Budget and Shopping... how to make them be happy together? - YouLookFab Forum

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Budget and Shopping... how to make them be happy together?

Nicole in OC

I'm new to this blog and while I love the styles I see on the forum and on Angie I have come to the conclusion that I just can't afford these great pieces that I keep seeing on members. I love the look and quality of the designer pieces (who wouldn't!) but as I drool, I feel miserable that no where, at no time is that or will that be in my budget.

So here I am, hoping I'm not the only one whose purse strings are permanently tight. And also hoping that there's a happy medium for me.

Please tell me if and where there are reasonably affordable places for me to shop. Where I can achieve the same effect, and not feel cheap but still be cheap? Some one please point me in the right direction, or am I destined to permanently drool?

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

qfbrenda

Veteran

Trust me, you aren't the only one! We're raising 5 boys on one average income, so our budget isn't huge. There are lots of strategies that can help:

**shop sales... many places like the Gap and Banana Republic have constant sales, so there is little reason to pay full price unless you are in a size that sells out like wildfire

**Ebay for some things

**thrift stores... be careful of fit, it's easy to cave on things because they are cheap... need to be as picky there as anywhere else

**have a good shopping list to help you stay focused and help you avoid unnecessary purchases

**limit the colors you wear... more things are likely to go together so you can own fewer things

**watch your laundry habits and wear aprons when cooking... part of saving money is helping your clothes last

I know for me, fashion is my hobby. I'd rather save money on other things so I have a bit more to spend on dressing well. And hubby appreciates me dressing well so he doesn't mind as long as I'm sensible about it. We don't have cable, fancy cell phones, magazine subscriptions (ok, we have one... but that's it), borrow movies and books from the library, avoid debt at all costs so we don't pay interest on anything, buy used cars (newest vehicle is 13 years old and in great shape), do our own home and car repairs.... I could go on and on. Basically we live frugally, and that helps the clothing budget.

kellygirl

Veteran

You are not alone. I don't think I have ever bought a designer piece (but I'm also a SAHM so my wardrobe is pretty casual.) I find many things at H&M, Target, Gap and ON. I also keep a Nordstrom shopping cart and check it often to see if anything has gone on sale. I think most forum members subscribe to a high/low fashion philosophy--mixing higher end and lower end pieces in one outfit. For some, a high end piece may be an Equipment blouse and for others (like me) it's a Bellatrix blouse from Nordstrom purchased on sale. I don't think you have to spend a lot to look good and I think there is a happy medium Of course, I still drool at times!

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I think the key word is budget. Since joining YFL, I have decided I need a monthly budget for clothing, and so does DH. And the budget has to carry over from month to month. So if I head out to refresh a basic and get it on sale, I can set aside the balance for a higher-end core item that has lasting style and quality. It just won't happen overnight, unless Cinderella's fairy godmother visits the bank account. But my tastes are evolving as I watch and learn, so buying slowly is just fine. Also suggest that you look at some of the 333 capsule posts and other websites, because if you can embrace the idea of working with fewer items, it's easier to justify a higher price for quality.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I know all about budget! I have never spent more than $2,000 in a year on clothing, including all gift money, etc. I spend closer to $1200 a year. And I do have some higher end pieces.
I search and hunt and hunt some more! EBay is my friend. But also regular sites can have great deals if you take the time to look. My Frye boots - $245, instead of almost $400, brand new from Amazon Wearhouse. Someone just tried them on and returned them is all. My MuuBaa leather jacket $147 at Nastygal.com instead of $300, also brand new - but final sale, so I had to take the risk. All my True Religion jeans off eBay.
My point is, you can have a select few designer pieces if you choose wisely and limit the other superfluous purchases.

