how much do you spend on clothes each month?

[nearlyfinisheduni]

I'm trying to budget and am in desperate need of new clothes however I know paying off debt is more important so thought if I had a small budget for a treat each month it might make it more bearable!

[Meglet]

I don't know. Not much, and nearly always in the sales. I ask for vouchers / money for xmas and birthdays so I spend it all on clothes in the sales twice a year. I have an awful lot of clothes .

With planning and a morning / afternoons peace I can stock up on what I need.

[Ragwort]

I buy all my clothes in charity shops - you can get some fabulous bargains if you are prepared to spend the time and energy looking.

[deepbluetr]

Very little. Maybe £5-£10 a month, if that. I buy most of my clothes at jumble sales and charity shops.

I hate lining the pockets of the fat cats who tell us we need the latest designer handbag.

[AmongWolves]

I've spent £780 this year according to my spreadsheet - for one adult and one teenage child. So about £65 each per month. A lot of that has been not strictly necessary, probably only about 20% of it was stuff that needed to be replaced, the rest were things I felt like having. I prefer to buy new but generally only in sales or outlets.

[Rtfairy]

About £50 every 2-3 months plus the odd extra here and there. I don't count how much I spend but I might start. Spend more on my dd than on myself.

[annielostit]

I don't spend monthly just when I 'need' something. I haven't bought summer clothes for 3 years and used what i had. I refused to spend anymore when I had loads. This week I did spend £250 thats a new weeks wardrobe. 2 shorts, 5 tops & 2 dresses. How much a month would that work out?x

[foxdongle]

Not as much in the last 2 years. used to be £100+ per month.
Got it down to about £50 per month last year-with a few no spend months.
this year I've spent £200 so far. mostly on necessaries- bra, bikini for holiday, vest tops, t-shirts etc
If I buy now I am very fussy.
I now spend a lot less, have a lot less clothes, but ones that I like more and wear more.

[crazykat]

I spend about £80 a month on all of us - 2 adults and 4 DCs, most goes on the DCs.

I probably spend about £100 a year on clothes for me, mostly replacing things as they wear out.

[Passthecake30]

At a guess it would average around £50 with some months being nothing, probably have a splurge every season replacing bits n bobs costing £200 ish

As I'm 6ft I am restricted where I can shop so can't shop too cheaply

[Openup41]

Around £10-£20.

I do not have many summer clothes either.

[LadySybilLikesCake]

If I see something nice (and in the sale/not too expensive) I'll buy it. I probably spend around £100 a year or less on a few things which will last so I don't have a monthly spend, if you know what I mean.

[careeristbitchnigel]

Nothing. Clothes get replaced when it is absolutely necessary (ie the old has been mended too many times and fallen apart) and then I will only ever buy something in the sale. I do, however, buy good quality clothes (Monsoon mainly) so they do tend to last a long time. I have work skirts still doing stirling service 5 years later.

[Sandthorn]

Probably average about £15-20 per month for me: a new pair of shoes here, new knickers or socks there (life's too short for worn-out socks). Fortunately for me, I don't have to dress smartly for work, because most of my trousers literally have patches on the patches. I'm handy with a sewing machine, so things are pretty neatly mended, but still... I realise that would not do for lots of people!

I'm pretty sure your respondents here are a self-selecting subset of frugal clothes shoppers. Ask on the style and beauty boards and you'll get a rather different response. As with any budgeting decisions, you have to decide how to allow for the things that are important to you. For one person, it might be fancy food, for another, saving for a holiday, and if nice clothes are important to you, then do work them into your budget if you can.

[silkknickers]

I think Sandthorn's second paragraph is spot on. Prioritise what is important to YOU and budget accordingly. I am similar to the rest of your posters in that I spend very little on clothes; however I do love eating out and so I set money aside each month for that.

[penguinplease]

A lot more than anyone has confessed on here tbh.
But I can afford to and I love clothes

[deepbluetr]

I agree too with sandhorns comments.

I am self employed and work from home alone. I can work in my PJs if I like, so I don't have to spend money on work clothes.
I do spend money on my gym membership, of eating good food, on eating out and travel abroad.
I don't have a huge interest in clothes.

[AntoinetteCosway]

I budget £500 per year for clothes and find it shockingly easy to spend. So far I'm on track and have spent about £250 since January. I've bought one pair of sandals, a few maternity bras, some socks and a maternity swimming costume

[Oly4]

Shed loads but it is my 'thing' after buying nice food. I have always loved clothes but am now lucky enough to be able to indulge that love. So, around £300 per month. It hasn't always been that way and I happily scrimp in other areas, such as not eating out so often and always having a drink and snack with me when going out with the dcs. Luckily they are young and don't ask for things in shops yet!

[fourforksache]

zero, haven't had any new stuff for a couple of years. I did buy a nice scarf a while back though.

[Ragwort]

I totally agree with Sandthorn's comments, occasionally I venture onto the Style & Beauty thread (not sure why really ) and am absolutely shocked at the amount of money spent on clothes and grooming - I loathe spending money on hair cuts but to some people £100 on a cut and restyle is almost 'essential spending'.

[Openup41]

So far this year I have bought;
A pair of shoes £20
A bag £15
A pair of jeans £14
A pair boots £35
Mac powder and concealer £36

Oly wow! Do you tend to go for quality over quantity?

The worst thing about having a small clothes budget is you either buy cheap like me or have to save for months to get something of quality.

[gildedlily]

A quick calculation reveals I've averaged £25 a month this year. Didn't spend at all in the earlier part of the year but have bought new jeans, flip-flops, a handbag and a few h and m tops recently.

[Oly4]

Hello, yes I buy good quality. I don't care about designer but try to find things that will last a good few years and won't date. So, things like Jersey dresses and tops from the white company, pieces from the jaegar sale, winter costs from Hobbs that will last, cashmere cardigans from various places that I then try to look after as well as possible. I used to buy cheap but it never lasts and now I'm in a better financial position (thanks to dh's salary really), I try to go for good stuff. It hasn't always been this way and I'm very grateful for what we have. If I had no money again I'd probably buy cheap as I like having we things to wear!

[Oly4]

New things to wear.... Not we!