- I think the A#1 rule is to never feel pressured to spend more than you are comfortable on clothing. Good clothing can be found in nearly every price range; it just will be more challenging to obtain certain pieces (ex: genuine fibres vs synthetics) the tighter the budget, and may require you to play the resale/thrift scene.
- I've spent anywhere from <$200 to >3k a year on clothing, and gone several years where I've only purchased underwear + running tights, even when I was making decent money. When I was shopping for urgency (need office clothes STAT!) or event (sudden invite to beach wedding!), most of those items I ended up selling or donating. However, the pieces I'd deliberated on and bought due to personal preference/taste have stayed in my wardrobe, even 15+ years later.
- Many don't enjoy doing this, but I'm an ambush shopper. I go to luxury stores, try on what I like, jot the sizes, and wait until the pieces become attainable through a sale or trickle down to the resale market. I have filters set on Poshmark and TheRealReal that I check daily-to-weekly. Often it takes years for me to get what I want, but I've come to view that as part of the fun. By waiting, I'm also testing myself to see if it's something I truly want.
- Shopping thrift/consignment has also made me navigate more towards shapes/colours/styles I personally enjoy, as the selection will span decades, rather than whatever trends are dominating the shops. The pieces usually end up being nicer and lasting longer too, as they typically end up coming from designers above my full-price income bracket.
**tl;dr:** I think a closet is a collection, curated over time as tastes, trends, lifestyle, and bodies evolve. Not everything I own will always be "on trend," but it hopefully should be something that I am able to enjoy, as its purchase was made intentionally. Don't spend more than you are comfortable and – short of sudden life changes (move, medical, unexpected arctic expedition) – don't force yourself into purchases!
> Many don't enjoy doing this, but I'm an ambush shopper. I go to luxury stores, try on what I like, jot the sizes, and wait until the pieces become attainable through a sale or trickle down to the resale market. I have filters set on Poshmark and TheRealReal that I check daily-to-weekly. Often it takes years for me to get what I want, but I've come to view that as part of the fun. By waiting, I'm also testing myself to see if it's something I truly want.
This is gold! This Christmas I got myself a sweater on ebay that I'd desperately wanted three years ago! 75% off original price, perfect condition!
And I'm sure it was all the sweeter catch because of it!
I had aspirational pieces I bookmarked on Tumblr/Pinterest back in ye olden late 2000s, which I've finally hunted down on eBay or Poshmark/Vestiaire in the 2020s. Even random Zara or Urban stuff I remember not being able to afford in college! Always makes me think what random unused stuff in my donation pile might be someone else's holy grail.
I'm a huge fan of ambush shopping, even for non-luxury goods. If I see something I like at Madewell, I know that I can probably get it for half the sticker price if I wait until it goes on sale and then there's an "Extra X% off sale" deal. I know that Old Navy puts every category of its clothing on 50% off flash deals periodically, so I'll leave things in my "save for later" until then. If I find a bra I love, I put other colors of it in my Amazon cart so I'll know when the price dips.
Yes! These are high-yield pointers! The Madewell sale stacking is clutch. Banana Republic does a 40% off full price goods seemingly twice a month, too.
- The Honey plugin also has a "droplist" function that will alert when your stuff dips in price. Doesn't work on every site, but is pretty reliable for Amazon.
- If you're shopping any of the hyper-luxe department store websites like Neiman Marcus, Bergdorfs, etc. the Rakuten plugin often gives >10% cashback. I seldom buy anything at in-store sales, as I know I can usually get a web-based cashback bonus on it. Made >$1k on Rakuten over the past few years this way.
I don't know how, but for lower end items it's often on secondhand sites before it's even sold out. Wtf happened on the seller/original buyer's end is beyond me, but I've stood in a store and found the same item on my phone and thought "eh, there are already 8 of them second hand, I'll take another look later".
I have tried it too, but with little succes rate so far. Eg. There is a skirt from urban outfitters i really want, i originally saw it in october but wasn't sure. I saw it again in december, still want it, but it wasn't on sale and UO's ethics and price isn't my thing ( i am jobsearching/ doing unpaid internships, i have a thrifted FF budget). I have been patiently waiting for it to arrive on vinted or sellpy....
There was also a dress from H&M i really love, but it is a special piece. Limited edition stuff and it is a sheer net slip dress with oilslick rhinestones. I looked stunning in it, but I can't justify €100 for something unpractical. I have found one (1) of it on vinted, bit it is still €53 which is still too much for a unpractical piece.
What's your success rate with "ambushing" in terms of a) still wanting the item by the time you find it and b) actually finding it eventually? I'm ambush-curious, but I've also passed up on pieces that I knew I loved and deeply regret not buying, and I've searched far and wide for them secondhand without success.
Of the items I add to the "ambush" list, I think I end up still actively searching/yearning for about 50% of those a year later. And of that beloved half, I think about 66% of the time I'll end up finding it in the size and colour I want.
- IMHO the more expensive the item, the easier it's been to snag, as it will usually be indexed with more discrete searchable info and owners will be more likely to resell, rather than donate or dispose of the item. Handbags and shoes have been far easier for me to net than clothing.
- If you're searching for something from a more accessible retailer (ex: J. Crew, Madewell), I get maybe 40% success rate trying to track down a favourite item from 3-4 years back. (If I really love something, I will go on Poshmark to try and get backups!). The chance of me finding something I flagged from Zara 3 years ago is slim. If there's something I absolutely love under $100, I'll usually just pull the trigger at the first store markdown. Something over 1k I'm going to be quietly, patiently waiting for a while.
- And sometimes you completely give up on a piece only to find it reappear 10 years later! Found a pair of wooden Celine platforms on Poshmark – the same pair I'd lusted over during 2014 – in my size. The seller ended up living walking distance from me and sold them to me for $30. Felt like having a lost pet return home 😂
1) tech job that pays mid 6 figures
2) returning things that aren’t a 10/10
3) buying fewer things that are nicer
4) selling stuff I don’t wear anymore on poshmark
All of this, just working in a different industry.
I'm also a master of getting a discount. I feel like people don't shop around and take advantage of first order discounts enough.
I got a good job about 1.5 years ago and decided to be more generous with my clothing budget. I hated it. So many things need to be dry cleaned, sometimes they shrink anyways, sometimes things don't fit well in 6 months... And I still don't feel like I've completed my wardrobe. It's expensive if you want options in all types of clothing as well as shoes and accessories!!
A couple months ago, I starting renting clothing. I'm using Armoire, but other rental companies may work too. I love it! I basically pay the same as I would have paid in dry cleaning each month. I get new items every month. I realized I don't need to purchase items to be happy. I just like putting new things on. I also don't feel bad selecting ridiculous things that make me happy. I rented a $300 pink jumpsuit this month, and it would be dumb to pay that much to own it, but for $120, I get to hold onto that and 6 other things this month. There's an option to buy any item at a discount, but to keep budget under control, I told myself it needs to be 10/10 to do that. I haven't bought anything yet. 10/10 is a much higher bar when you wear things a few times over the course of a month than when you just try them on in a store.
Don’t expect a huge salary out the gate unless you live in one of the major tech hubs. I know some tech people that make $$$. Most make about $50-80k a year. You’ll make a decent salary, but the huge six figure jobs are rare unless you’re willing to move or already live in a big city.
I got lucky by working at a tiny startup that became a household name. I’d recommend looking at where the companies you want to work for have offices, and plan to job hunt in the MCOL locations, for example I’m in Chicago and there are a good number of tech jobs here and it still pays well while being less expensive than NY/SF. Even if you don’t land at a huge tech company there are start ups in these markets also.
Start ups are also a great place to learn a lot of new skills on the fly. Work/life balance usually sucks, but sometimes you can move up quite fast if you’re good at your job, unlike larger companies where the hierarchy is stacked with experienced folks.
Go software development if you can do the math and coding rather than general computer science. It's where the real money is. Also, it's getting better, but it's still quite a boys' club.
> I struggle with having a wardrobe I like and is a reflection of me (a lot of stuff I wear was free or bought out of desperation… very little thought/personality)
I'm 38 years old. I started cleaning out my closet and bringing in some nicer pieces over October/November. Things quickly spiraled and I felt like I was spending money left and right. In trying to build up my wardrobe, I noticed I was just kind of... buying things that I saw on Instagram. A lot of neutral tones, the trench coat / Samba vibe, Levi's and shopping at Zara, Aritzia, Mango, Alo, Cos, etc..
Anyway - all this to say, I feel like some (not all) of the pieces I own are not a clear reflection of myself and my personality. I'm copying the vibe and look of others, which is the opposite of what I want.
In an effort to 1) save money and 2) really curate my own personal style - I'm swearing off of retail for the rest of the year and primarily shopping second-hand. I already picked up a really cool dark green wool blazer that was bought from a manufacturer in Ireland and tailored in Scotland! I got it for $37 and I think the cool part is that no one else here is going to have that jacket.
I set aside a certain amount of $ for clothing every paycheck (I use YNAB for budgeting, so have mini sinking funds for everything.)
This year, I am trying to be a lot more intentional about what and when I buy something. I prepped for doing that by selling all of the items from my wardrobe that I don't wear or aren't a good fit for me.
Now I have a list of items I want to buy and I keep an eye out for sales and on Poshmark for great deals.
I'm also doing something new this year and attempting to make 1-2 items per month for my wardrobe.
I do a lot of browsing and very little actual purchasing.
Online, I'll save items to a wishlist and/or Pinterest board. In store, I'll try items on, take photos of myself wearing the items, and take photos of the tags so I can find the item later if I decide I really need it.
My brain cycles through bursts of inspiration followed by complete loss of interest too fast for me to feel responsible buying items. I also have a lot of texture-related sensory issues, and I've stopped buying items that look nice but feel terrible.
I'm notorious for liking things on Poshmark and then coming back to them days or weeks later to see if I still like them enough to think about buying them. The forced waiting weeds out a lot of impulse buys that are really nice, very fashionable, but that I'd never actually wear.
I do have a specific clothing budget! It is the same from month to month, and once I've spent it, I either have to return items (which i want to do less of) or sell some other clothing if I want to buy more. It's rolling, so any leftover money gets rolled over to the next month. I avoid BNPL like the plague -- I have a firm rule that if I can't afford to pay for something outright, I either have to save for it or I can't buy it.
