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.

Oh well Im ahead of you there, I bought one the other weekend in a charity shop, for about a fiver, its extremely lightweight, never seen anything like that, bit tight but just right for sitting around in and I can pack it really small.

We are supposed to save for grandkids? Yeah no.

It’s hard to tot up individually but we’ve totalled £3500 for a family of 4 since Sept. Some of that included new stuff for holidays, which we normally top up in the summer before we go away but we had an extra holiday this year in April so got it then. We shouldn’t need any more before we go away in July, apart from a couple of things. For context, I’ve lost some weight and my husband has too - he’s practically disappeared!😂

My advice is to buy such sandals, in case you suddenly have feet problems and can no longer wear them. I'm at that stage and it's a nightmare.
My budget is now Sketchers and Roman, with high street thrown in. I spend about £1000 a year, but I've been lucky and my footwear/coats really last. I wish I could still pick from all the ranges of boots.

I think I’ve spent: £350 on 4 pairs of trainers, a new warm Barbour coat for £220, £270 on 3 jumpers, £100 on a lovely silk top, around £150 on swimming costumes and linen trousers for holiday, £110 on two warm ish autumn/spring jackets, £60 on a pair of flats. But I won’t buy anything now for a while and the spending above isn’t usual for me. I like buying good quality things less often. I won’t buy a pair of trainers for 3 more years and my old pair lasted me 4! Warm coat will be used again this winter. Holiday clothes I’ll wear for years. I can afford it so haven’t got into debt and don’t think I’ll be looking in the shops again until autumn.

I’m surprised that in almost a year, so many people have spent so little. Is it because all the spenders are on the shopping threads & aren’t shocked by the title ? Looking around me at the school Mums and how people dress and reading the shopping threads, I am not surprised by this amount. I think 2500 a year for clothes is a fairly middle class budget. It’s too much for me but I imagine those with that level of income would spend like this. Maybe it’s just an expensive year for you.

You have that money, you’ve reached that station in life and it’s hard to dress cheaply in middle age especially if you’re not a smaller size. I would let it go.

Do you work and have an active social life? Could you afford to buy more? I'm hoping one day to have a functional capsule wardrobe, but your's sounds extreme. What kind of lifestyle do you have? What do you spend youremoney on if you do have spare to spend after essentials? I'm fascinated!

I have a total of 4 dresses, 1 skirt, 2 tops and 2 cardigans. 1 coat which is over 25yrs old, 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of sandals.
I don't understand what you could do with that amount of clothes and how you can justify spending so much money on yourself! @Gustavo77

I find it incredibly easy to justify having more than 2 dresses 2 skirt, 2 tops and 2 cardigans my entire wardrobe.

In any one month recently I’m dressing for a casual work day, a weekly important client pitch, a brunch out, drinks out in town, trips to the park, a wedding, casual walk for coffee, a nice roast, runs, yoga classes, taking the kids swimming. Not to mention it’s ranged from 28 to 10 degrees over the last 4 weeks.
There’s literally no way the tiny amount of clothing items you own would appropriately carry through all those activities and nor would I want to get by on such a limited wardrobe.

This ^^

Plus if you’re working how do you keep up with the laundry if a capsule wardrobe and constantly wearing the same thing. There are so many occasions to dress for as a woman, it’s hard.

My Dad used to be in retail and when he was asked why he went into women’s clothing and not men’s he would say, “because women will spend their entire pay cheque on clothing”,

I agree. I have a wardrobe for my coats!
Leather shearling jacket
Good wool coat
Velvet evening coat
Gardening jacket
Puffa "car" coat
Fun bright wool coat
2 coatigans
Duster coat
Burberry trench
Casual rain jacket

Then the jackets!

OP can afford it and doesn’t have to justify anything to you. Life is for living.

A pair of Clarks sneakers, a pair of chinos, a couple of T-shirts, some underwear and a pair of pretend Birkenstock as summer slippers.
About €120 in the last year.
DD purged her teenage wardrobe and I’ve benefitted from getting stuff back that I’d lent and didn’t expect to see again. But that doesn’t count as a purchase.

I need some light cotton nightdresses (not big T-shirts) as the ones DMil got me for the maternity ward in 1998 have disintegrated! Maybe €50 for those.

I've just added it all up and it turned out to be more than I thought. Since September, I've spent about £770. That included a wool coat (heavily discounted but still fairly expensive) that I hope will see me through many winters to come. I love clothes and don't really spend much on anything else. But the environmental impact does concern me and I've pared back my spending since January.

Justify? No one has to justify how they manage their income

I couldnt function on that wardrobe just through work alone, I need 5 tops for work, a fresh one for each day. I have 3 pairs of work trousers, I dont wear these out of work.

Then I have leisure clothes, lounging around clothes, warm clothes, under garmets to keep warm, holiday clothes, posh going out clothes.

Then all the shoes to match.

Then various coats/jackets to match.

I dont have to justify that to anyone, I enjoy it.

I can't be bothered to add it up but it will be between £1k and £2k, probably the same as DH spends on his sporting hobbies and stuff to wear for them.

Vinted £100 ( 7 dresses) - I lost weight.
New trainers £130
2 tops New Look £30
2 pairs leggings £25
Dress for DD wedding. £125 ( Net a Porter)
Socks £20

So about £400.
Same as last year!

@Gustavo77 serious question. How do you manage? Over the last week:

Dinner out - trousers, top sandals (top in wash)
Visitors on Sunday - different trousers, top and swingy cardigan top in the wash
Monday - work dress and jacket - dress in the wash
Tuesday - work dress and jacket - dress in the wash
Weds/Thurs - ditto Mon/Tues
Friday - work trousers, top and jacket - top in the wash

I wouldn’t wear the same jacket twondays running or probably in the same week.

None of the aforementioned have yet been washed and ironed and I need clean tops and dresses for the next week.

No underwear? Trainers? Trousers? Your single 25yo coat is suitable for all weather conditions and occasions? Are you a nun?

I hope that the above is not because you have been penniless for 25 years, but I suspect you are quite unusual in having such a spartan wardrobe. Nobody has to justify the amount they spend on clothes to you, in any case.

£250 which is quite a lot for me and was a new bra, some outdoor kit for a trip which was replacing 15 year old stuff that was worn out and then a couple of 2nd hand jumpers and tops online/charity shop but we don't have much disposable income and are spending most of money on doing up house. I probably wouldn't spend much more on clothes though but then I still fit in everything from years ago so have plenty of stuff

All part of women must be self sacrificing at all times innit? Save for people who don’t even exist.

My father used say you’ll be dead a long time. If you have the money & it gives you happiness go for it

£8 (two tops from Primark) 😂. But I’m a skint masters student, and my wardrobe is too full as it is.

OP, I think the premise of your question is unreasonable.

It doesn't matter what anyone else spends on clothes - the point is whether you want to spend that money on clothes.

Maybe £100? I try to only shop in charity shops though unless its something like underwear/swimwear/pj's.

I’m not sure how much I have spent in that time but not 2k. I buy a lot on vinted and from charity shops, a few things new. I have spent money on shoes (around £200). So I would say I’ve probably spent around £500 ish.

If you have the funds to do it I don’t see an issue?

Absolutely not joking. People with an inheritance have a massive leg up.

If I look at all the young people that I know who have bought or are buying property, it is only 1 couple who are in finance who self-funded. The rest were helped by the bank of mom and dad or the bank of grandma & grandpa because even with good paying jobs and financial discipline the basic costs of living (rent, transport, utilities) make saving for a deposit almost impossible.