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Poll - spending on clothes
LRB's post about coats got me thinking about how much you spend on clothes annually. How much do you spend a year, and do you have a budget, or just buy what you feel like, when you want to (within reason, obviously!)?
My situation: We are admittedly poor. I'm a sahm, DH is a civil servant, we have two small children a car and a mortgage. We prioritise certain things. I do'tn have a clothes budget, but would guess DH and I jointly spend about ?500 a year? I try to buy good quality on sale, but with my changing body shapes the past 3 years, it's been difficult, as I don't want to spend the money on things that I may not fit in another year. I need two new coats (a wool one and a new winter waterproof), new black flats, and could do with a new jumper for this winter, but the kids need clothes too, and we had to buy a new cooker last month.
Not being able to buy a ?80 coat makes me feel incredibly poor. Esp because my friends all do, without thinking. Even those who are in financial difficulty (or live in council accomodation!!!!).
Re: Poll - spending on clothes
I don't have much money. I won't say I'm poor because aside from paying rent I don't have any financial obligations.
But once I've paid rent and put a bit into savings, I'm not left with much. I love to shop and almost exclusively buy things on sale. I would say I usually spend about ?30-50/month on clothes.
I've had a lot of luck with both Ebay and charity shops. If you don't m ind second hand you can get great quality, barely used items for really cheap.
I'd say I have spent about ?150 over the past 2 years on Ebay for items with a value of about ?900 or more.
Last winter I only had a Spring coat, but I bought a cheap fleece from Asda to wear under it and it kep me plenty warm.
This was long and rambling, but basically I can't go out and just buy what I want/need, so I have to improvise. And ya, it sucks.
I will admit that I spend a fair ammount of money on clothes every year, and that I don't have a budget, and have no idea how much I actually spend. I would guess I probably spend ABOUT 800-1000 pounds a year on clothes and shoes, but it really depends on the year. Last year I spent 7 months in Afghanistand where i didn't spend anything, so this year I think I spent more. I also had several formal events to go to (three formal military functions, a wedding, etc). I've also bought all new running and workout clothes and several pairs of running shoes this year, and that aint cheap....
However, most of what I've bought since I've been in the UK has been staples from Tesco, Next, or TK Maxx (jeans, sweaters, tops), and I rarely spend more than about 40 pounds on any single item (most are significantly less).
80 pounds is a LOT to spend on a coat. I think it would take a LOT for me to spend that much on a coat, unless I knew I'd be wearing it almost every day for several years to come. There are a lot of really good deals on coats right now, and I think you should be able to find something for significantly less than 80 pounds.
Hi Welsh,
DH and I are dual-income-no-kids and we don't really have any bills to speak of - we rent and we don't have a car and so we spend a huge percentage of our income on stuff for ourselves (going out, clothing, whatever). DH hardly ever buys anything but I make up for it. We have a 'misc' budget each roughly that's theoretically covering our entertainment plus whatever we want to buy. I typically buy my clothing at charity shops and love finding bargains. ?80 isn't an amount I don't have to think about, but we do build these things into our budget so I know I'm fine for it this month.
I'm sure everything will change dramatically when (fingers crossed) we have a baby someday but for now, I'm taking all my random enjoyment I can get. I hate spending 'real' money on clothing too, I keep changing sizes and I'm really, really, really hoping I'm pregnant by next summer so hopefully nothing will fit soon! I figure for now, as long as we're saving and we remain debt-free (minus a school loan I have), the rest is for us to enjoy.
You aren't poor! You are choosing a lifestyle that prioritises spending time with your children. That's how I was raised (not much money but lots of family time) and that's priceless.
((hug))
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
I dont spend that much money on clothes when I am in Spain. I might pick up something new, every few months and only when it is on sale.
I tend to buy a lot of stuff when I am in the States. I dont think I spend a lot because I buy everything on sale but I usually wait I am there to buy new clothes.
Since moving to France, I rarely spend on clothes unless it's during the bi-annual sales or I really need something.
I'm actually in the process of shaving all my sweaters to get rid of the "balls", these were sweaters that I was going to throw out last spring, but now they look like new! It's going to save us a lot of money by not having to buy new ones!
I splurge when I travel back to Canada though as everything is so much cheaper.
Unfortunately with me not really working, I am very careful about what we spend. I miss the good ol' days of dual income when my main hobby was shopping on weekends!
I guess I just buy what I want, when I want it, within reason.
When we decided I was going to be a SAHM, we worked out a budget and have pretty much stuck to it for 3 years. I have a certain ? amount per week that is my fun money, but I rarely spend it on clothes for me. I've no idea how much we spend on clothes annually, but probably a fair bit as this is one of the few areas Matt enjoys spending money in.
I don't know, I don't think it's a great idea to compare, you know? Even though we're both SAHM's, we have very different circumstances. We rent, don't own a car, Matt bikes to work everyday & brings his lunch, we only have one kid, eat out maybe twice a month, Milo's still under the 15 hours per week, so his school is totally free. . .
I'm sorry you're feeling badly about this.
I really rarely buy clothes. Unless I need something for a special occasion, I will just get clothes when I visit the states.
I agree that I think it's hard to compare even when situations seem really similar. Nor do you know people's credit issues, other things that they have to say no to in order to say yes to a jacket.
We are a one-income/8-months a year family...that being said, we don't have a huge amount to spend on clothes but we don't have a specific budget either. We buy what we need, when we need it, if it is a reasonable price. I'd say for the 3 of us, we spend about 500-800 a year on clothes.
That sounds like a lot when I write it, but it really varies depending on if we need big items like coats, if I need new runners, etc. This year I needed a new fall/light winter coat, and found it at the second hand shop here for $10! A few years ago though, DH needed a new dress coat for winter and we bought it in Germany for 150euro. That was a HUGE expense at the but that was in 2007 and we haven't spent a dime on a coat for him since, it is a great quality piece and is still his main warm winter coat.
For V I only buy what is either on sale or is secondhand. We have a niece who is older and the seasons are slightly off, but we take whatever hand me downs they offer. My biggest splurge on her this year was a custom hat for her birthday from Etsy, but I consider it an heirloom piece and I don't regret it.
I agree with others, try eBay or second hand shops for a few of your items, especially coats! And I totally feel your pain on the changing body shape, I've really had to re-think/re-work my wardrobe during mypregnancy/after having a baby.
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Thanks everyone, I'm not too bothered by it - just fed up with counting pennies. I've been buying thrifty-retro 'chic' (!!) for 20 years now, and would happily continue if my town had some. I dont' like buying sight-unseen or tried on off ebay, as the times I've tried it I've not been very lucky. (Or maybe my shape doesn't fit the clothes I want to buy? Scary thought but maybe I'm just into old-lady frumpy clothes now?)
We don't budget for clothes, and I don't keep track of spending, so I really have no idea. That said, I hardly ever actually BUY anything. Oh, I go shopping, but it's more just window shopping...I look around, see what's out there, and go home empty handed. Part of that is because I'm still stuck in the "I can buy that SO much cheaper back home" mentality, so I just refuse to spend that here. But, when I go home, I do stock up on essentials, which are mainly work clothes for the office.
Basically, I'm a cheap-a$$ that hates to spend money.