Do you set yourself a budget?

[Mademoiselle14]

I’m trying to focus on my wardrobe a bit more, by that I mean make planned considered purchases rather than panic but when I have an event or something is falling apart at the seams. I often feel guilty about spending money on clothes ( I am fatter than I’d like to be - doesn’t seem worth spending the money on myself and I have many more things to spend money on thanks to a house renovation) but realised that being well put together is important for my self esteem and also expected as part of my senior role at work. To get over this guilt I thought a budget that is just my money to spend on clothes would be helpful but can’t really quantify how much it should be!

In terms of item expense I’m happy to spend a reasonable amount for good quality, would probably wager on spending more than £100 on an item if it wasn’t a coat or boots.

Just interested in what other people do!

Wager should be waver

I buy what I need when I need it. I prefer to buy a few decent quality things than a lot of stuff, I hate shopping and there is nowhere decent to shop here anymore anyway! I've just ordered a pair of dm boots this morning. I thankfully don't have to budget too much.

I don’t set a budget but tend to buy a lot of clothes a few times a year. This Autumn I’ve spent £380 in total on 4 midi length dresses, a pair of denim joggers, a jumper, a sweatshirt, a maxi length skirt, a jacket and a pair on converse high tops.
Soon I’ll need a warmer jacket and some black ankle boots. I don’t mind spending quite a bit on both items.
I do actually have just over £1000 a month to spend of clothes, hair, make up etc and socialising with friends but I never spend all of it.
I spend quite a bit on bags, boots and jackets but high street stuff such as Apricot seems to suit me for dresses etc.

Interesting question.

I'm considering it. I think it will focus my mind to buy fewer items but better quality.

I was thinking of totting up what I spend in a year, dividing it by 12 as a monthly allowance. May even get as far as setting up a standing order into a separate account.

No budget but I mainly buy secondhand from charity shops / Vinted. I also sell in Vinted to recoup some cash

@MoiCnoi

Interesting question.

I'm considering it. I think it will focus my mind to buy fewer items but better quality.

I was thinking of totting up what I spend in a year, dividing it by 12 as a monthly allowance. May even get as far as setting up a standing order into a separate account.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Knowing how much I am ‘allowed’ to spend as I have budgeted for it might encourage me to make more considered purchases

It's so important to do this! I have £1650 a month surplus to my needs, but I put 1300 until savings and the rest is for fun, including clothes. I LOVE shopping, but I'd rather retire early.

I've been thinking a lot about price per wear. e.g. I think price per wear of under 10p for a pair of boots sounds great to me, considering they would also fit well, keep me dry, not require shopping again for them for say 12 years. I'd wear them about 3 times a week for 6 months of the year so that would be about £215. On a similar basis for a wool coat.

Special occasion dresses often end up as terrible price per wear, I'd seriously consider using one of these 'hiring' services.

There’s a very good thread on here on exactly this topic:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance

The OP worked out an annual budget, what key items she needed to make everything she already had work, and then researched and bought the best version for her.

It’s a great idea - seems so simple yet somehow unusual.

I have sort of done what that OP did because in Jan I gave a lot of my wardrobe to charity because I seemes to have loads of clothes but none I wanted to wear and have tried to gradually put in it what I need/want to wear (mainly new but also including stuff from charity shops being things I am already looking out for not random impulses).

I currently spend £150-200 a month on this, usually on 1-3 items because I also want less but better quality, and lately I also like some ethical brands which are pricier. I could probably afford more but much more and I start to feel I am losing control. Having lost control of my spending as a student, it's important to me to have an idea in my head of what is 'allowed' bur it's not a strict budget. I also have a beauty treatment approx monthly (I should also include getting my hair done in my budget but never get round to it).

DH and I both give ourselves an allowance from family money for exactly this reason - I don't want to feel guilty for spending on myself rather than the house. This way there are clearly defined pots of money. Inevitably mine gets spent on clothes, shoes, accessories, skincare and makeup :)

@ShangPie

There’s a very good thread on here on exactly this topic:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance

The OP worked out an annual budget, what key items she needed to make everything she already had work, and then researched and bought the best version for her.

It’s a great idea - seems so simple yet somehow unusual.

Thank you, I’ll read through later!

I think I’ll set myself up a standing order each month into savings just for clothes purchasing, I do the same for my car insurance etc so why shouldn’t I do it for my wardrobe?!

Not a budget as I already have a lot of clothes so tend to buy something I find myself wishing for to complement what I already have. So this autumn for example I've bought a couple of cardigans in neutral colours as I wanted something to take my favourite tops and dresses into autumn and winter with that extra layer.

In a sense I do budget I could afford to spend more but I allocate x each week to my hair and beauty pot if I don't spend for a few weeks that gets me something lovely I don't tend to get basics out of that though such as a pair of tights etc as they're essentials.

I don’t set a budget but I do write down everything I spend on clothes (I love clothes!). Once I reach £300-£350 in a month then I know I’m at my self imposed limit. I also buy decent so things last longer.. for example £100 pure wool jumpers or a more expansive cords body bag that I will use lots

*Cross body bag

I have to think of my monthly budget as including everything style and beauty related. I would say I spend £150-200 a month on everything. That sounds awful now I’ve written it down!
However, I prioritise supplements and skincare/makeup/beauty treatments over clothes. My average monthly spend on clothes is prob around £50. Fortunately, I’m petite and even though 49, still have quite a young fashion taste and so mainly shop at SheIn which gets a lot of hate on here but I love it. The majority of the clothes I get complimented on are from there. Today I’m wearing a gorgeous poncho I got 2 years ago from there and a lady has just ran after me in the street asking me where I got it from! Because I don’t use it as throwaway fashion that alleviates my conscience a little having it shipped from China.
I do my hair mostly myself aside from twice yearly highlights so that’s not too spendy although I do get through a ton of conditioner but tend to buy salon bumper sizes from TKMaxx.

As I get older though, my supplement budget is going up! I think I really need HRT but can’t get a GP appointment.

I buy most stuff in the sale Primark M and S Hotter (comfy but not dressy shoes)Mountainwear House

I don't spend more than I can afford, so in that sense there is a budget. But it isn't a set amount each month - I go through periods where I need very little and others when I'm spending quite a bit.
In the last couple of months it's been a bit spendy. I've gone through about £400 on clothes - most of it was brand new and bargainous jackets and boots from Vinted. These purchases plug holes in my wardrobe but weren't strictly necessary. But if you don't buy on Vinted when a true bargain comes up, then you end up spending more later when you buy it brand new from a shop. There were a few things that I didn't technically need but wanted, so I bought those too. I probably won't do another clothes shop for months now because I've got everything I need. I can't see me needing anything new until summer tbh.

That said, I'm getting my eyebrows microbladed next week so that will be another £250 over the next 2 months. And I do get my hair cut every few months so that will be £40 ish.
Christmas is coming so I'll not spend more than that now on clothes and beauty stuff.
I do keep clothes for years and re wear clothes I've put away for a while. I don't bin things unless they are scruffy and I do recycle and re sell on Vinted, so I try not to feel guilty about buying new clothes.