Go On A Clothes Shopping Diet To Save Money

MIAMI (CBS4) - A new campaign to save money is spreading, not only in the U.S., but in other countries as well. It's called the Great American Apparel Diet.

It's free to join and people pledge not to buy any new clothes for an entire year. Those on the diet say it's good for the environment, good for the wallet, and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

This is a growing trend to resist temptation to squelch the urge to shop.

"You remove the temptation, you don't think about it, you don't expose yourself to that environment," said apparel dieter Birdie Carpenter.

Carpenter has not been in a mall for months after going on the diet.

"It really appealed to me because I have a lot of clothes," she said. "I'm always getting rid of clothes and then replacing them."

Now she finds herself with more money and more time.

"I can actually do something fun, active and outdoors," she said. "That seems like it makes more sense."

While the diet has followers throughout the U.S., Europe and South Africa, CBS4 found many shoppers who are appalled by the idea.

"It sounds pretty silly to me," a shopper told CBS4.

Carpenter and her fellow dieters say they'll never go back to their old habits.

Additional Resources

Go to the Great American Apparel Diet website to learn more.