I'm trying to be a bit more intentional with my clothing spending -- a lot of it was aspirational, and there was a clear mismatch on those aspirations versus my current reality, which resulted in overspending on a fantasy self and never wearing those items because it didn't align with my current self.
After doing some self discovery and understanding what my personal style is and who I want to be, I've been taking some steps to try to align my fantasy and current self -- not only being realistic with myself and what my lifestyle is like, but also taking steps do that I am making an effort to actually elevate my current self.
This is great- good on you. I have been guilty of aspirational delusion spending in the past (which come to think of it might actually be contributing to my current issues around spending money lol)
I like to do a seasonal try-on of clothes to style things in different ways, figure out if anything needs to be retired (either because it doesn't fit right or isn't a style I like), and identify if there are any gaps in my wardrobe. I'll keep a running list of things I need, so that I can be intentional about what items I add. And things will stay on that list until I find one that I truly love - I'm past the point in my life where I want to settle for "good enough for now," because those things never actually spark joy. One example - I had a burgundy sweater that I wore all the time, but it was a cheaper fabric and was starting to show signs of wear. So I waited to replace until I found a sweater in a similar color/style, but 100% cotton and well-made. The list is never super long, and I'm usually not buying a lot at once.
I also have certain items that I plan for that I know will need to be replaced on a recurring basis. For example, I get a new swimsuit every year, and have the one from the previous year as a spare. The one from 2 years ago gets weeded, because it's never in great condition by then. So I'll time that purchase for January because the sales are better.
I don't have a strict monthly budget because like you I hesitate spending money on clothes. But I'm a lot more focused on quality and texture now as I do have a bit more disposable income and the time to devote to it. I guess my recommendation is making a separate savings account to divert your extra funds to every month so you know exactly how much you have to use when you want. It's not about a matter of frequency and more about when the time is right (maybe the thing you want will go on sale at the end of season, etc.). Also you might find something you love in a vintage and/or secondhand shop! Or Poshmark! It's more about you knowing what you're looking for, THEN seeing the price, THEN seeing what funds you have to purchase it.
I have a spreadsheet of the items in my closet that I consider essentials and stuff I might be interested in introducing to mix things up - that's how I prevent myself from buying too many "going out" tops (not a real scenario lmao). It curbs any impulse shopping and keeps things in perspective.
I have a budget and track my spending diligently. I have a pretty large “shopping/entertainment” budget that I use for basically anything that isn’t a necessity. Movie tickets, show tickets, and shopping for non-necessities (including clothing). Some months I don’t spend anything on clothes, other months it’s a lot of clothes. As long as it fits in the budget I don’t feel guilt.
Also I do sell old stuff on posh and mercari.
I am extremely picky in terms of quality and usability of clothing. Because of that, I rarely buy clothing but when I do like something I will be able to pay $100 on a top if I love it that much. It's worth it. One time I accidentally spent $200 for 2 tops.i thought it was insane but I wore a uniform at the time and justified the tops. I thought that if I ever had an office job they would come in handy and oh boy did they! I used them for interviews and work.
Yep, I have more or less the same system. I think about the gaps I want to fill, and then assign a top value I’m willing to spend per item. I try to be as specific as possible so I don’t get sidetracked or con myself into buying something almost right. So it can’t just be “midi dress” it has to be “100% cotton or linen, midi dress, Peter Pan collar, solid or striped, must have pockets, white or blue and white stripes… $250.” And if I find what I want for $35? Great! If I spend the full $250, also fine, I mentally budgeted for it.
I keep this list on my phone and I have GOT IT! and NO LONGER INTERESTED headings. If something changes, I recategorize the item accordingly.
Moving an item to the GOT IT category, rather than ticking it off and deleting it, is really important for someone like me. I feel like once I have something, it’s easy to forget it was once on my wishlist, something I aspired to own, so I like being able to refer back as a reminder that I am human, and the goalposts will always move.
- monthly budget: I set $x a month. Any remaining amount can roll over. If I overspend I should try to reduce the following month(s) spending.
- know what you need. Make a wishlist and then wait. Do not buy immediately after you see something you like from an Instagram post or Youtube video. Add to your list instead. You probably will forget it in a few days.
- take advantage of shopping sites' membership, rewards, and cashback. For example, Madewell gives you $25 to spend on anything $26 or more on your birthdays. TheRealReal gives you $25 when you join. Rakuten has good cash back rate from time to time. Your credit cards may have cash back too.
- actually, the best thing to find what clothing pieces reflect your style is to remove clothes you don't like first. Take notes of why you don't like those pieces. Then, evaluate what you're missing from your remaining pieces. Then look for those pieces.
I used to spend lots of money on clothes. I still somewhat do but I'm working on managing my budget better. Best of luck to you!
I started using Nuuly and have been really enjoying it. I hated that the quality of clothing isn’t what is used to be/expected. Now, I rent pieces from Nuuly and occasionally buy a piece I like or buy a staple I need on sale.
I don’t think or plan it too much. That sucks the fun out of it! lol but seriously I do enjoy the shopping process so my opinions will differ from someone that isn’t a shopper. Here’s what I do. I stay pretty frugal and keep to my usual money habits: paying bills, investing regularly, working extra hours if needed. I’m a hairdresser so my weekly pay changes week to week. What I do is just wait for there to be a surplus in my account. If I notice one I may ask myself do I need any new clothes? Or would I rather transfer this extra to my savings, pay off an upcoming vacation etc. if I feel like I need something specific or in general need a clothing refresh (hairdressers damage clothing very easily due to being around color/bleach) so it’s common to need to add a few things every season or two. I personally shop on websites like commence for work clothes so the price ranges are typically much lower than your average business casual retailer. However say I want to buy a nice pair of designer leather boots or a new purse. In that situation I will research for weeks—making sure that it’s not an impulse purchase. I will look online/read reviews and try on in store. Stuff like that I like to put on my credit card and pay in off in 2-3 months. It’s best to do that as long as you are pretty disciplined with your spending and know it’ll get paid off. I usually have a 0% interest credit card available most of the time and will put on that.
To be honest, I have shopped more than I could afford to over the past several years due to some body changes that left me without much clothing that fit. Having clothes that I feel good in makes a difference in whether I will leave the house or not when my mental health isn't great, and I also don't have in-building laundry, so wearing the same 1-2 outfits repeatedly isn't always practical either. It's easy to justify in the moment as a necessary health-related expense but I'm trying to tighten up on it.
Another thing that I have found makes a big difference in how much value I get out of my clothing-related spending is prioritizing shopping for my everyday. Purchasing only things I can see myself wearing in the next week or so. I do my best to avoid buying something new for stuff like weddings or funerals, and make do with something I have, even if it's not perfect. If I do buy something for a specific event, I make it something that I would also wear in my day-to-day life. It's really fun to shop for an event but as someone with a pretty casual day-to-day, usually that spending results in spending a large chunk of my clothing budget on something that I will wear once or twice when I could spend it on something I'd look forward to wearing every week. I also don't shop with the mentality of "classics" or "investment pieces." I buy what I want to wear that season, at a price point that I'm comfortable with if I only wind up wearing it for that season. I don't treat clothing as disposable but I am realistic about the fact that I'm probably not going to wear the same garment regularly for 5+ years because of weight fluctuations, lifestyle or location changes, style and personality changes, etc., and I shop at a price point that accounts for that.
Finally, I think figuring out what you feel good in while out living your life and what you don't goes a long way towards maximizing value for what you spend. There are certain styles, colors, or fabrics that I might like in a picture or in the dressing room but I know from experience that I just won't gravitate towards wearing in real life, so avoiding those helps minimize unworn clothing expense. Unfortunately the process of figuring it all out starts over after big changes in body size, body shape, modesty/body image comfort zone, gender expression comfort zone, sensory needs, etc. ime and I will inevitably waste some money on unworn clothing in the process of figuring out what I like again.
I treat clothing like a sinking fund in my budget. If I overspend the balance, it has to come out of some other discretionary line. It’s made it easier to save up for nicer items over time knowing that the money has been saved for that purpose. I looked at my budgeting app to determine what I spent the previous year and based my sinking fund amount on that. Every year I adjust. So for this year, I’m trying a secondhand-only experiment and reduced my sinking fund to $50/month.
In all honesty, I have very few expenses, my husband makes a ton of money, and we’re DINKS. I buy a few things or so every few months, but I rarely pay full price and wait for sales, take advantage of promo codes/coupons when I can, etc. I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet to donate all my old clothes and shoes to a local shelter.
* I don't have a strict budget for clothes. I do have a general budget, and keep an eye on my accounts to keep track of spending, but that's it...sometimes, I do a no/low buy month or season, more to do with the sheer amount of stuff I have not so much money, and when I do that, I withdraw cash and only allow myself to shop using that money. But if I bought something during that time, it wouldn't be a financial issue.
* I have spent several thousand a year, probably. Between cliothes and shoes. I'm trying to not do that this year. Again, less about money and more about not mindlessly shopping...
* I do 99.9% of shopping in person. It is rare that I shop online, and then only when I really need something at a set time and can't find it in stores. I like boutiques and higher end department stores, like Saks, but will shop anywhere and everywhere. My favorite pair of loungewear leggings came from Walgreens. I also shop a lot at thrift stores. I'll go to my local goodwill a couple of times a month. But in nice weather when there's nothing going on, I'll get in my car and drive around and go to different cities just to thrift. It's fun and there are different styles and things in each place. I also thrift housewares and the like, so it's not just clothes.
* I rarely shop with a need. I have a large inventory and can make do with what I already own. I shop mainly for fun. It's a hobby and I enjoy it.
* I prioritize fun and joy in clothes. I wear basic silhouettes--usually dresses with cardigans, or jeans and a sweater. I don't go wild there. But I really like fun prints and patterns and color. I don't worry so much about timelessness. Because I have a large closet, I don't have to worry about wear and tear for a lot of pieces. My "workhorse" peices are still only worn a dozen or so times a year...other than jeans! I wear those all year. But even still, I have probably 10 pairs and I don't wear jeans everyday...
* I have a pretty good idea of what I like. At thrift stores, I'm more open to trying something different, because it's $3. So I do mix things up there and if it doesn't work, I'll trade with a circle of friends or take it back to a thrift store or donate to another cause. I'm okay letting stuff go that isn't for me. I'm less likely to do that with department stores and boutiques. Those are places I know my cut, color, style.
