STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

PrincessPink · BCBG

Clothing budget

shopgirl82 · Chanel

i don't have a clothing budget. after doing my expenses i have $40/day for food, clothes, lattes, etc...and all my big purchases have to come from that $40/day. so if i need a sofa or something, i can't spend the $40/day for a couple days, if that makes sense.

but what helps me, is that i make a spreadsheet of what i want. so before i go shopping, i look at it. so when i'm in a store and see a 5-$40 top, $120 shoes, $75 make-up that i want....i could get that, or a nice handbag that i have been wanting for a while that has been on my spreadsheet for a while. it is definitely DORKY but it keeps me on track.

so maybe look in your closet, take inventory and if some brown sandals would be great asset, write those down and it might make you think twice before you add 5 more tops to your collection of 50 or something.

i hope that makes sense, it works for me.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

shopgirl82 wrote:

i don't have a clothing budget. after doing my expenses i have $40/day for food, clothes, lattes, etc...and all my big purchases have to come from that $40/day. so if i need a sofa or something, i can't spend the $40/day for a couple days, if that makes sense.
but what helps me, is that i make a spreadsheet of what i want. so before i go shopping, i look at it. so when i'm in a store and see a 5-$40 top, $120 shoes, $75 make-up that i want....i could get that, or a nice handbag that i have been wanting for a while that has been on my spreadsheet for a while. it is definitely DORKY but it keeps me on track.
so maybe look in your closet, take inventory and if some brown sandals would be great asset, write those down and it might make you think twice before you add 5 more tops to your collection of 50 or something.
i hope that makes sense, it works for me.

That's great advice. I usually keep a list in my head of the things that I want, but I think seeing it (with prices next to it) would be better, plus details of other expenses. My roommate used to write a list of all the things she wanted, and as she saved up and bought them, would cross them off. I never really saw her buying anything outside of that list. If you have the willpower to stick to the list, that's probably a great way to go as well. My problem is I'll see a sale, and the idea of great deals makes it hard for me to save. If I want to save any money I have to go the day I get paid and deposit the money in my savings (thankfully it's at a seperate bank so I don't have easy access).

PrincessPink · BCBG

Wow shopgirl - that's awesome advice. I keep a list of major purchases that I want/need (new flat screen tv, nice watch, new dresser for bedroom) but not of clothing. That is a much more targeted way of approaching it and I like that you have your spending money broken down by day - I break it down by 2 weeks (when I get paid) and seem to burn right through it. I think I am going to try your way. Thanks!!

luckylily · Gucci

I'm pretty good about sticking to my system.

I break the year down into 2 halfs, spring/summer and fall/winter. Before eash season starts I do a quick check of my closet and peruse the runway shoes on style.com. I make a list of things that I want for the coming season and make notes on possible specific items and how much I want to spend on each. I keep the list really general, so that I can be open to different options and add creativity based on what I find in the stores.

Here's an abbreviated version of my list from this spring/summer:
Tops:
1. 1 patterned button up w/ short sleeves
2. 1 t-shirt w/ design on front
3. 1 additional top
Bottoms:
1. 1 nice fitting denim skirt
2. 1 other solid colored skirt
3. 1 patterned skirt
Shoes:
1. 1 pair casual sandals
2. 1 pair leather flip flops
Assescorries:
1. 1 pair dangly sterling earings
2. 1 item from Smoking Lily
3. 1 interesting belt
Extras if I can find a good deal:
1. Frye Boots

Some seasons the list is a lot longer and includes more shoes or going out tops, but right now I'm really happy with my wardrobe. After I write up the list, I print it out in a size that will fit in my wallet and keep it with me. I allow myself a certain amount of money each half year to buy this stuff. Usually after I've bought everything on the list I have a few hundred dollars left that I can use to splurge on something not so practical - usually a crazy pair of shoes. This spring/summer I have a bunch left over that I'm going to save for a little travel in the fall.

