To spend half my salary on clothes?

[Pigletspal]

I’ve just graduated from my career-change degree, and got a new job for September! I’m so happy!
For the past 3 years I have been living on a shoestring and buying only the very basics in the way of clothes.
I’ve saved over lockdown and when I get my first pay in Sept I want to go shopping for a whole new wardrobe for Autumn / winter.

If I were to get everything I want, it would come to around £1,000. I have expensive taste and would like to buy good quality things that will last me. But is this obscene? Would I be totally unreasonable? The money’s there in my savings but it’s about half a month’s salary (once I start my job!)
It would make me feel very happy to have some lovely clothes! But WIBU to spend that much?

Spend the money, enjoy the clothes and be sensible for later pay checks. Everyone deserves a reward now and then, otherwise what is all the point of all the hard work?

I would do it 😃😃😃
You are saving money really because you won’t have to do any clothes shopping for a long time afterwards.
Plus , you will feel so fabulous every time you get dressed.
Do it!

Do it!

Can you afford it?
Will it make you happy?
Those are the only questions you need to answer

Do it OP! I will live vicariously through you - I promised myself a really lovely expensive handbag with my first grown up paycheque then chickened our because of being “sensible” I regret it as life goes on and more and more expenses come up I can never quite justify it and I would love to go back and shout at younger me that I could afford it!

Go for it

God yes! Nice clothes are one of life's pleasures.

Treat yo'self.

I sometimes umm and ahh a bit over expensive purchases (even though money's not a problem), I've never regretted one and I've always regretted going for the cheaper option. As long as you're not getting into debt and have some savings/investments, then enjoy your money.

• presume it is half the take home once tax, pension etc taken off maybe wait to see
• if you have a sensible track record, seems ok
• if you have a bad track record, debt history, might not be ok, maybe spend £500

I would!
I recently had a pay rise which was backdated and treated myself to a high end watch and some designer shoes to mark the occasion

What a great idea, OP! Do it, enjoy doing it, and enjoy wearing them.

What is it u want? Expensive taste? Ur not going to get much for £1000.

My first post university job came with a signing bonus that was meant to cover the wardrobe. I had to spend as much as you are thinking about in a single shopping trip and I was trying to be as frugal as possible. Oh how I wish I could have used that money for something useful.

What will you buy?
It sounds reasonable to me.

Depends if u wear the clothes for work of not why bother as only wear at weekend

And what MarshaBradyo said, I'm getting loads of emails from Jospeh etc so do look for discounts.

You’ve saved so why not treat yourself.

Why not buy a couple of things every month rather than spend all in one go? If you're looking for things that will last then they won't be seasonal items and you'll be able to buy them at any time of year.
No matter how good the quality, if you wear the items multiple times a week every single week then they will eventually wear out.
Buy a few separates when you get your first pay then add to your wardrobe organically as and when you see things you like. Don't buy for the sake of buying because you've set yourself an arbritary £1000 to spend.

Oooh thank you mumsnet, I wasn’t expecting so many “go for it” answers!

I’d buy a full work wardrobe and some new casual clothes as well. Boots, shoes and decent jacket and coat are on the list! And replacing some dresses I am now too old for with some more flattering ones, so I can look nice on a girls night out . It will make me feel so much more confident, I’ve felt so scruffy this past year especially.

I have no dependants and I could afford all my outgoings. It would be using up most of my savings, but I am not in any debt (except my student loan from my first degree). I would start saving again properly after this initial splurge.

Good point about the sales! I will wait until I can visit shops because I am rubbish at buying clothes online.

It sounds like you're getting a lot for your money there OP. It really is a great feeling to have a wardrobe that makes you happy, and that you know has something in for every occasion.

Show us what you're buying!

Go carefully @Pigletspal. It's great you have a new job (Congratulations btw!) but few businesses will escape the economic downturn we are likely to have post-Covid. Buy yourself one or two to now and then a couple more each payday maybe- and see what quality bargains you can get.

A family member of mine very recently had a great job offer and it was rescinded very early into the pandemic starting and she had to scramble to get a contract job to pay her bills. Not everyone will be so lucky.

Sorry I know you don't want to hear this and, I'm your place, I wouldn't either!! Whatever you decide though - good luck in your new job! 🌹

Expensive taste is relative of course! I like Oliver bonas, for example, so I would get some things from there (not all probably). It feels like expensive because I have been buying in Primark and Tesco lately! (Nothing wrong with Primark and F&F either, but they don’t tend to last)

I have good quality work clothes I've been wearing for 15+ years. I have one pair of shoes that are older than some of my interns...

Go for it. Enjoy!

Thanks for the words of caution too. Jobbis public sector, so hopefully a bit safer, but I will wait till September before going shopping!

Go for it!
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