EDIT: I should add that these are the few select big ticket items in my closet. Everything else is mid range at best, but rounds things out nicely. Most shoes under $50, tops around $20, etc. Target, Gap, Ross, Old Navy things.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Lots of great advice here already. I often go to more "bargain" stores (online for me). Jcrew Factory, Nordstrom Rack, Etsy for vintage (80's) handbags, etc. I used to shop exclusively at resale shops and I found many great "brand" items for a small fraction of the cost. Garage sales are a bargain hunters dream in many larger, well to do neighborhoods. I especially like to hunt for jewelry at garage sales. A clothing swap with friends might also be a fun way to expand your wardrobe. I agree that part of it is learning how to build a small functional and fashionable wardrobe "core" of things that go well with each other and fit really well. Not necessarily all two colors but sometimes at first it is easier to focus on just a couple of colors. And I learned myself, if you wear jeans a lot, blue denim is going to be one of those colors (though it is kind of a neutral one).

rachylou

Veteran

So not alone. I stretch for a few "net-a-porter" type things a year, but it's shopping gruel the other 364 days of the year for me. Lol. I'm so so trendy, tho, it would be a shameless waste of lovely clothes otherwise.

I'm with Kelly re. Target, Gap, Old Navy, H&M. Plus there's Forever 21, Sears, Kohls, JC Penny's. Walmart & K-Mart - no really, my best pair of pants right now are some Walmart maternity pants that no pregnant woman could ever fit into. TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross. Claire finds amazing things at Goodwill... speaking of which, there's places like Crossroads Trading, consignment shops, vintage clothing shops. There are one-off funky local boutiques. Etsy is great.

Actually there are so many places, you still have to be careful not to overspend while going budget... Gak! ;>

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nicole, we are all on a budget. And the budget sizes vary on this forum - that is a fact of life. No one here will be made to feel more, or less, because of the size of their budget. It is my promise to you and to everyone else. I actually take great pride in having "high-low" style. That is, I mix together ALL price points in one outfit. I seldom wear designer from head to toe.

Great advice from the ladies! Style is not about a dress size or budget size. You have to make your style work with what you can afford. End of story and it can be done :). There are forum members here on small budgets who look spectacular!

Where do you shop at the moment?

Nicole in OC

Thanks all for your replies!

Angie, I shop mainly at Marshalls and TJ Max, I even hit up Nordstrom's rack every so often. I also do A LOT of online window browsing at Target, Khols, Old Navy to name a few.

Oh dear this might be long....

While reading the comments it gradually dawned on me that maybe Budget is not my only problem. I've probably mentioned this before but over the last year and half I've lost 70-75 lbs and that has changed a lot of things in my life. Besides my body type, it's changed my style of clothing and my outlook in general on style. I purchased a whole new wardrobe over night practically. Since I had to buy so many at once I had to go with really low cost bargain pieces. (Also I was soo excited to have this new body that I wanted a LOT of clothes so things had to be even cheaper) I know this is not the way to go but I dont think I'm alone in this feeling if anyone's been in my situation. But I digress... Now after a almost a year in this new body I'm learning and I can see many members points that a few quality OMG pieces can make a wardrobe that much more. I just have to work on choosing a few select pieces and not a ton of crappy ones that wont hold up. Also I have to get over the sticker shock thing.. unless the thing is techie and beeps it's hard for me to look at something somewhat expensive and agree that it's worth it.

Again thanks for all your input and help. YLF has helped me so much already. I've taken the PPP thing to heart and have walked out with a couple pieces I LOVE vs several that are OK and will do the job (then never get worn because I didn't love them to begin with). I'm also working on downsizing my wardrobe too.

DonnaF

Veteran

Welcome, Nicole! Like many new to YLF, I think I spent way too much my first year. Gradually, more and more of Angie's wise lessons are starting to sink in. Like shopping for my dominant season. And not shopping for a fantasy life. Or buying something simply because I can't resist the price. Knowing all that, beyond PPP is saving me money. Also, as I am still trying to understand my personal style and why I don't reach for certain items in my wardrobe, I try to avoid the lemming effect of buying whatever is the latest hot item on the forum. For me, YLF is immensely educational. I am learning to shop and buy SMART. I know I gotta kiss a lot of frogs before I find that prince.