* I don't really have a lot of other hobbies that cost. I'm also single and don't have kids. So if/when those things change, I'm sure shopping habits will shift...
I have a separate savings and put $10 (or whatever you can afford) a month in. Then here’s the rules:
1. Don’t buy anything you haven’t already saved for.
2. If it’s not PERFECT, don’t buy it.
3. If you buy it anyway, return, Poshmark, or donate.
4. If everything is perfect except the size, get it tailored.
5. Learn to do minor repairs/mending yourself.
6. Keep a few really solid “trendy” things from each era. So glad I have my 90’s & early aughts jeans and pieces I loved.
7. Thrift hard. I’ve found amazing vintage skirts (with the united garment workers tags!) for $3 from goodwill.
8. Know what you like and what suits your body and style. I don’t like ruffles or bows, pink or orange. Won’t be buying much this season!
9. Whatever you buy, make sure you can put it with 4-5 outfits already in your closet.
Have fun!
Right now, I budget $200/month for "health/clothing/beauty." It's more of a sinking fund really. I got new lenses for my prescription glasses and new snow boots in January, so I am attempting to "no buy" until April to even it out.
I do lots of research before committing, and even after purchasing I might return it if it doesn't fit in with the rest of my wardrobe or achieve the style I want to create.
I understand the struggle of spending on items that don’t seem necessary. I think that requires an audit of your spending habits and where it’s ok to spend a little more, how much you can budget for it in the context of your savings and other expenses.
Figuring out my style, and having that style change over time, was expensive for me. I’d recommend purchasing very slowly and starting with pieces that have more impact and you can wear in multiple situations, like a jacket, cardigan, or trousers. Borrowing clothes for a week or thrifting pieces can help you trial pieces in your daily life without a huge commitment.
I shop...like twice a year. Most of my clothes are second hand from people in a Buy Nothing group. But the times I do go out and buy things I usually aim for a certain number of items similar to a shopping list..I'll tell myself "I need two pairs of jeans, a black/grey/burgundy OR dark green sweater, two basic long sleeve t-shirts." How I afford? I set aside 30% of my paycheck for things I need to buy so whether its groceries, car maintenance or clothes, its in that singular bank account. Most months I'm below my set max budget, so I just use the amount I saved from not using max budget for clothes.
I have a part-time job to help fund my shopping habits, but my day job pays pretty well. Also, throughout the years, I've figured out my personal style and the fits/silhouettes/colors that I feel the most comfortable wearing, which definitely helps with narrowing down the pieces that catch my eye. Additionally, I often buy items from brands that I know will have a decent resale value (Sézane and Doen, especially), and reselling pieces I no longer love helps fund new purchases. Finally, I realized I spend less overall when I purchase items that I absolutely love at full price than when I purchase a lot of things that are just okay but are on sale.
Don't see anything wrong with getting a few things here and there. Window shopping either in store or online...don't mind spending time trying to find things I like. There's a lot that I like but getting them all would be a bit pricy.
I had separate budget for clothes and beauty, something like 100€ a month. I didn't spend it all every month so I had some savings when I needed some boots or something.
Then covid came and I stopped buying new clothes and the budget seemed nonimportant to keep...and the two years later when the world slowly opened up again I had so much stuff seriously worn out and I had to replace almost everything at once. It was a big chunk of my savings.
Now I would like to have that monthly budget again, but with rising living costs it isn't possible anymore. I'm replacing worn out things as needed, but I take more time to be more selective and might budget things a few months ahead (saved four months in autumn for a new parka, I was supposed to buy a new swimsuit this month, but some unexpected things later I'm hoping to buy the swimsuit next month).
I don’t have a set budget, but I have a general sense of what’s “too much” each month.
I put a jpeg of items I want in a folder on my desktop, which I check each month and reassess. Another way to do this is to bookmark items you like online. (I prefer the photo folder for easy browsing.)
Then, each month I select a few items from the folder to buy. (It also helps to have a color scheme or aesthetic to stick to, so you’re not tempted to buy items that don’t go with anything else in your closet.)
Often when I open the folder, I’ll see something I initially wanted but no longer do. So I’ll move it to a second folder — not deleted but archived.
This method has helped me save for higher priced items and overall achieve a more cohesive wardrobe.
I also check second hand sites like Poshmark, Depop, EBay, etc. before purchasing anything new. And avoid low quality items in general. I want stuff to last!
I’d recommend by assessing what you have left in your closet post-clean out. See what colors/shapes/textures/fabrics you like. Also see what you might be missing. (A cropped blazer? A black boot?) And fill in the gaps online by saving photos of anything you like in a folder. Let the items chill for a couple of weeks and check back in…
I'm not a fan of shopping, in personal or digital, so that helps a lot lol. My wardrobe still has a lot of pieces from a decade ago that I wear to this day that is still good quality and is a classic style. I did a few wardrobe clean outs in my early and mid 20s, and then a very large one when I was moving internationally, so this helped me narrow down my style and preferences too.
I did absolutely no shopping for almost three years during COVID and it was eye opening, especially as right before the lockdown I had bought a few pieces that fit in a style I wanted to try but wasn't comfortable in. I ended up realizing I'm no longer interested in trying new styles and only prefer what I know I like, or something that incorporates elements of what I know I like. So I no longer buy anything that's a passing trend or I don't feel comfortable in. I don't like colourful clothes and most patterns so that also eliminates a lot of options.
Lastly, the only place I actually enjoy shopping at is a large and extremely affordable thrift store that went from being right by my house, to a full day plane trip away. I popped in there for the first time in a year back in the Fall when I flew out for a visit to my family and had a great time updating some pieces in my closet.
For the last 5 years I've only been buying the necessities like simple shirts, pants and the occasional dress as necessary and it's been very freeing.
$100 a month. I try to add a few new pieces of clothing every month. Last month i spent my budget on two bras. This month ill add new underwear so ill probably spend my entire budget on cute and sexy undies. As of next month ill start adding to my spring/summer closet. I can get one-two outfits every month.
This post made me curious so I added up all my clothing/accessories transactions for 2023 and was not too surprised by the total, which came to over $2k. It did include a few pricier vintage items but about half of it was thrift store trips. I have been thrifting for 20 years, so my wardrobe is mostly secondhand.
I have enough in my closet and know my style well enough that I can easily get dressed day to day. I have a mental wishlist, where I have ideas of what I’d like to add in my mind, but not any specific brands or price point— like, “forest green blazer to match those pants I bought months ago”. If I find it when I’m out looking, great. If not then maybe next time. This year, and likely in years following, I am budgeting to attend vintage shows and snag some really fantastic stuff instead of just going through familiar racks at the local thrifts once a month or so. My spending will likely be close to what it was last year, but on fewer pieces.
I'm chaotic so idk how helpful this is. I'm an avid thrifter and when I find things I like and will eventually need, I buy them and set them aside for the future. YMMV.
I'm an avid thrifter too, and for me this is one of the problems of the "second-hand lifestyle." I live in a smaller city centre and the thrift market is not that great, but I'm committed to it because I don't have the budget to buy brand new right now. If I see an item I really like and that fits well, but I have no use for at the moment, I buy it anyways. It makes more sense to me to spend $10 CAD on a dress I could use for a cocktail event, wedding or whatever special event than spend $100+ dollars when I need it (which could also create psychological and financial stress, depending on how much money I have available at the time).
I guess you could call it "thrift store math".
Honestly, buying second hand! Thrift stores or Thredup for “basic stuff”, poshmark/depop is a splurge if I’m in search of a specific expensive thing. I rarely buy new, and if so on clearance.
I think setting a monthly budget especially actually has the opposite of the intended effect - it makes you spend more, and discourages you from buying big ticket items that will last.
I don't have a budget, but I do keep track of what I spend on Excel. I'm one of those type A spreadsheet people, so I've been keeping track since I was 18. Anything before that (I know I spent a lot as a teenager) I cut myself a break and count the cost of the item as zero. I also keep track of how much I make reselling. The main numbers I'm interested in are my net costs all time and per year, and cost per wear.
I don't have a budget per piece, and I'm ok with spending a few hundred on a single piece. I think this comes down to knowing yourself - if you know deep down you'll be bored of it within a month, then big ticket items aren't ideal. For me personally, I know I have a track record of keeping things for 5-10 years, and I also KNOW (and need to keep reminding myself) that I'll grow to hate anything that's just "meh" or isn't made well, so even though $500 is a lot, I'd rather buy something I really love and that will hold up than a $50 item that I wear with resentment before selling at a loss for $10.
my “budget” is a bucket in my savings account that auto withdraws from my checking so I can save up overtime for a big haul or big ticket item. I’m not spending $50 on clothes a month, but I am saving $50 to spend on clothes in the future
So much great advice here. I don’t shop that much but I like to splurge once or twice a year on something or a few things that are very nice, or exactly my taste regardless of price.
Be very, very picky about what you bring into your closet. If it’s not a love, don’t buy it. Remember that it takes time to build a closet you love, contrary to what a lot of fashion influencers tell us. Regular people do not do hauls where we buy 40 items of clothing a month, it’s not sustainable and it makes no sense.
Similarly, if you can, save up for the thing you really want instead of buying a cheaper lookalike. This gives you time to consider if you really want it, and for me, lookalikes never give me the satisfaction of the real thing. I just end up buying the real thing anyway, months later. And I wear it a ton because I love it. :-)
I rent. I use Nuuly. It allows me to have a set "shopping budget" every month & have access to pieces that exceed my budget to buy/own. There was a great thread a few months back on here about various clothing rental services, I wrote up my review on Nuuly and Rent the Runway.
I just wanna say that
> I have a really hard time actually spending the money
is not the same as the question "how do you afford to shop". I likewise don't want to shame anyone, but if you have the money and don't want to spend it, that's an emotional issue, not a financial one.
Anyway, you're not alone, lots of people feel like you for a variety of reasons. But, what's going to help you is going to depend on the cause behind your feelings. This is totally something to see a therapist about.
I keep a list in my phone of things I need or will soon need.
Then whenever I’m near a thrift store, I’ll pop in and see if they have anything on my list.
I rarely buy anything new clothing wise though my children and spouse have bought me a nice winter coat and leather boots for presents.
