What's Your Shopping Threshold? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's Your Shopping Threshold?

Leona

How much are you willing to shell out on your favorite items? What if you really like them? Like, really, really, REALLY, "can't live without 'em" like them?

Personally, my threshold is governed by what I'm buying. My budget is pretty small, so most of my pieces fall far under these thresholds, but there are still lines at which I have to say, "this is just too much for this item." Layering tops, tees and accessories, for example, I won't pay much for - I'll consider them up to $15, but even less is preferred. Tops and blouses, on the other hand, I'm willing to spend up to $35 on each, depending on their style and versatility (I'm more willing to spend $35 on a well-fitting classic button down than a trendy tunic, for example). For jeans, pants, skirts and sweaters, $50, if no cheaper alternatives are available. Dresses fall similarly, but I'm willing to concede a little more for them, if I really like them - so, let's say up to $60. Outerwear depends on the season - primarily ornamental spring/summer jackets, $30 to $50; functional winter jackets, up to $75. Finally, shoes, which I'll tolerate up to $100 for, presuming I consider them well worth the expense.

What about you? Where do you draw the line?

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from Mellllls

Queen Mum

Veteran

shoes are my most expensive purchases and I deem $100 the max. I have spent up to $100 on jeans, but I do a mix of that and much less expensive. Dresses I"ll pay up to $50 or so. Shirts have to knock the socks off of me to pay much more than 25 or 30.

What is most interesting to me is that I am much more willing to spend more $$ on winter clothing (especially shoes) than summer wear. I did buy the Clarks Smooches, but usually I look at sandals and scoff at paying more than $30. I think part of this is that my feet are less fussy in summer shoes than winter.

Louise

Veteran

The most I have ever spent on one item is £80 on a pair of studded worker boots. I think this is pretty much my limit x

Maya

Veteran

The only time I ever go over $100 is for footwear and coats.

For jeans I was willing to spend up to $90 and it was money well spent, as I have not even had to think about buying more or replacing a single pair. The C2W ratio is basically nothing already and I'll be wearing them for years to come.

I'm pretty cheap about tops. $50 max for wovens, $15 or less for layering pieces, maybe $25 for knits, since I don't really like knits but my arm can be twisted for something nice like a Sweet Pea. But most of the time, I spend significantly less. Most of the time I get tops for $30 or less, but my beloved yellow top was exceptional.

$30 for pants. I don't wear them too much. My BR Martins and Club Monaco pants were both under $25.

Dresses are like jeans for me. I plan to get a whole bunch and wear the heck out of them all summer, so I'm being more generous than usual. However, I have no income so $90 is nowhere near acceptable. The most expensive frock I got so far has been the denim one for $58.

For jackets or blazers, up to $60, but I rarely if ever go that high. Most of my jackets are from H&M, or were on sale. But if I found something wildly exciting and couldn't live without it, I could be persuaded to go that high. Maybe not until I have a job though!

LisaP

(website)

i have always spent a lot of my discretionary income on clothing. In my younger days I bought a lot of stuff on sale, and suffice it to say I had a lot of stuff but not a lot of great stuff.

Someone then said to me that you should buy items because you love them, not because they are on sale. If you buy items just because they are on sale you end up with a lot of just okay items and nothing you really love.

Since that time I have only bought things I love and I never think about if they are on sale.
So I have jeans that cost well over $200, shoes that are over $200, but I still buy at target, ann taylor loft, old navy, etc. when I see something I love.
If I love it and it looks FABULOUS on me I am not overly concerned with the cost.

BUT, we have had conversations amongst my friends about when do you decide to hit that next $ amount...it is hard to go back to $50 jeans when you have made the leap to the next level.

But I have no problem spending $15 for shoes at Target if I love them. So not a snob, but I buy what I love and no longer buy according to sale

Sarah Baker

(website)

Most of my clothes come from thrift stores, because I love the hunt for treasures. So at a thrift store, paying $10 for a dress is like, "whoa, slow down there."

But I spare no expense when it comes to shoes and handbags. I have small but wide feet and most shoes simply don't fit right, so I have to go to a speciality store to get shoes (Wide Shoe Warehouse in Smithfield, holla!) but it's worth every dime.

