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

[Notellinganyone]

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.

Nothing

The clothes I’ve bought are generally natural fibres, linen, cotton, silk, cashmere etc. So although I’ve spent a fair amount the average price per item is probably around £150 - so not that many pieces. As I’ve also said in my post I hang on to clothes and wear them for years. In the end we all make choices about how we live. I live a pretty modest lifestyle, don’t drive and I happen to dislike buying clothes second hand. There’s balance in everything. It’s not as though I’m buying mountains of polyester outfits from Shein and the like. The boots and jacket will last me years.

I understand that many people 'happen to dislike buying clothes second hand'. Many people also 'happen to dislike' living in a poisoned ecosystem by a mountain of waste or a river of filth, or having the water they want to drink used up for the production of lovely cotton clothes, but they don't have any choice. None of us is perfect in this imperfect world, but we can start by being honest about the impact of our choices.

That's fine in my eyes. I agree, on these 'buy cheap, wear once' companies..I hate that! I take out a lady of 90yrs, who always looks chic and classy. She wears some of the clothes she bought 60 yrs ago. Rarely buys them, but when she does, its all about the joy of knowing they're going to last, and are timeless. We often need to know more about the person's general buying habits etc, before we pass judgement, which would have knocked this thread on its head if we'd heard the last post from the beginning 😊

Since September, about £200.
In a normal year I wouldn't be spending more than £400 anyway,

I have no where to put £2k worth of clothes let alone the money to do it. I suppose a large disposable income goes hand in hand with a large house.

Even if you only paid £20 per item it’s 100 garments. You could easily get those in a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

About £20 - 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of cotton trousers and a t-shirt. All in charity shops.

I mean this is one of those things where everyone is different, different budgets, lifestyles, interests and space 🤷‍♀️. You can buy a t-shirt for £3 or £300.

However nice the item, I am not keen on wearing something I bought 60 (or 50) years ago. I like a bit of variety and creativity in my outfits and the small thrill of putting a look together. I was just matching a shirt I bought 30 years ago with some new items (yup, from New Look) which looked nice together.

Gave me a shot of frivolous joy.

I spend way less than 2,000 but will probably keep these items for as long.

I live in a modest mid-terrace Victorian house. I bought two pairs of boots, a pair of sandals, a leather jacket, a couple of jumpsuits and two linen suits. I could fit everything I bought into a small suitcase. I’m also not a clothes hoarder- on another thread someone said they had 40 pairs of jeans! I reckon I could fit all of my clothes into three large suitcases. The income is stretching further as only one of three children requires financial support. I’m a classroom teacher in a school so while salary is fine it’s not exactly big bucks. @RosePoppyClover - are you that squeaky clean in terms of your environmental footprint?

It doesn't matter what RosePoppyClover does or doesn't do. People don't have to be perfect to point out that other people's behaviour has problematic consequences.

This site would be a lot emptier if that were the case!

I'm not great. I don't drive, don't own a car, I haven't bought anything new for a couple of years - no new clothes, no new house stuff, etc, I'm vegetarian BUT I'm not vegan and my flat is poorly insulated and I still have a gas boiler. I'm trying to do what I can. None of us is perfect but I think it's possible to find pleasures that aren't about consuming more stuff and surely we can talk here about why that is so important right now and try to support one another to find ways. The world is full of waste, it's choking.

Since Sept?
Pair of work trousers £25
1 top matalan £14

I mean, probably a few hundred once it's all totted up. A lot of individual items for small money on vinted, in sales etc. But that's because I've lost a lot of weight so replaced my wardrobe.

I think if you have the money and enjoy clothes, why the hell not? There are different phases of life, woth different levels of disposable income, so it's hard to compare.

When I was a student I probably spend less than £100 per year. 🤣 When I was a youmg mum, the same. Now I've got my house furnished and so on, there are fewer costs. No childcare. It all starts to get a bit easier.

I could probably spend more but I've spent it on plants for my allotment. Other people will spend it on holidays. We all have our vices though. 😆

But OP, you're a teacher so couldn't possibly afford such clothes and where on earth would you wear them as you're working til the late hours every day with no time off during you're extensive "unpaid holidays"?

Please tell all the other teachers your secret.....noble will be keen to know at least, as she/he seems so very keen to keep MN abreast of the many trials and tribulations that teachers endure.

I was interested to see that when I honestly added them all up it came to much more
than I expected. But still under £500.

I’ve no doubt spent that bit returned £1850.00!! I can’t find a thing I love.

I've spent a lot for me, as I've decluttered and completely changed colours of the clothes I had as my skin tone has change.
However I love and have worn everything I've bought including 2 pairs of pristine Clark's trainers(10 each) and a pair of Clark's flat mules with strap( also£10) so as my wardrobe is now full I won't be buying another thing. I'd say I've spent around £300.Everything from Vinted

If you can
afford it
have no debt
wear the clothes you buy
Buy ethical and sustainable brands
sell or donate to charity the clothes you no longer wear
Then there's no problem
This is now your time after raising a family and probably after years of prioritising DC and perhaps not having much money to spend in yourself. No guilt needed if you can afford it and enjoy it.

I look at clothes maybe twice a year, shoes the same and spend maybe £300- £400 a year on average. I have never considered myself fashionable though, and many of my purchases will be from charity shops. I established a style and stick with it.

I don't know why the OP is getting a hard time from some sanctimonious posters. Sounds like she's bought some good quality clothes that are very unlikely to be going to landfill any time soon!

About 10 years ago I bought three Boden dresses that were about £90 each - I've worn them to death and now sick of them so they'll be going to the charity shop this week. They are such good quality - no bobbling or loose threads, and have kept their shape despite what must have been hundreds of washes. They're seemingly indestructible and no doubt someone else, of a certain age, will get a few more years out them.

No one would have turned a hair had someone said they've spent £2000 on a holiday or hobby gear.

I've spent about 2.5k since September

• 2 x me+em dresses in sales 400
• 1 x me+em trousers in sale 150

1 x toast shoes 300 2 x hoff trainers 225 1 x ba&sh wool coat 180 (sale) 1 x ba&sh dress 120 (sale) 1 x isabel marant leather bag 200 (vinted) 1 x summer dress Wolf & Badger 120 1 x spring coat ba&sh (sale) 150 1 x white cotton shirt m&s 40 3 x lambswool jumpers benetton sale 60 1 x sandro knee high leather boots sale 300 1 x maje leather loafers x 100 vinted

I have sold approx 400 on vinted & have about the same again if not more to sell

I adore nice clothes & I look after them & wear them for years

I'm in my 50s & I can afford it

I’ve just had a baby so in that timeframe I’ve definitely bought a lot less due to pregnancy and my body changing. My mum lent me a lot of clothes so I didn’t need to buy lots.

In terms of new items, probably only about £20/£25 on a few packets of knickers from Primark, Asda Tesco, and £15 on a pair of boots from Primark last winter.

On Vinted, excluding clothes bought for my partner or the baby, I’ve spent £78.9. However, of that, I’ve resold a lot of it because it was mostly maternity clothes or items that didn’t fit me when they arrived. I have a Monzo pot where I stash any money I get from selling stuff on Vinted and use that to purchase new items.

I’m on the hunt for a few new items from Vinted as my wardrobe is currently very bleak!

absolutely blue shoes. I'm the same
as you tbh. I was just sharing the experience of my elderly lady friend, because honestly, some of these old pieces look as good as new. I buy from new look and Matalan etc, I draw the line at Temu or shien however.