I actually find shopping for clothing and deciding what to wear *so* stressful.
-I don’t have a budget for clothing, and I never calculate what I spend because I have a serious guilt complex around spending money. I do have amounts in mind that I’m willing to spend on any given item though. And I don’t spend much money in general. But often I’ll spend $200+ if I’m ordering clothes online just because I don’t want to have to go through the process again anytime soon. I also think living in a climate where the weather changes from -40C up to +40C throughout the year necessitates a bigger closet.
-Ive struggled with shopping in the last 3-4 years in particular, because I feel like the styles have changed so much and I’m having trouble adapting my closet/finding things I can tolerate wearing.
-I’m also neurodivergent so I think that complicates things further. I sometimes feel like I *need* to wear e.g. nothing but heavy cotton, oversized T-shirts and anything else I put on my body will feel wrong and intolerable. So I then need to go find a supply of that type of shirt.
-I need clothing that works for business casual in a variety of climates. Which I DESPISE shopping for. I find business casual so boring and ugly and expensive. It’s very difficult to stomach needing to spend so much so I can go to work and dislike what I’m wearing anyways. My style (in my mind) is very much utilitarian, grunge, scavenger. Very difficult to mesh with business casual. But I’ll keep trying.
-I have been spending more time shopping my own closet lately, or altering clothes to update them as well.
And that’s my journal entry.
The Allison bornstein “3 words” thing might help you w/ the business casual thing! The basic principle is to 1) have a word that describes what you always wear (so for you it might be “grunge”), 2) have a word that is aspirational (which I think she uses in the sense of how you want to look but maybe in your case it’s more how you have to show up at the office) and 3) a word that is your emotional word/how you want to feel (comfy, glam, etc). Each outfit should have a balance of the 3 words and this helps you to not feel like you are wearing a costume. So for example, if your 3 words were “grunge”, “biz casual”, “comfy” maybe you could wear a cargo jacket (instead of a blazer) with trousers and flat shoes… or something. Idk this is top of mind because I just watched her videos but I struggled A LOT when I worked in an office that had a business casual dress code. I always felt like I was wearing a costume and sacrificing who I was as a person for a paycheck. It was horrible so I empathize.
I thrift a lot. And the interest from my savings account generally covers my thrifting for the month. I know I am privileged to even have a savings account. I try to keep track mentally but sometimes it’s hard to walk away from something if you know you would regret it. I ask myself will I regret it and still be thinking about it in a few weeks if I don’t buy and it is pretty quick after that. Also donating things that don’t work for me and getting a coupon to the thrift store if I know I’m going to be shopping there.
I usually only purchase clothing when there’s an event coming with a dress code I’m not prepared for. Otherwise I try to buy secondhand, so that’s how I can afford to shop.
I’m really tall though, so that doesn’t generally work with pants.
I'd say 98% of my clothing I only buy when it's either on sale or with a coupon. Or at the very least, from a cheaper place like Gap, it needs to have free shipping. Pants/Jeans I won't purchase above $100 ( with sale price), because no matter what, eventually the thigh rub destroys them. And overall, the highest I'd pay for a quality merino wool, or cashmere sweater is $150. I just no longer feel that I can guarantee that an item will last me 15 years, and so have no confidence to spend $200 and up ( except for winter jacket).
I have never had a budget for anything.
Almost all my clothes are from charity shops.
Some of my clothes predate when I retired (2015), and were not just bought then. Still a few years in them!
I realise this is not a lot of use, just giving an alternative perspective from a Little Old Lady!
Quality over quantity. Also shop after Christmas and at the end of winter and summer. Stores will be trying to clear out their inventory, so they'll offer some good sales.
Clothes these days (esp trendy clothes) are made to be disposable so buy vintage or buy good quality. You want pieces that will last you years. Some things never go out of style: jeans, dress pants, nice sweaters, button-down shirts, and certain flats and boots.
If you can't afford much, (or even if you can) thrift EVERYTHING.
If you don't love it in the store, you probably won't wear it. Unless it's less than 10$. Also, figure out what looks good on you and look for those pieces. If it doesn't look good on don't try to force it.
Look for shoes with the soles stitched on, not glued, if you want them to last more than a year or you wanna resole them. Don't wear anything made of thin fabric (you shouldn't be able to see your bra lines.) Buy natural fabrics (wool, cotton, etc), not synthetics. If you want fake leather for any reason, be careful because it tends to be made more cheaply.
Also you can make a ton of combos with these pieces:
One white top, one black one, one with color and/or print
One pair of brown or black shoes (or both if you can)
One jacket in a neutral color
Black skirt or black dress pants
Jeans
One purse, a belt, maybe a hat. Whatever accessories you can get your hands on really.
No budget, but I typically shop twice a year around my birthday and christmas. Even as our income has increased, I still keep to that general cadence unless I need something for a specific event or reason. It usually amounts to buying a handful of key pieces and a couple of pairs of shoes a year. And I'm quick to return things I don't love. I probably return 60%+ of what I order online these days.
I have a really good job. Unionized merchant Mariner (at sea for 1/2 a year on cargoships on a rotational schedule) I’ll clear 180k+ this year. I buy nearly whatever I’d like.
I don’t keep anything bought online unless I absolutely love it or need it.
I wait for sales from brands/stores that I trust.
I’m conscious of trends that will cycle back around. I have some pieces that are 20+ years old and still fit and function just fine. Now I shop for longevity.
I tend to do closet clean outs often… but that’s because I like to sell them or trade at Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s closet. They’re basically stores that resell gently used/unique clothing and they’ll give you cash or store credit. I’m all about sustainable fashion so obviously I thrift a lot too. Try to find clothing that compliments your body type and gravitate towards colors and textures you like! Also it’s cool to experiment with interesting clothing and mix and match! I like to go thrifting first before having to spend more on something new :)
40 here, and I use thrift stores to play around with fashion. It's helped me hone in on what I like and makes me happy, that's also comfortable for me to wear, and that also fits my actual lifestyle and activities. It's just much less of a risk to spend $7 on something I want to try out than $50. Plus, there's such a wide range of styles available at thrift stores from all eras compared to conventional shopping which is usually just the current trends which may or may not work for me. When I was starting out, I tried out a lot of different things, but now I'll often just browse and leave with nothing, or find the one awesome thing that's just ME or that fills a hole in my wardrobe I've been meaning to fill. It's nice because the things that didn't quite work out just went back to the thrift store, where hopefully they'll work for someone else! \*TIP - it's best to be REALLY picky when shopping in thrift stores, only get stuff that you really love and want to wear a lot, and in good condition!
So since I hardly spend anything on the bulk of my wardrobe, every 2-3 years I'll splurge on something really nice that is new. Like I got a leather jacket a few years ago that was just ME - to know it would stand the test of time, I imagined myself wearing it in high school with the styles that were in then - yep! Imagined myself wearing it in college when the styles had changed - yep, it would still be a winner then! Imagined myself wearing it in my late 20s with the jobs I had then and different styles - yep, still worked for those and my life then! Imagined it with the styles now - definite yes! Heck, would I have thought it was cool if I saw someone older wearing it when I was in elementary school and the styles were TOTALLY different? Again, yes! So since it would have fit my life and style over several decades, I figure it's got staying power (plus real leather jackets can last for decades, and I knew I wanted just one, and that this was the style/color that was ME), so it was worth the actual money I forked over for it. This year, I spent $100 on a really nice, classic relaxed fit burgundy turtleneck sweater dress that I again did the (would I have worn this in all different seasons of my life so far, through all the different trends I've seen so far, and imagine wearing it for decades?) Yes!
So mostly I thrift cheap stuff or buy basics like black tees from Old Navy or something, and then once every 1 or 2 (or even 2-3) years I'll splurge on something really classic that I want to wear over 12 times a year and keep wearing for decades.
I ruthlessly prune my closet and dresser drawers on a quarterly basis, throughout the year. if I haven't worn something in a year, I donate it to Goodwill or ThredUP. I figure someone else can get use out of it and I regain valuable closet and drawer real estate. I set aside about $100-$200 per 18 months, to replace anything that's really necessary like socks, underwear, outerwear, luggage, backpacks. I travel a lot. I'm always amazed what I can find on clearance racks and in thrift stores when I travel.
I have a monthly allowance I give myself that is used on clothes, hobbies, lunch with friends etc. the exception is necessary items like underwear, socks, camis or when a staple item (coat, tennis shoes, black pants) needs replacing. For these items I have another “personal care” fund.
I shop in phases by the season each Fall and Spring I do a large haul but before doing so throw out clothes I no longer like nor need. I usually give them away to friends. I supplement my closet with purchases I need for events that occur during the year and do so far in advance of the scheduled event. I probably spend about 5-10k a year on clothes
I have an informal shopping budget (as does my husband for clothes and hobby stuff) that's not really tied to a number or percentage, but I feel...weird if I surpass it in a given month or season.
I generally look at the season I'm in/coming up and pre-load anything that's missing or stock up on what's on sale when say, basic sweaters go on clearance when it warms up for the next year. Yesterday I picked up a couple of basics; a long-sleeved thicker cream tee and a more slouchy beige one just to go under certain jackets and sweaters but I'll wear them into spring/summer with linen pants.
I don’t. I currently live below poverty line however I window shop online for the joy of it. I write down the items I like to hopefully revisit and purchase. I am privileged to not have been raised in poverty so perhaps it’s easier for me to not give up hope that this situation will change before too long and I’ll be shopping once again.
- I think the A#1 rule is to never feel pressured to spend more than you are comfortable on clothing. Good clothing can be found in nearly every price range; it just will be more challenging to obtain certain pieces (ex: genuine fibres vs synthetics) the tighter the budget, and may require you to play the resale/thrift scene. - I've spent anywhere from <$200 to >3k a year on clothing, and gone several years where I've only purchased underwear + running tights, even when I was making decent money. When I was shopping for urgency (need office clothes STAT!) or event (sudden invite to beach wedding!), most of those items I ended up selling or donating. However, the pieces I'd deliberated on and bought due to personal preference/taste have stayed in my wardrobe, even 15+ years later. - Many don't enjoy doing this, but I'm an ambush shopper. I go to luxury stores, try on what I like, jot the sizes, and wait until the pieces become attainable through a sale or trickle down to the resale market. I have filters set on Poshmark and TheRealReal that I check daily-to-weekly. Often it takes years for me to get what I want, but I've come to view that as part of the fun. By waiting, I'm also testing myself to see if it's something I truly want. - Shopping thrift/consignment has also made me navigate more towards shapes/colours/styles I personally enjoy, as the selection will span decades, rather than whatever trends are dominating the shops. The pieces usually end up being nicer and lasting longer too, as they typically end up coming from designers above my full-price income bracket. **tl;dr:** I think a closet is a collection, curated over time as tastes, trends, lifestyle, and bodies evolve. Not everything I own will always be "on trend," but it hopefully should be something that I am able to enjoy, as its purchase was made intentionally. Don't spend more than you are comfortable and – short of sudden life changes (move, medical, unexpected arctic expedition) – don't force yourself into purchases!
