What percentage of your fun money do you spend on fashion? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

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

What percentage of your fun money do you spend on fashion?

Astrid

Veteran

Since joining YLF I spend a big percentage of my fun money on clothes and accessories. That's unavoidable if you have a tight budget and don't want to buy as cheap as possible.

Today I decided to spend some on a new lens instead. I got my DSLR with an all rounder lens for my 18th birthday and I've had much fun with it in the years since. Now I've bought my first (starter) prime lens because I wanted to try something new. The picture was taken without a tripod and with crappy lighting and look how great it turned out. I'm looking forward to taking this one outside in natural lighting! It also was really fun to walk around taking a picture, instead of just using the zoom.

(This was the last doll I've ever gotten as a present btw., she's an expensive handmade one from a limited series, she has a number and all. The clothes were sewn by my grandma. It is also the only doll I still have.)

This post has 2 photos. 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.

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

eperdu

In general, I would estimate I spend $300/year on clothes. I buy very few pieces now that my size is so stable. I will replace items as they wear out but will wear them for several years. I have quite a few things I need to replace but I keep putting it off. I got a new winter jacket (dressy) at Land's End today for $140 and that was a big purchase but at this point, I'm done buying jackets for a few years or until I'm tired of them. I paid $40 today for a pair of ponte knit pants which are a little dressier than jeans but again, 40% off made it possible. I intend to purchase a few cardigans to replace my old ones and that's my buying for the rest of the year (I'm guessing).

So, the short answer is .. as little as possible since I just don't have a lot to spare.

esme noir

(website)

clothes are my primary indulgence (that and restaurants). i know i spend too much, but.....i do enjoy it, as long as my purchases are loved and used. i HATE making fashion mistakes, but of course i do.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Most of it, these days!

Actually, I spend a lot on books, tea, food, and travel, too.

Astrid, you are BEYOND adorable in that photo! And congrats on reviving your hobby! I am about to take a DSLR course to improve my skills!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ha ha Angie - love your answer!

My percentage has grown since joining YLF and frankly, that's a darned good thing! Did you see how I used to dress???

anne

Veteran

I don't really conceptualize clothing money as fun money!!

MsMary

Veteran

I have clothing money and fun money. And I spend almost all my fun money on clothes and accessories in addition to the clothing money! (And most of the rest gets spend on things like mani-pedi's and bikini waxes and Brazilian blowouts! LOL)

Gaylene

Veteran

That doll has a fabulous fashion sense!

But back to the question: Although my husband and I have always tracked our spending just to see where the money goes, I don't think we've ever had designated sums as his or her "fun" money. Our extra funds go towards skiing, cycling, travel, books, and concert tickets--things we both enjoy.

As far as a clothing budget, my husband actually spent more money on clothes than I did this year because I was on a self-imposed "buy only 12 items" limit. My total clothes budget for this year is about the same as the Barbour jacket he bought when we were in England this spring. But that will probably NOT be the case next year!

Deborah

Veteran

The majority of my 'fun' money would be spent on clothing and accessories I tell people it's my only 'vice':) We do eat out a lot but that's "OUR" fun money!

jayne

Veteran

nearly all my fun money goes to clothes and such....but then I do budget everything and I also have fun money for travel (required when my family lives 1/4 of the way around the world) so if I compare those two fun money budgets...well I hardly spend anything on clothes (yes woman logic)

ramya

Veteran

Well that doll looks like you in the pic:).... Aww so cute... And I love that you are reviving your DSLR skills... and well will surely get a photo clicked by you when I visit Germany :)...

About the budget I used to have clothes money and then rest of the fun money tracked seperately.Now hubby foots all the bill and its more like one item you like and what we think is missing from my fall wardrobe (like outerwear,boots).

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks eperdu! That's definitely my goal too, to spend as little as possiblle in the long run, but it might be a while until I'm at a point where I can say I'm really satisfied with my wardrobe. I'm also buying sales if possible, that way I can afford to buy some better quality than I did before.

Thanks esme noir! I relate to the fashion mistakes, I also did them and it's just so unnecessary. But I think I got a bit better and I want to try to keep them to a minimum in the future, even if it means waiting even longer to find the perfect item.

Thanks Suz! I also spend some on travel and food. I try to keep the money for food as low as possible and it works fairly well. More often than not we meet up to cook together with friends instead of going out to eat and that's always cheaper. And if we go eat somewhere it's possible to find something nice that's inexpensive, it's Berlin after all. I also don't buy many books anymore (besides the ones I need for University), but I have two friends who like me bought tons of books in their teens and we do interlending. Great for you to take that DSLR course, I hope you learn lots. I always though about taking one, but never had the time. I actually remember that the morning I got the doll I argued a lot with my mum because she insisted I wear this dress and I wanted to wear another. Well, then I knew why.

Loving your answer, Angie!

Thanks Shannon! I guess that's true, I wasn't winning anything either. But I was dressed and it was alright, if a bit frumpy. I definitely didn't need all these new things, but I feel so much better now about myself that I think it is money well spend.

