HELP, my budget is taking the fun out of fashion - YouLookFab Forum

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HELP, my budget is taking the fun out of fashion

RoseandJoan

Veteran

In case you are not aware my name is Julie and I'm a fashionaholic, I love to follow trends and consider myself to be quite an early adopter of all things new stylistically speaking.

BUT due to being Mum to two fabulous toddlers and the credit crunch affecting the household income I'm on a very limited style budget of £30.00 per month.

I'm finding my allowance increasingly tiresome, how am I supposed to keep up with trends when my budget is almost always spent replacing the basics or filling wardrobe gaps? There is no spontaneity and each new addition has to be thought through.

I'm not looking for pity, my budget is what it is and I have much in my life to be grateful for but I would love to know your ideas for putting the spring back in my style.

BTW the last time I felt like this I rebelled and dyed my hair purple so your timely intervention would be greatly appreciated!!!!

General

33 replies

Latest reply was from stringy

bj1111

Veteran

julie...put the hair dye down and step away from the sink...

there.......now let's dish bargains and problem solve.

sewing/bedazzling/knitting skills? there are several blogs out there that show designer hacks, where they diy popular trends. see lovemaegan.com for an example of her diys. there are many many other sites. beware, some of these tend to be ..umm.. young.

how do you feel about thrifting? i know we had a thread on the yuck factor, but the looks from fall that i'm drawn to are classic architectural pieces. think helmut lang before he stopped designing clothing or jil sander or classic calvin klein before he became a name license wh*re. these many be more available in thrift/consignment/charity shops.

judy

Veteran

Julie, do you have any consignment/thrift shops where you live? There is a huge one in my neighborhood. It has very current things. When I had little money I would actually find something I wanted, put it on hold, and go home (all three blocks) and sort through my closet for what I no longer wanted...or didn't want as much as the new item. I'd trade in the old things for the new. No money involved. One time I took the leather jacket off my back (that I had also bought there a few years before) to buy a new one.

Scarlet

Veteran

Oh man, I will be following this thread looking for advice. My fashion budget isn't quite as pinched (no kids), but it's not what it used to be. I know what you mean. I feel like I have to step away from the trends because it's more risky on a limited budget. And I am always afraid of making purchasing mistakes, which really takes the fun away.

Louise

Veteran

Are you an ebayer? I've seen loads of fashion items dirt cheap though the quality won't be there. Are you near a Primark? they have lots of high fashion stuff but again not great quality x

Sparky

Veteran

I was also going to suggest the consignment/thrift store for filling basic wardrobe gaps so that you can use the most from your budget for new trendy items.

Do you have some stylish female friends or neighbors? I've heard of gals getting together to swap stuff from their closet. Each person brings a certain number of pieces they are willing to swap and have at it. And it's totally free. You just need fab girlfriends all with similar sizes.

Then there's always looking around the house for unwanted items to sell on craigslist or even fee-bay (excuse me, ebay) to raise a little fun money.

I'll see what else I can think of.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I can commiserate, Julie!
I don't have a fashion budget, it's just what I can squeeze out of my household budget (which is why I am so bent on saving money on groceries as much as I can!) I still have big gaps form my weight loss, and sometimes it feels like an overbearing burden, rather than the fun that it should be. Sometimes taking a break from shopping, and saving up until I can get one really fantastic piece makes it easier on me. I know that I can't buy anything in the interim, and so it becomes a non-issue. It also gives me time to figure out which pieces would really fill the gaps and be most useful, and which ones are available right now- and are the best bargains.
{{{hugs}}}

judy

Veteran

Well, there is also this idea: what size/measurements are you? Some of us might have unwanted things and could send you something!

Debbie

Veteran

Julie I'm closet cleaning. I don't know what size you are but if you are interested I can take pictures and send you what you think might work for you.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Julie, do you have anything you can consign?

Anything you're not wearing can be turned into found money for new trendy items!

rute

Veteran

oh.. my badget has the same bad habit!!!!!
So annoying! Budgets should be ban

You could sell some items on ebay.. or change with other ylf members..

Lisa

Veteran

I think swap meets and consignment shops are your best bet to find trendy items and keep the prices budget friendly.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like you need to arrange a swap party with friends, Julie. Could be festive!

