YouLookFab Forum » Topic: If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:56:05 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php unfrumped on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431604 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 02:30:41 +0000 unfrumped 1431604@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am really enjoying all the contributions and viewpoints. So varied and interesting. So happy you chimed in , Gaylene- always great to have your wisdom and experience. I'm thinking it may be that it's not that " hoarding" is useful, mo point in keeoing items you hate or that dont look good, but that sometimes one looks more benevolently upon a pair of useful boots if one knows one cannot get another pair this year. More about, not being so quick to think there needs to be an upgrade of something that is working. Not that you have a dramatic change of personality or style, but perhaps just that we all have a range over which we can operate and may work at one end or another of that range. Dimity on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431532 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:06:41 +0000 Dimity 1431532@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I probably would have spent about $500 on clothes/shoes/accessories in each of the last two years, and in that time my lifestyle changed dramatically so a lot of what I had simply didn't work for me any more. Also, in the years prior, I had moved from freezing Canada to the tropics to the sub-tropics to a temperate climate. I found it a challenge to maintain currency but the bigger issue was simply managing to get dressed. I had wardrobe gaps in crucial areas (shoes, casual shirts, knitwear). If I didn't shop at thrift stores, I simply wouldn't have had clothes to wear. I found some great things, but it wasn't always possible to fill those wardrobe holes. For example, I find it really hard to get good shoes at thrift stores.  This year, I am able to allocate myself a clothing budget that allows the purchase of new shoes and a moderate amount of new clothing. It has made all the difference in the world in how easy it is to get dressed and to feel stylish. I also spent time thinking about and occasionally trying new looks that I could achieve cheaply and I was able to evolve my style and find a new style that is comfortable and feels good. There was 'old me' and there is 'new me' and while there is overlap and continuity, 'new me' is fresher and more current. I think when I had no clothing allowance, I was more careful about getting rid of things that could be useful. I would do alterations as well as refashioning items, dyeing things and re-purposing items. I followed the old wartime saying: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. I definitely did get rid of things that I didn't want any more though, and that did help me to move on. I also do that because I know how grateful I am to find great items in a thrift store, so my blah thing could make someone else's day.  anne on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431514 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:34:23 +0000 anne 1431514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have had a much smaller budget than many on YLF for years and it definitely effects my culling. My general principle is "slow to add, slow to purge". When I look at my yearly budget, and think through those things I need to add - to replace worn out items etc - I really need to be careful to have enough money left for those.   That means I have some items which are less than perfect (and thus ripe for culling) but fulfill a useful niche purpose; maybe it's "interview shoes" or "lightweight collared shirt" or "oversized dress good enough for work that it great on bloaty days" I certainly also wear things past the point where many on YLF do - eg my black turtleneck sweater bought in my first year on the forum (2008) has still not been replaced. My shoes actually wear out, even with visits to the cobbler, and I find that once I have budgeted for adequate footwear (I usually buy a pair of orthotics shoes a year,  a pair of sandals, boots every 3 or so years) I have to be pretty careful how I spend the rest, especially if I also want to buy a few items to keep me in fashion. So some of these less than ideal items will remain in my wardrobe. I am also the grateful recipient of handed down items from time to time, and provided they fit and the colour suits me, I will give them a really good try out, even if they are not exactly what I would have picked myself. Mellllls on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431377 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:08:03 +0000 Mellllls 1431377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ i was much less likely to edit when i was in school because i had essentially no income.  im not sure if that would change if i was faced with reduced income now.  but i will say....that i have noticed that as my life changes sometimes i end up wearing clothes that i hadnt worn in years.  so for me it has made sense to hold on to some things even if i wasnt currently wearing them. Gaylene on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431375 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:04:22 +0000 Gaylene 1431375@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As many of you know, I recently did a drastic downsizing of my wardrobe (along with the rest of my material possessions, including my beloved books) when Mr. G and I decided to sell our house and move into a small city condo--with a fantastic view of the ocean, I might add! We could have opted for a much larger condo, but deliberately chose a small place in a great location. The biggest surprise for both us was how little we miss our old things and how much we enjoy living with less stuff. I suspect, though, this is as much about our age and lifestyle as about budget and space, since realistically I could buy whatever I was lacking if I truly "needed" it. Budgeting during retirement is not the same as budgeting to take care of a family, home, and career. I'll also echo StaysFit that trying to anticipate what you'll need in advance is very tricky; I know that retiring and downsizing has made me, if anything, pickier about what I wear. My closet is much smaller, but, I think, in much better