Those with budgets - do you count jewelry/scarves? - YouLookFab Forum

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Those with budgets - do you count jewelry/scarves?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was just wondering how you budgeters deal with the 'extras'. I am getting a bracelet and not sure if I should consider it in my clothing budget or not . . . I don't buy a lot of jewelry but I can't remember if I ever listed it in my budget before or not. How do you deal with it? Separate category? Lump it in there along with shoes, bags, everything?

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Sylvie

Veteran

I count scarves and normal jewelry in my budget just like socks and underwear. It's an expenditure on clothing. However I don't track any of those items in my clothing spreadsheet for CPW and they don't count against the "number of items I have". I do count shoes, bags and coats in my clothing spreadsheet for CPW.

I don't count precious metal jewelry because it's usually received or funded by gifts.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I don't buy jewelry but I absolutely make scarves count in my budget.

I do not count BASICS and loungewear, though.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thx, Sylvie. I'm going to have to think on this. I buy maybe 1 handbag a year, and count it. I always count shoes. I buy socks and such, but don't count them. Bras I've both counted and not counted in the past lol.
I guess not being a big accessories gal, I never thought too hard on this. I did count the hat I bought last month. Hmm.
If I go to my every other week purchase rate next year, I'm going to have to decide if these items are extras. And if so, how many/much to allow.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Angie, we cross posted! I used to shop just by budget $$$ so I counted all lougewear, too. But this next year I'm concentrating on adding just a certain amount of items, so I don't think loungewear, exercise gear, or foundations should count. Accessories still have me puzzled though!

Anonymous

It depends on price point. I do count the pricier purchases.

Laurinda

Veteran

Tight budget for me so I count everything - even basics, gear, hair care and watch batteries. Gifts are not included.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Jewelry has been in the back burner for a long time. I'm a scarf girl in the winter time so expect to see lots of scarves, hats, maybe a bag.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Snap!

It's an interesting question, and a personal one. I buy expensive bags so they must come out of my budget. My scarves are pretty expensive too so they have to count.

Watches and specs - obviously don't count. Loungewear, undies, bras, socks, hosiery, slippers and sleepwear don't count either. All other wardrobe items are accounted for - but beauty and hair products are not. And neither is my 6 weekly haircut.

Charmian

Veteran

I think it depends on what you're using the budget for. If you're using it to help you stay focused when it comes to growing your wardrobe, then I would ask whether you feel a need to stay focused in your jewelry and scarf collections. If you're using it to track your overall household expenses, then it definitely goes in the budget :).

I don't wear or buy jewelry, so it's not tracked in my budget. But I do have a scarf collection, and because I want to keep my overall look focused, scarves are in my budget. Which hurts, because I really REALLY wanted to buy the Tarnish "Blocks of Color" scarf at NAS this year but ran out of funds

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Charmain, good point. For me, the budget is about accountability to my wardrobe buying habits more than what the two of us 'can afford' for me to buy. Not to get too personal, but our income varies widely between whether we are living and working in FL, or back in CA. Like 4 times as much in one place than the other.
So I try and just balance my wardrobe spending over all. The last 2 years I have decided on $1500 budget per year. This next year I am trying to switch over to tracking number of items, rather than money spent. I think I'll end up in the same ballpark area spent.
I only own 4 scarves and 2 were from the lost and found at the pub job lol! So I've spent $11 on my entire scarf collection. Not tracking that obviously.
Perhaps I'll just have to put the jewelry in a side column for now until I see how much of a player it becomes in the overall picture. I did allow for one bag and two belts next year

ManidipaM

Veteran

I know I always count accessories --- as well as workout clothes, undies and loungewear too. If it's something I wear, it counts --- even make-up. I'm ambivalent about toiletries, though: I count my foot cream and soap and deo, but not the baking soda and vinegar for my hair (that's 'stolen' off the household/grocery budget!).

Anonymous

For me it depends on how much I spend. I'm hoping to add fewer but higher quality items, including things like scaves and belts. Those would come out of the budget. If I find one for 99 cents at the Goodwill, I don't count it.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Joy, me too. That's why I'm in a quandary. The cuff bracelet in question is only $5 so for now it's off to the side. But what happens when I encounter a $75 belt I want to add? Trouble is, this is how I end up with a dozen 'cheapies' instead of 2 awesome pieces . . . it's that whole "it doesn't count" thing.

Anonymous

I try to stick to a budget, which does include jewelry and other accessories.

Lisa

Veteran

I count scarves and fashion jewelry in my budget/spending. The only items I do not track are the undergarments and PJs, since I only purchase these once a year during NAS.

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

I don't count underwear or socks but I think I count everything else. Anything that's basically not some form of underwear. xD

Charmian

Veteran

Mo, it sounds like you've got a good handle on how you want to approach it. And, might I add, it sounds like we have similar budgets / planning styles too! I'm sketching out next year's purchases in another tab right now

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Lol, Charmain! I have a spreadsheet now going, even though I don't know how to use the spreadsheet functions ha ha. I'm using like you would graph paper

Keix

Veteran

Angie--interesting that you put watches and specs together. I would never count my glasses because they are medically necessary, but I consider my watch as jewelry. (I only have one that I wear right now, but I'm considering adding to my collection and would count it in the budget as I do with all jewelry.)

