https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:28:19 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget/page/2#post-215027 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:01:46 +0000 biscuitsmom 215027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gee, you responsible ladies make me feel guilty! lol...but I admire those who can set a budget and stick to it...I just wish I was happier with the things I buy...I love it when I get it and a few weeks later I think *yuck* Well, eventually I WILL learn, I hope.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget/page/2#post-214945 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:36:00 +0000 bj1111 214945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>jenava,</p> <p>that is such great insight you have on your own behavior about clothing on the card. i used to hate putting dinners out on the card, because i felt i had nothing to show for it when i got the bill. funny, i don't feel the same way about travel. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214845 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:52:49 +0000 Jenava 214845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I didn't consider my husband's income when doing my calc...but I don't spend his money, so I have to stand by my estimation. It's at least true for this month...I know I should cut back and save more (I'd like to go on a trip to Japan). I don't spend on my credit card, so at least that is good (bad for cash flow...). My golden rule is no clothing on my credit card...that's just too slippery slope for me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214792 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 03:16:02 +0000 MsMary 214792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great point, BJ. I was thinking of that myself. </p> <p>BTW, I need to amend my answer. I spent 4% of our household monthly take-home pay on clothes in the past two days! LOL I'm not sure if you all are a good influence or a bad influence!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214477 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:43:10 +0000 bj1111 214477@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>one thing to think about when these topics come up is that % of income wildly varies from an attorney with 20 years experience (hi, maryk) to an unemployed recent college grad trying to break into a new industry (hi, marianna).</p> <p>for me, spending is bunchy...i tend to shop heavily in the fall and sometimes the spring when fall merch is on sale. intermittently other times, except for shoes, which is an all the time activity apparently. i don't have a set budget, but spend what i feel i can afford. i'm also a buy-returner. often keeping things in the closet until i decide if the piece is worth what i paid. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214476 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:34:59 +0000 MsMary 214476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Okay, if we're doing take-home pay, we budget about 1% of take-home pay for clothing for each of us. And I spend probably twice that because I use a lot of my discretionary money on clothes. </p> <p>But I suspect that may go up now that I've fallen in with the YLF-ers! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214472 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:27:37 +0000 Anonymous 214472@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rough calculation: I spend about 5% (average) of take home pay a month.</p> <p>I think what is reasonable for a person is highly based on other expenses/obligations. I currently have no credit card debt, what I buy gets paid at the end of the month. I think that gives me a little more liquidity.</p> <p>I also have set my retirement contributions, savings etc, so I feel that I'm financially responsible.</p> <p>I do plenty of travel and other things too. I think that my clothing spending is not preventing me from being able to afford other things. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214461 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:13:58 +0000 MsMary 214461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a personal finance nerd so I actually have records. Last year we spent less than half a percent of our joint income on clothes for me, and way less than that for DH. This year so far I've spent twice that, with plans to spend more because I'll be essentially replacing everything due to weight loss. </p> <p>DH and I both have clothing accounts at <a href="http://www.ingdirect.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.ingdirect.com</a> and a certain amount gets automatically transferred into those accounts every month. DH tends to not buy clothes for a very long time, then do a gigantic shopping spree that lasts him for a couple of years. This year so far he has bought himself a tuxedo and all the accessories because we have a couple of cruises coming up with formal dinner nights. </p> <p>I cannot imagine, even for a moment, spending 10% or even 5% of gross income on clothing! I love clothes but I love traveling and doing house projects even more. Plus I get a thrill out of finding bargains and I can't bring myself to pay full price for hardly any item of clothing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214436 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:40:56 +0000 greenglove 214436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do not really know- I have a budget for discretionary items that both myself and my husband give each other every month. I keep track and am over budget often because when I see something perfect I do not wait until money comes in the next month. I am doing much better with buying only pieces that I love even when I thrift and I am editing and cosigning like crazy. I hope to get to a place where key pieces will be workhorses and I can spend less in general. I am not there yet but doing much better. I am spending more but on better quality. All my discretionary goes to clothing. I do not count essentials or boring gear- only fun new usually not desperately needed stuff. I do not spend my money on good winter boots. (This can sometimes get sketchy)My husband never buys clothing and his clothing is bought from our main budget and not out of his discretionary. But- he uses his for fishing, pups in London and other guy type things. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214429 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:19:32 +0000 quail 214429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all of the input! I'm surprised at how many people spend smaller percentages than I do. it's food for thought and I am now thinking about returning an Anthropologie piece I just bought at full price. :)</p> <p>If anything, I'm definitely motivated to keep selling off all the clothing I don't wear! It feels great to get the closet and accompanying mental space clear, and to get some cash back too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214337 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:50:59 +0000 Theresa 214337@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting indeed!</p> <p>I currently spend 0% as I'm not shopping this month LOL But normally its probably 3% I think... But, next year when I have zero kindy fees (public school next year for both), I will have a greater disposable income so it may go up a bit then.