To keep on budget I have set up a separate account linked to my checking account. It has its own debit card so I can track all the expenses and returns easily. I've put money in monthly, seasonally, and annually and I think seasonally has worked best for keeping me on budget throughout the year.

As a visual person, I also keep track with Amazon wishlists. I add everything I'm considering to one wishlist, and then as I consider, cull, and eventually purchase I move items into another wishlist that I set up for the year. I add into the comments what I actually paid for the item including tax and shipping. If I return something I delete it from the list. I can see what I've already purchased for the year and track the number of items. The two systems together help me stay on track. And the first wishlist makes it easy for my husband to purchase things he knows I really want with easy links to all the websites.

Budget? What's that?

If all these items are 10s, does this give you a wardrobe without a lot of holes for all your seasons? If it does, this may work for you. With your basic wardrobe in place, you can use the rest of your budget for any trends or serendipitous finds you want to try. Like Suz said, this type of shopping works better when tweaking than when building. I couldn't have put this plan into the works last year.

These plans take some discipline. I save a lot of things in wish lists.Eventually, I have to choose. Storing them in wish lists does give me time to really think about what they bring to my wardrobe. I put most things in while they are new arrivals. Some of them are there long enough to be put on markdown.

Some of them do sell out. These plans also take some faith. I've had a lot of luck stalking items on the internet. If I really do miss out, something will come along eventually.

I like fashion, and I like shopping, but I like being financially comfortable more! I am also a small wardrobe person. My trick is to divide shopping (catalogue on-line, bricks and mortar) into 2 types.

#1 is 'research' during which I recon the inventory and look at EVERYTHING. I do this ALOT. This gives me a sense of what is out there, what the prices are, how things are being styled and marketed. I don't put any pressure on myself to come home with a purchase, since that IS NOT the goal. Knowing the inventory well gives me a feeling of owning stuff, even if it is just the memory of where an item can be found. (That green midi skirt at Zara, those navy leather gloves at Danier, that black lace over bronze satin at Sears, the white on navy mariner T in LLBean, etc.). If I feel shopping fever coming on, I take a break or go home.

#2 is 'purchasing'. I bring a list, with pictures from magazines, or my iPad with Pins so I can show them to the SA's who want to help me. I wear good foundation garments and comfortable clothes that are easy to get in and out of. I put my blinders on, and I go to the places that I know will have the things I want to try on (because I've already done the 'research'). I stick with my list which might be quite specific - black pencil skirt, red turtleneck sweater...or more general - plaid shirt, floral print dress.

I've been doing a fair amount of 'research' recently, but purchases not-so-much in part due to buying and furnishing a new home, and being at a style crossroads. But, I find the approach I take ensures purchases are well thought out, and this in turn ensures wiser budget friendlier purchases.

I haven't really thought about HOW I'm going to do this, but now that I've pretty much replaced entire wardrobe, I have to slow down and stop spending so much on clothes. Have to. But the reality is that I won't stop completely, so how to approch this will be interesting. For the past couple of years, I've been on the Lisap approach (budget? what's that?) :).

I do think I've slowed down on the "hey I like that, let's give it a whirl" approach to shopping, as I'm honing in on silhouettes that work, and the psychology behind what feels good. And I'm feeling more and more like I want to enjoy what I have, rather than just move to the next new thing. All good.

thanks for the thread, the responses have been great, and I'm going to reread this a few times in the next few weeks when I have some time to think!

I just recently saw a blogger (can't remember the name) who made a budget of $250 a month for clothing and if she didn't use it that month, it would carry over to the next month. I think I may try this technique starting January since most of my winter shopping will be done and there's not many new things out until February, plus I'll have extra money in February. The trick is to not go shopping in January.

I am not a budgeter, but I use the "Wealthy Barber" approach (Canadians will know who that is! Non-Canadians, the Wealthy Barber is a great book for those who haven't a clue about savings and personal finance). His recommendation is to have all the "must do" things taken straight off your paycheque or bank account automatically. We have our retirement and investment savings, mortgage, etc., all taken off automatically - then we can just enjoy the rest on whatever tickles our fancy, guilt-free! (And we never carry a balance on our credit card). Not sure that this would work for everyone but works great for us. Limiting the number of items in my wardrobe has also helped, because whatever I buy has to be better than something out of my best pieces, if that makes sense - in order to be worth eliminating something first. Good luck!

Kasmira at What I Wore 2Day does a monthly budget that rolls over to the next month. Maybe that's the one you were thinking of, citygirldc?

I used to do it that way but now that I've switched to a seasonal budget it's less of a factor.