Planning for Change Part 2

I had a plan to buy new clothing when I had some spare cash that consisted of buying

• two pairs of jeans in sizes 28, 26 and 24
• leggings in size 26 and 24
• a couple of plus sized dresses designed to plus sized flexible
• basic t-shirts that fit, not just for now but for layering and staying warm in the winter
• ponchos
• whatever I could find in charity shops
• underwear

This seemed like the most flexible and best way of making my meagre resources stretch as far as I could so I could future proof my wardrobe for further weight loss and have something to wear now.  It all changed though when I decided to have a look at Vinted.

Vinted was a revelation because it was obvious that with the availability and prices, I would be able to rethink my plan considerably.  I was expecting to pay around £30 per pair of jeans for instance an I wanted to buy six pairs.  This meant that I was planning on spending £200 on just jeans.  It wasn't surprising that my plan when it came to everything else was pretty basic.  Vinted meant though that I could buy jeans for around £10 a pair.

I realised I needed to look at what I had and in what sizes.  So I started a spreadsheet and started listing all the clothing I owned and it's size.  I tried it on.  Made notes on how it was fitting.  As I went through my things, I found I had a few size 28 things till, that I thought I had gotten rid of some time ago.  I found though that the size 28 tops no longer fitted that great as they were often baggy under the arms and a bit pouchy.  I did find some size 28 tracksuit bottoms that just about fit now.  

Having looked at all these clothes, and looking at Vinted, it was obvious to me that I should start listing them on Vinted and getting rid of them to make way for the new clothes I would be buying.  The spreadsheet not only allowed me to identify what I needed, but also what I could get rid of.

So I began looking at basic t-shirts and quickly realised that with the buyer protection fee and postage, a basic t-shirt might end up being a little expensive than I had hoped.  Of course, sometimes you find bargains and someone will be selling several things in one listing or they will have multiple things you want so you pay only one postage and maybe even get a bundle discount.

I looked around though and realised that a size 26 was now at the top end of some supermarkets clothing ranges.  I looked around and found that Asda had the cheapest range of basic t-shirts and leggings.  There was more choice in a size 24 though at Asda.  I looked at bras too, because I desperately needed new ones.  The ones I had were horribly uncomfortable and I just often went without at home.  I found they sold something called comfort tops that were much cheaper than traditional bras and decided to give them a go too.

So the first part of my plan changed.  I brought two vest tops in a size 26, four long sleeve t-shirts in a size 24, a pack of comfort tops and a multi pack of knickers.  When it arrived, I was surprised to discover that the size 26 vest tops were perhaps a little lose and the size 24 t-shirts fitted perfectly.  The comfort tops were so as described, comfortable...  

This shifted my plan though as to what to buy on vinted, with size 26 tops being much less of a priority as they would fit nicely now, but not as well as size 24.  I also decided to buy more things from Asda.  I brought another 3 pack of comfort tops in my current size and a pack in the next size down.  I also was realising that my pyjamas for the winter were unlikely to fit next winter.  I knew I could wear some of my existing t-shirts as pyjama tops but I found Asda sold pyjama bottoms by themselves.  I brought a couple of those to in the largest size, 20-22.  They just about fit because pyjamas are baggy and comfy but I may well still start next winter in my current pyjamas.  We shall have to see.  There is definitely a size gap - one hopefully that I will jump over this summer so it won't be an issue.

Next were proper bras and leggings.  I brought these from Simply Be.  Having discovered comfort tops, I only brought a two pack of bras.  Comfort tops do smoosh my boobs together a bit, so I felt I needed traditional bras for going out and wearing certain clothes.  

That was the basics covered then, the things I refused to buy secondhand, like underwear and sleepwear.  Not that vinted sell underwear.  Also those very basic things that were cheaper to buy new with one postage charge.

Then it was time to start shopping on vinted and I did my absolute best to be as strategic as possible.  I don't need a hundred going out tops.  Who knows how long I will be that size for?  I might not ever wear them if I brought too much.

I categorised my clothing by type and then by size.  I knew what I needed, now it was time to shop.