Ebay is another fab idea. And so is working at a boutique on Sunday afternoons for a little extra fashion budget

lwc

HI, JULIE!!! *waving to a fellow fashionaholic*

I feel you, girl. *hug*

Our household budget is so tight, that if I fed our Quicken Program an ice cube, it would crap a popsicle!

Just say no to the purple hair dye. Green is gonna be big. *shuddering at the thought of a Kermit-like coif*

I second the consignment store ideas. Also, I would encourage you to work that wardrobe. Find new and exciting ways to wear what you have. Then use your budget to buy some trendy accessories to freshen things up even more.

Good luck, keep your head (and your savings) up, and let us know how it goes!

Maya

Veteran

I sympathize Julie. I spent a LOT at NAS and only got 3 things, though the boots are definitely an investment. It's still more than I would have normally spent over the course of 5 months and it gives me a bit of a heart attack. There are maybe one or two more holes I want to plug before fall begins, and then I'm going to experiment with an ebay/consignment-only ban. Strict shopping bans have never worked for me in the past, but I think I could work within a set of parameters. Maybe you'll find that helpful? I greatly admire other women who don't feel restrained by their budget, but I have never had that knack myself. Good luck!

shana

Veteran

Julie, I empathize! My husband was out of work for 8 months in 2008/2009 and it was rough to see my already small clothing/fun budget shrink to nothing! It's not even that I am trendy and if anything I'm a straggler when it comes to new styles but it was still very difficult to feel constrained. I remember feeling the same way back when we went from two incomes to one - the restrictions were tough after years of being able to spend freely. After all, for many of us, shopping & fashion is our main creative outlet and it's hard to have to limit that.

Anyway, I don't know if I have any terrific suggestions for you but I just wanted to offer some support! How about we look at the pros - you have time to think through your purchases and not impulse buy useless stuff that end up as orphans in your closet! You can be more creative by mixing up items you already own. You are doing good for the environment by actually putting what you already own to excellent use (and wearing them out). You are teaching your daughters to be thrifty & spend wisely. I don't know if I any of this helps or if I just sound silly. Anyway, hang in there - it will get better!

With so many fashions being reinvented from pervious eras, 2nd hand stores seem like a fantastic idea. Ebay can be great - don't hesitate to look at Ebay from other countries (like ebay.de) because many sellers will ship. Though they may not always be the best quality, juniors shops often feature the avant-garde fashions at very reasonable prices.

taylor

Veteran

Oh BOO, blasted budgets!!!

Debora

Veteran

Hang in there, Julie, no more purple hair for you! I like the idea of clothing swaps. Do you sew?

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Just sending some hugs Julie...

My usually tight budget makes loving fashion *challenging*, but I was very happy with my recent surprise bonus that allowed a spot of extra shopping... if only it would last.

Back to my usually tight budget again now...

Frances

Julie, I feel your pain! I spent years and years on a shoestring budget as a student and younger adult, and I am cutting back drastically right now due to some staggering veterinary bills. I finally signed up for an eBay account for the first time over this past weekend, made my first bid on a Banana Republic skirt, and won it for $0.99. Woo-hoo!

I've been thinking about this, and I'm wondering if there might be another way to approach it. So often I become infatuated with some item or occasionally buy something on impulse, only to lose interest in it after the newness wears off. I've been experimenting with a couple other ways of having fun with fashion which may sound juvenile, but here goes: 1) I force myself to make a list of 5 outfits I will create with my existing wardrobe plus the currently longed-for item of clothing; 2) I tear out magazine photos for inspiration and put them in binders to flip through for fun (though less so now that I've stopped subscribing to magazines); 3) Nowadays, I print photos of outfits I like from various fashion blogs (especially the ones written by women on a budget who thrift or shop at affordable spots like Target or H&M), put them on my closet door and study them while I'm doing mundane things in the morning, like sit-ups or blow-drying my hair. I find that over time, I tire of the images and have to replace them, but I also am able to distill exactly what it is that I like in each outfit and target that particular garment or color or accessory or scarf-tying technique or updo style I want to learn, then pursue it with my limited resources and ingenuity.

