More great ylf humor- laura wins for this thread with "I'll be commando with blisters in Cosby sweaters." Hi-Larious!

I'm terrible at budgeting but a recent shopping hiatus and reflections has helped me cut back tremendously.

It is actually a little of all three. I start every fiscal year with an annual budget. But things change throughout the year, so I adjust the budget to account for unexpected emergencies and/or events (e.g., weddings).

I didn't use to budget seasonally, but experience is teaching me that it actually might be more budget friendly to shop at the beginning of each season. I might pay a higher price for certain pieces, but I make fewer buying mistakes. This is almost so obvious to me that I wonder why I didn't notice it years ago.

So, in conclusion, I do have a budget, but that budget ebbs and flows depending on life.

I don't have a budget and in the past been a terrible impulse purchaser.

However since joining YLF I have started to become more restrained. I am asking myself " do I really need those jeans I already have 8 pairs some very similar". I am also guilty of seeing an item that looks super cute, I then make the purchase without really considering whether the item will work for my lifestyle, do I need it ,would it look good on MY body and is it a color that works for me ! Terrible. I have made so many mistakes and wasted a lot of money:(

Before Christmas I took a lot of those mistakes to a consignment store and it felt really good to get them out of my closet where they were a constant reminder of my waste.
I have now decided that I will go through my spring items and start a new batch for consignment/goodwill and be ready to take in March. I will do the same with summer. I have a huge closet and when we moved to this house 10 years ago it was not even close to being full, it is now bulging with many items that I do not love.

I am not ready to make a budget yet as I want to see what I have left after doing the above. I have already determined a wardrobe hole and that is casual shoes. I have such a hard time finding low heeled enclosed shoes for the spring. Shoes to wear with ankle pants or jeans. My feet are fussy with that type of shoe.
Another lightbulb moment is that I don't HAVE to have so many of similar items just wear the same things I really like more often, I know that sounds obvious but .......I must have been living in a cave!
I hope to be ready to start to make a budget by August in time for the fall winter season. Not sure which method I will adopt, probably a monthly one.
Sorry this was so long I think by writing it down it has helped me formulate a plan