STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

f413 · Kenneth Cole

shopping budgets

honey · Gucci

i don't really have a budget per se. when i get paid i budget out bills, savings, etc. and then what's left over is discretionary for clothes, entertainment, etc. i also tend to go through cycles where i spend a lot and then don't spend. in nov/dec i spent a lot on clothes (and gifts) so i've kind of cut back on the clothing. i also have a shopping system that i employ to help me get the most value out of my purchases.

rocky · Coach

Well, I try to limit myself to about $500 a month, and thats for clothes, accessories, and makeup. I tried to do $300, but I don't have the willpower.

halleybird · Hermes

I used to have $100 a month for everything -- clothes, makeup, shoes,etc. Now that I'm buying a new house, it's gonna be $40

It's a deal my husband and I have

I hate, hate, hate it -- like, if I wanted say, an MJ bag, it would take me a year of saving (w/o buying any other clothing/makeup item). However, I own a house, my car, and my husband and I have great savings and retirement accounts. Someday (like when I'm 80) I will be glad I saved.

My advice would be...don't marry a finance major. LOL.

Elle · Hermes

I would say between $40 and $75 per month, but I don't necessarily have a clothing 'budget' perse. If I find something that I have to have and it's on sale, I might get it, but I don't even remember the last time that I spent more than $50 in a store at once. Once my fiance gets a job in July, my shopping budget will get sooooo much better - more around the $150 to $250 per month range. Until then I'm on an extended shopping ban

.

Prissy · Dooney & Bourke

I don't have a shopping budget. I make sure all the bills are paid, money in savings and whatever is left goes to clothes, shoes or whatever.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I have $100 a week to spend as I wish- shopping, eating out, going to movies or whatnot. I'm trying to spend less than that though so I can build up my savings.

crystal · Kate Spade

i would say my overall extra spending money is around $300/month. it feels like nothing, but that includes groceries, gas, & other stuff that is not considered "bills" so maybe my clothing budget is closer to $100/month. i try really hard not to spend on clothes since i have so many, but when i see something i love (and there's a code) i usually slap it on the CC & pay it off w/ my next paycheck.

i'm slowly climbing out of debt tho & the more i climb out, the less i spend because i know it's pointless to pay off a card & then fill it back up the next month. also, i'll have more spending $$$ once my cards are paid off!

Lilykind · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: halleybird
My advice would be...don't marry a finance major. LOL."

I'm dating an accounting major...and one who graduated magna cum laude at that! He makes me feel very guilty for my little pleasures sometimes. (But now he has a job so I can dress him. Yay! )

I don't have a budget either, per se. I guess my average is about $300 for clothes and beauty products and other such things, but my spending is very erratic. I will spend a ton in certain months but in others I will buy very little. I've got a job now and I am paying off my bills and starting up a savings this year.

kenzie · Chanel

My bf would looooooove to put me on a very tight budget when it comes to buying clothes. He works for a bank, so I understand how you other girls feel with those accountants! I actually don't spend as much as he thinks, though.

I don't have a strict budget. I just pay my bills first, then savings, then I use some of the leftover money for clothes.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Yall are making me feel so guilty right now because I'm an accounting major and all into saving money and such and always lecture my bf on his spending habits. But some stuff I justify because there is no need to be buying soft drinks at work when he can pack something from home. Those $3s here and there add up really quickly.

Metric · Gucci

All in all about $300 a month for clothes/beauty/shoes. But don' tell my bf that. He thinks its $100. Now I wonder why with $300 do I never have anything to wear???

Meow · Coach

quote:
Originally posted by: lsubatgirl
"Yall are making me feel so guilty right now because I'm an accounting major and all into saving money and such and always lecture my bf on his spending habits. But some stuff I justify because there is no need to be buying soft drinks at work when he can pack something from home. Those $3s here and there add up really quickly."

I agree with you about the drinks at work--I bring stuff from home and I bring my own lunch. I figure that I am saving even more money I can spend on clothes by doing that.

Joina · Kenneth Cole

I'm the same way, I don't have a budget per se. I usually just pay off my amex bill in full every month. This includes most of my shopping, but does not include the $200/week cash allowance I budget for drinks/going out/taxis/etc. The amex bill is usually around $1500. Gosh, it does seem a bit high now that I think about it. Maybe I should start cutting down.

dot · Marc Jacobs

ugh - now that I am going to own a home I really feel like I have to overlook my spending with a keener eye. I put everything possible on my Amex. I feel like it helps me monitor my spending and when I use cash I basically always account for every cent. Recently my bills have been really high due to my animal trauma (I have seriously spent about $5,000 at the animal hospital this year... I know I'm nuts). My Amex bill is also about 1200-1600 a month. I put food, transportation, clothes, home shopping, groceries (for two people), pets' needs, phone bill, and whatever else I can on it. I would probably say my average month's spending (outside of pets' needs.... it's been a weird time in my life and I have had huge bills each month from the animal hospital. now i think my Amex bill will be much less a month.) is about $800/900. I would say probably about $400 is clothing, cosmetics, and other erratic personal purchases like lunches, drinks, and dinners out.

Wow I felt guilty at first, but now that I think about... I probably don't spend as much as I thought. I guess it's just that I have no problem blowing $300 on one thing as long as I can pay my Amex at the end of the month and sitll have all my other needs.

I actually did an Excel spreadsheet earlier this month to budget my month-to-month costs for when I own my apt and have to start paying the mortgage. And I think I was shocked as to how much less I spend on clothes and things than I actually do.... I guess lately I have gone for weeks without buying anything, not a cup of coffee... pack of stamps... anything.. then boom 3 pairs of Sigerson shoes.... then nada... then poof new suit at Macy's and one from Saks (which were both 75%... sorry had to justify myself here!).

Ugh I gotta get my act together. My biggest fear is that I'm not as together financially as I would like to think I am.

nyc_shopgirl · Dooney & Bourke

I used to have $400 clothing and $100 shoe budget everyone month. Now I just buy when I need something but try to limit shoe buying to once a month.

mischiefandmayhem · BCBG

As much as I can. lol.

Mine varies based on what else I need to take care of. Sometimes, it's a lot, sometimes it is a little.

JackieO527 · Dooney & Bourke

I budget for bills and savings and then what ever is left I budget into three categories, gifts, clothing/shoes/cosmetics/entertainment and travel. The only reason that i have a gift budget is b/c right now it seems that I have a wedding or big event, every two weeks so I have to make sure that I have plenty of backup cash for all of the weddings and bridal showers, baby showers I have to go to.