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.

Like you I'm a teacher, young adult DC just left home, plenty of disposable income now...

My wardrobe is very minimal. When/if I lose a bit of weight I want that to change though. Since september - one pair of trainers (HOKA £160), one cardigan (John Lewis £30), one top (Aspiga £55), one jacket (Tommy Hilfiger £180), one winter coat (Hobbs £200) for a total of £625. I regret the winter coat (very heavy and only actually wore it a couple of times) and the jacket (realised I already had a M&S one that is very similar in the wardrobe and I now wear that in preference!). So only £245 on clothes I actually wear!

If you can afford it and you enjoy and wear that clothes I think it is great that you've spend £2K on them since September! I really want to try a couple of bits from from Me & Em but I just can't justify it in my current size. I say really want but last night I had a bottle of prosecco rather than going to the gym/pool in the spa I paid £1250 this year to be a member of... but rarely go to 😕

Probably about £2000 as well. I’ve lost 7 stone in the last year so have had to buy new clothes for obvious reasons. As I, still losing weight I’ve been mostly buying off Vinted so have managed to get more bang for my buck. I love clothes though so even when I’m at my target weight I’ll still spend too much 🤷‍♀️

If you can afford it and you bought nice things that you enjoy, why not

I never understand the po faced censorious attitude to having nice things or spending money on this site

Totally different if you're in debt, cant afford it or it means kids are going without, but life is for enjoying.

I probably spend similar to you to be honest, maybe not quite as much. I really like buying clothes. It makes me happy.

I do it all from charity shops now in a general push to cut down on all expenditure (except holidays!). Will buy new for trainers and sportswear though. So only about £100 since September.
Should just add that charity shops themselves are becoming a bit of a rip off so I'm even more discerning with them now. The only time you can get something for £1 is when they're closing down 😐

I know that I have spent much more than 2K on clothes since September, and I have enjoyed every single purchase. When I was a much younger woman I was subjected to financial abuse for many years, so now I seem to be (over) compensating.

Ralph Lauren raincoat £399*
Clarkes loafers £69*
Sliders Jones £69
Sandals £100*
Clarkes Handbag £79*
White Stuff Pinafore and blouse £139*
Seasalt velvet dress £89
Whistles smart occasion dress £179
Whistles jacket £99*
M&S car jacket £69*
M&S fun wool coat £79
M&S crochet top £39
M&S knitted vest £29
Boden wide leg jeans £79*
Dune slingbacks £89
Boden bag for an occasion £38

About £1650 - and don't regret a penny of it. Everything with an asterisk are multiple wear items.

I've purchased 15 pieces since January but at least 10 are from vinted after selling on there. I need to reduce the amount I buy rather than the amount I spend.

Whats a car jacket

Seems I might need to get me one of them

I’ve lost weight last year and went from a size 16 to a size 8-10. I needed a new set of clothes as the last time I was a size 10 was almost 11 years ago before I had DD1 so the clothes are long gone. I just set myself a budget of £50 a month on Vinted since Aug last year so I can buy good brands for a cheaper price. I’ve never exceeded that and have a wardrobe of clothes that I like and i was just saying last month that I don’t need anything for now so won’t be spending anymore. For me, I made my budget work for me, you can afford what you’re spending and it makes you happy so why not . Those not buying clothes may be spending more than that on days out, meals out, alcohol, hobbies, holidays, etc as it makes them happy so why not make yourself happy.

Not sure really... I never bought loads, but in the last year I've stopped buying new high street and started buying all either second hand, or smaller labels that won't produce huge runs of clothes that end up in landfill (I hope), so either quite cheap or quite expensive! I've finally got to a stage where I can afford to spend more on clothes, so I generally buy less and better these days. I think I have everything I need for summer so can't see myself buying anything unless anything I wear a lot gets worn out/damaged.

OP, these are my thoughts:

1. Return clothing that you have not worn. And you can also do a closet cleanout where you can sell/donate clothing that is not your size. Having less unused stuff cluttering the house is surprisingly freeing!

2. Put yourself on a budget. You should enjoy some of your disposable income, but you should also put something away for a rainy day, especially in these very uncertain economic times.

3. Maybe sit with a financial advisor and plan for building wealth for your future grandkids. Life is only getting more and more expensive, and this current generation is economically behind where we were at their stage in life and may not have much to pass on to the next generation.

Good luck OP.