BTW, my highest impact item of clothing seems to be my electric blue pleather booties that I bought at TJ Maxx for under $30! Every single time I wear them, if not friends/acquaintances, strangers off the street compliment me on them. Usually it is women, straight or not, but today it was some random man at Trader Joe's. These booties are even more comfy than my leather ones, probably because they are wider. So style can come at bargain prices!

Sarah A

Veteran

I am so with you Nicole! I lost weight after my youngest child then *had* to buy a ton of clothes in the newer size, in conjunction with finding YLF. I am sure I overspent in my first year (I think I found YLF about 14-15 mo ago). I have found I need to slow down due to other matters in our budget and I think my monthly number will have to be $50. $600 annually. I am fretting that I wont enjoy YLF or be able to have fun with fashion if I have to save two months for a single pair of shoes ($100 seems the min. entry point for my fussy feet) But I am heartened that visiting today I found your post on the very topic. What Angie says is so true, this community is all about inclusion and inspiration.

Krista

Veteran

I have pretty much overhauled my entire wardrobe since I joined YLF and I have done most of it on a budget, with the occasional overexpenditure. I wrote a post about how I tracked my wardrobe for 100 days basically as a way to understand what I really needed to replenish in my wardrobe because I did not have the funds to do it all at once. I would sit down at the beginning of each pay period and determine how much money I had to spend and then decide, based on my own analysis, what I needed to buy. You can see it here:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....s-and-long
All of this is also matched with the fact that, at my absolute core, I am cheap and enjoy a good deal on my clothes. Just keep mining the forum for ideas and soon you will have revamped your wardrobe entirely!

Anonymous

My clothing budget is very, very small, but right from the beginning, I felt welcome to jump in and play with the big dogs here on YLF. Most of my clothing is second hand, but after a year and a half here, I am able to *see* quality and I've learned so much about fit and style. Okay, so I just started a thread in which I spent over a hundred dollars but that's highly unusual. And we're coming into my dominant season so I've been saving up!

My best advice to you would be to take a DEEP breath and slowly start educating yourself and training your eye. Take shopping trips with no money where you just try things on. Until you are exposed to great cuts and designers, you never know what's out there. Once you know what brands and styles suit you, there are lots of low-cost ways to find them.

I'm so excited that someone else with a small budget has joined our ranks, and congratulations on your weight loss!

Kristin L

Veteran

I buy a lot of second hand clothes. It takes some time, but hit stores like goodwill (especially in nicer areas) or other thrift stores. This past weekend I found 2 pairs of black pants (one Gap and one Banana Republic that looked barely worn) and a new looking Ann Taylor loft top for $15 all together. I also find clothes at online second hand stores. I also swap clothes and accessories.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I can only echo the great advice you've already received. And offer a bit of commiseration. I, too, joined YLF after a significant weight loss. I had to build a wardrobe from scratch and I did a lot of it at thrift stores and major sales because, like you, I simply couldn't afford to do otherwise. In the process, I made some mistakes and probably overspent in some ways! Ironic. But in my almost two years on YLF I've learned so much, and have begun to understand my own style so much better that now I feel confident if I decide to spring for a higher end item. And I buy far less and walk away from sales so much more often. And feel so much better prepared for daily activities!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

One of the lessons I'm still learning about budget and 'wardrobe overhaul' is that my "sale goggles" don't do me any favours. I lost quite a bit of weight too, and needed all new clothes. Thing is, I kept shopping at Target, Kohl's and off-price stores and buying bags and bags of clothing - thinking I was getting a 'deal' because the prices were so good. The trouble (for me) was that I was blinded by the sale price and ended up buying *more* than I needed or wanted, and I also ended up making a lot of mistakes in the process.

I couldn't bring myself to buy something a bit nicer or a bit more expensive, because I felt like the "new me" wasn't real, and that maybe it wasn't stable or permanent - does that make sense? Also - in a weird way, I almost blamed myself for having gained a lot of weight in the first place, so I felt like I didn't "deserve" nice clothes.

