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How was your overall experience with this? Do you mind sharing? Did you find it to be really hard?
I think I'm going to have to make an exception for new snow pants for DD 8, looks like she is not going to fit last years! I agree about the shoes, I was planning ahead and have 3 good pairs though!
Really, it wasn't hard at all! I'm VERY frugal by nature, so this wasn't too hard. Once I got out of the habit of looking at the catalogues and emails and ads, I didn't even realize things were on sale and there wasn't really a desire to shop. I went back through my clothes and discovered some wonderful things I'd forgotten about!
The hardest thing for me was not shopping for my dd. She's the youngest of four and the only girl. I LOVE shopping for girl clothes! But, realistically, we didn't need anything for her. She's been fine!
Try shopping in thrift stores for the leggings. We've been shopping at a thrift store for most of our clothes since that year and we've gotten GREAT stuff! We always find Columbia or Lands' End winter coats and leggings for around $5 each. (Another brag - my ds14 just outgrew his suit and we found a beautiful wool one, with the tags still on it for $8!!!!)
Anyway, you CAN do this! I found it helpful when I was tempted, to look on line or at a catalogue or even at a store. Figure out how much I would have spent if I had been buying and then transfer that amount over to our vacation fund. I still do that. When we shop at the thrift store and get an entire season's worth of clothes for four (well, really, three - Meg has everything she needs for a while), for $50, I'll transfer over $200 to represent the money I saved. Seeing that account add up REALLY made the difference in my success.
We still do this to some extent. I don't buy things for myself really any more. I'm content with what I have now. We don't get things for the kids unless it's a true need. We live with less. It's kind of freeing actually.
Probably more than you wanted to know. But, there it is!!! Good luck.