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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just totted up how much money I’ve spent on clothes since September- a bit shocked.

329 replies

Notellinganyone · 07/06/2025 11:47

I used to keep note of my clothes spending from the start of the school year and fell out of the habit, Just did a tally and have spent just over 2k. I’m a bit shocked but probably shouldn’t be. I shop in a mixture of Jigsaw, Whistles, Marks etc. How does that compare to your spending? Children have now left home so have more disposable income so no debt.

OP posts:
Gettingbysomehow · 07/06/2025 19:02

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 07/06/2025 15:38

I’d say I’ve quite possibly spent that OP

£330 shoes (Jimmy Choo flats half price)
£325 jacket from me and em
£200ish jeans
£100 top from Aritzia
£150 Birkenstocks
£70 me and em dress vinted

I try to buy less but spend more per item now to get stuff that I wear again and again

Edited

I've always wondered if Jimmy Choo flats are comfortable, are they all quite narrow?

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 07/06/2025 19:05

Notellinganyone · 07/06/2025 12:09

I’ve put on a bit of weight and decided it’s pointless waiting and not looking decent in interim. I’m a teacher so have to be reasonably smart for work. I don’t have lots of clothes and got to the stage where a lot of my outfits had been worn to death and looked tatty. This did include a leather jacket and two pairs of winter boots. I’ve given up on Vinted and EBay.

I had the same idea, but I refused to spend much money on larger clothes. I bought a few bits over the years but mainly went for dirt cheap. I am now losing weight so back to the small clothes which I’m happy to splash out on.

godmum56 · 07/06/2025 19:08

Koalafan · 07/06/2025 19:00

Charity shops need folk willing to provide good quality donations and folk willing to buy them - I do both, but doing either one is also helpful. 😬 The Vinted jumble sale is killing a lot of charity shops though. 😔

I do really well for spotting non valuable vintage china and glass so its a thank you from me.

MounjaroMounjaro · 07/06/2025 19:12

That's not strictly true about charity shops. I had some books I wanted to donate (the shops sold clothing too) and there were signs on the nearest four charity shop doors saying they were not taking any kind of donations as they had too much stuff.

Kittyloulou · 07/06/2025 19:13

I’ve bought a few things to wear to work from Vinted and Tesco but my weekend and evening going out clothes are better quality. Are you including shoes, boots and trainers? I would say since September probably £1000, around £100 per month. But I’ve also sold lots of stuff on Vinted

TwistedWonder · 07/06/2025 19:15

I’d have to look back at my bank account but I’ve spent over a grand on new clothes since the start of March 😱

I do sell most of the good stuff on Vinted after a couple of wears so I make about 1/3 back

Tiddlywinkly · 07/06/2025 19:54

Surely it's all relative to your budget, life situation, priorities etc?

I spend quite a bit on clothes. I haven't always, but my other outgoings are low/now paid off.

I enjoy clothes and I don't go into debt. I often use Vinted to sell and will check there before I buy new. I get at least a 1/3 of my clothes this way now.

Live and let live?

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 07/06/2025 20:20

Gettingbysomehow · 07/06/2025 19:02

I've always wondered if Jimmy Choo flats are comfortable, are they all quite narrow?

These are super comfy, they aren’t pointed toe they are suede and Mary jane style. I do have relatively narrow feet though.

iseethembloom · 07/06/2025 20:44

Since Sept I’ve spent
£62.50 - Vinted
£91.09 - ebay
£40.00 - supermarkets and charity shops

This includes two pairs of boots and a puffer jacket.
Its £193 since start of Sept, and this total feels about where it should be for my income.

I don’t think it’s wrong or extravagant to spend £1000s on clothes in a ten-month span of time if it makes you happy and you have the money. If it’s all being put on credit cards, it’s a bit different.

JockTamsonsBairns · 07/06/2025 20:54

I haven't spent a single penny on clothes since September, not for me nor either of my teens (they get £50 a month allowance, and buy their clothes from Vinted).

I'm very low income though. I wear uniform for work, so don't really need clothes.

If you can afford it, and you needed some new clothes, I don't see a problem really?

Wayk · 07/06/2025 20:57

If you can afford it treat yourself especially if it makes you feel good. However if you are under pressure financially cut back.

doublec · 07/06/2025 22:26

Similar, possible more. Have been rebuilding my wardrobe following breast cancer/a double mastectomy. I sold a lot of my pre-BC wardrobe and have been using that to fund new (to me) purchases. Have bought a lot on Vinted and other preloved/consignment sites, and a few new items too.

Clothing can be one of the best ways to feel good about yourself. I don't see anything wrong with spending money this way (just so long as you are not getting yourself into debt in the process).

Life is short. Buy and wear things you love 🙌🏼

FarmGirl78 · 08/06/2025 08:17

Notellinganyone · 07/06/2025 12:12

I’m adjusting to having more money as mortgage is paid off but DH and I both still work full time. Still paying DS’s uni rent costs but he’s the third and final and only has one year left to go. I can absolutely afford it but it did surprise me when I added it all up. I suspect I’ll spend far less next year.

After a nice chunk of inheritance I have also paid off my mortgage recently and have approx £80k in savings.