I am a handbag junkie and love Lulu Guinness and Coach. I will happily spend several hundred dollars for a purse, but it's a considered purchase and I make sure it will last for years to come.

The most expensive item I have ever purchased on impulse was a $200 vintage Hermes scarf in mint condition at a thrift store. The charity got the money and I got the scarf of a lifetime.

If I could I would also spend a fortune on a Cartier love bracelet.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Mind you, I'm still in a transitional stage with my wardrobe because I still have a lot of weight to loose; but here's my current budget.
winter coat- $125
shoes- $75
pants/jeans- $35
Dresses/skirts- $25
Jackets/sweaters-$25
Tops/Blouses- $20
Layering tops- $8
Accessories-$15

Of course, that's just a general guideline. Yes, I'm a cheapscate

cciele

Veteran

I spend the most on shoes and handbags. Those Frye boots ain't cheap

For handbags, I have a disturbing trend. I have a threshold, and once I cross it the next one is not far behind: $50 ... $100 ... $200 ... $300 ... (ok, haven't gotten that far yet but see it coming)

Everyday dresses, I prefer to keep it under $30. Special occasion ones I will splurge, even though the cost per wear will be higher.

Jeans, I would say $100 for a premium pair.

Socks and hose, I really don't want to spend more than $10

Other items like coats, tops, sweaters -- there's such a wide range depending on fabrication and function, I have to consider each one individually.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Cathy- that is so true... there was a day that I would have had an apoplexy at the thought of spending $50 on a pair of shoes (I was a Payless junkie) My first pair of "expensive" shoes was $60 and now I see that as a bargain... LOL

stylemama

Tees/Tanks - up to $20.
Blouses - $25 to $30 - hard to say as I have virtually none. I live in knits/cardi's/jackets.
Cardis- $35
Jeans - $40
Dresses - $15 - I know - very low, but I wear them so rarely that I tend to buy them only on super-clearance. Trying to break out of that rut.
Shoes - up to $60 - more for boots, less for sandals.
Handbags - very little. I love them, but hate spending $$ on them.

Have to say - I'm even more impressed with all of your outfits now that I see your thresholds. Excellent bargain shoppers!

Maya

Veteran

I just noticed that I never really hit my limits, so maybe my threshold isn't as high as I think it is. I imagine I'd be willing to spend those amounts for the perfect piece, but I rarely do spend that much. Maybe I just never find the perfect pieces? Or I find them for less?

I spend more on footwear because of my fussy foot issues, and coats because they are investment pieces that I keep for years and they have to go the distance during nasty NY winters.

Bags are something I haven't even considered. They are usually cheap since I don't wear leather. But this one isn't leather and if I could afford it, it would be mine:

http://www.kiitosmarimekko.com/sulkahandbag.html

Jill

Reading all this reminds me of the time I bought a grey thick cardigan for about $70. I stood in the dressing room a loooong time deciding whether I should get it or not. I loved it, but at the same time....$70. That's a lot of money if you ask me.

Well, I had money at the time and I'm sure there was a sale involved such as buy one, get something half off. The cardigan is cute and still hangs in my closet but doesn't see as much use as I thought it would. It's been at least two years since I bought it, but I still have some buyer's remorse. All this boils down to: I need to place a lot more thought into how I spend.

Now that I've found high end thrift stores and the joys of outlets, I'm readjusting just how much I will pay for an item.

Jeans: up to $25

Shirt/Blouse/Sweater/Cardigan/Jackets: up to $40 but that's pushing it

Work Pant: Whatever the Express Editor is hopefully with a sale (the most perfect pant for me - I will wear this pant til it falls apart, and have!)

Shoes: past and currently up to $40, but I have broken this little rule before. I know I will need to go higher for quality boots come winter.

Purse/Handbag: Not sure. I've been spoiled with a Coach bag that was about $100 from an outlet store and I love it. But, I use it everyday. I don't switch out purses really. I also have a hand me down Brighton purse from my mother in law. I don't think I could go over $100 for a purse.

Dress: I have no idea. I only have one dress in my closet from J Crew that was a little over $100 I would say. It's my go to little black dress for weddings and funerals really. A high quality classic wool piece that won't go out of style. But for everyday dresses, well, I don't really wear any....yet....so I'm not sure.