I also keep a spreadsheet showing my cost per wear of everything I buy, and I look at it almost daily when I input the day's outfit. It keeps me in line by reminding me that if I have one pair of red kitten heels that I've only worn twice, I really don't need another pair.

This might seem a bit over the top, but I have some debt I'm working on paying off, so it is really important for me to carefully budget. Also, I'm much happier with my wardrobe now that I've been putting more thought into what I buy rather than buying everything on a whim.

-- Edited by luckylily at 15:37, 2005-06-14

Meow · Coach

I do something similar to luckylily. I divide up the year into two parts--fall/winter and spring/summer. I am very happy with my spring/summer wardrobe right now and with my fall/winter wardrobe from last fall/winter except for about 4 basic items I need to buy to go with the fall/winter outfits I already have. I keep a list under my desk calendar in my office of things I want/need and I write them down as I see them. Amazingly, some of the things on my list I am about to scratch off because they have just lost their appeal. I have started trying to ask myself how "badly" do I really want something and how much wear I will actually get out of it. I try to wait a period of time before I buy an item unless I KNOW I will have nightmares if I don't get it. For example, I wanted that "giraffe" skirt from anthro and waited for it to go on sale, but it sold out of their website before it ever did. I continued to be haunted by it so I called around and found it at one of their stores and bought it-- not on sale. That took about 1 1/10 times the amount of money I allot myself to spend on clothes per month, but I had some saved and I REALLY WANTED the skirt. Another example, yesterday halleybird posted the Franco Sarto "Lucca" shoes that are similar to Steve Madden's "Weaverr". WEll, I have loved the Weaverr for some time but they are all sold out everywhere in my size. When she posted the Franco Sartos I was immediately drawn to them so they are currently on my list. Unfortunately, the are not worth $80 ish to me at Zappos (she got hers on sale) which is the only place I can find them. I don't want them THAT badly, but if they go on sale for about 1/2 then I will probably get them. My attraction to them is not like the one I had to the anthro skirt. You just have to priortize. I have learned this the hard way. I have bought too many items on the spur of the moment and lived to regret it. I will probably be guilty of doing that again in the future, but I am really trying to curb it.

-- Edited by Meow at 15:56, 2005-06-14

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

OMG! I LOVE the making a list suggestion. I used to good at managing my $ before I got married & had a baby. Now if I love it & the price is right I buy it or ALL of it. I am definetely going to start a list today.

I'm usually pretty good at setting limits for items such as I won't spend more than $75 for shoes, $30 for jeans, $20 for an infants dress, etc. Since having a baby, I've had to cut back A LOT, hubby & I are just starting out, so our priorities have changed a little. Hopefully in the NEAR future I can raise the bar again like when I was single!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

great idea doing a daily budget! I've been doing bi-weekly since that's how I get paid and it's pretty much all gone after the first weekend.

Marg · Kenneth Cole

Great ideas on the list making - I'm gonna try this since I always forget what I really want when I go shopping. However, 'budget' is such an ugly word !!!

laken1 · Hermes

You girls are so organized!!! All of your ideas are so much better than my buying on a whim when I see stuff on sale. I know I probably spend more on items I don't "need" because they seem like a great deal.

Recently I started building outfits from my existing stuff so that I can see what I have that I never will wear & ditch it, or what is missing (example, brown sandals). I will have to use your suggestions - all of these ideas rock!!!!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

also, i don't go shopping (except online) unless i need something. so today for example( i worked last night) have off today and tomorrow, which a couple of years ago, meant shopping aka spending money, but instead i've stayed in and will probably do the same tomorrow, except for the gym, which means that i have $80 saved. yesterday when i needed things from the drugstore, i made a list and went to those sections only, so i wasn't tempted to buy unnecessary things. the only place i can't do this, is walmart! so eventhough walmart is cheaper than the drugstore, it saves me money by not going there!

one more thing, at bcbg, we can't buy things at a discount for 4 weeks (give the customers a chance) and it's amazing how i'll "need" something when it comes out of the box of shipment, but then after 4 weeks, i can't even look at it! so like Meow, if you wait, a lot of times you don't even want it anymore, or maybe a cheaper version will come out (ex. bcbg sequined shrug)

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I really don't have a budget but I do make a list of clothes I would like to have when I think my wardrobe could use a makeover. So when I do go shopping, I don't get off track!