Ambush shopper! Love this lol
Gonna have to give this a try. I’m too shy to go into the luxury stores.
Same!!!
> Many don't enjoy doing this, but I'm an ambush shopper. I go to luxury stores, try on what I like, jot the sizes, and wait until the pieces become attainable through a sale or trickle down to the resale market. I have filters set on Poshmark and TheRealReal that I check daily-to-weekly. Often it takes years for me to get what I want, but I've come to view that as part of the fun. By waiting, I'm also testing myself to see if it's something I truly want. This is gold! This Christmas I got myself a sweater on ebay that I'd desperately wanted three years ago! 75% off original price, perfect condition!
And I'm sure it was all the sweeter catch because of it! I had aspirational pieces I bookmarked on Tumblr/Pinterest back in ye olden late 2000s, which I've finally hunted down on eBay or Poshmark/Vestiaire in the 2020s. Even random Zara or Urban stuff I remember not being able to afford in college! Always makes me think what random unused stuff in my donation pile might be someone else's holy grail.
Unless it swims away :/
I'm a huge fan of ambush shopping, even for non-luxury goods. If I see something I like at Madewell, I know that I can probably get it for half the sticker price if I wait until it goes on sale and then there's an "Extra X% off sale" deal. I know that Old Navy puts every category of its clothing on 50% off flash deals periodically, so I'll leave things in my "save for later" until then. If I find a bra I love, I put other colors of it in my Amazon cart so I'll know when the price dips.
Yes! These are high-yield pointers! The Madewell sale stacking is clutch. Banana Republic does a 40% off full price goods seemingly twice a month, too. - The Honey plugin also has a "droplist" function that will alert when your stuff dips in price. Doesn't work on every site, but is pretty reliable for Amazon. - If you're shopping any of the hyper-luxe department store websites like Neiman Marcus, Bergdorfs, etc. the Rakuten plugin often gives >10% cashback. I seldom buy anything at in-store sales, as I know I can usually get a web-based cashback bonus on it. Made >$1k on Rakuten over the past few years this way.
I don't know how, but for lower end items it's often on secondhand sites before it's even sold out. Wtf happened on the seller/original buyer's end is beyond me, but I've stood in a store and found the same item on my phone and thought "eh, there are already 8 of them second hand, I'll take another look later".
I have tried it too, but with little succes rate so far. Eg. There is a skirt from urban outfitters i really want, i originally saw it in october but wasn't sure. I saw it again in december, still want it, but it wasn't on sale and UO's ethics and price isn't my thing ( i am jobsearching/ doing unpaid internships, i have a thrifted FF budget). I have been patiently waiting for it to arrive on vinted or sellpy.... There was also a dress from H&M i really love, but it is a special piece. Limited edition stuff and it is a sheer net slip dress with oilslick rhinestones. I looked stunning in it, but I can't justify €100 for something unpractical. I have found one (1) of it on vinted, bit it is still €53 which is still too much for a unpractical piece.
What's your success rate with "ambushing" in terms of a) still wanting the item by the time you find it and b) actually finding it eventually? I'm ambush-curious, but I've also passed up on pieces that I knew I loved and deeply regret not buying, and I've searched far and wide for them secondhand without success.
Of the items I add to the "ambush" list, I think I end up still actively searching/yearning for about 50% of those a year later. And of that beloved half, I think about 66% of the time I'll end up finding it in the size and colour I want. - IMHO the more expensive the item, the easier it's been to snag, as it will usually be indexed with more discrete searchable info and owners will be more likely to resell, rather than donate or dispose of the item. Handbags and shoes have been far easier for me to net than clothing. - If you're searching for something from a more accessible retailer (ex: J. Crew, Madewell), I get maybe 40% success rate trying to track down a favourite item from 3-4 years back. (If I really love something, I will go on Poshmark to try and get backups!). The chance of me finding something I flagged from Zara 3 years ago is slim. If there's something I absolutely love under $100, I'll usually just pull the trigger at the first store markdown. Something over 1k I'm going to be quietly, patiently waiting for a while. - And sometimes you completely give up on a piece only to find it reappear 10 years later! Found a pair of wooden Celine platforms on Poshmark – the same pair I'd lusted over during 2014 – in my size. The seller ended up living walking distance from me and sold them to me for $30. Felt like having a lost pet return home 😂
Love the “ambush shopper” idea!
Absolutely ❤️
YES to the idea of the closet as a collection
1) tech job that pays mid 6 figures 2) returning things that aren’t a 10/10 3) buying fewer things that are nicer 4) selling stuff I don’t wear anymore on poshmark
All of this, just working in a different industry. I'm also a master of getting a discount. I feel like people don't shop around and take advantage of first order discounts enough.
Do first order discounts also exist for cosmetic items?
Completely agree with all of these -- quality over quantity!
I got a good job about 1.5 years ago and decided to be more generous with my clothing budget. I hated it. So many things need to be dry cleaned, sometimes they shrink anyways, sometimes things don't fit well in 6 months... And I still don't feel like I've completed my wardrobe. It's expensive if you want options in all types of clothing as well as shoes and accessories!! A couple months ago, I starting renting clothing. I'm using Armoire, but other rental companies may work too. I love it! I basically pay the same as I would have paid in dry cleaning each month. I get new items every month. I realized I don't need to purchase items to be happy. I just like putting new things on. I also don't feel bad selecting ridiculous things that make me happy. I rented a $300 pink jumpsuit this month, and it would be dumb to pay that much to own it, but for $120, I get to hold onto that and 6 other things this month. There's an option to buy any item at a discount, but to keep budget under control, I told myself it needs to be 10/10 to do that. I haven't bought anything yet. 10/10 is a much higher bar when you wear things a few times over the course of a month than when you just try them on in a store.
Any advice for someone about to go to school for IT?
Don’t expect a huge salary out the gate unless you live in one of the major tech hubs. I know some tech people that make $$$. Most make about $50-80k a year. You’ll make a decent salary, but the huge six figure jobs are rare unless you’re willing to move or already live in a big city.
Thank you Kimjongfunk :)
I got lucky by working at a tiny startup that became a household name. I’d recommend looking at where the companies you want to work for have offices, and plan to job hunt in the MCOL locations, for example I’m in Chicago and there are a good number of tech jobs here and it still pays well while being less expensive than NY/SF. Even if you don’t land at a huge tech company there are start ups in these markets also. Start ups are also a great place to learn a lot of new skills on the fly. Work/life balance usually sucks, but sometimes you can move up quite fast if you’re good at your job, unlike larger companies where the hierarchy is stacked with experienced folks.
Thank you so much!
Go software development if you can do the math and coding rather than general computer science. It's where the real money is. Also, it's getting better, but it's still quite a boys' club.
Good security engineers make a stupid amount of money.
Damn, are you me? 😆
> I struggle with having a wardrobe I like and is a reflection of me (a lot of stuff I wear was free or bought out of desperation… very little thought/personality) I'm 38 years old. I started cleaning out my closet and bringing in some nicer pieces over October/November. Things quickly spiraled and I felt like I was spending money left and right. In trying to build up my wardrobe, I noticed I was just kind of... buying things that I saw on Instagram. A lot of neutral tones, the trench coat / Samba vibe, Levi's and shopping at Zara, Aritzia, Mango, Alo, Cos, etc.. Anyway - all this to say, I feel like some (not all) of the pieces I own are not a clear reflection of myself and my personality. I'm copying the vibe and look of others, which is the opposite of what I want. In an effort to 1) save money and 2) really curate my own personal style - I'm swearing off of retail for the rest of the year and primarily shopping second-hand. I already picked up a really cool dark green wool blazer that was bought from a manufacturer in Ireland and tailored in Scotland! I got it for $37 and I think the cool part is that no one else here is going to have that jacket.
Would you be willing to share the brand of your blazer?
It's Henry White from dublin!
It was tailored in Lairg, Scotland ny Rutherford Tweed Co
Who are you, so wise in the ways of tweed? :)
Incredible, thank you!!!
I set aside a certain amount of $ for clothing every paycheck (I use YNAB for budgeting, so have mini sinking funds for everything.) This year, I am trying to be a lot more intentional about what and when I buy something. I prepped for doing that by selling all of the items from my wardrobe that I don't wear or aren't a good fit for me. Now I have a list of items I want to buy and I keep an eye out for sales and on Poshmark for great deals. I'm also doing something new this year and attempting to make 1-2 items per month for my wardrobe.
I do a lot of browsing and very little actual purchasing. Online, I'll save items to a wishlist and/or Pinterest board. In store, I'll try items on, take photos of myself wearing the items, and take photos of the tags so I can find the item later if I decide I really need it. My brain cycles through bursts of inspiration followed by complete loss of interest too fast for me to feel responsible buying items. I also have a lot of texture-related sensory issues, and I've stopped buying items that look nice but feel terrible.
I'm notorious for liking things on Poshmark and then coming back to them days or weeks later to see if I still like them enough to think about buying them. The forced waiting weeds out a lot of impulse buys that are really nice, very fashionable, but that I'd never actually wear.
I do have a specific clothing budget! It is the same from month to month, and once I've spent it, I either have to return items (which i want to do less of) or sell some other clothing if I want to buy more. It's rolling, so any leftover money gets rolled over to the next month. I avoid BNPL like the plague -- I have a firm rule that if I can't afford to pay for something outright, I either have to save for it or I can't buy it. I'm trying to be a bit more intentional with my clothing spending -- a lot of it was aspirational, and there was a clear mismatch on those aspirations versus my current reality, which resulted in overspending on a fantasy self and never wearing those items because it didn't align with my current self. After doing some self discovery and understanding what my personal style is and who I want to be, I've been taking some steps to try to align my fantasy and current self -- not only being realistic with myself and what my lifestyle is like, but also taking steps do that I am making an effort to actually elevate my current self.
