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Thursday, January 31, 2013

1/12 of 2013 in the bag

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
3. Boutique Onze striped dress $49.99 (worn here) & 4. zodiac necklace $16.99 (worn here)
 (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!

I am linking up with Franish for our monthly shopaholics anonymous meeting (AKA budgeting bloggers round-up). See more frugal fashionistas dish their January budget breakdown { here }

34 comments:

  1. Awesome post! I need to make a clothing budget, but I don't know where to start... Maybe a life budget?... sigh...

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  2. Avril @ School Gate StyleJanuary 31, 2013 at 9:41 AM

    I'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

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  3. Wow, 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!

    Jamie

    Forever81

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  4. Wow, you really took advantage of JCrew's sales! Great job! I LOVE that striped sequin top!


    Visiting from Franziska's budgeting bloggers!

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  5. 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!

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  6. I 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.

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  7. Wow! 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.

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  8. Wow, you got some really great pieces - I can not wait to see how this pans out for the year!

    xx
    Kelly
    Sparkles and Shoes

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  9. 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!

    http://just-another-smith.blogspot.com/

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  10. Wow you got some great deals this month! I love the J.Crew dress

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  11. Awesome deals! Love your purchases!

    xo Olivia

    This Looks Good On You

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  12. Wow! You did so well this month! And your purchases are amazing! I love esp. the blue dress - it's fabulous!

    ♥, Nina

    my-style-diary.com

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  13. 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.

    Dept of Random Thoughts

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  14. Love these picks...especially the anytime dress and striped sequin top! Wish I had that much of a clothing budget!!

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  15. Lovely 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

    sixthtractate.blogspot.com

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  16. Snap, I got that stripe sequin top from J Crew, too! I think you did brilliantly within your budget!

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  17. I love the blue dress.

    OMG 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

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  18. That blue dress is lovely!

    xo, tasha
    twenty-something blog

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  19. 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?

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  20. Man, 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!


    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com

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  21. Valerie- The Style FilesJanuary 31, 2013 at 9:30 PM

    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!
    Valerie
    www.the-style-files.com

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  22. Valerie,

    That 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

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  23. 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

    50 closet staples list and see what I have left to check off... shoulda, coulda, woulda! haha
    xx

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  24. The little things certainly do add up quickly! Good luck with your 6th month challenge!
    xx

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  25. 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!
    xx

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  26. 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!
    xx

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  27. 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!
    xx

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  28. 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!!!
    xx

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  29. 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!
    xx

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  30. 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!
    xx

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  31. 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.
    xx

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  32. 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!

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  33. Love this budget breakdown. All are pieces that are sure to see lots of wear.

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Thank you for your comments, they make my day!!
xx