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clothes expenses for a YEAR?

December 15th, 2008 at 09:51 pm

I have decided I would like to have a set amount for clothes expenses next year. I am not entirely sure how much though. And because last year I had two months where I decided I didn't want to track my expenses (what a *stupid* idea!) I don't have a full year of recorded clothes expenses. (i have done this no-recording for a couple of months thing two years in a row... what gives?!).

anyway. so how much does everyone spend on clothes a year, approximately?

from March - December 16th (today) I have spent $1439.64 on clothes, bags, shoes, underwear, hair accessories etc. This includes work clothes as well.

I am going to try very hard and not spend any more money on clothes until next year.

I know I will not need socks, swimwear or work clothes next year, but I still want to work on my basics wardrobe, and I think the January sales might be a good time to pick up some bargain priced items at Myer.

So before I decide on an amount I was just wondering what everyone spends (or thinks they spend) on clothes + shoes + bags + belts + hair accessories etc a year?

Posted in | 19 Comments »

19 Responses to “clothes expenses for a YEAR?”

  1. Amanda Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 10:09 pm 1229378984
    1229378984

    Umm ... I didn't completely track this this year either, oops .. but I'd say for my daughter and I, we're right at $1,000. For the both of us.

    This year I think it will be a lot smaller, since I have received so much second hand stuff for Juliette. I shop mostly sales or Goodwill for my clothes. I try really hard to buy Juliette's next wardrobe the year before.

  2. gamecock43 Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 10:11 pm 1229379090
    1229379090

    clothes expenses for a year!!? you are too ambitious. my clothes shopping is too compulsive/friend orientated ("I need a black skirt- like NOW." "Come with me to the mall! It will be fun!") Cant budget for those things. good luck to you.

  3. shiela Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 10:12 pm 1229379131
    1229379131

    Hi Whitestripe. I budgeted $500 for clothes this year and so far have spent just over $477. I'm thinking of lowering my budget to $450 next year, I don't think we will need many stuff next year. I will also be getting most of the stuff in the January sales too.

  4. TryingHard Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 10:44 pm 1229381040
    1229381040

    I once tried to do the same thing for clothes and it didn't work out. I went over my alloted amount very early into the year because I can't resist a sale. I've read that you should not spend more than 10% of your income on clothes.

  5. disneysteve Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 11:16 pm 1229382961
    1229382961

    Wow. $1,400/year. I'm nowhere near that, but I realize I'm a guy and clothes are not my thing. I did spend a lot more than usual in 2008 because I bought 2 new suits, so this year's tally (whatever it is) would be very atypical. I likely won't buy a suit again for 8-10 years.

    I don't track my clothing purchases because they are pretty insignificant. A pair of sneakers ($50-$60), a pair of black walking shoes (also about $60), maybe a pair of brown shoes (same range) a few pairs of pants, a couple of dress shirts, a tie or two when we go to Disney World (I have a rack full of Disney ties) and perhaps a pack of socks and one of underwear. All together, maybe $500/year and I'm sure that some years I don't even spend that much.

  6. ceejay74 Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm 1229383369
    1229383369

    I don't track this category because the money for it comes out of either my own spending money (which can go to food, drinks, clothes or other luxuries depending on the week/my mood) or a windfall of money above our usual income. Or out of the money set aside for NT and AS to buy me gifts (quite often I'll ask for clothes). I would estimate $400-$600 is going to go toward clothes this year. However, I don't have enough variety or solid basics, so I'd say my budget is that of someone who's put clothes at a lower priority on my list of luxuries. If I spent less on travel, organic food, wine, and the occasional night at a nice restaurant, I would feel OK about spending more on clothes. If it's your top luxury above others, I think it's OK to spend more. My No. 1 luxury is vacations.

  7. monkeymama Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:03 am 1229385785
    1229385785

    About $500.

    I'd have to look to be sure, but I have an allowance of $50/month which primarily goes to clothes. (It's my splurge). For things I NEED, I take out of the regular budget. I think I spent about $150 on needs this year (shoes, underwear, work pants) and $350-$400 on "un needed" clothes. But the year is not over. Big Grin
    Clothes are about the only thing I splurge on. Over the years I have stuck more with tops (same old shoes and pants, but new tops really spices up a wardrobe). I do a bit of thrift shopping, but not a lot though. Hard to find things in my fit. I keep an eye on sales and ask for clothes G.C. for Christmas/Birthday. That way I can do all my clothes shopping without spending a lot.

    I've also been trying to shop higher quality in general, so I am not replacing clothes as often.

  8. Koppur Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:15 am 1229386526
    1229386526

    I don't track this either, but from my CC I'd say I probably spent around $600 a year, with another couple hundred worth of clothes that are not on the CC. Probably around $1,000. I'd like to cut that way down this year, but I am also hoping to lose a big amount of weight (nmy overall goal is to loose 150 lbs) so I will need new clothes if I accomplish this. I think it depends on how much is needed for work clothes (going from a jeans type job to an office job) or how much your sized tends to fluctuate, or even if the climate is very different than last year (summer never really gets warm enough for shorts, etc).

