What proportion of your income do you spend on clothes? Pls help me get over my tightness...

[WilfSell]

I am a grown woman with a fabulous salary. OK I have lots of children and lots of mortgage and lots of commitments. But I still can't get over my 'god that's too expensive' gene.

I am fat and run to seed after baby 3. I know I need to shift blubber. Some of my meanness is that: you know, the 'I'll only buy really nice clothes when I'm slimmer' mentality. Which is stupid, because I know taking care of myself is actually more likely to help me slim.

And some of it is feeling selfish to spend money on myself. And not the kids or house or DH for example.

And some of it is just lazy, used to Tescos the crappy high street mentality. A woman of my age (farking 40) should know better.

I looked at the shirt dress Perkin Warbeck linked to in Austin Reed and though feck they even do it in an 18 (though I bet it is a 16 really) and wondered to myself why I have never even considered shopping there.

And some lovely things in Hobbs currently. And lots of other shops that I don't frequent.

sorry if this pisses people off - I'm not trying to be smug about my earnings. I'm just wondering how other people justify 100 quid on a blouse and 180 on a pair of kecks. Is it because I'm a tight Northerner?

I do, QC, I DO need spoiling! Go on, spoil me (in a size 18)...

what's the point of spending £100 on a skirt? why

DSM do you have to get rid of stuff regularly to make enough space?

SEA - Because I liked the skirt, plus I don't like to wear things that 100 other people might be wearing.

CRH - No, I keep everything. I have hundreds of clothes. A whole room in my house with racks of clothes. My dressing room

I have about 100 pairs of shoes too, and probably 30 bags. I have a whole wall covered in jewellery, I love jewellery.

But you must run out of room sometimes if you buy all that a month! You must have loads of stuff you've hardly worn... wow.. I'm kind of impressed in a how-the-other-half-live kind of way

And being as noone I know is this rich, where else could I ask these kinds of questions??! Or comment on their richness? (No offence intended at all!)

And please chuck all unwanted size 12s my way

Here, I don't know if this shop is quite spoilsome enough for you Will - it's not quite chichi or decadent or expensive enough - but everything is available in a size 18

www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1004

DSM.... as well as as well as

my first thought is.....
with your shopping budget all my debt would be gone within a year

my second is...
Well why not? you earned it you spend it (unless you robbed someone and then you should rot )

I think the skirts are a mite too full in Hobbs this season but there's a luverly greeny one in the casual skirts bit

at DSM although I am kind of in awe and want to go shopping with you and I love your name

OP apart from the salary I thought you were me (although I am a tad smaller and younger )

I spend about 1% I think and the very thought of shopping brings me out in a cold sweat and gives me palpitations

I've got loads of stuff I've never worn.

I have 5 pairs of £280 jeans, and I have only worn one pair once. They are all too big for me now.

I don't run out of room, and there is still space for more! I have loads of stuff away in storage as well, things I won't wear again. Its nice to get it all out every so often and see if there is anything I want to wear again!

No offence taken - but I am not particularly 'rich'

it's mad to spend all your money on clothes and accessories don't you have any interests?

clothes and self-indulgant shopping that is the supermarket holds no fear for me

I buy most clothes in charity shops.Am cheapskate.Would rather spend money on days out for dcs.If I earned shedloads would LURVE to spend money on nice clothes,but that is not reality,so I don't.(Am lowly nurse.)

why not give away the things you won't wear? to charity shops i mean! or ebay them?

well you must have a pretty good income and you are only young too

it is a waste tho

you could do something mopr ocnstructive with the cash

sea, let's not turn this into a 'let's beat up DSM' thread, she's entitled to do what she likes with her money...

I will go shopping with anyone! I love shopping!

My friends make me go with them and pick things out for them, I would love to be a stylist, I am really good at picking things out that totally suit other people.

SEA, she didn't say it was all her money on clothes

I earn a decent amount, enough to afford to do what I choose with my earnings.

And SEA - of course I have interests

They are shopping, and socialising, for which I like to look good. Not sure what other 'interests' one could have?

DSM, you've cornered the market in self-indulgence here - you need to share some of it with Will

Ghost - all in 18s

shop.ghost.co.uk/shop/dresses/

Karen Millen you need to avoid - she punishes even the teensiest bit of tummy

Vera Wang next.

And yes - obviously I don't spend all my money on clothes.

You could be a Perosonal Shopper!! When my numbers come up I will employ you.. I will need all the help I can get!

How does a pair of £200+ jeans differ to a £20? Is it the label? Is the fit/look much better?

And can someone tell me if Julien McDonald is a designer label of any kind as I got a lovely pair of jeans off Ebay last month with this on..

Yes yes yes - stick them on ebay