Mac

Veteran

My price limit is fairly high but - man! - my Time & Patience Threshold for shopping is looooow. I find that I just get fed up very easily with tiny dressing rooms, stores that don't carry items in my size, inept salespeople. I think this is why I prefer to shop online.

taylor

Veteran

With Lisa and Mac on this. I have been known to pay what I must to get what I must have.

I have rather frugal limits on non fashion items....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My threshold is high and varied. I have zero tolerance for bad quality and shoe discomfort, so I'm happy to pay what I need to pay for that side of my style.

Ele

(website)

Haha, Mac- I'm like you! When I opened this thread I was sure it was going to be about shopping (the act) rather than spending. I like to shop but after three to four hours of crowds and noise I'm ready to lie down in a dark room somewhere!

As for money, it varies. Shoes, denim and outerwear have a higher threshold. I don't see anything wrong with spending $200 on a pair of premium jeans, and higher on a good winter coat or trench. Tops, dresses and so on are much lower on the list. I will say that I shop MUCH less often than many women on YLF, so I'm firmly in the "spend more on fewer pieces" camp.

stringy

Veteran

I'm for quality over quantity, and I've got fussy feet, so I've got no limit on what I'll pay for shoes. The most I've paid so far is $160 for tall black boots, but I would have paid more for them if I'd had to. This is in Aussie dollars, I'm not sure how that compares to $US at the moment.

Denim: maybe $90 maximum
Tops of any sort: max $50 most of the time, but have been known to go as high as $70 for something really awesome.
Dresses: $70-$90. I did pay $110 for a great LBD this summer though.

I get very annoyed with cheap clothes that wear out quickly or won't sit right, but I'm often too shy or feeling too unstylish to go into places that look expensive. I'm working on getting over that, though

B

Hello
My threshold depends of use. For instance, a simple dress that I can dress up or down, that I can change with accessories, in good material, will have a limit of 90€. But a trendy piece for just one season must be really affordable. My highest buy was a CH bag. It was a Christmas and birthday gift (too expensive), it’s was on sale and I wear it all winter. It has 2 winter now and still rocks. So the bottom line is: the price must be take in consideration depending of the use I will give it, the number of seasons the item will still be in fashion and finally, if it makes my heart sing.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

My threshhold is getting higher by the moment

Except for handbags. Why am I so cheap when it comes to bags? KristenKP and her friend, a former Coach employee, were trying to convince me of the benefit of buying one or two amazing (but not overly trendy) bags in neutral colors that will be killer for a long time. I like the idea in theory but am not sure I can ever put it into practice!

LisaP

(website)

Taylor, I so agree that my fashion spending does not equate to the rest of my life.

I would never spent $4 on a coffee when I can get a large green tea for $2 and although I love wine, I frequent a store that specializes in bottles less than $10.

I love clothes and when I find some that love me back, money is not an issue

Isabel

Veteran

Great thread !! I have thresholds for no particular reason. I break down into two segments : Something that I want to last for years and stuff that is fun/for now. Most of my summer stuff is not top quality. I tend to spend more per winter items. I also don't pay alot for white clothing because I wash it so much and I don't like bleach for environmental reasons. The more expensive stuff I will wear/use for a very, very long time. Here is a slight breakdown :

A pair of comfy, waterproof boots : $170
A warm winter coat : $150
plain t-shirts : $20
blazer : $150
basic wool classic trousers : $100
summer, lightweight dress : $30 - 40
good pumps : $80
putz around sandals ( that I don't have to stand for long hours in ): $30
nice jeans : $80
evening, strappy shoes : $40
pocketbook : $150
woven shirts : $40

I give myself a budget for the year and if means I buy two things, then that is it. The rest of the money goes to fill absolute holes - like camis or something on the cheap. I have very little patience for shopping, like Mac.

I do always look for alternatives - the same look, but better price. For example, I got a beautifully made pinstripe wool blazer at Gap for $21. I really need to learn how to thrift, though.

