tonight, so I'm not going to take her along. I'm kind of glad. She's been bugging me to go shopping together for many other things that I "need." But I don't want to turn this errand into a clothes shopping-o-rama. Although I like to have another person around for their opinion, I think in this case going alone is for the best.

'Just say no' works for drugs. But for discount dresses?

The other day Amanda wanted to go to The Shops at Pembroke Gardens to see if they had any stores that sold cute things for the home. I was working from home all day and wanted to get out of the house, so I tagged along.

I had no intention of buying anything. And I never go to the mall on a weekday, so if it wasn't for her I'd probably never have a reason to visit this place.

But I came home with $132.98 spent on clothes.

Oh. My. Gawd.

What came over me? LoveCulture came over me. Loehmann's came over me. I've never been to either of those stores before, but I walked away with some great clothes that were cheap. I got seven things. Two dresses, and that's a huge deal because I never wear dresses. One was $18.90 at LoveCulture, the other $23.98 (originally $59) at Loehmann's. I think the last time I bought a dress was last year and that's because I had to own a nice dress for a family cruise.

(To see a close-up of the items, just click on the picture.)

I got a shirt that had an Ed Hardy style to it, but it was $12.90. A solid blue shirt for $4.90. Two work short-sleeve jackets for about $25 each. And a soft, thick olive zip-up sweater for $13.

I've been needing some new clothes for a long time. I've worn the same six tops to work for the past three months. And the three months before that, it was the same five tops. The biggest wardrobe updates usually come as Christmas and birthday gifts.

I wish I didn't spend so much. But I tell myself that I was in need of doing some shopping for nice things I can wear to work. The Ed Hardy-ish shirt was bought because it was only $12.90 and I always wanted something like that. That wasn't a "need."

But the scary part about all this is Amanda hardly bought anything. But it's not like I bought everything I saw -- I did put many items back on the rack with much internal debate. And I spent a good chunk of time rummaging through Loehmann's for bargains.

Did Amanda influence me since I wouldn't normally have gone to the mall on a weekday? I think I have only myself to blame. But considering I hardly ever go shopping for nice clothes, I consider seven useful items -- items in colors and types I don't already have and that were all at good prices -- a success.

I don't think Amanda sees it as a complete success. She keeps telling me she wants to take me out shopping for bras and skirts and summer dresses... gah. I don't think I can do it. I'm hoping I can make excuses for the next several weekends until she gives up. I especially can't now, after I spent so much on these clothes.

Who am I kidding? I tell myself it is a success, but I still have guilt!