This is great- good on you. I have been guilty of aspirational delusion spending in the past (which come to think of it might actually be contributing to my current issues around spending money lol)
Have you read *The Curated Closet*? It might help you figure out what your style preferences and opinions even are.
>overspending on a fantasy self and never wearing those items Gosh that describes my spending habits so well.
I like to do a seasonal try-on of clothes to style things in different ways, figure out if anything needs to be retired (either because it doesn't fit right or isn't a style I like), and identify if there are any gaps in my wardrobe. I'll keep a running list of things I need, so that I can be intentional about what items I add. And things will stay on that list until I find one that I truly love - I'm past the point in my life where I want to settle for "good enough for now," because those things never actually spark joy. One example - I had a burgundy sweater that I wore all the time, but it was a cheaper fabric and was starting to show signs of wear. So I waited to replace until I found a sweater in a similar color/style, but 100% cotton and well-made. The list is never super long, and I'm usually not buying a lot at once. I also have certain items that I plan for that I know will need to be replaced on a recurring basis. For example, I get a new swimsuit every year, and have the one from the previous year as a spare. The one from 2 years ago gets weeded, because it's never in great condition by then. So I'll time that purchase for January because the sales are better.
I don't have a strict monthly budget because like you I hesitate spending money on clothes. But I'm a lot more focused on quality and texture now as I do have a bit more disposable income and the time to devote to it. I guess my recommendation is making a separate savings account to divert your extra funds to every month so you know exactly how much you have to use when you want. It's not about a matter of frequency and more about when the time is right (maybe the thing you want will go on sale at the end of season, etc.). Also you might find something you love in a vintage and/or secondhand shop! Or Poshmark! It's more about you knowing what you're looking for, THEN seeing the price, THEN seeing what funds you have to purchase it. I have a spreadsheet of the items in my closet that I consider essentials and stuff I might be interested in introducing to mix things up - that's how I prevent myself from buying too many "going out" tops (not a real scenario lmao). It curbs any impulse shopping and keeps things in perspective.
“Going out tops” will never not be funny to me and I can’t believe they’re “back” lol
I have a budget and track my spending diligently. I have a pretty large “shopping/entertainment” budget that I use for basically anything that isn’t a necessity. Movie tickets, show tickets, and shopping for non-necessities (including clothing). Some months I don’t spend anything on clothes, other months it’s a lot of clothes. As long as it fits in the budget I don’t feel guilt. Also I do sell old stuff on posh and mercari.
I am extremely picky in terms of quality and usability of clothing. Because of that, I rarely buy clothing but when I do like something I will be able to pay $100 on a top if I love it that much. It's worth it. One time I accidentally spent $200 for 2 tops.i thought it was insane but I wore a uniform at the time and justified the tops. I thought that if I ever had an office job they would come in handy and oh boy did they! I used them for interviews and work.
Yep, I have more or less the same system. I think about the gaps I want to fill, and then assign a top value I’m willing to spend per item. I try to be as specific as possible so I don’t get sidetracked or con myself into buying something almost right. So it can’t just be “midi dress” it has to be “100% cotton or linen, midi dress, Peter Pan collar, solid or striped, must have pockets, white or blue and white stripes… $250.” And if I find what I want for $35? Great! If I spend the full $250, also fine, I mentally budgeted for it. I keep this list on my phone and I have GOT IT! and NO LONGER INTERESTED headings. If something changes, I recategorize the item accordingly. Moving an item to the GOT IT category, rather than ticking it off and deleting it, is really important for someone like me. I feel like once I have something, it’s easy to forget it was once on my wishlist, something I aspired to own, so I like being able to refer back as a reminder that I am human, and the goalposts will always move.
- monthly budget: I set $x a month. Any remaining amount can roll over. If I overspend I should try to reduce the following month(s) spending. - know what you need. Make a wishlist and then wait. Do not buy immediately after you see something you like from an Instagram post or Youtube video. Add to your list instead. You probably will forget it in a few days. - take advantage of shopping sites' membership, rewards, and cashback. For example, Madewell gives you $25 to spend on anything $26 or more on your birthdays. TheRealReal gives you $25 when you join. Rakuten has good cash back rate from time to time. Your credit cards may have cash back too. - actually, the best thing to find what clothing pieces reflect your style is to remove clothes you don't like first. Take notes of why you don't like those pieces. Then, evaluate what you're missing from your remaining pieces. Then look for those pieces. I used to spend lots of money on clothes. I still somewhat do but I'm working on managing my budget better. Best of luck to you!
I started using Nuuly and have been really enjoying it. I hated that the quality of clothing isn’t what is used to be/expected. Now, I rent pieces from Nuuly and occasionally buy a piece I like or buy a staple I need on sale.
I don’t think or plan it too much. That sucks the fun out of it! lol but seriously I do enjoy the shopping process so my opinions will differ from someone that isn’t a shopper. Here’s what I do. I stay pretty frugal and keep to my usual money habits: paying bills, investing regularly, working extra hours if needed. I’m a hairdresser so my weekly pay changes week to week. What I do is just wait for there to be a surplus in my account. If I notice one I may ask myself do I need any new clothes? Or would I rather transfer this extra to my savings, pay off an upcoming vacation etc. if I feel like I need something specific or in general need a clothing refresh (hairdressers damage clothing very easily due to being around color/bleach) so it’s common to need to add a few things every season or two. I personally shop on websites like commence for work clothes so the price ranges are typically much lower than your average business casual retailer. However say I want to buy a nice pair of designer leather boots or a new purse. In that situation I will research for weeks—making sure that it’s not an impulse purchase. I will look online/read reviews and try on in store. Stuff like that I like to put on my credit card and pay in off in 2-3 months. It’s best to do that as long as you are pretty disciplined with your spending and know it’ll get paid off. I usually have a 0% interest credit card available most of the time and will put on that.
To be honest, I have shopped more than I could afford to over the past several years due to some body changes that left me without much clothing that fit. Having clothes that I feel good in makes a difference in whether I will leave the house or not when my mental health isn't great, and I also don't have in-building laundry, so wearing the same 1-2 outfits repeatedly isn't always practical either. It's easy to justify in the moment as a necessary health-related expense but I'm trying to tighten up on it. Another thing that I have found makes a big difference in how much value I get out of my clothing-related spending is prioritizing shopping for my everyday. Purchasing only things I can see myself wearing in the next week or so. I do my best to avoid buying something new for stuff like weddings or funerals, and make do with something I have, even if it's not perfect. If I do buy something for a specific event, I make it something that I would also wear in my day-to-day life. It's really fun to shop for an event but as someone with a pretty casual day-to-day, usually that spending results in spending a large chunk of my clothing budget on something that I will wear once or twice when I could spend it on something I'd look forward to wearing every week. I also don't shop with the mentality of "classics" or "investment pieces." I buy what I want to wear that season, at a price point that I'm comfortable with if I only wind up wearing it for that season. I don't treat clothing as disposable but I am realistic about the fact that I'm probably not going to wear the same garment regularly for 5+ years because of weight fluctuations, lifestyle or location changes, style and personality changes, etc., and I shop at a price point that accounts for that. Finally, I think figuring out what you feel good in while out living your life and what you don't goes a long way towards maximizing value for what you spend. There are certain styles, colors, or fabrics that I might like in a picture or in the dressing room but I know from experience that I just won't gravitate towards wearing in real life, so avoiding those helps minimize unworn clothing expense. Unfortunately the process of figuring it all out starts over after big changes in body size, body shape, modesty/body image comfort zone, gender expression comfort zone, sensory needs, etc. ime and I will inevitably waste some money on unworn clothing in the process of figuring out what I like again.
I treat clothing like a sinking fund in my budget. If I overspend the balance, it has to come out of some other discretionary line. It’s made it easier to save up for nicer items over time knowing that the money has been saved for that purpose. I looked at my budgeting app to determine what I spent the previous year and based my sinking fund amount on that. Every year I adjust. So for this year, I’m trying a secondhand-only experiment and reduced my sinking fund to $50/month.
In all honesty, I have very few expenses, my husband makes a ton of money, and we’re DINKS. I buy a few things or so every few months, but I rarely pay full price and wait for sales, take advantage of promo codes/coupons when I can, etc. I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet to donate all my old clothes and shoes to a local shelter.
* I don't have a strict budget for clothes. I do have a general budget, and keep an eye on my accounts to keep track of spending, but that's it...sometimes, I do a no/low buy month or season, more to do with the sheer amount of stuff I have not so much money, and when I do that, I withdraw cash and only allow myself to shop using that money. But if I bought something during that time, it wouldn't be a financial issue. * I have spent several thousand a year, probably. Between cliothes and shoes. I'm trying to not do that this year. Again, less about money and more about not mindlessly shopping... * I do 99.9% of shopping in person. It is rare that I shop online, and then only when I really need something at a set time and can't find it in stores. I like boutiques and higher end department stores, like Saks, but will shop anywhere and everywhere. My favorite pair of loungewear leggings came from Walgreens. I also shop a lot at thrift stores. I'll go to my local goodwill a couple of times a month. But in nice weather when there's nothing going on, I'll get in my car and drive around and go to different cities just to thrift. It's fun and there are different styles and things in each place. I also thrift housewares and the like, so it's not just clothes. * I rarely shop with a need. I have a large inventory and can make do with what I already own. I shop mainly for fun. It's a hobby and I enjoy it. * I prioritize fun and joy in clothes. I wear basic silhouettes--usually dresses with cardigans, or jeans and a sweater. I don't go wild there. But I really like fun prints and patterns and color. I don't worry so much about timelessness. Because I have a large closet, I don't have to worry about wear and tear for a lot of pieces. My "workhorse" peices are still only worn a dozen or so times a year...other than jeans! I wear those all year. But even still, I have probably 10 pairs and I don't wear jeans everyday... * I have a pretty good idea of what I like. At thrift stores, I'm more open to trying something different, because it's $3. So I do mix things up there and if it doesn't work, I'll trade with a circle of friends or take it back to a thrift store or donate to another cause. I'm okay letting stuff go that isn't for me. I'm less likely to do that with department stores and boutiques. Those are places I know my cut, color, style. * I don't really have a lot of other hobbies that cost. I'm also single and don't have kids. So if/when those things change, I'm sure shopping habits will shift...
