style expenditures 2012 - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

style expenditures 2012

mamaKate

Veteran

I'm not a frequent contributor these days, but I just went through an exercise that I thought might interest others. It's a topic that comes up regularly - the magnitude and distribution of style expenditures. In the spirit of disclosure, here's a list of my purchases to-date in 2012.

What I learned / what surprised me:
1) I have already spent my entire annual budget only half way through the year.
2) Even though I am a "shoe person," my shoe expenditures have been modest (by proportion, at least!), mainly because I am already happy with the shoes that I have.
3) I don't buy second-hand as much as I thought!

What would such an exercise help you learn about yourself?
Cheers!
(list follows as a reply)

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Angela

mamaKate

Veteran

Dresses:
6 Brown sheath dress (salvage)
60 Red casual pleated dress
240 Hooded casual dress
240 Navy sheath dress
240 Blue pleated dress
subtotal 786 16%

Toppers:
450 Brown tweed crop blazer
35 Floral bolero (consignment)
300 Grey draped cardi
60 Red open-stitch cardi
130 Orange/brown cardi
20 blue and tan mixed-media jacket (consignment)
60 Taupe broad-collar blazer
subtotal 1055 21%

Tops:
200 Brown sleeveless draped shell
75 3 boat-neck tees
20 Olive button-down shirt (second-hand)
10 Teal short-sleeve silk sweater (consignment)
180 Black floral balloon-sleeve top
120 Mint pleated sleeveless top
40 Blue mesh tee
40 Purple paisley mesh top
150 Cream paisley button-down
subtotal 835 17%

Pants / Skirts:
10 Orange linen pants (salvage)
40 Brown patterned bermuda shorts
250 Grey slouchy pants (Angie's pick)
250 Red/blue pleated skirt (Angie's pick)
300 Black moto pants
120 Khaki twill zip-leg skinnies
60 Denim clamdiggers
subtotal 1030 20%

Undergarments:
50 shaper
20 shaper tights
20 Brown cami
40 Crop Leggings
20 Olive tights
20 Floral pattern tights
10 Abstract pattern tights
70 Bra
20 Gray tank
subtotal 270 5%

Coats:
20 Grey rain poncho (consignment)
20 Denim jacket (second hand)
250 Leather sleeve knit jacket
subtotal 290 6%

Shoes:
250 Black sandals (replacing 20-yr-old well-loved sandals)
80 Green cowboy boots (consignment)
120 Nude heeled oxfords
200 Brown sandals (long-needed replacement)
subtotal 650 13%

Accessories / Jewelry:
20 Black flower belt
80 swim top and bottom
22 bracelet and necklace
subtotal 122 2%

5038 Grand total

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I've got mine too. But it's a big scratch on paper with pen. And I'm on budget, once the BF and I decided I could spend my last paychecks as fun money for me. I'd originally decided on $1000 for the year, not including gift $$, but with my newly added fun money, I'm back at the $1500 I allotted for last year. This seems like a good amount for me. Here is my chicken scratch, if you can even read it!
I was at $500 by end of June and then all heck broke loose. I am at $1000 now, a mere month later!

I found, with this last month of basically not being restrained by $$ for once, that I can truly be picky when I have enough funds to be so. Otherwise, I find I make do as best I can with the budget I have. I believe this has much to do with people's 'style journeys' as we often call them here. I think it's much easier to explore and find what's best on you if you can afford a $1000 in a month, even if half might eventually become returns. For those with $100 or less to spend each month, I don't think we can evolve physically as fast as we might be wanting to in our heads!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

I was doing quite well until NAS. I give myself an allowance of $300 a month for " fun money". Since I am not one to go out too often and the " eat out" money comes from the boy's allowance, most months I don't use my $300. If I account for NAS, I have used all remaining funds for the year. My fiancée is telling me to budget for NAS outside the $300, since we did get an overall pay increase due to promotions, this year.

I still need to post my overall NAS selections so we'll see where we stand. I was shopping for very specific items, long established as wardrobe holes, so NAS was good overall.

Lisa

Veteran

My spending has been awful this year. I've jumped all over the place spending wise. My tallies so far are:

January 0 (I need more months like this one)
February 1031.49 (the bulk of this was rebuilding a shoe wardrobe)
March 791.12
April 130.93
May 489.75
June 690.61
July 1033.63 (NAS stock up on basics such as bras, PJs and some fun items)

Looking at the list this is putting me at a current total of 4167.53 which leaves me having to be very careful about my shopping for the rest of the year.

The only good thing is a nice piece of this total was from rebuilding my shoe wardrobe in the early part of the year after having foot surgery end of last year. I ended up starting over from scratch for shoes, boots, sandals, etc once my foot was healed and ready for "normal" shoes again.

I am hoping to spend very little the rest of this year and next year to cut the total budget down to half, maybe more. I've been around YLF long enough that my wardrobe should be set and only require a few updates from time to time versus major overhauls!

Another thing I realize this year so far, I have purchased very few bottoms. I already have my core set of denim that I wear daily and haven't replaced any jeans in quite some time.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is so very interesting. I am going to go forward trying to do this.

I haven't done it in the past, but I have been rebuilding my wardrobe from scratch, so whatever I've done in this past year isn't probably representative.

Except in one way. I spend a lot some months, and nothing in others. Generally at the start of the season I will shop, and then I won't shop again until the season changes, except for the occasional consignment purchase or possibly undergarments, or emergency replacements of outerwear or boots or something practical like that.

fern

Veteran

I track my expenditures too. I was 2/3 through my 2012 budget after June, but I think that's ok.
I have been building a better wardrobe in 2011 and 2012, so I think things will slow down now. I have been averaging $250-$275 a month - I would like to get that lower as I go into more of a "maintenance" mode.
I keep a list of everything I purchase. If I return it, the expense goes to zero, or to the cost of shipping. I am trying to get smarter about what I really keep and wear, to save shopping time as well as money.