Getting back to the "sale goggles" problem, consider this scenario:

I probably have on the order of 30+ pairs of jeans - priced anywhere from $15 to about $80. I didn't want to pay upwards of $200 for a pair of premium jeans, because that was "too expensive" and besides, I wasn't quite (ever) at goal weight anyway. Thing is - 30 x $50 is now $1500. Insane! I mean truly ridiculous, especially considering one of Angie's strongest shopping mantras - shop for the lifestyle and size you're in. My lifestyle means lots of jeans. So, I could have had two or three pairs of really fabulous premium jeans for 1/3 the cost of the umpteen "sale" jeans I ended up buying. So now I have way too many jeans, and most of them aren't quite right. Because I was being "penny wise and pound foolish", so to speak.

Meanwhile, in terms of overall budget strategies, I have since found it's much better to stalk "items" than stick to one particular store. Here are some of the things that work well for me:

#1 - when Angie posts a fab find, or blogs about the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, I put the things I'm interested in into my wish list on the Nordstrom site. I might buy one or two items at the time, but there's also a huge wish list there...I keep an eye on this, and buy when I am comfortable with the price and if the size I want is still available.

#2 - I also make use of Amazon's "universal wish list" function - you can put things from any store onto your Amazon wish list, and keep an eye on the price that way too.

#3 - Sometimes I find things on sites like 6pm dot com, MyHabit (Amazon flash sale site) and so on.

#4 - I'm not good at this, but I do try to go to my local Nordstrom Rack once in awhile and just look around. More often than not, I find things in-store at the Rack on sale for less than even the lowest price found on their website.

My very best suggestion is to avoid panic. Don't go doing what I did for months/years post weight-loss - shopping at discount stores and buying all kinds of things in a mad panic, because the prices are so low. I cannot tell you how many mistakes I made this way, and how much money I wasted (lots!).

Also - paying full price at stores like GAP for one workhorse item is far better than three pairs of 'so-so' pieces from Ross or what have you. This isn't to say you don't want to shop the discount stores too, just don't buy a whole bunch of stuff while wearing those "sale goggles." It's not the price, it's the piece. Seeing $6.99 doesn't make the piece any better, even though it might seem like it at the time. It's wonderful if you can find something fab for $6.99, but don't load up your cart or shopping bag with a whole bunch of "stuff" just because the deals are good.

Pick your pieces, and strike (buy) when the price is right for you. And yes, sometimes "full price" is totally worth it, even if it's just a bit more than you'd normally choose to spend -especially for a workhorse item or something that makes you incredibly happy.

dizzys

Welcome. I am new here as well and also just lost a bunch of weight. I am slowly building up a new wardrobe as I lose the remaining few pounds and all of these posts are resonating with me quite a bit. I want to reiterate what others are saying. Don't buy something just because its on sale or cheap! Be picky and be sure it hits all of the P's. Go slow. I have a very small budget and want to be sure my wardrobe is mixable and each piece needs to work with the whole. I now keep a list of things that I am looking to find. This helps me stay on track.

Beth Ann

Veteran

What a great thread! It's great to be able to properly welcome you, but also to discuss these things in a fresh way.

2 years ago I never shopped Nordstrom, because I was convinced it was too expensive. I've since learned some of the techniques others have mentioned, and I have a few wonderful items in my closet that are serving me well. I appreciate their customer service, which is amazing. A lot of my shopping, however, is at places like the Rack, Kohl's, Target, and JCP. Angie has a mantra: "Leave no retail stone unturned," which means to be open to items that work for you in unlikely places!

When we come to YLF, it's often because we're ready for a change. Many of us spend more in the initial months, then settle in and make more focused choices one we hone in on our style and our wardrobe needs. You will also notice that seasonal changes bring a flurry of shopping --- many members shop in "batches."

SYC (shop your closet), SYB (shop your budget), 12 for 12 (1 item a month), and 333 are all present on YLF. Searching for these posts will give you great ideas for remixing what you already have!

Welcome!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Welcome from me too! First off, I feel ya as far as the designer envy goes. As much as I love YLF, sometimes I have to take a break from the forums for a while when I'm not shopping. All the looking at other people's beautiful clothes makes me want to shop shop shop sometimes and I can't really afford to do that. (Not that YLF hasn't been a force for good in general as far as my shopping habits go - it has!)