shape than it ever was because I kept only the best of the best, and I wear all of it on a regular basis. I honestly think my style quotient has gone through the roof because, after purging 75%, every remaining piece in my wardrobe fits, is comfortable, makes me feel great when I wear it, can be "casualized" or "dressed up", and works with the other items in my closet. That makes pulling an outfit together easy and fun, instead of frustrating or discouraging. For me, variety these days comes from creativity and accessories instead of items, so sales and trends aren't grabbing me like they did before. I guess all that puts me into the "saver" category now, but I think I only got there because of a huge downsizing. I don't own anything now that doesn't pull its weight, so that fact alone makes it much harder to find new pieces that live up to the high standards of what is already in my closet. From here on, I'll probably edit carefully, replacing old favorites as needed, but I doubt that I'll ever want to expand the size of my current wardrobe. I do have one or two items that I've put near the front of my closet as a kind of "holding area" because these items aren't currently working as hard as their compatriots, but we'll see how that goes in the next few months. Staysfit on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431340 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:24:11 +0000 Staysfit 1431340@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Your question is very interesting. I want to say a few things here. For one, I am a contractual employee, a consultant, and because of this, I have had numerous shifts in my work environment over the years. I have noticed that just before I make a work change, I go through a massive purge. I often clean the closets, go through all the shelves, the drawers, etc. I toss anything that doesn't seem to fit my life anymore. I also did it when I stopped running marathons, when I started Pilates, before taking board examinations. It seems to be a way of putting everything in order. Therefore, I would say that a change in financial status most certainly would lead me to continue to edit and purge. Somehow it helps me clarify my new role and what comes next. It's a way to help me think, to let new possibilities form, and to clear my world of old material that may drag me down. Additionally, I have learned from experience not to buy in advance or to hoard. When I buy in advance, I find that I often don't use the items I anticipated using, or some other item ends up looking more appealing. I try to only keep those items that I am currently using, and that add something positive to my life or that of my family. My in laws have a basement filled with boxes of junk they have collected throughout their life. I dread having to go through it some day. My father has a similar collection, maybe not as bad. I have vowed to never leave that type of mess for my own children. I have put a premium on the experiences we share rather than the items we collect. I tend to keep items I love and use them until they wear out. I buy high quality, and I try to pick things that are classic so they stay in fashion until they are no longer useful. With a lower budget, I buy fewer items, but maintain the quality standard. I expect this will happen in 2015 as we continue to pay for a second child in college, and save for retirement, etc. gradfashionista on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431325 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:43:36 +0000 gradfashionista 1431325@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If my budget were much tighter, I think I would edit at the same as I do now. I learned--or am still learning--how to edit in under conditions as a student. More years, I kept everything I owned but eventually I learned how to part with items, even under economically taxing circumstances. Having less money won't make me wear an item that I don't love more often; it'll just make me wear items that I do love past the point where they should be replaced. I would relegate old tees to gym wear, and wouldn't try to replace solo items that don't fit well but are rarely worn (black pumps). annabelle on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431322 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:37:30 +0000 annabelle 1431322@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love this thought exercise. I already have a small wardrobe (which I love being small!). If / when I have a more limited budget, I think I would spend more time shopping, and purchasing smarter. I.e., right now I am the online shopper, paying full price at shopbop or yoox. If and when I need to be more careful, I will go in person more frequently to our well stocked local Goodwills. My choices will simplify and I will focus on quality and simple clothing. This doesn't compromise my wardrobe, but it means that seasonal refreshing will be replaced by the joy that comes from a terrific 100% cotton excellent print "find" at the thrift store. I would miss getting these finds altered, so I'd be even more diligent about fit, before buying. Unfortunately, jeans I would still have to buy online and pay for, ugh. But I can keep a minimum quantity of jeans in the wardrobe, so that might mean adding one or two new pairs each year in rotation, and keeping them until they wear out? Anonymous on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1431090 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:14:08 +0000 Anonymous 1431090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My budget was extremely tight for years, and I only bought what I absolutely had to have. It worked, but there came a point where I had to replace a lot of things because my wardrobe became woefully dated. Now I have more $ and make a serious effort to stay current. I don't have a larger wardrobe, though. I periodically cull things that are worn out, can't be repaired, etc. I've made my share of buying mistakes through the years, but try not to repeat them. Vildy on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430969 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 22:42:22 +0000 Vildy 1430969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The difference between hoarding possessions or not is in the using. That's where the answer lies. Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430940 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:58:28 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1430940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ There's a great post out there in tumblr-land about how it's really expensive to feed yourself when you're living paycheck to paycheck because you can't 'invest' in staples and cook bigger batches etc. I think clothing is somewhat that way too. If you can buy out of season and have room to store a few things it really does give you flexibility to meet unexpected needs. For me, I think for me the thing that would change my behavior the most is if I knew I would be moving to a different region, and/or had a health or transportation issue where I had to stay home most of the time. Because I know I live in an area that has a lot of thrift shopping at reasonable prices with decent quality, if I had to reduce my budget I'd still be able to have a varied closet and deal with emergencies and replacements, assuming of course I had the free time to cull through the secondhand options. I know, because I've had to do it before, that it's definitely possible. If I suddenly had neither time nor money I would be SOL. shedev on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430899 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:39:27 +0000 shedev 1430899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm haven't been working as much since September so I am in this situation. I am planning on buying less this year, but the main reasons are that my wardrobe is still a little bigger than I need, and most of it is 2013 or newer. Doing large purges was necessary for a while, but it has really started to feel wasteful to me. I would probably look for most of my basics at consignment and just buy a couple standout pieces per season if money became really tight. Vicki on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430889 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:26:40 +0000 Vicki 1430889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't know if it's so much budget as it is lifestyle and I find that pairing down has been good for me, and while I have a long way to go, there is a sense of freedom in moving things on that no longer work for me (I'm thinking of super-short skirts, wide-leg pants, etc.).  If I don't sell an eBay item in a certain amount of time, I'll donate it to a local charity. A few years ago, I purchased items for an imaginary/anticipatory/work lifestyle when I was doing some background and print work.  But, I have since stopped doing this as I don't like the long drives for brief auditions with unknown results.  So, do I need clothes that look like I'm in the corporate world?  No. I now purchase or replace items that work for my casual/leisure lifestyle and this feels much better.  I love the hunt, but I've learned to be a patient hunter more and more. I like Suz's term  to "stock up" and I did that recently with some sweaters that I think will stand the test of time and I like Summer's idea to take an item and "demote to a more casual capsule," and I have done this with tops and sweaters and find it quite useful. Great topic, unfrumped, and this topic makes me think of the new programs "Tiny House Nation and "Tiny House Hunting" where people are downsizing into small moveable homes that are 200-400 square feet.  A clothing edit would be essential for this home. Astrid on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430880 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:17:49 +0000 Astrid 1430880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't have a lot of money, but I'm definitely keeping my closet small and purging accordingly. I think there's a difference between purging clothes that are worn out/completely the wrong size/absolutely impractical (which is what I more or less did over the last few years) and letting perfectly fine things go just because you don't feel them at the moment (which is what I try to avoid). And I'm getting better at shopping only things I like, so the reason something has to go usually belongs to the first category.  Mander on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430879 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:17:16 +0000 Mander 1430879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a really limited budget for clothes and I think that it combines with my natural hoarding tendencies to mean that I find it hard to get rid of stuff that I don't wear. I think it also makes me more susceptible to "sales goggles". This is why, for instance, I have so many "business" type clothes even though I haven't worked in an office for a long time. If I see something that is a good price I am inclined to buy it even if I don't actually need it. My thinking tends to be "but what if I need a pair of black trousers for an interview next week and I don't have any? I would never be able to buy these full price!", and so I wind up with stuff I don't really wear. I have been better at this in recent years. I was finally able to bring myself to ditch a perfectly good black suit -- nothing wrong with it, surprisingly un-dated, but it didn't really fit me very well and I felt frumpy in it. I'd had that suit for at least 10 years and it was a hand-me-down from my mother, so I'm sure it was at least 15 years old. Neither one of us ever wore it more than a handful of times. rachylou on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430861 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 19:53:06 +0000 rachylou 1430861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The answer is Yes. And I'm going into such a period now, because my project is finishing up and it's time to go fishing for a new one. I love to mix it up all the time and have options. Of course, I do think about the fact that I'm not traveling light. Dumping/moving everything would be a chore. I can't just pick up and go. Alassë on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430759 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:50:07 +0000 Alassë 1430759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very interesting conversation, unfrumped & Elly. unfrumped on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430748 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:42:49 +0000 unfrumped 1430748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks, Suz, and