STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

My husband and I each get $150 a month for our hobby budget - I usually spend mine on clothing, or small house items.  It's low enough that it doesn't take a huge bite out of the overall budget, but high enough so that if we actually 'needed' something that isn't really inexpensive we could still probably get it. 

I don't really 'need' more clothing since I could likely stay amply clothed for years without purchasing another item, and it keeps me from buying stuff just for the sake of buying stuff.  If you've already built a relatively function wardrobe, I find it's enough to cover new seasonal items or to fill holes once I notice them.  But then again I'm not buying much from Anthro these days either, if you know what I mean!

I don't work either (in school, still) so most of my time is spent dressed cute/casual or dressier casual if we're going out somewhere.  I'm definitely not purchasing suits or investment-quality heels on a regular basis with that budget.

I was curious about this too so I posted something on Style Polls a while ago about how people keep track of their spending. I created a Word doc and I try to add to it when I've been shopping.

I don't have a set budget but when I did our taxes I figured out I spent about $675 last year on clothes, shoes, and assorted personal care. That included thrift stores, but it doesn't include anything from Target because that would have been too complicated to figure out without the actual receipts. So there was no doubt some additional makeup and maybe a t-shirt or two.

I can't imagine spending $5K on clothes. I'm sure I could, without question, but like you said it feels nuts.

Since you have a baseline for 2009 spending (around $415 a month), at least you're not reaching into the dark to come up with a budget for this year. Even setting a limit of $300 a month would be a serious savings over last year, and still be realistic. In contrast it would be unrealistic to attempt a radical cutback, like $50 a month, for example.

Things that help me with my "restraint," as D put it -

Rule 1: I have a "list" in my head and I try to keep it in mind when I'm shopping

I don't limit myself to my list but I might spend more than my usual comfort level on a list item, because it's clearly something I've been thinking about for a long time.

Rule 2: I don't buy anything unless I lurvs it

Lists rarely help in a thrift store, although rule #2 still applies.

Rule 3: I only buy black, white, gray and occasionally red

Seriously I cannot express how helpful it was to simplify my wardrobe and limit it to colors I really like to wear. I no longer "need" off-colored shoes. I can whip through a clearance rack in seconds just by fixating on color.

Rule 4: Is having this item of clothing more important than my retirement villa with the ocean view?

Seriously I have a goal of retiring as soon as humanly possible. It's a bigger priority to me than owning another purse or another pencil skirt. Having something more important to do with my money than adorn myself helps me rein it in. As much as I love clothes, I love retiring by 50 more.

So maybe something like setting a few goals/rules would help. At least having something amazing to save for would be a nice treat!

I have about $300/mo to do with what I want. However, I have made a conscious effort to slow down on my clothing/accessories/make up spending. So far so good. I don't think I've bought anything this year. So, I have a nice little bit in my savings account.

I also restrict the colors I buy to black/white/gray/red/blue/purple.

I completely eliminated navy/brown/yellow/pink/tan from my wardrobe (with the exception of any dresses and cashmere).

Any color outside of these is an item that I didn't eliminate when I did my big clean out or was a gift. But, I won't replace these items or miss them when they are gone.

While my system isn't as simple as Su's I wasn't ready to get that strict yet. But, I can see myself eliminating the purple in the future.

My workplace dress code is very vague. Some days I'm in a nice suit, others I'm in jeans. Finding a balance between a work and weekend wardrobe is a failure of mine.

Elle wrote:

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Itsapinkthing - Have you determined why exactly you don't like much of what's in your closet?  Is because you have too many 'special' items and not enough basics?  Or are you having fit issues?  Or do you have entirely too many of one particular item?  Or do you not like the colors?  What's up?

 

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Obviously I'm not Itsapinkthing LOL but my issue is definitely fit.  I've gained too much weight and I'm down to 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of work pants, 2 casual pants, and then I'm buying a bunch of dresses.  I restarted Weight Watchers this week hoping that it will get me back on track but looking at my food diary from the past couple of days I definitely need to sit down and plan out my meals and snacks because I keep going over my allowance each day by 5 points.

I think I'm going to try to make a budget this weekend.  I just finished buying a few dresses on sale, the new pair of jeans, and my underwear, shoes and makeup are up to date and ok.  I am going to aim for $300 for the next couple of months and then $200.  I think gradual cuts will help this go over better.

I do want to hear more about thrifting and such.  I've never been a thrifter but it could be interesting.