After a major weight loss like you've had, it's understandable that you went for volume in your new clothes, just so you had enough to wear! Now that you've got your body covered, you can be a little bit more selective and take your time, and consider whether buying a few more expensive items makes sense for you.

Shopping with a list can be really useful, as well as a fairly robust knowledge of what colors and cuts suit you and what don't. That way you know (or at least can estimate) whether a bargain is really a good buy that you'll end up wearing, or a miss. All of those things can be stuff you can start to explore with your current items before you buy anything (posting pics here is super-helpful).

I personally am a big fan of thrifting but it does require a significant time commitment, even assuming you live in an area where the thrift stores are decent. With selective online shopping, sales, etc., the prices at places like Ann Taylor or Nordstrom can often be comparable to Old Navy/Kohl's/Target.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Welcome Nicole! I see you've gotten plenty of great advice from everyone (esp Claire and VC) so I just want to agree with everyone that you can have lots of fun with fashion at any budget! And I agree, it pays to be picky at all price points! I really like how inclusive YLF is no matter what your age, size or budget! Oh, and congrats on the weight loss!

Hil

(website)

Veteran

What a great thread! Welcome to the forum! I've only been here a few months and I have already learned so much and started seeing clothing so differently!

I have enjoyed the tips and experiences on this thread immensely!

I am also on a budget, also losing weight (I have lost about 30kgs and still have about 10 that need to go) and I have never spent a lot on individual items of clothing, partly because I did not want to spend a lot on a single item for what I always hoped would be my temporary body. I am still trying not to shop too much because 10kgs is probably about 2 dress sizes and I still don't want to spend a fortune on an item that I may only wear for a couple of months. Also, I really don't have a huge shopping budget because we just have lots of other priorities right now like a mortgage and putting our kids through school. So I post what I wear right now, in the hope of understanding what works and what doesnt and hopefully, when I do start serious shopping, I will have a clearer picture of what to buy and come home with a cohesive wardrobe instead of bulk items that don't work!

Marigold

I am a SAHM and also going to school so I know a lot about budget! I also live in NJ so really need wardrobe suitable for 3 seasons (winter, summer and all in between). The biggest 'splurges' are winter coats, boots but those I try to buy at the end of the season - my both pairs of boots were either half off or bought much cheaper during Christmas sales. I just ordered a pair of spring booties for about 50 percent of retail price, found them on Amazon, but it does take diligence and following the prices. I rarely just go to the store and buy something I like full price. Always use coupons, wait for sales etc.
i make sure clothes are well fitted and appropriate for my lifestyle, lol as a mom to a 3 year old, I skip fancy clothes that are dry clean only for example, just not practical right now... I bought a pair of levi bootcuts at TJMaxx for 15 I think, fitting great apart from being too long -easy fix at the cleaners. Even though the price came to over 30, I know I will wear them often as they are the perfect length. As opposed to having a few more expensive pairs in my closet that are actually to long and do not get use.... Cost per wear counts ;).
I love TJMaxx and HM, they have a lot of stuff in my price range, always head to the clearance racks first ;).

harmonica

Veteran

Welcome Nicole! You've got great advice and I just wanted to say that the forum is here to support you in style, shopping, budgeting and wardrobe planning -- and the rest Style is not about how much money you spend. Congrats on your weight loss, too. Body changing is a challenge, but I've found support and kind honesty here. I thought I was going to rebuild my wardrobe once and then be done forever...lol. Well, turned out not so true Anyway, just wanted to say that we'll keep your spirit up and your shopping / wardrobe planning on the right track so that you'll feel as good as you deserve. Looking forward to follow you on your style journey

rae

(website)

Veteran

I haven't read everything, but there has been killer advice already. It sounds like you have some bargain hunting skills down, so that is a great start! I am also in the phase of wanting to add those killer pieces now that I know my style better, and this has been my approach:

