I've spent £402 on clothes and shoes this year

[BadabongBadaBing]

This is the first year that I have written down everything I have spent on clothes, from charity shops to socks to shoes. I haven't been particularly frugal and I like to think I make an effort most days with what I wear- with the odd few harems, trainers and jumper days thrown in when I'm not at work. I guess I wanted to know how it compared with our spending in other areas. I've been looking at all of it this year.

I think I'm doing ok. What do others spend? Or make of this?

Yes East we do the same with the dc's clothing - they have a budget that they need to stick to, they enjoy making decisions and feeling in control of their spending. We budget for everything, which doesn't mean scrimping, it just means we decide what we feel comfortable spending on clothes, holidays, days out, house projects and what we wish to save.

We could fritter away a large amount of cash so easily, losing sight of our long term objectives, it seems daft not to be in control of your finances whether you have a little or a lot!

I've spent way more than I normally do this year just because I've got back to a size 10 after losing baby weight and so replaced a lot of my wardrobe. Also my dhs spending attitude has rubbed off on me and I've just been buying whatever I've seen that I liked..I need to get back to my old style of keeping track of what I spend and budgeting, I prefer it that way!

How much clothing allowance do people give their teenage girls?

I've thought about this and in all honesty it's probably about £7-8k. HOWEVER, we are financially solvent and overpay our (now very small) mortgage every month plus have plenty of savings to fall back on. That said, I have still made mistake purchases this year and I need to get better at not doing that. The mistakes do tend to be the cheap stuff though, as I think 'oh it's only £20' and don't really think about it.

I've downloaded that app and am going to try and keep track of my spending. I know I've spent more than £402 but less than £8k I did start back working this year so needed to update my work wardrobe.

I think I'd probably be similar spend wise AmberNectarine - glad I'm not the only one.

And as I said upthread when I mentioned my monthly spend I am also spending at least the same as ambernectarine and statisticallychallenged

I can afford it but I do want to cut back... I just find it so hard not to buy something I like... [ blush]

Oops sorry HappyGirlNow, missed you there!

I don't think it matters what you spend as long as you are in control, have no regrets and can afford it. I could spend more on clothes but prefer to spend more on holidays and eating out and I feel no regrets because we have planned our spend in advance.

Gosh I can't imagine spending 7-8 grand on clothes? Do you only wear clothes one season/year?

I'd like to imagine that I wouldn't even if I had a higher income, but then I think whatever your income you tend to spend up to it...

Dancingyogi - having control and an accurate idea of our overall spending in all areas was why I did it.
In reality it turned out to be a more expensive year as I went back to work after sick leave and I generally wanted to invest in myself.
I have come to the conclusion that our weak point on spending are just those mid-week pops to the local shop for milk and just adding a magazine, some treaty food, something extra for packed lunchs. I am disciplined with the weekly big shop but those extras happen every week. That really dents our budget more than a well thought out new pair of jeans.

I have probably spent around £200 since January;

Off the top of my head
Jacket £25
Shoes (sale) £15
Shoe boots (sale) £10
Boots (sale) £9
Jumpsuit (sale) £12
Sandals (sale) £9
Pumps £10
Skirt £15
Trousers £15
Knickers £20
Black jeans £15
Vest top x2 £6
Cardigan x £20

I very rarely pay more than £20 for any item of clothing.

I dread to think about what I spend as I buy when bored and often don't take things back.

However am getting better at buying what I need rather than what I want.

I used to treat myself (if I was skint) to a £20 top once a month or earrings (under £10) so I knew I'd get that shopping hit.

I tend to spend what's left over in salary and don't save....

I think what helps is if you need new clothes - eg I'm trying to get a new job and will need smarter clothes for it so have bought in past month:-

• 1 x interview suit from Warehouse (just over £100)
• 1 x shirt/blouse from Warehouse - £30?
• 1 x smart work dress Zara - approx £39
• 1 x smart basic black raincoat/mac Zara £60?

I tend to add bits and pieces to it too - so about a year ago (went for interviews then, no luck!) I got 2 workwear dresses - Mango and H&M - the latter was cheap (£24?). But I know that the above now will be interview outfits and new job outfits.

I also wanted a quilted jacket with a hood so last autumn got one from Massimo Dutti.

What I tend to get now are things I want/lust after rather than need so will give in occasionally (ok more than occasionally). It's the not buying gets me.

I've been brave and totted ip up. Since January, I have spent 1,900 on clothes, coat, shoes, scarves and handbags for me. I had thought, when I posted upthread, that I had spent between 1,200 and 1,500. It is much higher, and I'm not even sure I've included everything. I haven't included undies, but I know I have spent 100 maximum on those. I haven't included tights either.

That is just too much. I can afford it, but I think its disproportionate to how much I really actually needed to spend.

I think I need to keep tabs on what I am buying more.

Boots £70 TK Maxx
Going out shoes £20 New Look
Work shoes x2 £40 M&S
Bras x3 £60 M&S
Knickers £20 M&S
Tights £40 Primark
Blazer/jacket £35 M&S
Dresses casual x3 £100 TK Maxx
Sports top £15 TK Maxx
Dress work £40 Whistles (Sale)
Dresses work x3 £120 Hobbs (sale)
Leggings £7 H&M
TShirts £20 H&M

Total £587

I've spent about the same as the OP.

I've kept a list of all of my purchases for the last two years. I noticed that about 1/3 of the items I bought in 2013 were mistake purchases, but this year I haven't made any, as I've been more considered with my spends.

Just over £500 this year but I never really go into clothes shops and they don't interest me so it's a combination of new underwear and online clothes shopping.

About £120 so far this year.

£60 on two decent bras.
£7 raincoat from Lidl (classy)
£22 boots from Primark.

Rest on underwear (Primark) and charity shop jeans, tops, and jumpers.

I've got loads of clothes though and I'm deliberately being very frugal.

chanie

sounds a bit complex but I think I may well do this - make a note of my spends (spreadsheet?!).

I noted I was spending £1.20 every day on tea at station in morning I now bring this in a flask and it's approx £300 saved a year.

Same way for clothes - I think what a lot of us do is impulse buy (well I do anyway) or think - like me - that after mortgage etc is paid and savings (I do save when I can) done then the rest is play money. I'm embarassed by how much I literally waste on clothes though.... Its a standing joke that "SuperFlyHigh shops for clothes" amongst my family.

I have spent more that £400 in one afternoon. I haven't a clue how much I have spent in 12 months, I hate to think.

I have gone a bit mad over the last few years. I remember one year when my eldest DC was 2 (so 12 years ago now) I had a budget of £75 I bought these dreadful red jeans because they were the cheapest ones in the sale, a few black tops and a pair of cheap boots which I am still recovering from! I hated those jeans because of what they represented to me. Huge worries and constantly counting every penny. So I think this is why in recent years I have splurged, I feel like I deserve it. Of course I don't really.

I think I will try and keep to a budget next year. Well done OP.