Clothing Budget!

**Shell** · 01-02-2003, 07:15 PM

I read a book many years ago about planning your wardrobe. It was a French book about only have a few good pieces in your closet and mixing and matching. For example: black skirt, black pants, white cotton button down shirt, white cotton t-shirt, black turtleneck sweater & black blazer. You take this basic wardrobe and then build on that. Of course if you don't look good in black try grey, navy or some other basic colour. Now add some jewellery and mix and match. Having a basic wardrobe has really helped me to stretch my outfits into something new.

Who else tries this method or I would love to hear how you do it. What is the most you allow yourself each month on clothes?

**aylasmommy** · 01-02-2003, 07:24 PM

I like the idea, but since clothes shopping is my one non frugal splurge and indulgence(though I try really hard to get them as cheap as I can) I have a lot more than I really need..

I have a new resolution though, to keep my spending at around 15$/month for me..so if I don't spend for two months, then the third month I could spend 45$ and so on.

**Shell** · 01-02-2003, 07:30 PM

Wow! $15.00 a month. I wish I could behave myself that well!

**nealy** · 01-02-2003, 07:37 PM

Our clothing budget is fifteen dollars a month for a family of four! LOL.

Nealy

**Mom23boys** · 01-02-2003, 07:41 PM

We don't really have a monthly clothing budget. We usually don't buy any new clothes, except during the holidays and before school. I only buy socks and underware that need replacing throughout the year. My step-mom keeps me supplied in clothes. She is always dropping a bundle off at the house.

**Shell** · 01-02-2003, 07:45 PM

OK I see this is an area I could really work on!

**aylasmommy** · 01-02-2003, 10:34 PM

I wish I could behave myself that well!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh I hope I can too

I'm hoping that the bigger the challenge I give myself the harder I'll work at sticking to it

I'll stick to thrift shop, cute sportsy tank tops for 1.50, and target clearanced pants/jeans/skirts @ around 7$ and have to pass up the rest

My dd I don't spend much on since I have so much stockpiled from previous yard sale bargains or target clearance..and dh..well he rarely gets anything new besides socks/underwear and levi's.

**grneyegrl** · 01-02-2003, 10:39 PM

oh i hear u.. i have to return a pair of pants to burlington coat factory(need a smaller size) and it only cost 6.99.
so im with u
i also have my sisters christmas and birthday presents already.i usually get her clothing,like tank tops and pjs(which she loves) and i usually get them (pjs) for 7.99 or less and tanks 2.99 or less.
i wont spend more.

**Nelly** · 01-02-2003, 10:39 PM

I don't really feel like I have the budget to buy much clothes. Especially this last year I barely bought anything. Since I just stay at home, I don't need too much. Fo the kids I might buy a few items once or twice every two months or so. My dh and I usually buy "big" maybe two times a year. And when I say "big" it means like 3 or 4 pieces of clothing.

Nelly

**bamamomto4** · 01-02-2003, 11:17 PM

We don't really have a budget either.I buy the kids new clothes when school starts and new pj's for Christmas.They get socks and underwear as needed throughout the year.
Unless of course I find a great bargain

Jackson prob gets more clothes than anyone but we all know how fast they grow at this stage

Most of his clothes comes from the Carter's outlet or thrift shop.
Since I just stay home,I don't buy much for myself,and when I do it's from a local thrift shop unless I can find a great clearance rack someplace.I did buy my maternity jeans off ebay lol
Dh will only wear levi's.When he needs new jeans I check the thrift store and usually find him good,almost new jeans for around $6.

**MANDERS** · 01-03-2003, 03:11 PM

I really don't have a clothing budget for our family,but I generally get things at yard sales for the kids and my self and at a consignment sale each feb and sept for the kids,also in march and aug are tax free weekends here so I go to the consgnment stores then.Shoes are always bought new.

**canadian gardener** · 11-02-2005, 04:28 PM

this is a fun thread. I think it does save to have a basic core wardrobe on a neutral.

My winter one starts with a couple of wool jacket type sweaters, one in beige/camel/pink/brown tones in a fair isle knit and the other is burgundy boucle. I found them on sale over 2 years. I try to buy one new sweater from Tabi's when they go on their super duper 70% off sale at the end of season, which is how I have these two and my summer sweaters.

I bought pants at a tan Jay outlet for 10 to 15$ each in a polyester fake suede or plain polyester that looks nice and wears like cast iron. I have several in beige, and camel and brown and one pair in burgundy.

I have a bunch of cream, camel, pink and beige cotton turtlenecks that go nicely. I also have a cream, a burgundy and a pink wool top--3 for when it's super chilly. the cotton ones cost about 10$ and the wool ones 15$, all on end of season clearance.

I have beige running shoes, and purse and good loafers that go with.

and that has been my winter wardrobe for some time now. I'm wearing the burgundy wool top, and the jacket and the suede pants right now.

Looks nice, goes together, and didn't cost a bunch. I knew when I found each peice whether it would go, and I only bought stuff on sale that would go with my jackets.

My neutral is beige and creamy ivory white.

**guest000** · 11-02-2005, 05:02 PM

I don't have a set budget for my wardrobe. I'm pretty conservative, so I can wear just about anything that's simple. But I do like to go outside of the box often.

So, I'd say that per month, I spend about $50 dollars on a couple pieces of clothing, shoes, a bag... whatever.

I pick up the stuff that will finish off my seasonal wardrobe as the season arrives.

I wish I could stick to $15 dollars a month, but... HOW? A pair of jeans are $19 bucks at the least.

**YankeeMom** · 11-02-2005, 05:11 PM

Let's put it this way...dh actually writes it on the calendar when I buy something (clothing) for myself

The last time was back in August...I bought 3 sweaters & 2 turtlenecks at a yardsale

**momof42003** · 11-03-2005, 12:05 AM

For myself, I don't really have a budget.. I don't buy clothes...

I totally make mine last a very long time the last thing I bought was two pair of jeans about 8 months ago...

The kids seem to need some sort of clothing almost monthly.. This year before school started, I actually got all the clothes washed, and realized the boys need no clothing except for pants... They have enough long sleeve, and short sleeve shirts, socks and underwear to last until the end of the school year.. I did have to buy them each a pair of pants last week, and a pair of shoes each.. My DD (11) only wants to wear boy shorts, baggy sweats and really big t-shirts and sweat shirts.. She did not need anything either... The one thing that was bought was a pair of shoes that she earned this summer *working* with grandma...It does help that the next door neighbor is just older and bigger than her, that she gets alot of nice handme downs... DD2(2yrs) has had enough clothes bought from Good will, and given to her to last until at least the summer and beyond with some stuff... She may need only socks, and big girl underwear when the time comes.

DH needs pants desparately.. But he wears an odd size in Levi's and that is the ONLY brand he will wear... His shoes probably cost the most, he spends about 50.00 every six months on them.. The jeans are 39.00 or more a pair.. I hit the jackpot this summer and found three pair of the correct size of jeans for him at a gargage sale for .50 each...

Total for the month I am stretching to say I spend maybe 5.00 for incidentals.. There are times where I spend a good amount on clothes (ie. the end of the season sales), but I generally don't buy anything that is not from a garage sale, goodwill, or on clearance.... Can't stand to spend money on clothes.. LOL.