For those women who played with dolls as children, I sometimes feel that something great was lost when we matured and moved on from them. My family was extremely poor when I was growing up, so I used to make my own clothes for my barbie dolls, and I'm so glad I did! It helped me to use my imagination, learn how to experiment, and it fostered my great love for fashion and style. You should have seen the wrap skirts I made from old dishtowels, the obi belts I fashioned from twist ties, and the jewelry made from abandoned key chains! (Though I'm not implying that you should swaddle yourself in old dishtowels and twist ties, Julie).

My point in this long ramble, if there is one, is that I think there is some great creative impulse that we sometimes lose in the mad drive to consume all the time. There must be. Of course we make ill-advised purchases sometimes or physically wear out items--that's natural. But what about all the things we buy and lose interest in after a few weeks? Did we just lose our connection to the passionate creative impulse that drove us to buy those items in the first place?

One last thing I've been doing over the past few years, for whatever it's worth: 4) I keep a running list on my computer of all the items I purchase throughout the year. I find it rewarding and instructive to look back at the list over time and analyze it. What worked out, what didn't, and why? Which purchases do I still love and delight in seeing as my eyes move down the list? But the best thing of all about the list is that it forces me to reflect on and be grateful for the many blessings and comforts I do have in my life. I may never be able to afford a Burberry trench coat, but it brings me enormous joy to stop and reflect on the polka dot scarf I found on sale for $6 at Target, the dozens of times I've worn it, and the great pleasure it still brings me to pull it out of my dresser some mornings.

mumtojessandluke

Just another thought. It may not be your thing, but here goes.

What about a fashion group, where you & a few friends pool your fashion money, then select statement pieces to buy together be rotated around. You can also meet up once a fortnight or once a month to do a fashion exchange, where you select outfits and pieces from each others wardrobe depending on what you have on that month. For example, one woman may have a wedding or formal event to attend, one may have an interview for a new job, ect, ect.

Could be fun & cheap.

marianne

Julie, I am sorry! I have nothing constructive to add, unfortunately. Do you sew at all? Back in the day I used to do a lot of alterations of second hand or consignment items - no grand projects, but it was fun and provided some variety and creative outlet. Although I know it's hard to find time with kids. *hugs*

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I feel your pain Julie! I'm not even a total fashionaholic (like you're surprised, right?!) but let me share how I've got the majority of my new wardrobe lately. Guaranteed to make you feel a bit better about desiring new clothes and having NO money <sniffity sniff>.....
a) op-shops. Bargain central. I read Tara's post from a few weeks ago, but I shall not be deterred (although I shall wash before I wear!). By doing this, I have picked up big, expensive label clothing for very, very cheap. I think a lot of the time it is because the owner has grown out of them;
b) My gorgeous best friend. She LOVES fashion and buys top quality classic stuff. She also happens to be exactly the same height. Unfortunately following baby 2 (who has just turned 2), she has put on weight and can't fit into her clothes anymore, so she has gone through her wardrobe and given me a ha-uge stack of clothes. Some of it is simply gorgeous! Woo-hoo!;
c) We have eaten more lentils lately. Yep, seriously, lentils! And rice. Hubby is vegetarian so I should disclose this, but one way to get more money for clothes is to take it from other areas of the budget like groceries. A couple of meals a week using lentils as the protein component (don't worry, I make it yummy) and voila! Extra cash for shoes!

You are not alone, feel better? I hope so!

mumtojessandluke

Katie Pea- I'd love to here more about your magic lentils. Sounds like you have been enjoying some great nutritious meals.
I love op- shopping too KatiePea Haven't read that thread though. Picked up a really great denim jacket for $4 the other week and love it to bits. It will defiantly stay in my wardrobe for a long time to come. And, opp shops tend to wash everything before it goes on the racks.... properly better than I would at home to be truthful as some of those nana's that volunteer there really know the in's and out's of fabric care and stain removal.

Just had another thought- why not unleash the cash stash that is already in your wardrobe & sell some of it. You could then use the money to invest in fresh up to date pieces. I really should be doing this myself.

judy

Veteran

Frances, I do that too...the ripping things out of magazines. It's fun.

There's a little game I played with myself the other night. It won't get you more money for clothes, but it was fun.

It started because I saw an ad for a tv show where they take everything out of someone's house when they are gone and if they remember what was there, they get it back, item by item. (they don't know ahead of time).

