"No New Clothes for a Year-- Follow-Up" by Lark Kenney and Martie Wild King

In January of 2025, Marge Igyardo, a faithful "The Frugal Catholic" follower from SC, challenged us all to buy no new clothes for a year, as she had accomplished in 2024. No New Clothes for a Year by Marge Igyarto and Martha Wild King---January 2025

It sounded like a no-brainer, so two "FRUGALITES'--Lark and Martie took up the challenge in 2025, and here is their story, and both of them are sticking to it. Sadly.

Lark Kenney is a performer and singer in Palm Desert, California. She married a classmate of Captain Mike's, which is how she and Martie know each other. She stated, " My goal this summer was to go through every outfit and pair it with jewelry, or a scarf, or whatever.... And what was left over went to a local rescue mission shop so they could sell the item and sagely use that money."

Lark and her husband, Stan, always look sharp and well-put-together.

Martie Wild King of Colorado felt she could handle this challenge since she has dubbed herself for seventeen years as "The Frugal Catholic," but she couldn't! Senior Citizen Martie proved to be her own worst enemy. Perhaps greed was her downfall.

The Frugal Catholic:

"OK ladies. Thanks so much for the introduction. Sounds like Martie might have a bit of an attitude, but we can work with it.'

"Now, Marge Igyarto didn't purchase anything for an entire year except for socks and undies. Did either of you two add more clothes, shoes, etc. to your inventory?"

Lark Kenney--"I fell flat on my face with my well-meaning New Year's Eve resolutions. Verily, verily, I stinketh."

"I felt so convicted the last two months of 2025 of how I had fallen short of the mark. No, it was not 'sin', it was more a case of disappointment in my lack of discipline. Also, not knowing how to approach this cause, I truly wanted to pursue...

"So, my approach, now at the end of the year, is I have spent the last two days purging my entire closet, rather like General Sherman to the sea... the embarrassment of the riches I have... borderline shameful!

"I've placed pants with tops....Dresses, with blah, blah, blah. I start from the left side, and if for any reason I hesitate to wear it, it goes to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. I know that hardly sounds intentional/sacrificial, but taking small steps has helped.

"Every three months, I will review/assess my progress to determine whether I am progressing toward the intended goal."

Martie Wild King of Colorado--"I thought I had it totally together, but I was a complete and utter failure." She states, "I soon realized that my present Colorado closet had more bulk than zing. So I started the year of 2025 getting rid of heavy chunky zip-up Mister Rogers-style sweaters that made me look fat but kept me warm in Colorado. Thus, what I was left with were more matching outfits and pieces I really wanted to wear, rather than items I had to wear because they were in my closet.

"I would imagine most of us reading this blog can identify with that last statement.

"But around May of 2025, I bit the dust in my efforts to SOS--STAY OUT OF STORES, which was how I approached this experiment..

"Mike and I began raising one of our grandchildren, which necessitated a trip to the local thrift shop to find a jacket, and, like an alcoholic falling off the wagon, I fell off the frugal train. I didn't look for the jacket first because I was really looking for a black shirt. That grandchild has already outgrown the jacket that we did find, and, alas, I am still shopping for the perfect black top."

Grandmother, Martie, and her grandchild are now both warmly dressed.

The Frugal Catholic: "What about your tastes? Did either of you note your style change?"

Lark: "No real style change, but to fine-tune/minimize my wardrobe, I have had to take baby steps. As stated, I start from the left side, and if for any reason, I hesitate to wear the piece, out it goes on the right side to charity."

Martie: "Yes, I've become enamored with hoodies. They are so warm, and they make one look monochromatic, which my daughter says is fetching on me. Wise to listen to the youth when it comes to fashion. I also released a hideous short denim skirt that looked ridiculous on me at my age. Maybe if I were about 50 years younger, but not now. So, I let it go and felt freedom."

The Frugal Catholic: "As you have become better acquainted with your closet, what deep thoughts have you experienced?"

Lark: "Well, I've come to realize that my only 'get out of jail free card' is that sometimes I will have a performance and something must be added to my costume...Ah, SHOW BIZ!!!"

Martie: "I have likewise come to realize that I have no idea why I have so many clothes, shoes, and purses, but at this age, I don't want to get rid of them if they still fit. Don't want to be tempted to purchase more. Less is more. Period."

"My husband, Captain Mike, did state something affirming on this journey. He said, 'You got rid of all of your bigger stuff, SO you can't get bigger, or you won't have any clothes. Now that is success.

"It is also freeing to think of how little we will possess in heaven. I have always realized that if God let us bring all our stuff to heaven, the sky would be constantly filled with caravans of U-Haul trucks heading upward. Talk about a yard sale!

"Instead, our dear Father clothes as beautifully as the lilies on earth."

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So two frugal friends, both gave it their best, but both felt that they failed. And Lark and Martie saw firsthand that those little daily acts of self-denial do add up in the world of giving and saving.

Want to save big in 2026? Take this challenge of NO NEW CLOTHES FOR A YEAR, think of how you want to accomplish it, and let me know how you do. Blessings, Martha

Matthew 6:28--"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin."

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Martha Wild King, M.Ed., Author

The Frugal Catholic: Learn to live on LESS to GIVE and SAVE more!

Frugality gave us wealth, BUT The Catholic Church made us rich.