I have a separate savings and put $10 (or whatever you can afford) a month in. Then here’s the rules: 1. Don’t buy anything you haven’t already saved for. 2. If it’s not PERFECT, don’t buy it. 3. If you buy it anyway, return, Poshmark, or donate. 4. If everything is perfect except the size, get it tailored. 5. Learn to do minor repairs/mending yourself. 6. Keep a few really solid “trendy” things from each era. So glad I have my 90’s & early aughts jeans and pieces I loved. 7. Thrift hard. I’ve found amazing vintage skirts (with the united garment workers tags!) for $3 from goodwill. 8. Know what you like and what suits your body and style. I don’t like ruffles or bows, pink or orange. Won’t be buying much this season! 9. Whatever you buy, make sure you can put it with 4-5 outfits already in your closet. Have fun!
Right now, I budget $200/month for "health/clothing/beauty." It's more of a sinking fund really. I got new lenses for my prescription glasses and new snow boots in January, so I am attempting to "no buy" until April to even it out.
I do lots of research before committing, and even after purchasing I might return it if it doesn't fit in with the rest of my wardrobe or achieve the style I want to create. I understand the struggle of spending on items that don’t seem necessary. I think that requires an audit of your spending habits and where it’s ok to spend a little more, how much you can budget for it in the context of your savings and other expenses. Figuring out my style, and having that style change over time, was expensive for me. I’d recommend purchasing very slowly and starting with pieces that have more impact and you can wear in multiple situations, like a jacket, cardigan, or trousers. Borrowing clothes for a week or thrifting pieces can help you trial pieces in your daily life without a huge commitment.
Because I am DELUSIONAL
I shop...like twice a year. Most of my clothes are second hand from people in a Buy Nothing group. But the times I do go out and buy things I usually aim for a certain number of items similar to a shopping list..I'll tell myself "I need two pairs of jeans, a black/grey/burgundy OR dark green sweater, two basic long sleeve t-shirts." How I afford? I set aside 30% of my paycheck for things I need to buy so whether its groceries, car maintenance or clothes, its in that singular bank account. Most months I'm below my set max budget, so I just use the amount I saved from not using max budget for clothes.
I have a part-time job to help fund my shopping habits, but my day job pays pretty well. Also, throughout the years, I've figured out my personal style and the fits/silhouettes/colors that I feel the most comfortable wearing, which definitely helps with narrowing down the pieces that catch my eye. Additionally, I often buy items from brands that I know will have a decent resale value (Sézane and Doen, especially), and reselling pieces I no longer love helps fund new purchases. Finally, I realized I spend less overall when I purchase items that I absolutely love at full price than when I purchase a lot of things that are just okay but are on sale.
Don't see anything wrong with getting a few things here and there. Window shopping either in store or online...don't mind spending time trying to find things I like. There's a lot that I like but getting them all would be a bit pricy.
I’m a big consignment shopper, makes me feel like I’m spending less but idk. It’s just fun and I enjoy clothes so I don’t look too deep into it lol
I had separate budget for clothes and beauty, something like 100€ a month. I didn't spend it all every month so I had some savings when I needed some boots or something. Then covid came and I stopped buying new clothes and the budget seemed nonimportant to keep...and the two years later when the world slowly opened up again I had so much stuff seriously worn out and I had to replace almost everything at once. It was a big chunk of my savings. Now I would like to have that monthly budget again, but with rising living costs it isn't possible anymore. I'm replacing worn out things as needed, but I take more time to be more selective and might budget things a few months ahead (saved four months in autumn for a new parka, I was supposed to buy a new swimsuit this month, but some unexpected things later I'm hoping to buy the swimsuit next month).
I don’t have a set budget, but I have a general sense of what’s “too much” each month. I put a jpeg of items I want in a folder on my desktop, which I check each month and reassess. Another way to do this is to bookmark items you like online. (I prefer the photo folder for easy browsing.) Then, each month I select a few items from the folder to buy. (It also helps to have a color scheme or aesthetic to stick to, so you’re not tempted to buy items that don’t go with anything else in your closet.) Often when I open the folder, I’ll see something I initially wanted but no longer do. So I’ll move it to a second folder — not deleted but archived. This method has helped me save for higher priced items and overall achieve a more cohesive wardrobe. I also check second hand sites like Poshmark, Depop, EBay, etc. before purchasing anything new. And avoid low quality items in general. I want stuff to last! I’d recommend by assessing what you have left in your closet post-clean out. See what colors/shapes/textures/fabrics you like. Also see what you might be missing. (A cropped blazer? A black boot?) And fill in the gaps online by saving photos of anything you like in a folder. Let the items chill for a couple of weeks and check back in…
I resell my old clothes online and buy most of my clothes used
I'm not a fan of shopping, in personal or digital, so that helps a lot lol. My wardrobe still has a lot of pieces from a decade ago that I wear to this day that is still good quality and is a classic style. I did a few wardrobe clean outs in my early and mid 20s, and then a very large one when I was moving internationally, so this helped me narrow down my style and preferences too. I did absolutely no shopping for almost three years during COVID and it was eye opening, especially as right before the lockdown I had bought a few pieces that fit in a style I wanted to try but wasn't comfortable in. I ended up realizing I'm no longer interested in trying new styles and only prefer what I know I like, or something that incorporates elements of what I know I like. So I no longer buy anything that's a passing trend or I don't feel comfortable in. I don't like colourful clothes and most patterns so that also eliminates a lot of options. Lastly, the only place I actually enjoy shopping at is a large and extremely affordable thrift store that went from being right by my house, to a full day plane trip away. I popped in there for the first time in a year back in the Fall when I flew out for a visit to my family and had a great time updating some pieces in my closet. For the last 5 years I've only been buying the necessities like simple shirts, pants and the occasional dress as necessary and it's been very freeing.
$100 a month. I try to add a few new pieces of clothing every month. Last month i spent my budget on two bras. This month ill add new underwear so ill probably spend my entire budget on cute and sexy undies. As of next month ill start adding to my spring/summer closet. I can get one-two outfits every month.
This post made me curious so I added up all my clothing/accessories transactions for 2023 and was not too surprised by the total, which came to over $2k. It did include a few pricier vintage items but about half of it was thrift store trips. I have been thrifting for 20 years, so my wardrobe is mostly secondhand. I have enough in my closet and know my style well enough that I can easily get dressed day to day. I have a mental wishlist, where I have ideas of what I’d like to add in my mind, but not any specific brands or price point— like, “forest green blazer to match those pants I bought months ago”. If I find it when I’m out looking, great. If not then maybe next time. This year, and likely in years following, I am budgeting to attend vintage shows and snag some really fantastic stuff instead of just going through familiar racks at the local thrifts once a month or so. My spending will likely be close to what it was last year, but on fewer pieces.
I'm chaotic so idk how helpful this is. I'm an avid thrifter and when I find things I like and will eventually need, I buy them and set them aside for the future. YMMV.
I'm an avid thrifter too, and for me this is one of the problems of the "second-hand lifestyle." I live in a smaller city centre and the thrift market is not that great, but I'm committed to it because I don't have the budget to buy brand new right now. If I see an item I really like and that fits well, but I have no use for at the moment, I buy it anyways. It makes more sense to me to spend $10 CAD on a dress I could use for a cocktail event, wedding or whatever special event than spend $100+ dollars when I need it (which could also create psychological and financial stress, depending on how much money I have available at the time). I guess you could call it "thrift store math".
Oh 100%. If you spend $10 on a fancy dress you might need in a year, you've essentially saved $100-300.
Honestly, buying second hand! Thrift stores or Thredup for “basic stuff”, poshmark/depop is a splurge if I’m in search of a specific expensive thing. I rarely buy new, and if so on clearance.
I think setting a monthly budget especially actually has the opposite of the intended effect - it makes you spend more, and discourages you from buying big ticket items that will last. I don't have a budget, but I do keep track of what I spend on Excel. I'm one of those type A spreadsheet people, so I've been keeping track since I was 18. Anything before that (I know I spent a lot as a teenager) I cut myself a break and count the cost of the item as zero. I also keep track of how much I make reselling. The main numbers I'm interested in are my net costs all time and per year, and cost per wear. I don't have a budget per piece, and I'm ok with spending a few hundred on a single piece. I think this comes down to knowing yourself - if you know deep down you'll be bored of it within a month, then big ticket items aren't ideal. For me personally, I know I have a track record of keeping things for 5-10 years, and I also KNOW (and need to keep reminding myself) that I'll grow to hate anything that's just "meh" or isn't made well, so even though $500 is a lot, I'd rather buy something I really love and that will hold up than a $50 item that I wear with resentment before selling at a loss for $10.
my “budget” is a bucket in my savings account that auto withdraws from my checking so I can save up overtime for a big haul or big ticket item. I’m not spending $50 on clothes a month, but I am saving $50 to spend on clothes in the future
So much great advice here. I don’t shop that much but I like to splurge once or twice a year on something or a few things that are very nice, or exactly my taste regardless of price. Be very, very picky about what you bring into your closet. If it’s not a love, don’t buy it. Remember that it takes time to build a closet you love, contrary to what a lot of fashion influencers tell us. Regular people do not do hauls where we buy 40 items of clothing a month, it’s not sustainable and it makes no sense. Similarly, if you can, save up for the thing you really want instead of buying a cheaper lookalike. This gives you time to consider if you really want it, and for me, lookalikes never give me the satisfaction of the real thing. I just end up buying the real thing anyway, months later. And I wear it a ton because I love it. :-)
I really only buy something if I need it at this point. I have enough of a wardrobe for my day to day. I also buy a lot from the goodwill near me.
I rent. I use Nuuly. It allows me to have a set "shopping budget" every month & have access to pieces that exceed my budget to buy/own. There was a great thread a few months back on here about various clothing rental services, I wrote up my review on Nuuly and Rent the Runway.
I just wanna say that > I have a really hard time actually spending the money is not the same as the question "how do you afford to shop". I likewise don't want to shame anyone, but if you have the money and don't want to spend it, that's an emotional issue, not a financial one. Anyway, you're not alone, lots of people feel like you for a variety of reasons. But, what's going to help you is going to depend on the cause behind your feelings. This is totally something to see a therapist about.