And I wondered about my clothes and how many I could I recall from memory. No looking. So I started writing them all down. I took it by category. All of them...shoes, boots coats, jackets, t shirts, tunics, button downs, sweaters, a few bathrobes...ok, I didn't do underwear now that I think about it. But leggings, jeans, you know the list. I was surprised by how much I was writing. Pages worth, in list form. I would write and write and then go, oh yeah, there's that one too.

I would say I got about 90 percent of it. But some things I completely forgot about. But the end result was I felt like I actually had a lot more clothes at the end of it than I did at the beginning. I felt more "full".

So without looking, try it and see how many you can get.

marianna

Veteran

I feel your frustration. My shopping budget is zero dollars per month.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I will be coming back to respond to this thread properly tonight but I just wanted to say thank you so much for your support and suggestions. YLF is astounding. Thank you so much.

stringy

Veteran

Just to chime in and second a few of the ideas above...

1) Clothes swap party! I did one a few months ago and it's a good way to get new-to-you stuff for free, at the same time as you declutter your closet *and* have a girly night with your friends. I wrote up how to do it on my blog, send me a private message if you want some tips on how to go about it.

2) Meatfree Mondays can really help your budget. Pasta, rice, lentils or beans with fresh or frozen vegies on top, stir-fried or sauteed with a little butter or a jar sauce. Or you can get into some vegetarian cooking from recipes online.

Frances

Julie, one other more practical idea popped into my head overnight, though I don't know what the feasibility of it might be where you live. What about focus groups? Years ago when I was a student, I used to participate in these to pick up a little extra spending money. It was actually a fun way to spend an hour or two--giving market research firms feedback on a product or advertising campaign. I think there was a comprehensive list at the time on the internet of all the agencies conducting research in my area, as well as the ones who sometimes conduct phone interviews, and you could sign up to receive email notifications of studies for which they were trying to recruit candidates. It's just a thought--I know that it would still involve scheduling issues/finding someone to watch the kids for a few hours if you're invited to participate in a study, but when it works out, it can really pay off. Depending on the particular study, I found that some firms would pay as much as $50-$200 for an hour or two of your feedback and opinions.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I just wanted to reiterate my thanks to all of you who have given me so much to consider. It has taken me a long time to reply due to seeing to my very hyper toddler who is fit to burst at the thought of her birthday tomorrow. She has just asked if she can have a Christmas tree fro her birthday, anyhow sorry for the OT and back on topic.

BJ, I loved reading your comment as the look you described is the exact direction I'm looking to take for Autumn, Jill Sander, Clavin Klein style minimilism. It is the exact polar opposite of 75% of my wardrobe right now but evolution did not happen in a day.

With regards to thrifiting. I would love to thrift more but find it very demanding on my time, I take the girls shopping with me which does lead to some very curious incidents. I need to schedule some alone time to go thrifting!

In terms of Fee Bay (great saying Sparky) I do have an account and had some success selling the outgrown baby items. I will need to forage and see what I can find. I do enjoy looking at the vintage bags and jewellery on ebay, it's a great way to unwind when the girls are in bed.

A swap party with friends sounds fantastic, I think accesories may work better than clothing as I'm 5ft 8" and most of my firends are 5ft 3"ish. yes sometimes we do resemble Gulivers Travels on a night out.

Khris, I really lik your idea about taking a little time off from shopping to save for something I would love (Hello Hinge Jacket). I have a very inexpensive pair of beach flip flops to buy and then I will implement my ban.

Debbiek and Judy, you kindness really brought a tear to my eye.

Unfortunatly consignment stores are not popular in the UK, I don't believe their is one in my region but I love the concept.

BJ, Debora and Marianne, unfortunatly I'm only able to sew a button and at best a patch. I love the idea of a sewing course and will put on my list of things to do after sketching.

Frances, I LOVE your ideas of looking for inspiration to make my wardrobe work harder and I have the perfect resource here.

Shana, thank you so much for your empathy and your timely reminder that my circumstances are not permanent. You have great perspective.

Stringy, I try to eat meat free about four days of the week but I should reasses my budget in other areas to see if I can scrimp a few extra pennies.

Marianna and Scarlet, I hope the replies can be tailored to your needs also.

MumtoJ&L I'm really quite intrigued by your time share idea, I will give it some more thought.

Thank you, thank you and thanks again.

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