There are bargains beyond bargain stores. Goodwill, Ebay, garage sales, flea markets all let you experiment at a rock bottom price point.
Before you buy the killer item at retail, put it on hold and check Ebay/Amazon to see if it's cheaper.
Consign old items via Buffalo Exchange, Ebay, or local resale stores to increase budget (my favorite!!)

kkards

Veteran

great advice from everyone, the only thing i want to add, shop off season. if possible, buy a winter coat in Feb, when stores are looking to get shorts and tee's on the floor. buy sandals in August when the boots are starting to arrive. you can get some great deals this way; but make sure that you ware buying it because you like it and not because of the price.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Rereading this thread and all the great advice in it reminds me of one point that Angie makes all the time, which changed my thinking a lot - shop for your dominant season. I expand that to thinking of it as shop for your dominant everything - season, lifestyle, activities, etc. I know I've been guilty for years of shopping for my fantasy life rather than my real life.

If you haven't done it yet, logging how much time you spend in a typical week doing all your activities can be really mind-opening. Do you really need lots of outfits to go out to a fancy dinner, say, or does that usually only happen once every quarter? Or maybe you do tango dancing every week and only have one outfit to wear to it, and you should really do more. (I don't know, I'm making these examples up as I go.) My point is that all of us have different lives - some of us need suits for work, some of us work at home. Some of us live in Canada where multiple pairs of insulated boots and several winter coats are a priority; I live in a place that rains all winter so having more than one raincoat is not an indulgence, but I don't really need all the wool coats I tend to gather from the thrift and vintage stores. As someone mentioned up-thread, if you wear jeans 4-5 days out of the week, it makes sense to 'invest' in the most confortable, high-quality, and flattering pairs you can find. If you only wear jeans on Saturdays, maybe a couple pairs in a good-enough cut and style are OK. Once you figure this kind of thing out, it's a lot easier to figure out where your shopping dollars should be prioritized.

OK, I have written (another) novel so I will stop...

rachylou

Veteran

I have to return to add discount stores like dd's, Rainbow, Styles for Less. And those funny places that carry $5 tanks and nothing over $25. I know those can seem *ghetto*, but they can yield up real workhorses with a good going through.

...You know, picking up on what Laura (rhubarbgirl) said... one thing I've learned about, since being on YLF, is the functional baseline. In some ways, you have to have that before you can totally take your sweet ol' time and do the spend-more-on-quality-but-buy-less thing. If only I'd found YLF earlier! Because six, seven years ago I became diabetic (type 1). Lost so much weight in so short a time, I was heading for the hospital for that alone. I had zero clothes that would stay on. My mom had to do an emergency run to Target so I could leave the house.

Anyways, the point is, I had to replace my entire wardrobe at once or get arrested for indecency. What happened was, I bought... and then bought again... and then again and again. Because all that buying got me clothes but not a wardrobe that could hold the fort down. I never asked myself what I needed to function. I only shopped with the goal of not having my pants fall down in public. Seriously! It's only recently that I've started feeling I can get by with what I have and wait for better.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Rachy is right, shopping smart is half the battle. Angie has a post about judging first the item, then as part of an outfit, then as a capsule. http://youlookfab.com/2012/08/.....purchases/
For me, changing my thinking from 'oh I like this, and it looks cute on, oh and it's half price!' to 'where will I wear this, doing what, and with what other items I own?' helped focus my shopping. I mean, I had like 20 floral dresses and only one pair of boots - and I lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains where we get 350" of snow each year!! Anyway, I digress

DonnaF

Veteran

I've found that I learn a bit when I analyze which items in my wardrobe I tend not to wear so that I don't make the same purchasing mistakes. If I am to have a smallish wardrobe, I want it to be a completely working wardrobe!

I tend to *save* my nicer clothes, especially those that require dry cleaning. I know I can't wear a casketful of clothing, and now I try to remind myself that I DESERVE to look nice and that I don't need to go around wearing sad faded clothing. I also try to avoid dry clean only items, and have even purchased washable blazers.

For me anyway, old habits die hard. I have learned so much through YLF. I am trying to teach my 19 y.o. DD the lessons I've learned (well, am learning) here so she doesn't repeat my mistakes.