All aboard for the challenge that saves money, delivers style, helps the planet and teaches you about yourself and the world around you. I'm three years in, and here to help.
2024 was my first year and while I failed (I acquired 9 new things and 14 secondhand things) I really feel like it has changed my relationship with clothes forever. I learnt SO much about myself. I also got properly into making my own clothes (I've been dabbling for years) and have been having great fun trying to do as much of that as possible with secondhand/repurposed fabrics. Excited to go again and do even better this year!
Thanks for all your inspiration and information over the past year, Tiffanie. 2024 was my first year in the Rule of Five Challenge. Normally I'm a very careful shopper, but two of my six new pieces were mistakes. As in, "why the heck did I buy that?" I my own defence I was trying to find something to wear to a May wedding and panicked. Ironically the weather turned cool and instead of the dress I bought I wore an old Max Mara pant suit (from 2002!) and felt great. Further justifying my belief that buying something higher end means you'll love it longer. Ha. Like for 20+ years.
One exciting thing about doing the challenge is being able to share my progress and my mistakes on my blog. Lots of my readers have signed onto the challenge, some modifying the number because they thought being restricted to only 5 pieces was too hard.
The biggest learning experience for me was learning to love thrift and consignment shopping. I bought two vintage pieces, two consigned pieces, and a thrifted shirt. The fact that second-hand pieces are unique and harder to find in my size helps me control my urge to buy.
Anyway... thanks so much for all you do. Sign me up for another year!
Fantastic. Mistakes are part of the game - I made a terrible one this year, right at the end. Broke all my own rules, (more on this in upcoming confessions). But we're human, and mistakes are valuable learnings (as every school teacher tells us). So happy you are getting so much out of this too, and your readers. And yes like you i think the moe we spend (wisely) on something well made we absolutely love - the longer it will last.
I’m excited to do my first Rule of Five! I have noticed that shopping resale (local shops and poshmark) has become shopping that “doesn’t count” for me. I also get a bit type-A/rabbit-holey about finding and buying whatever current item I “need”. So far, I have channeled these impulses into starting a virtual closet on Whering and using the wish list function to log my “needs”. This seems to scratch the itch a bit. Looking forward to more tips :)
Second hand definitely counts! A fashion editor friend swears by the app Indyx which she says helps her see what she already has and switch it up. Havent tried it yet but plan to give it a go...
Omg I am the same! I started a Pinterest board for my wishlist and it helps keep the scarcity mindset at bay (“if I don’t buy this right now I will never find it again!”).
This year is my first rule of 5. I am a retail marketer’s absolute dreeeeam and I need that to stop. My overconsumption is so overwhelming but I am full fledged addicted. I deleted my only social media because it’s all basically one giant targeted shopping ad for me and that has already helped curb my appetite. I somehow managed to not panic shop the last week of December knowing I was going into this which is already a win. It’s only a week in to the year but I feel good about this and am excited to change my capitalist mindset to align with my values. Thanks for having this community and for providing all these resources. I am so grateful for this.
2024 was my first year and while I failed (I acquired 9 new things and 14 secondhand things) I really feel like it has changed my relationship with clothes forever. I learnt SO much about myself. I also got properly into making my own clothes (I've been dabbling for years) and have been having great fun trying to do as much of that as possible with secondhand/repurposed fabrics. Excited to go again and do even better this year!
Thanks for all your inspiration and information over the past year, Tiffanie. 2024 was my first year in the Rule of Five Challenge. Normally I'm a very careful shopper, but two of my six new pieces were mistakes. As in, "why the heck did I buy that?" I my own defence I was trying to find something to wear to a May wedding and panicked. Ironically the weather turned cool and instead of the dress I bought I wore an old Max Mara pant suit (from 2002!) and felt great. Further justifying my belief that buying something higher end means you'll love it longer. Ha. Like for 20+ years.
One exciting thing about doing the challenge is being able to share my progress and my mistakes on my blog. Lots of my readers have signed onto the challenge, some modifying the number because they thought being restricted to only 5 pieces was too hard.
The biggest learning experience for me was learning to love thrift and consignment shopping. I bought two vintage pieces, two consigned pieces, and a thrifted shirt. The fact that second-hand pieces are unique and harder to find in my size helps me control my urge to buy.
Anyway... thanks so much for all you do. Sign me up for another year!
Fantastic. Mistakes are part of the game - I made a terrible one this year, right at the end. Broke all my own rules, (more on this in upcoming confessions). But we're human, and mistakes are valuable learnings (as every school teacher tells us). So happy you are getting so much out of this too, and your readers. And yes like you i think the moe we spend (wisely) on something well made we absolutely love - the longer it will last.
I’m excited to do my first Rule of Five! I have noticed that shopping resale (local shops and poshmark) has become shopping that “doesn’t count” for me. I also get a bit type-A/rabbit-holey about finding and buying whatever current item I “need”. So far, I have channeled these impulses into starting a virtual closet on Whering and using the wish list function to log my “needs”. This seems to scratch the itch a bit. Looking forward to more tips :)
Second hand definitely counts! A fashion editor friend swears by the app Indyx which she says helps her see what she already has and switch it up. Havent tried it yet but plan to give it a go...
I just downloaded Indyx too. Seems great.
Omg I am the same! I started a Pinterest board for my wishlist and it helps keep the scarcity mindset at bay (“if I don’t buy this right now I will never find it again!”).
This year is my first rule of 5. I am a retail marketer’s absolute dreeeeam and I need that to stop. My overconsumption is so overwhelming but I am full fledged addicted. I deleted my only social media because it’s all basically one giant targeted shopping ad for me and that has already helped curb my appetite. I somehow managed to not panic shop the last week of December knowing I was going into this which is already a win. It’s only a week in to the year but I feel good about this and am excited to change my capitalist mindset to align with my values. Thanks for having this community and for providing all these resources. I am so grateful for this.