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Luckylily and Shopgirl-

What do your spreadsheets look like that you use in Excel for your budgeting? Lucklily, what kind of program do you use to keep track of your cost per wear? Maybe you girls could post these? I know it would be a big help to those of us who aren't quite so good at budgeting.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

gingembre1 wrote:

Luckylily and Shopgirl- What do your spreadsheets look like that you use in Excel for your budgeting? Lucklily, what kind of program do you use to keep track of your cost per wear? Maybe you girls could post these? I know it would be a big help to those of us who aren't quite so good at budgeting.

yeah, I'm especially interesting in the cost per wear one. I think it would def. do me a lot of good to see what I'm getting use out of.

I can't imagine a way to make a spreadsheet of it though that isn't ridiculously long and complicated.

luckylily · Gucci

I just use an Excel spreadsheet to track my cost per wear. I have a column for the brand, item description, date that I bought it, price, and how many times I've worn it. My final column is a calculated column that divides the prices by times worn to show the cost per wear. Every morning after I get dressed I quickly add one to the "times worn" column for whatever I'm wearing. It takes about 10 seconds to update.

If anyone wants it they can PM me and I'll email the template when I get home.

I used to think I was being a bit anal. But, I really like seeing how much use my stuff gets. For example, a few years back I felt guilty about buying a Rock and Republic denim jacket. However, now that I can see that I've worn it a jillion times and my cost/wear is just pennies, I know it was a good investment. It also keeps me in line. I have a black lace skirt that my cost per wear is $176! That's fine, but a clear indicator that I DO NOT need to buy another black skirt for dress up occasions.

shopgirl82 · Chanel

gingembre1 wrote:

Luckylily and Shopgirl- What do your spreadsheets look like that you use in Excel for your budgeting? Lucklily, what kind of program do you use to keep track of your cost per wear? Maybe you girls could post these? I know it would be a big help to those of us who aren't quite so good at budgeting.

i don't have a cost per wear spreadsheet (there's probably a lot of things that i'd rather not know...), i just have mental list. like luckylily wrote, i kept on buying winter skirts and never would wear them, so i don't buy them anymore.

my spreadsheet looks like this:

These are the columns. I am pretty specific though, i usually don't type just sneakers, i type north face sneakers at moosejaw for $90. When i buy it, i just type bought in the bought column. I can glance pretty quickly and see what i want. It's pretty easy for me. It doesn't take long to set up and it keeps me focused. It's nice cuz when i'm shopping online i just type in what i want on the spreadsheet. and the store is good cuz sometimes i will forget what website. my spreadsheet maybe has like five things under each column. i don't think that's bad and about three/five are bought over a YEAR or so time frame. all the items i still like, wear, want, and if i don't want something anymore, i take it off. just glancing at it, helps me prioritize things in my head. I hope that helps, i know i'm a dork.

Clothing (Not BCBG) Price Store Bought

Chip and Pepper Denim Skirt $145 Active Endeavors (code) BOUGHT

Clothing BCBG here i type the item and when i can buy it (we have to wait four weeks)

Jewelry diamond studs, etc..

Handbags black bag, etc...

Shoes clergerie thongs, kors 'coast shoe', etc..

Pharmacy certain dri, microdermabrasion kit, etc..

Home floor lamp for downstairs, electric mixer, etc..

Electronics tv stand, second tv, etc..

Ebay things that i want to look up, only available online, that i don't necessarily want to add my favorite searches.

Other- magazine subscriptions, lollapalooza tickets (2), puppy, gym membership ends (09/05)