For 2013 I am budgeting my clothing allowance based on the entire year. Sound crazy? Read more about it { here }
I have to admit that after telling the entire WORLD how much I was going to spend on clothes & inviting everyone to watch as I crash & burn learn how to budget I was more tentative than usual with my shopping this month.
Man those after-Christmas sales sang to me like the Sirens on the Shore making me want to BUY. IT. ALL! But I think I did a pretty good job keeping my wits about me & picked up some great versatile items for my closet.
Best closet staple purchase : a cotton J.Crew Factory Day Dress (actually identical to the one I dreamed of buying here, but for 1/4 of the price! cha-ching)
Purchase I want to wear every single day : J.Crew striped sequin top (current only in limited sizes, but also drooling over this one)
So what came home with me in January?
1.
J.Crew sequin striped
top (worn here): originally $128.00, on sale
for 30% off 44.99 = final price of $31.49
2.
J.Crew silk blythe blouse (worn here): originally
$110, on sale for 30% off $59.99 = final price of $41.99
(used $50 Boutique Onze giftcard won from Adventures in Fashion)
= $16.98 spent
J.Crew Factory Sale (at one point I think I had everything in my shopping cart):
5.
anytime dress was $148, on sale for 30% off $69.99 = $48.99
6. sequin
tank was $59.50, on sale for 30% off $14. 99 = $10.49 (worn here)
7.
Won Maddy Nash clutch voucher giveaway
from M.A.S. Fashion, retail value $65.00
January
total: 7 items purchased/bought with gift cards
Retail value = $577.48
Amount spent = $149.94 (represents 75% off
retail!)
-
January purchases $149.94
--------------------------------------------
Remaining
= $2,850.06
What did you pick up for you closet in January?
Did you stick to your budget? Or totally blow it?
You can tell me, we are all friends here!
What did you pick up for you closet in January?
Did you stick to your budget? Or totally blow it?
You can tell me, we are all friends here!
Awesome post! I need to make a clothing budget, but I don't know where to start... Maybe a life budget?... sigh...
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this Jessica! Looking forward to seeing how it progresses during the year. Brilliant idea and a good way of keeping track of expenditure…we fritter away so much I'm sure every month but to write it down is very sobering! Keep up the good work…Avril xx
ReplyDeleteWow, good for you for sticking to a budget and tracking it on your blog to make yourself accountable! I think this may motivate me to put my budget on paper too! Great purchases, you got some really good wardrobe staples! And love the clutch!
ReplyDeleteJamie
Forever81
Wow, you really took advantage of JCrew's sales! Great job! I LOVE that striped sequin top!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Franziska's budgeting bloggers!
Oh my gish you did so well!! It's SO hard to stick to a budget - I totally feel your pain. But I love your purchases!
ReplyDeleteI really need to do better with a budget. I just kind of make it up each month based on how I feel, if I made any extra moola, and how much I spent the month before. I'm a big saver so it's been working for me... but really I should be better.
ReplyDeleteWow! You did so well with everything you got! We spent around the same (I think I spent $160 with my last-minute birthday dress purchase). I love that blue and striped dress! I was under budget by $40 and anytime I do that I'm going to put it into my savings. Then I feel good about my budget and saving money ;) We shall see how I do in March though... I have a feeling shopping in Vegas is going to kill my budgeting.
ReplyDeleteWow, you got some really great pieces - I can not wait to see how this pans out for the year!
ReplyDeletexx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
I really like the idea of adding up the "original retail value" and then the total price I paid. I'm sure that would make me feel better about my purchases!
ReplyDeletehttp://just-another-smith.blogspot.com/
Wow you got some great deals this month! I love the J.Crew dress
ReplyDeleteyou did great this month.
ReplyDeleteAwesome deals! Love your purchases!
ReplyDeletexo Olivia
This Looks Good On You
Wow! You did so well this month! And your purchases are amazing! I love esp. the blue dress - it's fabulous!