Thanks Anne. Yes, I understand what you mean. For me it's that I have my fixed espenses each month (including food) and everything else has to be enough for the rest. I guess I do see clothes as fun money and don't have the clothes as a fixed expense because I could always go without buying anything. I have enough clothes to get dressed, especially if I look at some of my fellow students.

Thanks MaryK, that's perfectly alright. And I love to look at your WIWs, so please keep doing it.

Thanks Gaylene! That makes sense, to keep an eye on expenses and spend on things you both love. I really like this "buy only 12 items idea", maybe I should try that too next year.

Thanks Deborah! You definitely have a KILLER style.

Thanks Jayne, I like that woman logic!

Thanks Ramya! That makes sense. Maybe I should start thinking about splitting it up too. Or try this 12 items stuff?

ramya

Veteran

12 items personally puts a lot of pressure on me :(...
I used to keep about Rs2000 for fashion(mind it clothes in India is inexpensive) and 1000 for beauty regime... This used to involve basics too. So if I really liked something and I wanted it I had to manage my budget... Wait till next month No using it prior unless its a offer that wont last...

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I can see how 12 items might be a lot pressure. But then I really want a small versatile wardrobe and maybe that would help me to spend on fewer but better items. I still have the problem that I buy things on sale that I wouldn't have bought at full price.

Lisa

Veteran

95% of it. Occasionally I throw in an eyebrow wax, new make-up, haircut but most of my money is my clothes.

Elly

Veteran

Right now most of my fun money budget goes to clothes, mostly because if it didn't I'd be running around naked without pants (after several years of having a very restricted budget and attempting to SMC) and wouldn't be able to be saving for the work wardrobe I'm going to need to buy when I transition from part to full time, hopefully before the new year. My grooming and product budget also comes out of my fun money, as well as a very occasional dinner, coffee, or drink with a friend (maybe once or twice a month). I actually spend a bit of my fun money on gas because I live rural enough that I have to drive to the next town to go visit friends, go to free programs or events offered, to see my SO, or even go hiking. I also spend a little bit going to the local community center to use the pool and equipment to supplement my workouts.

I don't go to the movies, borrow books from the library, don't pay for TV, don''t pay to eat out often, don't buy alcohol, and have temporarily had to set aside traveling and several of my hobbies because of budget or lack of space/room for equipment.

Even though my expenses are going to increase when I go back to working full time, and I also have saving goals, hopefully my fun money budget will increase.

In a relationship where you impact one another's finances, I think having clothing budgeted outside of "fun money" is important (for me, anyway). Replacing wardrobe staples and things that have outlived their usefulness as well as having proper clothing for work, and having amounts that keep you from scrambling are pretty basic needs for both parties and I think it helps to avoid double-standard issues. It doesn't mean that I don't think some purchases qualify as fun money things, of course.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Lisa!

Thanks Elly. I think you're right that some things are necessary and it would be better if they weren't part of the fun money, no matter if you are in a relationship or not.

Sylvie

Veteran

Hmm, I actually don't budget anything except clothing. For clothing, I'm trying to stay at 2.5% of pre-tax income for this year. Next year, I may try to cut that down a bit.

Makrame

Veteran

I just started using Mint to track my spending and budget. SInce I do a lot of online buying and returning, Mint seems to always be sternly warning me that I went over my clothing budget yet again... Where is the red-faced smiley icon when you need it?

Elly

Veteran

Agreed, Astrid. When you live somewhere cold like me and don't own many other pants and skirts, your jeans giving up the ghost is bad juju. I didn't mean to make it single like a "single vs coupled" issue, just that I've frequently heard of and experienced the "my partner thinks my shopping habits are frivolous, yet all of his clothing purchases come out of our household budget" situation. I also get frustrated that I pay 20-30 dollars more for the female version of the exact same men's jeans. After all, I wouldn't expect my SO to sacrifice his fun money while I'm still spending mine just because he eats more than me because he is a taller, bigger person! Even though I like fashion I am not a shopaholic and the high turnover rate in my closet is usually because I keep things minimal and my pieces get a lot of wear, which allows me to continue to evolve without spending unnecessarily.

Anonymous

I have had to make some HUGE adjustments to my wardrobe budget, in the last few years especially. My husband was a real estate broker for 14 years before becoming a Pastor, and our income was substantially higher, so I was able to shop retail on a pretty constant basis without much thought. We are a family of 7 with 5 children ages 4-16, so I have a lot of people to consider besides myself. I'm not sure what I spend on my wardrobe in a year...just yesterday I spent $36 TOTAL for: 3 skirts, 1 cardigan, 3 bangles and a charm for my bracelet - only the cardigan was retail from TJ Maxx. I make things last and since I have a classic style I rarely need to update, which helps.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Sylvie.

Makrame, I can relate to that! I also do a lot of ordering and returning and it always looks way worse than it really is. With all the returning I'm automatically doing I stay in my budget just fine, although it doesn't look like that in between.

Elly, these are good points!

Thanks Shabby. I really believe that you can be stylish and fashionable with any kind of income, you just have to work harder for it if you don't have the money to splurge. A lot of my old stuff could be temporarly saved by just adjusting hemlines and sleeve lengths for example. And if you are patient and know what you want you can do a lot! Although it's certainly easier if you have more to spend!