I probably hit $5k last year as well. This year I decided to set a budget of $50/week for clothes/accessories, honestly as I was spending so much before I didn't think I could stick to anything lower but hoped that I could ease into lowering it. My biggest complaint was that for all that $$ what do I have to show for it? If I had a few fabulous pieces then that would be one thing but I've lost track of the stuff I never wear that's from Old Navy, H&M or was bought somewhere else on super sale that I'm just "meh" about.

Now my budgeting means that I have to really think about whether I want something because once that money's spent it's spent and if I want something that's over $50 I have to wait a week until the next $50 kicks in. At first I was keeping track of my spending on my 'phone but now it seems to happen organically, I just know what I've spent and what I have left. I've also found that I'm spending less than $50 most weeks but I'm not really rolling that $ over. Overall I feel more in control of my life and I'm less resentful of $ I spend on things I need and when I have a suprise expense it doesn't stress me out as much.

Thanks guys this actually helps alot.  I'm a little relieved to know I'm not the only one who's spending so much.  I have no credit card debt, I only use cash, but it doesn't make it any better.  I think that is part of my problem I feel like I have it to spend.  Maybe I need to up my savings goals...

Su- I think your rule 4 really apllies to me here.  I am far to into instant gratification.  I feel like I can have it so I should.  Actually this leads me to some bad buying decisions too.  I may think I LOVE it, but in the end it's just attainable.  KWIM?

I shop too much because I'm bored, and when I have extra  money I almost feel burdened to spend it.  This shows me I need to reasses my life goals!

Elle wrote:

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Itsapinkthing - Have you determined why exactly you don't like much of what's in your closet?  Is because you have too many 'special' items and not enough basics?  Or are you having fit issues?  Or do you have entirely too many of one particular item?  Or do you not like the colors?  What's up?

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 And this is my other problem...
I buy for the exciting life I want to have not the stay at home mom life I have.  I can easily list 5 outfits in my closet perfect for a night of drinks, the problem...I never go out for a night of drinks!

I have no clothing budget because I suck at shopping and I'm too cheap to buy things. I need a stylist badly because I have nothing to wear and everytime I go to the mall or try to shop online, I talk myself out of buying things -- that's if I can even look at a shirt and not think about how plain/boring it is! Arrgghh!

I'm fortunate at my age to be able to buy pretty much whatever I want; I'm just too cheap. I guess it stemmed from when I moved to San Francisco for uni. at 18 years old and was so broke then that I'm afraid of maybe being broke again? I don't know.

But yeah, I don't shop for myself much.

Oh goodness. I am a serious shopaholic right now. I had in my mind to set a budget of $100 a week to start and I blew through that today. I did so well this weekend with not shopping but online shopping is my killer. Seriously though I am going to unsubscribe to all emails that come from online shops this week and make a budget to stick to. I am officially on a shopping ban until May 1. I did up my 401(k) contributions and started to automatically have my Roth IRA contributions taken out twice a month. If I don't have the money to begin with I can't spend it. As soon as I get the CCs paid from this crazy spending I'll be auto saving with ING again each pay period.

Kel - right now I am mainly buying new work clothes because I gained 15 pounds last year and can't fit into any pants in my closet. I have been going the dress route because they are more comfortable than pants and if I lose weight I can still wear them. So a lot of money has been going towards that and also to new jeans and some cardigans. But it adds up fast. Sigh.

rar210 wrote:

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It's nice to hear other have the same trouble that I do. My biggest problem, I'm not spending that money on myself....I'm spending it on Hayden. He just turned 3 last month and I have a serious addiction to buying him clothes. He's only worn Baby Gap since he was born, but the problem is I order EVERY cute Baby Gap item that's released in his size. The only other brands he owns are True Religion (love the Joey jeans on him) and Ed Hardy. I have a shoe addiction w/ him as well...Nike Shox, Timberland, Sperry, Gap & Converse. I just ordered $500 worth of summer clothes for him last weekend (thank goodness for 30% off) and that's the 3rd big order I've placed for him for Spring/Summer. Since having Hayden I have a hard time buying for myself but could spend THOUSANDS on him each year! I went shopping for me last month and it killed me to buy some tops from BR, pants from Gap, etc. I used to NEVER have a problem spending the money on ME but now I REALLY watch my purchases! Yeah, I've got a problem..... :)

BTW~I do sell all of his clothes from season to season, so I like to call it reinvesting!

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I totally spend alot on my son too! He's only 15 months and he has better clothes than me!