ReplyDelete♥, Nina
my-style-diary.com
J. Crew is one of my weaknesses. I think it's great that you are putting yourself out there like this. It's a great use of accountability.
ReplyDeleteDept of Random Thoughts
Love these picks...especially the anytime dress and striped sequin top! Wish I had that much of a clothing budget!!
ReplyDeleteLovely post and blog! I'm your newest follower :) Would you mind checking out our blog & following back via GFC and Bloglovin'? Let me know xo
ReplyDeletesixthtractate.blogspot.com
Snap, I got that stripe sequin top from J Crew, too! I think you did brilliantly within your budget!
ReplyDeleteI love the blue dress.
ReplyDeleteOMG budgeting...I pretty much fail. I'm getting ready to do a (gasp!) 6 month challenge...it's gonna be super rough...
Read about it tomorrow hahaha
TIff Ima
http://stylehonestly.blogspot.com
That blue dress is lovely!
ReplyDeletexo, tasha
twenty-something blog
Girl you did so great this month! A few fun pieces, a few staples - that's shopping done right. Do you have any plans for next month or are you just going to see where the sales take you?
ReplyDeleteMan, you rocked some sales!! And I think its cool that you have a yearly budget...I'm playing with the budgeting idea myself today on my blog. So far, so good!
ReplyDelete-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
Wow girl you got some great deals! I like your approach of looking at it from a year's worth of spending because let's face it...those Black Friday sales or seasonal clearances are just good times to get some great deals! I need to follow suit and make a wish list now that I am budgeting for clothing now...I bet it helps to have a list to stick to and reference!
ReplyDeleteValerie
www.the-style-files.com
Valerie,
ReplyDeleteThat is so what I was going for - I usually spend less during the hot summer months when wearing clothes is the last thing I want to be doing, but then blow it during the Fall sales. So this way if I splurge one month, I can adjust the rest of my year spending accordingly. I also did make a wish list here.
Can't wait to see what you come up with too!
xx
Thanks lady! All I want right now are shoes, & that Madewell transport tote that is still playing with my emotions. What I SHOULD do is look at my
ReplyDelete50 closet staples list and see what I have left to check off... shoulda, coulda, woulda! haha
xx
The little things certainly do add up quickly! Good luck with your 6th month challenge!
ReplyDeletexx
Thanks! Yes, I the striped sequin top was a happy score, and it has already paid for itself based on the times I have worn it this month!
ReplyDeletexx
Thank you. It is hard to let everyone know how much I spend, as I'm sure people will think that I should be spending less/more/whatever... but this monthly shopping confession sure does keep me honest. Every time I am considering making a purchase, I have to think about what it will feel like sharing it with the world!
ReplyDeletexx
It makes me feel better too! I hardly ever buy things at their full retail prices, & I like the gratification of feeling like I got more for less!
ReplyDeletexx
That is a really smart idea, to transfer any unused shopping funds to your savings. I think I would just roll that amount into my shopping budget for the next month! Shopping in Vegas! Sounds amazing!!!
ReplyDeletexx
That is how I was last year, and it seriously got out of control some months (September & October were very tempting will all those sales!!), so I am trying to make a conscious effort to actually know and document how much of my take-home pay I actually spend on clothes!
ReplyDeletexx
Exactly. It is so easy for me to say, well I picked up a few pieces this month, but they were only x, y or z amount... but then once I add it all up I am always shocked. You guys are all my accountability partners now!
ReplyDeletexx
I am such a fan of budgets! For me I spend less than 10% of my monthly take home pay on shopping, but it is really my only big expense besides the bills that I can't control (rent, utilities, etc.). If you are just starting out, maybe try setting aside 5% of your take home pay and see how well you do with that. The next month you can increase/decrease according to you habits and personal income.
ReplyDeletexx
You did score some great deals this month! And further proof that we share a brain - I got that same striped top, but in the purple/navy combo! I've been a really bad budgeting blogger, I need to do my January post this instant!
ReplyDeleteLove this budget breakdown. All are pieces that are sure to see lots of wear.
ReplyDelete