</p> <p>I once read something that actually gave you a guide to work out how much of your budget should be clothing depending on your life situation, but I can't for the life of me remember the source...</p> <p>But I think it said 5% for those who didn't need work clothes, and up to 10% for those who did - more for those who needed expensive corporate suits... but my memory may be a bit rusty on the exact figures. I'll see if I can remember where I read it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214311 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 07:45:21 +0000 trix 214311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating topic! I always worry I'm spending too much on clothes, so I'm really curious about what others do. My clothing spending is probably about 5% of my take-home pay. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214297 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:10:15 +0000 Scarlet 214297@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a question I think about often lately as in what is a reasonable percent? I definitely spent relatively more when I was building up a wardrobe after college, like Megan said. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214267 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:59:56 +0000 JewelryGirl 214267@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gosh, mine varies. Anymore, I budget about 2-3%. However, that can fluctuate up to 5-8% until I get sorted out for the season. I can go several months without spending more than $20-$50. SInce they say we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time I am really really taking a hard look at my wardrobe &amp; trying to only keep the 20% with a few key capsule wardrobe pieces. Then, I'm trying to really really think through what I buy from sizing &amp; fit to color, price, how versatile a piece is for me, etc. I don't want to be "stuck" with anything that only goes with one thing in my closet ever again. Or, buy something to go with a piece I don't absolutely love. I don't know if that helped or not but that's what I'm doing right now anyway.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214249 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:37:22 +0000 marianna 214249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cannot think about this. :)</p> <p>Considering my income is zero (not for much longer though!) I should be spending zero on clothes, right? Oops. I definitely spend more than zero. I have a problem... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214247 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:36:15 +0000 Maya 214247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Probably 7%. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214227 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:05:55 +0000 stylemama 214227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>About $100 a month. it's more than I used to spend. Working 40 hours in a store is too darn tempting!! How do you do it Angie being in all kinds of stores all the time? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214218 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:58:33 +0000 taylor 214218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haaahaaaahaaaaahaa.... Sara!!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214215 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:57:05 +0000 MNsara 214215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*fingers in ears, humming loudly to self* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214214 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:54:22 +0000 taylor 214214@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>hmmm.:) I shudder to think what % I actually do spend :/ </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214212 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:54:06 +0000 bella 214212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mine is about %3 of my monthly budget, including everything, i.e. clothes as well as beauty supplies (but not personal care items). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214199 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:30:24 +0000 Mae 214199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd like to say 30%, just under mortgage. However, it's probably more like .2% (note that there's a decimal point there) at the moment due to the economy and a dismal budget situation. I'd be completely in the SYC camp if it weren't for a blessing of a sister who sends frequent gifts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214195 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:26:42 +0000 Michelle 214195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't taken the time to calculate this either, but I probably should. Thanks for the inspiration, Claire! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214128 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:37:08 +0000 Jen 214128@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>we allow me 250$. A year. Total. So I have to be super careful about buying things that are true needs. When we've paid off some more debt I'll have more, but right now this is the most we can afford. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214115 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:16:22 +0000 Kim 214115@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My budget is currently 8 percent of my income, but that's also my "pocket money" and pays for more than just clothes, (meals out, haircuts, makeup, etc.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214096 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:42:11 +0000 Megan 214096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was thinking about this: lately it's been really high (think 15-20%) because I've basically started building a wardrobe from scratch but I'm nearly there (maybe a couple more items to fill out summer things- we are heading towards summer here in Australia) so I'd like to get it down to $150ish per month. </p> <p>I'm a grad student who is also working and my expenses are generally quite low so I feel ok about splurging! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214087 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:26:52 +0000 Kate 214087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My budget has been about 10% of my income, but I've gone over my budget most months this year because I'm filling gaps. Once I get things sorted out I'll be aiming for $100 per month. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214082 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:21:13 +0000 Queen Mum 214082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd say I spend less than 5% of our monthly income on clothing. Probably closer to 2-3% </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214076 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:10:42 +0000 Jenava 214076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I estimated quickly and came up with 10%. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I'd like it to be less but there is just so much fab stuff! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/unofficial-poll-percentage-of-income-for-clothing-in-budget#post-214075 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:10:38 +0000 Mac 214075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm sorry; I don't have a set percentage but that's a great question and I'm curious to read others' answers. </p>