Maya

Veteran

I've always been curious as to what people like Angie and Taylor would do and buy *for themselves* if forced into my budget. It's easy for me to be on my budget since I don't need to be polished and can get away with a little scruff. But what if I were more dressy and polished? Food for thought

Isabel

Veteran

Maya, have you ever read "the Millionaire Next Door" ? The authors describe how lawyers or Wall Street guys have a harder time managing money because they are "expected" to look a certain way and to wear certain brands. It is easier to accumulate money if you are a plumber !

cciele

Veteran

For being polished on a budget, perhaps what I think of as the French method? Save up for a few investment, classic pieces and make abundant use of accessories. Maybe a few cheaper trendy pieces each year to update wardrobe. Also, designer consignment shops.

MNsara

Veteran

Thresholds? Hmmm, I should really set some

I am a numbers person at heart and that seems to make me inherently frugal (i.e. save $4 here and that pays for my next large white mocha. . .)

I have also found that when I splurge in any area, then I have somehow raised my limit, and the next time that splurge doesn't require so much rationalization.

Overall, I look for significant discounts on high quality items and over these past 1-2 recessionary years have come to expect no less than 50% off and often a short wait nets 70-80% off (thank you, Macy's). I can be patient when I need to be and that saves A LOT of $$.

Becky

Veteran

Ah, the frugalista in me loves this thread! I do a lot of consignment and ebay shopping, so what I will spend routinely tends to be less. However, if I really need a certain item for a season go-to piece or to make numerous other items work, I have to be willing to shell out a bit more. I wear a specialty shoe size, so sales are virtually nonexistent, and I have to accept that quality shoes will cost me $70-$90. For boots, we're looking at $120+.

Otherwise, here are prices I feel comfortable with:
Layering tees -- $15 or less
Tops/blouses -- $30 or less
Sweaters -- $40 or less
Jeans -- I get the brand/size/style I like on ebay for usually about $25, including shipping.
Pants -- $40 or less
Dresses -- $50 or less
Outerwear -- Who knows? This area needs some serious attention in my wardrobe.

Beth

Veteran

Oh dear. My threshold depends on how much looove the item. The most I've ever paid for shoes were my Frye boots this winter and my COH Elsons are definitely the most I've ever paid for jeans.

Usually my range goes as follows:
shoes - 125 or less
sweaters - 100 or less
dress pants - 120 or less
woven shirts - 60 or less
purses - 150 or less
winter coats - 300 or less

Of course, a lot of my wardrobe is much less. I tend to spend more on winter clothes because I expect them to last longer and they tend to be my work clothes. I'm off in the summers, so much of my summer clothes are less expensive and much more casual.

Kristine

Veteran

I live in a very cold winter climate and I'm outside a lot, so gear and outwear is important. It's probably what I spend the most on. I'll pay up to $400 for the right winter coat or over $100 for good winter boots. But I'm more frugal when it comes to fashion.

For regular clothing, my limits would be roughly...

$30-40 dress shirts or blouses
$50-60 jeans or pants
$40 skirt
$40 cheapie sweater for a season or two
$100 investment sweater
$50 daytime dress
$100 formal dress
$30-40 ballet flats or casual shoes
$80-100 dress or gear shoes (but I like good shoes so this isn't definite)
$100+ boots
$60 carryall bag
$30 purse

I shop thrift stores or sales when I can. Today I found two nice pairs of pants (Express and Merona) for $3.99 each! An H&M jacket I wear all the time was $6.99! I'm getting back into thrift stores, but I've learned to be selective about what I buy there (usually).

So I'm willing to spend more for the right item, but I think you can dress nicely on a tight budget. It takes more patience and planning than shopping at full price. Accessories can really stretch a small wardrobe too.

taylor

Veteran

Maya, Believe me, I have been on your budget and most probably much, much less.

April

Veteran

I'm with Isabel in that pieces that will be worn for a long time (i.e., things that are non-trendy will be used constantly for such events as going to work) get a much higher threshold than trendy pieces, no matter how beautiful those pieces may be. I have zero interest in spending a lot of money on something that is completely of the moment, but I will spend for things that I'll have for a long time.

I also have rather a low price threshold for jewelry, since I'm not at all interested in "fine" jewelry and prefer to have attractive yet inexpensive, up-to-date pieces.

Hmm. If you had asked me if I had a philosophy about this I would have said no, but apparently I do.

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