Keix

Veteran

This year's budget is $200 per month with brownie points if I'm between $100-$150. I was doing well until summer hit. Between NAS and "boredom" shopping online, I racked up 3x the usual bill in July. Thankfully most of it is returnable and much will be returned, because I shipped to my permanent address and won't be able to evaluate the big online purchases until next week. I'm also contemplating a few purchases at full retail, trying to choose quality and love over sale prices.

I need to do a major closet edit and finalize my mental alterations pile. Most of this year's purchases have been "wants" versus "needs." I realized during NAS that I really need to bite the bullet and rebuild my shoe wardrobe--I wear a specialty size and have fussy feet, so it won't come cheap. But I have no dress shoes that don't make me wince and a formal event in December to attend, which is a pressing wardrobe hole!

cheryl

Veteran

All I can say is I want the clothing budgets that you all have, lol. Wow. I just went and added up what I have spent. $221 so far this year on 17 pieces.

anne

Veteran

I just totted my up (I run with the australian financial year and go July-June) at about $650. I spent about $240 worth of vouchers in addition. This includes a watch, necklaces, underwear and workout gear.
To put a figure more in common with the rest of you, my summer expenditure was about $165 for
2 x sandals
3 tops
tunic
material to make a top, dress and skirt (only the skirt survived washing though)
dress
bathers

I also spent about $25 on 2 summer tops at the end of season sales which were bought when it was too cold to wear them.

Charmian

Veteran

@Suz: Actually, if you're comfortable sharing, I'd be interested in seeing what expenses look like when you're rebuilding a wardrobe from scratch. I'm coming from a similar place, and I feel like the pace of my wardrobe's rehabilitation is much slower than yours. Is it my confidence? Is it the budget? Is it the places I shop? Would love to gain from your experience

I didn't start tracking my expenses until I went on SYB in May of this year, so this is the data I have. Items in [brackets] are placeholders in my budget, not items I've purchased. I'm also leaving a $200 "hole" in each quarter's budget because I'm waiting to pounce on the perfect, slightly-retro, ladylike, structured camel purse.

-- Q2 --
45 - Converses, replacement of previous pair
255 - Angie's SW "Giveable" flats (a dream purchase I waited a year for <3 <3 <3)
34 - Blue & white collared shirt

-- Q3 (this quarter) --
100 - 2 pairs blue jeans
10 - Black tank top
13 - Hose
99 - Houndstooth skinnies
[200 - Equipment blouse OR leather jacket OR purse]

-- Q4 (next quarter) --
[100 - Gray trousers. Must be awesome]
[100 - Denim jacket OR colored blazer OR 2 cardigans]
[200 - Casual dress + breton tee OR purse]

jayne

Veteran

I am up there with the big spenders ...but I am in the middle ( I hope it is not the start anymore!) of a total renewal so I consider this allowed. I have spent 60% of the budget but bought many more high ticket items than ever before and less items in total. I am really trying hard for quality over quantity and it costs! Today I purchased jeans that cost half the months budget...so that was a new experience. But I am strangely happy about it!

I had a little slip up when in Florida when I stocked up on summer clothes that are wasted here so it will take me several holiday trips and NOwegian summers to get any use of these.

Isis

Veteran

I've just spent some time tallying, and it is a lot more than I thought!

$774 total, probably less than last year as I rehauled a lot of my wardrobe last year. I like to wear clothes (till they rot!) so that means I've had to be more selective this year. Not a bad thing at all.

Breakdown:
160---oxfords + black sandals
40 -- Halogen seamed skirt
200 --Equipment blouse + Nexx silk blouses
110-- white blazer and linen blazer
90 -- 2 x bras
150 3 x silk-cotton camp shirts
30 -- BF jeans
17 white shorts
33--- 3 knit tops

Just realized that every single thing is on sale. This isn't too difficult as I am a standard size that doesn't run out....Sales are good, but there is something to be said for paying full price for the perfect item!

Lisa

Veteran

Charmian-Congrats on the discipline to purchase your dream shoes!

Jayne-I have found my premium denim jeans last a lot longer than other brands I've purchased in the past. I think my cost per wear is much lower despite the jeans costing more up front. Congrats on purchasing your new jeans!

Isis-I also spent more than I realized once I started adding up the purchases.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I'd probably throw up if I added up all my expenditures on fashion this year. The figure would be more than I've been in years. I'm going to my happy place now.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I'm going to the happy place with Amy.

Kim

Veteran

I'm with Amy and Goldenpig, humming away with my fingers in my ears...LOL

Angela

Ok, in the interest of keeping it real, I'm going to post my numbers... It will look funny because I total purchases AND returns according to the date I do it. So if I buy a lot in May, for example, and return it all in June, then May will be a high positive number while June will be a negative number. (It's easier for me to keep track by date than by item). These numbers also include the SO's numbers (since I don't separate them in the budget) but his stuff is probably about $200, max. So without further ado...

January +550.61 <-- got winter stuff on clearance for me and the SO
February -301.88 <-- returned the stuff he didn't want
March +327.41 <-- buying out of stress
April -172.48 <-- returning stress purchases out of guilt, lol
May +273.02 <-- bought my new everyday go-to summer bag
June +749.76 <--I was buying a bunch of nude shoes to find the perfect nude
July -189.47 <--and then I ended up returning off nude colours...
August +21.33
Total: +1258.30

My goal is to stay below $200/month.

Angela

Oh! In reponse to mamaKate, what's interesting is confirming the hunch I had--that I tend to buy and return in cycles. I just didn't know they coincided so well with the calendar months!