TThis is an excellent approach and one I struggle with intensely. My mother always struggled with her weight and said she would buy nice clothes 'when she lost weight'. Even at the time as a teen I thought that was mad, but I seem to have absorbed this into my very cells. I am 2 stone overweight and buy for maximum coverage. I need to stop that and to start really living and enjoying clothes and beauty and pay attention to my appearance. It's a bit of a goal.

I have spent £150 on clothes since about January. 2 White stuff tunic shirts - the first I bought because I 'needed something in a hurry' and the second because I liked how the first fit and felt.

I think the year my goal will not be to 'lose weight' but will be to 'enjoy who I am now and eat healthily and well'. Enjoy and embrace the pleasure of nice food and nice clothes, hair and makeup.

I opened this thread expecting to think 'How much?!!! Madness!'. Now I am thinking 'Actually- I could do with a bit of what OP has'.

🙄🤷‍♀️🤯

I actually have two double wardrobes - and got rid of a single wardrobe of stuff last year 🤦🏻‍♀️. It was definitely a problem I had for many layered reasons, but since my recent split and a health issue flaring back up, clothes shopping fallen off my radar. I’m 2 stone heavier now unfortunately than Jan 24 but am staying strong and not purchasing bigger sizes as honestly it will just trigger a spending spree again for me I reckon.

@Notellinganyone although it’s quite a lot of money, I understand why you’re doing it to address a differ t size issue and your wardrobe volume doesn’t sound bad at all. I would just caution to be mindful though as a need can easily become an unconscious addiction where colourful and sparkly things are concerned! Also, you’re getting quality pieces I imagine so when you do lose the weight perhaps a god tailor could bring certain items in so you don’t lose them forever.

Probably about 1000 but mostly on ebay and vinted, plus have sold around 500 worth.

2 long wanted items, boilersuit and cashmere leggings, in Toast sale £175
Clarks boots in sale £80
A few sale pieces from Cape Cove £120
Plumo sale shearling gilet £90
Wool tank top and corduroy skirt from Seasalt £130
Free People jumpsuit (again sale!) £45
Couple of exercise t-shirts £30
2 bras £60
Multipack wool socks £75
Re-stock of pyjamas in John Lewis sale £90
A few charity shop finds, mostly blouses and shirts, also a pair of Levis, £50 ish total
Wetsuit £165
About £100 of fabric as I'm teaching myself dressmaking.
That's about £1200 in total. Love every item, even the simple and imperfect linen trousers I've made!

Probably a couple of hundred.

If you spent in on cheap tat, then I'd say it was a complete waste of money. Buying pieces that'll last means you'll save money in the long run.

That's about 8 month so best part of a year. I'd say I've spent about 3k, but then I work in a high power job and a new dress + jacket or trousers and board room top is probably about £500 per outfit. And I finally started going to the gym regularly and good gym leggings are best part of £100. If you have the money, enjoy shopping and wearing your clothes!

It sounds like you needed a new wardrobe, of that’s true and you wear all of the clothes you bought (and you can afford it), what’s the issue?
If you already owned enough clothes and the ones you bought are just adding to the pile, being mainly unworn, I’d ask myself why you’re buying all these clothes (boredom? Shopping addiction?)

£150 max. But that's been deliberate. I have far too many clothes, despite vacuum packing away for summer/winter. I had a couple of years of buying lots. I've just given loads to charity with labels still on. I took early retirement last year and vowed just to wear what I've got. Eventually, I would like a good quality capsule wardrobe.

i buy in the sales so splurge in Jan on Plumo/Toast knitwear I have my eye on. I buy less in the summer sales since I replace shorts & T-hirts from the High St & supermarket. £2000 over 10 mths is £200 pm which I don’t think is excessive if you can afford it.

I totally agree. I don't keep things "for best' and, while we all (most of us) have to function with a budget, I would always say don't wait to feel happy, don't wait to feel good about yourself.

New Blundstones and Birkenstocks, came to about £300, but both will last me years.
Toast dresses x 2 (Vinted) - £90
Merino base layers and jumpers (Uniqlo) - £60
A couple of bras - £50
New pants - £15
Jeans (Vinted) - £10
Cotton trousers x 2 (M&S) - £40
Vest tops - £20
Linen shirts x 2 (Uniqlo) - £40
Sequin jacket - £30
Jewelled ballet pumps - £40
PJ bottoms (Boden) - £30

That seems like quite a lot for me actually, but the new footwear was much needed. None of it is overtly fashionable so I expect most of it will still be worn in five years or so. I sell quite a bit on Vinted too, which offsets the spend.