  9. whitestripe Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 01:04 am 1229389452
    1229389452

    note: just wanted to add that my $1400 includes about four pairs of $30 shoes for work for the year ( I wear through them very quickly - right through the rubber! yes, i do a lot of running and walking for my job lol, not to mention running for 30 minutes after work which i can't do now ).
    i also had a few fancy dress parties, an engagement party and a wedding to go to as well as a friends art exhibition (i know - THAT was an excuse...) lol.

  10. campfrugal Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 01:36 am 1229391399
    1229391399

    I do track ours, Mine and two teenagers, but I haven't tallied it up as of yet from the past year. I will post all of my end of the year totals come January.

  11. Ms. Pearl Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 01:46 am 1229391977
    1229391977

    I budget 250.00 per month for clothes. This is for 4 people, DH, me and our girls. 500 each for me and DH and 1000 each for the girls. Some months we spend no money on clothes but others like August and December we spend A LOT. I was doing my 2009 budget last night and this is what I came up with. Now, because we have two teen girls and because the oldest one is a clothes diva and her mom is a shopaholic when it comes to her clothes I am sure we will spend more...but this is my goal for 2009.

  12. annie Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 02:22 am 1229394130
    1229394130

    hmmm... i'm guessing i will probably get a bad reaction from all you frugal shoppers... but my annual spend on clothes is up around $4000.00...

  13. beautissamiss Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 05:53 am 1229406816
    1229406816

    I think this is the BEST IDEA EVER! OMG! I spend way too much on clothes! Like, put down the bag too much on clothes. The bad part is, I tend to buy a little smaller to inspire to me lose weight but all that does is inspire me to leave it in the closet while I go out and buy something a little more baggy. Plus, I can easily spend about 500$ on purses alone. I dunno exactly how much I spend on clothes but I am so gonna do this too! I'm gonna go look up how much the average person spends on clothes and get back to you.

  14. beautissamiss Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 05:59 am 1229407143
    1229407143

    The only thing I could find was something about women spending a 1,000$ a year on clothes. Somehow I find that a little hard to believe. I figured it would be way more than that.

  15. whitestripe Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 06:39 am 1229409588
    1229409588

    I am thinking of having a $1500 limit. Seeing as I don't need work clothes this year, and that last years calculation was only based on 10 months at $1439.64, and I need a couple of basics, this should be a bit of a challenge. (So fingers crossed no one gets married this year! those pesky weddings seem to make me spend about $400)

  16. clubneary Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 01:20 pm 1229433626
    1229433626

    I am sticking my head in the sand on this one. Clothes are my one splurge whether they are for me or the kids. I am not sure how much I spent but it would be interesting to know. Maybe I'll try to figure that out today. I don't normally by clothes for the hubby as he like to get his own. But me, I find myself buying clothes at least once a week-so not good.

  17. Nika Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 08:07 pm 1229458043
    1229458043

    This post lead to a mind-blowing discovery. I decided to seriously investigate how much I spent on clothing in 2008.

    So I went online and pulled up every statement for the year on my discover and visa, going through each one, pasting amounts into an excel sheet.

    The amount was jar-dropping! over $5,800!
    Granted, few items were ski clothing and clothing for DH, but those were a small part.

    I had no idea I was spending so much. I knew that this month I spent about $700 at RL because of their unheard of sale (I got $700 item for $200, a $125 shirt for $35 , etc.. and those were the items I was drooling over before the sale). But I did not realize that this level of spending was more of a rule than an exception. Frown

    I will be much more aware from now on. I will keep a budget line to which I'll record the amount each time I buy clothing it - so that I can see how much I have spent on clothing up to that point in a year.
    I hope seeing myself getting to that number will sober me up.

  18. whitestripe Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 09:03 pm 1229461396
    1229461396

    it's interesting to see there are a lot of variances in people's spending money on clothes here. it also depends on your income too i think.
    nika: i did think of you when i was writing this post, i know you like RL and other high-end clothing so i did wonder fleetingly if you would respond to this post Smile thankyou.

  19. Nika Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 05:06 pm 1229619963
    1229619963

    Whitestripe, I normally do not buy RL because I don't think it is worth the money - I like his blue and black lables but I think they are overpriced.

    However, when they had that giant sale, it was priced right, so I was able to get few pieces I really liked and the quality was more than worth it in what I paid.
    You are right, I do like high-end clothing (but not the "mainstream" ones - I don't like Coach, LV, etc...)
    My favorite purchases this year were Qi cashmere cream and gold cardigan, Anne Fontanie shirt, a beautiful smooth black leather Longchamp purse I bought in a department store in Paris for a fair price, a kenzo scarf (in the same department store -- btw many brands have different collections available here than they do in Europe).

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