Elly! I'm not thinking about buying in anticipation-/ more wondering about not- tossing. I think I'm more of a saver personality inherently than some, but am LESS so since YLF. I have seen a lot of benefit from being more realistic about what I'm wearing vs. not and seeing that there are relatively few things that I'm not wearing now but would miraculously wear 3 years from now. OTOH, on a budget there could not be as much overall turnover. So, Elly, your comments resonate, that the wardrobe edit remains as important as before, and the area I'd beef up on is continued improvement in more mindful wardrobe additions, more selective, fewer, more versatile. Better is better, not more is better.i think it gets back to focus. Constructive edits sharpen the focus, which creates more outfit satisfaction, which leads to fewer " wants" and fewer mistakes, and overall more with less in the long run. But thinking about it is helpful. Summer on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430744 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:36:25 +0000 Summer 1430744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This really resonates with me as I have had to reduce my clothes budget very recently, and, yes, it has changed my attitude to wardrobe edits. Like, Suz, I have never been a hoarder, but I now think much more carefully before parting with an item.  It goes without saying that anything worn or  damaged gets tossed straight away, but with other things I always stop to think:  can it be dyed?  can it be altered?  can I wear it in another way, or demote to a more casual capsule - gardening or painting , perhaps? Even when I've decided that something has to go, I tend to keep it in a holding zone now, where, once, I would have donated it without a thought.  Of course, I think much more carefully when buying, as well, but I like to think of it as a challenge rather than a problem.    Elly on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430714 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:00:53 +0000 Elly 1430714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I personally didn't edit while I was "without a budget" and it was a mistake. With the exception of loungewear, gear, practical clothing I use for things like fishing and yardwork, special occasion clothing, and outlandish things that could be used for costumes (these are the type of things that I will keep duplicates or "not quite right" versions of until I find replacements or wear them out) I could have purged everything that I wasn't actively wearing and never missed it --- but that is me, to a "T" -- I'm a small wardrobe gal and if I'm not wearing it after 2 seasons, there is something "wrong" with it for me. Even when I barely shopped at all for a period of more than 5 years, the stuff that wasn't right didn't get worn unless it filled a need --- like it was my only "funeral appropriate" top or what I wore on a rare "girls night out".  That said, I don't have a closet with 15 identical t-shirts in different colors, nor do I run out and by three of the same sweaters in 3 different colors when I find one I like. There isn't anything wrong with that, it just isn't me.   I would be very careful about "anticipatory lifestyle" especially when you are talking retirement in a few years. Sure, it doesn't hurt to beef up your smart casual and casual wardrobe, but it is better to put the money you want to spend towards the "someday" life away for when that comes, because you never know what will happen when you are able to do that . . . I think a lot of people end up with a retired life that looks nothing like they anticipated.  Suz on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430707 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 15:42:07 +0000 Suz 1430707@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the hoarding/ ruthless editing dichotomy might be more about core personality than about financial considerations.  I'm not a hoarder (except of books) and reducing my financial circumstances and/or downsizing is more likely to make me reduce my wardrobe correspondingly.  Having said that, I did feel an impulse to "stock up" on several essentials before my financial situation changed. Not to duplicate, but to ensure I had a core wardrobe so that I would be able to create my key outfits.  unfrumped on "If your budget were much tighter, would you be more of a clothes- hoarder?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/if-your-budget-were-much-tighter-would-you-be-more-of-a-clothes--hoarder#post-1430696 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 15:15:19 +0000 unfrumped 1430696@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you now or later have a much more restricted clothing budget, how dies that influence the way you approach wardrobe edits, tossing, and style evolution? There've been some really good posts on downsizing and moving, job and lifestyle changes that interest me because I'm in that age range of thinking about " next phases" of life, even if that's a few years off yet. I wondered if, space permitting, one becomes more of a " saver" when reality might be that the rate of inflow, or $ spent, is less. Of course the level of interest can shift, too, so that it all balances out. Some of my initial thoughts are that there is still the same assessment of " fab" for fit, quality so that remains a useful yardstick. The area I MIGHT approach differently are: " duplicates" - good items I'm not wearing as frequently but WOULD wear more if another wore out " imaginary lifestyle" items or things that did not work as well for professional wear , but are fun, fit well. This of course might fit into " anticipatory lifestyle". My Lucky Penny sparkle boots come to mind. I'm not wearing them much. None this year. But the fit is great and I'd wear them with Bootcut pants or jeans as smart casual if I had more occasions. And I'm not motivated to get another kind of metallic boot right now. Belts, scarves, some handbags come to mind also. This is all in a situation where I'm not doing e- bay or good consignment return, so " tossing" doesn't provide much if any return for new items. Or is it more, temporary holding zones are still the way to think about it, much like weight changes- not either / or, but giving yourself slack to go slow. Or is that the cop- out to avoid effective wardrobe edits?