STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

Do you have a shopping BUDGET?

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I don't have a budget for shopping per se, but I give myself $100 a week spending money. That has to cover eating out, going for drinks, movies, shopping etc. If I spend a little over one week, I have to make up for it in the next few weeks. I'm trying to limit myself to $1000 per season, but I need new boots and a new coat this winter so I don't know that I can realistically stick to that.

kenzie · Chanel

No, but I should. I've changed the way I shop in recent months. Instead of buying things here and there, I move money into my 'fun money' savings account, let it acrue interest and then take out a larger amount for a mini spree (but leave the amount made in interest still in the account). Does that make any sense?? Probably not.

Renee · Kenneth Cole

My shopping budget is between 120$-150$ per month. I usually stick to it, but this month was totally out there (I spent almost 300$). I have recently started tracking all my purchases in an excel spreadsheet, and it helps- I see what I need to buy, and I also note whether something was a good or a bad purchase.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I'm JUST LIKE YOU, Renee, I have an Excel spreadsheet on my home computer to keep track of ALL the stuff I buy (clothes/shoes/etc.), and this month I've spent well over my usual budget, but OH WELL! LOL You only live once.....LOL

Renee wrote:

My shopping budget is between 120$-150$ per month. I usually stick to it, but this month was totally out there (I spent almost 300$). I have recently started tracking all my purchases in an excel spreadsheet, and it helps- I see what I need to buy, and I also note whether something was a good or a bad purchase.

Lilykind · Hermes

I am presently on a ban. I am allowed to

pay my rent
pay bills (cell phone & utilities...I don't have cable or internet or regular phone at my apartment...use the BF's)
pay off my cc debt (1 paycheck a month goes to that)
have my hair done ever 8 - 12 weeks (because it grows so fast...I do appointments every 10 weeks or so because I can't afford to go more frequently)

BF covers a lot of other stuff like the groceries and all entertainment expenses.

My current budget for weekly expenses is $25. This covers bus fare and any fun activities I want to do. I budgeted $100 for a planned spree this past weekend and got a few things to spice up my wardrobe. But after that, no shopping for a while...*sigh*

-- Edited by Lilykind at 17:08, 2005-08-26

NCshopper · Hermes

TheLovelyLady71 wrote:

I'm JUST LIKE YOU, Renee, I have an Excel spreadsheet on my home computer to keep track of ALL the stuff I buy (clothes/shoes/etc.), and this month I've spent well over my usual budget, but OH WELL! LOL You only live once.....LOL Renee wrote: My shopping budget is between 120$-150$ per month. I usually stick to it, but this month was totally out there (I spent almost 300$). I have recently started tracking all my purchases in an excel spreadsheet, and it helps- I see what I need to buy, and I also note whether something was a good or a bad purchase.

I also have an Excel spreadsheet with all of my monthly expenses broken down. I have a separate sheet with everything I need to buy along with where to get it, estimated cost, coupon codes to use, and website (if any). Yes, I am neurotic, but I got sick to death of spending all of my money on things I didn't need, because I'd avoid buying the things that I REALLY need (like a nice pair of black pants--don't have a pair). Anyway, I do kinda have a shopping budget, but it's mixed in with my budget for food, entertainment, etc since I'm still working on paying off my credit card. Bah!

My weekly allowance for food, entertainment, shopping, etc is $150 until the credit card is paid off in Feb. I can't wait!!!

kittenheels · Coach

I hadn't really thought about it until I read the post, but then I felt compelled to figure it out...

I have sort of a different breakdown because I always think in terms of what I can get away with at the office and what I can't! So, I try to spend the most on things that make me happy but still won't get me in trouble with the dress code at work. And, I try to buy really nice classics or work clothing, but I don't have a ton of them.

Pants/suits/skirts (work)...Really depends. If they fit well, I suppose up to 200, but I also like getting something of decent quality like J.Crew or Banana and getting it tailored to look better. So I guess between 70 and 150.

Sweaters...my downfall and I love love love really thick and cushy cashmere (yet I live in LA). Up to 200.

Tops - going out and otherwise - probably up to 100 for something I really love and don't care about trends. 50 tops for something that is trendy or I can't picture wearing a bunch of different ways.

Skirts and dresses for going out/events This fluctuates wildly. I've had some good scores from Loehmann's and Bluefly, so I'd guess up to 150, though I am thinking about getting a real DVF dress in black this winter.

Shoes - I really love shoes, and I have occasionally splurged on very expensive ones, but for ordinary shoes for work and fun I like what I can find at Loehmann's and Shoe Pavilion for between 50 and 100. And I love the flat metallic J Crew flip flops.

Bags - Depends but I would say maybe more than 500 for something that I absolutely would adore for the rest of my life, but I would need to save a while.

honey · Gucci

i don't really have a budget per se, for me it's not so much about how much you spend but what you do with your money. after i get paid, i just pay my bills, save and then whatever is left over is my play money for shopping, drinks, etc. if i spend more on clothes (which i almost always do) then i know i have to limit my spending in other areas.

i do however have a shopping system (which i've posted about b/f) which has helped me get some of my more fabulous items. in general $60 is my magic number in the sense that anything above that price makes me pause and consider if i really need that item. (though the number has been increasing of late)

i'm kind of looking at this fall as my last hurrah b/f i'm a poor grad school student so i'm really trying to focus more on picking up key fabulous pieces, instead of just buying a lot of things to tide me over. but i'll admit a lot of times it's hard to keep my focus.

bex · Chanel

i have a budget and i allow myself $600 per month for spending money. this covers any "extra" things I need such as hair cuts/colour, make-up, clothes, shoes, personal items (razors, shaving cream), etc.

i can usually stick to it and this for fall season this year, i chose 3 items that i wanted that were pricey. i bought a pair of boots ($275), my sweater coat ($150) and a new pair of denim (TR Joeys at $172). everything else will be on sale that i purchase for fall!