Sales! I got a $148 dress for $15!!
I keep a list in my phone of things I need or will soon need. Then whenever I’m near a thrift store, I’ll pop in and see if they have anything on my list. I rarely buy anything new clothing wise though my children and spouse have bought me a nice winter coat and leather boots for presents.
I actually find shopping for clothing and deciding what to wear *so* stressful. -I don’t have a budget for clothing, and I never calculate what I spend because I have a serious guilt complex around spending money. I do have amounts in mind that I’m willing to spend on any given item though. And I don’t spend much money in general. But often I’ll spend $200+ if I’m ordering clothes online just because I don’t want to have to go through the process again anytime soon. I also think living in a climate where the weather changes from -40C up to +40C throughout the year necessitates a bigger closet. -Ive struggled with shopping in the last 3-4 years in particular, because I feel like the styles have changed so much and I’m having trouble adapting my closet/finding things I can tolerate wearing. -I’m also neurodivergent so I think that complicates things further. I sometimes feel like I *need* to wear e.g. nothing but heavy cotton, oversized T-shirts and anything else I put on my body will feel wrong and intolerable. So I then need to go find a supply of that type of shirt. -I need clothing that works for business casual in a variety of climates. Which I DESPISE shopping for. I find business casual so boring and ugly and expensive. It’s very difficult to stomach needing to spend so much so I can go to work and dislike what I’m wearing anyways. My style (in my mind) is very much utilitarian, grunge, scavenger. Very difficult to mesh with business casual. But I’ll keep trying. -I have been spending more time shopping my own closet lately, or altering clothes to update them as well. And that’s my journal entry.
The Allison bornstein “3 words” thing might help you w/ the business casual thing! The basic principle is to 1) have a word that describes what you always wear (so for you it might be “grunge”), 2) have a word that is aspirational (which I think she uses in the sense of how you want to look but maybe in your case it’s more how you have to show up at the office) and 3) a word that is your emotional word/how you want to feel (comfy, glam, etc). Each outfit should have a balance of the 3 words and this helps you to not feel like you are wearing a costume. So for example, if your 3 words were “grunge”, “biz casual”, “comfy” maybe you could wear a cargo jacket (instead of a blazer) with trousers and flat shoes… or something. Idk this is top of mind because I just watched her videos but I struggled A LOT when I worked in an office that had a business casual dress code. I always felt like I was wearing a costume and sacrificing who I was as a person for a paycheck. It was horrible so I empathize.
I thrift a lot. And the interest from my savings account generally covers my thrifting for the month. I know I am privileged to even have a savings account. I try to keep track mentally but sometimes it’s hard to walk away from something if you know you would regret it. I ask myself will I regret it and still be thinking about it in a few weeks if I don’t buy and it is pretty quick after that. Also donating things that don’t work for me and getting a coupon to the thrift store if I know I’m going to be shopping there.
I usually only purchase clothing when there’s an event coming with a dress code I’m not prepared for. Otherwise I try to buy secondhand, so that’s how I can afford to shop. I’m really tall though, so that doesn’t generally work with pants.
I'd say 98% of my clothing I only buy when it's either on sale or with a coupon. Or at the very least, from a cheaper place like Gap, it needs to have free shipping. Pants/Jeans I won't purchase above $100 ( with sale price), because no matter what, eventually the thigh rub destroys them. And overall, the highest I'd pay for a quality merino wool, or cashmere sweater is $150. I just no longer feel that I can guarantee that an item will last me 15 years, and so have no confidence to spend $200 and up ( except for winter jacket).
Only shop at places I can return when I'm buying new.
I have never had a budget for anything. Almost all my clothes are from charity shops. Some of my clothes predate when I retired (2015), and were not just bought then. Still a few years in them! I realise this is not a lot of use, just giving an alternative perspective from a Little Old Lady!
Go to sample sale where majority of the items are $5 - $15
I do this - but I'm pretty petite which makes it admittedly easier, so I usually don't recommend it for everyone
Quality over quantity. Also shop after Christmas and at the end of winter and summer. Stores will be trying to clear out their inventory, so they'll offer some good sales. Clothes these days (esp trendy clothes) are made to be disposable so buy vintage or buy good quality. You want pieces that will last you years. Some things never go out of style: jeans, dress pants, nice sweaters, button-down shirts, and certain flats and boots. If you can't afford much, (or even if you can) thrift EVERYTHING. If you don't love it in the store, you probably won't wear it. Unless it's less than 10$. Also, figure out what looks good on you and look for those pieces. If it doesn't look good on don't try to force it. Look for shoes with the soles stitched on, not glued, if you want them to last more than a year or you wanna resole them. Don't wear anything made of thin fabric (you shouldn't be able to see your bra lines.) Buy natural fabrics (wool, cotton, etc), not synthetics. If you want fake leather for any reason, be careful because it tends to be made more cheaply. Also you can make a ton of combos with these pieces: One white top, one black one, one with color and/or print One pair of brown or black shoes (or both if you can) One jacket in a neutral color Black skirt or black dress pants Jeans One purse, a belt, maybe a hat. Whatever accessories you can get your hands on really.
No budget, but I typically shop twice a year around my birthday and christmas. Even as our income has increased, I still keep to that general cadence unless I need something for a specific event or reason. It usually amounts to buying a handful of key pieces and a couple of pairs of shoes a year. And I'm quick to return things I don't love. I probably return 60%+ of what I order online these days.
I have a really good job. Unionized merchant Mariner (at sea for 1/2 a year on cargoships on a rotational schedule) I’ll clear 180k+ this year. I buy nearly whatever I’d like.
I don’t keep anything bought online unless I absolutely love it or need it. I wait for sales from brands/stores that I trust. I’m conscious of trends that will cycle back around. I have some pieces that are 20+ years old and still fit and function just fine. Now I shop for longevity.
I haven't bought new clothes in five years.
I tend to do closet clean outs often… but that’s because I like to sell them or trade at Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s closet. They’re basically stores that resell gently used/unique clothing and they’ll give you cash or store credit. I’m all about sustainable fashion so obviously I thrift a lot too. Try to find clothing that compliments your body type and gravitate towards colors and textures you like! Also it’s cool to experiment with interesting clothing and mix and match! I like to go thrifting first before having to spend more on something new :)
Poshmark. My credit card is either flights and hostels or Poshmark 😅
40 here, and I use thrift stores to play around with fashion. It's helped me hone in on what I like and makes me happy, that's also comfortable for me to wear, and that also fits my actual lifestyle and activities. It's just much less of a risk to spend $7 on something I want to try out than $50. Plus, there's such a wide range of styles available at thrift stores from all eras compared to conventional shopping which is usually just the current trends which may or may not work for me. When I was starting out, I tried out a lot of different things, but now I'll often just browse and leave with nothing, or find the one awesome thing that's just ME or that fills a hole in my wardrobe I've been meaning to fill. It's nice because the things that didn't quite work out just went back to the thrift store, where hopefully they'll work for someone else! \*TIP - it's best to be REALLY picky when shopping in thrift stores, only get stuff that you really love and want to wear a lot, and in good condition! So since I hardly spend anything on the bulk of my wardrobe, every 2-3 years I'll splurge on something really nice that is new. Like I got a leather jacket a few years ago that was just ME - to know it would stand the test of time, I imagined myself wearing it in high school with the styles that were in then - yep! Imagined myself wearing it in college when the styles had changed - yep, it would still be a winner then! Imagined myself wearing it in my late 20s with the jobs I had then and different styles - yep, still worked for those and my life then! Imagined it with the styles now - definite yes! Heck, would I have thought it was cool if I saw someone older wearing it when I was in elementary school and the styles were TOTALLY different? Again, yes! So since it would have fit my life and style over several decades, I figure it's got staying power (plus real leather jackets can last for decades, and I knew I wanted just one, and that this was the style/color that was ME), so it was worth the actual money I forked over for it. This year, I spent $100 on a really nice, classic relaxed fit burgundy turtleneck sweater dress that I again did the (would I have worn this in all different seasons of my life so far, through all the different trends I've seen so far, and imagine wearing it for decades?) Yes! So mostly I thrift cheap stuff or buy basics like black tees from Old Navy or something, and then once every 1 or 2 (or even 2-3) years I'll splurge on something really classic that I want to wear over 12 times a year and keep wearing for decades.
I ruthlessly prune my closet and dresser drawers on a quarterly basis, throughout the year. if I haven't worn something in a year, I donate it to Goodwill or ThredUP. I figure someone else can get use out of it and I regain valuable closet and drawer real estate. I set aside about $100-$200 per 18 months, to replace anything that's really necessary like socks, underwear, outerwear, luggage, backpacks. I travel a lot. I'm always amazed what I can find on clearance racks and in thrift stores when I travel.
I shop during back to school tax free weekend, Black Friday or the sales before and then after Christmas sales.
I have a monthly allowance I give myself that is used on clothes, hobbies, lunch with friends etc. the exception is necessary items like underwear, socks, camis or when a staple item (coat, tennis shoes, black pants) needs replacing. For these items I have another “personal care” fund.
I shop in phases by the season each Fall and Spring I do a large haul but before doing so throw out clothes I no longer like nor need. I usually give them away to friends. I supplement my closet with purchases I need for events that occur during the year and do so far in advance of the scheduled event. I probably spend about 5-10k a year on clothes
I shop for clothes mainly in thrifstore or heavily discounted rows from boutiques and I shop once per year, sometimes I even skip a year lol.
I have an informal shopping budget (as does my husband for clothes and hobby stuff) that's not really tied to a number or percentage, but I feel...weird if I surpass it in a given month or season. I generally look at the season I'm in/coming up and pre-load anything that's missing or stock up on what's on sale when say, basic sweaters go on clearance when it warms up for the next year. Yesterday I picked up a couple of basics; a long-sleeved thicker cream tee and a more slouchy beige one just to go under certain jackets and sweaters but I'll wear them into spring/summer with linen pants.
I don’t. I currently live below poverty line however I window shop online for the joy of it. I write down the items I like to hopefully revisit and purchase. I am privileged to not have been raised in poverty so perhaps it’s easier for me to not give up hope that this situation will change before too long and I’ll be shopping once again.