I have spent about £60 on clothes since September.

Edited.....Nope, it's £75. I bought a coat from a charity shop I'd forgotten about. I'd rather have 2 weeks abroad than spend £2k on clothes!

Chat2025 · 08/06/2025 08:36

I have bought two pairs of shoes, two smart jackets, two dresses and a skirt. Plus new items of underwear, tights, socks. Around £400. Some of the purchases were on Vinted.

if you can afford it and enjoy it, do it.

Notellinganyone · 08/06/2025 09:19

@FarmGirl78 - going to Greece for two weeks in July!

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 08/06/2025 10:32

Notellinganyone · 08/06/2025 09:19

@FarmGirl78 - going to Greece for two weeks in July!

I was just going to say I’d rather have both! Hope you have a lovely holiday and buy yourself some things that will give you joy to wear while you’re there.

Sofiewoo · 08/06/2025 11:22

FarmGirl78 · 08/06/2025 08:17

After a nice chunk of inheritance I have also paid off my mortgage recently and have approx £80k in savings.

I have spent about £60 on clothes since September.

Edited.....Nope, it's £75. I bought a coat from a charity shop I'd forgotten about. I'd rather have 2 weeks abroad than spend £2k on clothes!

Edited

For many people it’s not new clothes or travelling abroad. Surely that’s not hard to understand?

In fact it’s surely the ones weirdly bragging about owning 10 items of clothes in total and spending nothing who surely can’t be going abroad that much to different climates?

TwistedWonder · 08/06/2025 11:47

FarmGirl78 · 08/06/2025 08:17

After a nice chunk of inheritance I have also paid off my mortgage recently and have approx £80k in savings.

I have spent about £60 on clothes since September.

Edited.....Nope, it's £75. I bought a coat from a charity shop I'd forgotten about. I'd rather have 2 weeks abroad than spend £2k on clothes!

Edited

You can do both. I’ve didn’t moved in new clothes to take in my holiday next week.

When I get home, I’ll keep some and sell some in Vinted.

I adore wearing new clothes on holiday - it’s my choice. We’re all different

Gingerwarthog · 08/06/2025 11:54

@Gettingbysomehow
re the Jimmy Choo flats - I bought some 15 years ago and they are still going strong. Wear them at least 3 times a week in the Summer. Great investment.

FarmGirl78 · 08/06/2025 12:01

Sofiewoo · 08/06/2025 11:22

For many people it’s not new clothes or travelling abroad. Surely that’s not hard to understand?

In fact it’s surely the ones weirdly bragging about owning 10 items of clothes in total and spending nothing who surely can’t be going abroad that much to different climates?

I understand that perfectly......I never said it was one or the other! I'm talking about me. No-one else. OP had asked what people had spent on clothes. I never said I thought she was wrong. My train is thought was that as someone who's spent a large portion of life being "poor" and needing to be frugal I've suddenly been gifted a ridiculous amount of money and yet the need to be cautious with my spends and to shop at charity shops is still with me. I couldn't justify to myself spending £2k a year on clothes. I'd rather go on holiday.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/06/2025 12:28

If you can afford it, and it brings you some joy then go for it!! Don't worry what other people might think, you've earned that money and have the right to spend it however you might like..

I have been trying to work out mine, I'm guessing around £600-£800 but I am a sucker for a Joe Browns blazer and they ain't cheap. I've also got a holiday to go on so been picking up bits for that (as I live in jeans and hoodies so needed summery bits for greece.)

But seriously, ignore anyone who says you shouldn't. Would be different if you couldn't afford it, but you can!!

ThatJadeTiger · 08/06/2025 18:20

Whatever makes you FEEL good as long as you can afford it. We've spent so much on the garden and paddock where we exercise our dogs. We never go out socially, so I buy minimal clothing, noone would know if I were wearing the same thing! It's Whatever does it for you, and good if you can recycle , that goes for everything , of course. I've just never been into clothes. I've been a uk size 8 for 50yrs. I've just spent 3k on one tooth implant! 😆

RosePoppyClover · 08/06/2025 18:24

Have the OP and all the people saying ‘go for it if you can afford it’ ever looked at the mountains of waste produced by westerners who keep buying new clothes? I simply cannot understand how anyone justifies buying new clothes now. Particularly anything with any polyester/plastic/acrylic/lycra/elastane/nylon in them. We are poisoning our planet with all this trash.
Since September I’ve spent about £200 on clothes, every item from charity shops, Vinted or eBay. All lovely and useful pieces. There are enough clothes in the world already. Turn off the tap.

Beautifulweeds · 08/06/2025 18:26

I used to love clothes shopping, always had a sort of budget but if it was something I loved I would treat myself.

Now I tend to buy more from vinted, often new clothes at a fraction of the cost. Plus my lifestyle had changed so I'm not going out every weekend, expensive meals at restaurants, smart work clothes every day as my main job is more casual.

So from September probably about £300 to £400. Xxx

socks1107 · 08/06/2025 18:31

I’ve probably spent about £750. I’ve lost a good chunk of weight though and have a bit more to go so have used supermarkets, vinted and marks for work for clothes. Also a few primark as I get staff discount thanks to my daughters Saturday job