I have metal sensitivities/allergies so really cheap jewelry is out of the question and most of my pieces cost more than, say, a top. I also have a natural inclination toward shiny things, so I'm trying to curb my tendency to buy jewelry "orphans," of which I have many more than clothing orphans.

kellygirl

Veteran

Aww, love your new kitty avatar Idk about the budget though. I don't buy/wearjewelry very often and I favor inexpensive scarves.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thx Kelly! That's MiniMo He says meow. I also favor inexpensive jewelry and I've already described my scarf collection's total 'worth' lol.

Gaylene

Veteran

I'd say it depends on how important items like jewelry, scarves, watches, glasses, undies,handbags etc. are to your style. If they are important, putting them in your budget allows you to spend a bit more when you find the "perfect" piece. If items are strictly ultilitarian, or an inexpensive pick-me-up (like a new lipstick), then you might want to include them in a different budget category or just buy them out of extra funds that you might have in your wallet on any given day.

For example, I like nice lingerie, so I definitely need to include it in my clothing budget. And, I own only a few handbags, but I like each one to be a quality leather bag, so handbags also belong in my clothing budget. On the other hand, I use Inexpensive $8 T-shirts and lounge wear as a quick, pick-me-up throughout the year. I grab these cheap and cheerful items from places like SuperStore's Joe Fresh while I'm picking up my groceries. These $5-$15 items are usually lumped in with dish detergent and orange juice in my household category!

Mellllls

Veteran

well i budget all expenses, not just fashion expenses so jewelry and scarves come out of my clothing budget. i think i would still count it as a fashion purchase if i was budgetting your way.

Freckles

Veteran

I budget them in with clothing unless it is a one time purchase of $10 and under. Six such items bought in a single week would be added though.

unfrumped

Veteran

I count scarves and costume jewelry because I want to be mindful of the total cost and amount of items to create outfits and capsules. I try to think whether a necklace will go with multiple items and also not to over- duplicate. Otherwise it is too easy to just acquire extra accessories because they don't take up much room, but the cost adds up. Several smallish accessories could add up to nice trench. On the flip side, you can have too many plain clothes items and not enough % of budget/ space in some accessories that would be outfit- completers. So, it's like identifying wardrobe holes or roadblocks-- what items would make the most impact on style, convenience, versatility.

If you consider fine jewelry, you might instead think of a separate long- range budget for acquiring key classic pieces

shiny

Veteran

I do count jewelry (that which isn't gifted), but it's a pittance compared to everything else, since I prefer costume jewelry so I can play with trends. Also it's difficult to find jewelry that is the right scale for petite me (makes a statement without overwhelming).

I count scarves, but I don't buy all that many. I am okay with my current collection. And yes as I experiment with belts, I'm counting those too. And I count shoes and purses.

I don't count lingerie, socks, and gear type purchases, come to think of it. I often ask for these for bday/xmas gifts. That's why. Because these are easy for others to purchase for me -- I'm not as finicky. I just say what brand I like, and let my family choose the rest.

I DO count bras. Because they are quite expensive. And I replenish once a year. Though this year I am skipping, as I seem set right now. I will probably spend my bra budget on shapewear instead -- one or two of those Commando slips someone recommended a few weeks back. They aren't cheap! One costs as much as my bra.

I don't wear a watch, so no budget for that. Specs go in a totally different budget, along with contacts, as it's covered by FSA.

Haircuts also go under a totally different budget. Along with eyebrow maintenance and pedicures. If I have to slash somewhere, it's easiest to slash here... just go a few weeks longer between Day-O-Beauty trips. (which is what I call them on my budget!)

fern

Veteran

Everything counts! My spreadsheet categories are Outerwear, Underwear, Shoes, Clothes & Accessories.
Of course, I started tracking everything to learn more about my spending habits - you might have different goals. And I didn't have any jewelry or handbags when I started tracking - most of my "wardrobe holes" are now filled.
And my glasses don't count for fashion - that's in medical Unless I start buying more frames for style reasons.

Scarlet

Veteran

Definitely. Undies are in a gray zone. Socks I don't count. I still ask my family for socks for Christmas :). I do count loungewear and nighties, which is probably why mine are dismal--because I would always rather use the money for something more spectacular to go out of the house in. Hmm.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all for your answers - looks like we all have differing ways of breaking down the wardrobe categories and budget!
Looking back, I did actually count a bra, yoga pants, some belts, and a hat in my budget allowance. I guess jewelry is the only thing that slipped by. I bought just 2 bracelets all year if I can recall.
I will track my jewelry for 2013, but not count it unless it becomes a much more significant part of the budget than this year's paltry 2 bracelets at $8.50 total.
I do plan to count belts and bag(s) in my bi-weekly purchase plan.

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