Growing up, there were 3 times in my life when I got new clothes: 1) My Birthday, 2) Christmas, 3) My sister's birthday. The first two probably make sense, third is purely because my birthday is in October and so my mom needed an excuse to give me summer clothes. So growing up I only thought that you can get clothes on those 3 occasions. If clothes were bought for me from June-October, it was saved for my birthday, after my birthday-December it was saved for Christmas. This was so far ingrained in me that when I went college and my roommates wore clothes the day after they bought them, I thought they were doing something wrong and should save them for the next holiday.
So now that this last birthday was the big 3-0! I'm feeling kind of old. And being a mom, I'm feeling kinda... well... frumpy. So my kind husband gave me an "allowance" of sorts for my birthday this year.
So I sent out on my shopping spree. First stop was the mall. I had received an adorable sweater from my mother-in-law but it was too small (and a gorgeous scarf that I LOVE), so I went to check out what else they had. And it just kills me. The average mall price is $20+ for a shirt and $30-50+ for pants. So we are talking $70 for 1 outfit.
Naturally this had drawn me to the 2nd hand stores like TJ Maxx and ROSS (Dress for Less), which is wonderful and I do love them. But we're still talking $7-15+ for a shirt and $15-25+ for pants. So we're looking at ~ $30 for 1 outfit. Which is half the price, but still... $30 for 1 outfit.
Now I don't know about you, but when I go shopping, I'd like to get 2 or 3 outfits or mixtures of some kind. So now I'm talking $100 a shopping trip. Which frankly, if each person in my house were to go shopping that'd be $300 a pop.
So let's do the math. If I am trying to stay trendy and keep clothes that fit (ha! Like that happens in your baby making years), then how often do you go shopping? Just those 3 times a year? Yeah, I'd be 2 different sizes in between each "clothing holiday." So I'd like to go shopping more. But let's say I go every other month. We're still talking $100 x 6 months = $600/year... and that's just for ME. No one else in the house. Since I live with boys, let's say they only need $400/year. Now we are talking $1000/year JUST FOR CLOTHES! Seriously?
So my question is how do you shop? How do you manage a budget for clothes? Do you plan on getting gift money for clothes? Or do you have a monthly budget? What's a reasonable amount? Are there coupons for clothes? Do you know about some discount that I do not? How do you stay trendy without breaking the bank? Please give me your tricks.. I need them!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I'm pretty much forced to shop online since I've only got a Walmart and some expensive boutiques here. I shop the sales and clearance (I cna't buy anything that's less than 30% off... it kills me...lol). Every now and then I have to make some exchanges since I never know if it will fit just right, but most places I shop send prepaid labels for exchanges (and the exchange is free... returns will cost me on shipping). I shop at Old Navy, GAP, and Victorias Secret (they have excellent jeans for my body type) and always look for online coupon codes. For Allie - sales at Crazy 8, Childrens Place, Old Navy, and GAP.
And yes, we have a monthly budget for clothes. I don't use it up every month, but can save that amount if I don't use it to make a larger purchase another month.
For kids and sometimes myself I wait until Savers has their 50% off sale and then go there for clothes. I can get an entire wardrobe for all three girls for about $50-$100. (For kids I find they outgrow things so fast, I mostly refuse to buy new.) Other than that I shop clearance and sales and replace clothes when needed. JC Penney's typically has good door buster sales around off holidays--I was able to get RJ an entire wardrobe for around $100 this year.
Happy Birthday!!
I totally understand the clothes thing, but I have a weakness. I don't go shopping for complete outfits. I look for items like, then I'm not forced to select something I don't need just to complete an outfit. I basically stick to TJ Maxx and Ross. If I see a top I like I get it, but if the jeans don't work I'll wait.
I must say, jeans are worth paying money for. Find a pair you love and buy them. Then get cheap shirts because they are way more interchangeable.
And, PS...husbands don't need clothes as much. Fashion stands still for them, so add his portion into your budget.
Kids clothes...look for "lot" items on craigslist, or hit up garage sales. I have some of the cutest clothes from Tucson garage sales.
Miss you guys. Have fun shopping!
I tend to shopt at Kohl's. THey are always having a sale the beginning weekend of the month and occasionally they send out coupons in the mail for $10 off.
It's all about the day after Thanksgiving sales! Or you could just opt to not be trendy like me :)
Staying trending in a world of over-revealing clothing is next to impossible. So instead of trying to find the newest trends, I just stick with the most doable of the said trends. Most of my clothes shopping is done in the clearance section of Ross for me. I love getting super cute dresses for $10 or less. Every once and a while, I will try for clearance sections in the mall, but usually the cost still more than the regular price at Ross. I do some jean shopping at thrift stores. Finding just the right pair of jeans is so difficult that it is nice to have a bunch of brand options that the thrift stores provide. I actually got a pair of brand new Old Navy jeans at the thrift store for about $6 a few months ago. For Jolee, I absolutely love the 22nd thrift store, just past Camino Seco. It always has half of sales and tons of clothing. Since Jolee is so rambunctious, I rarely buy day to day clothing new because she stains so much of her clothing (hurray for Shout). Most of Randy's shopping is a Ross in the clearance sections too, they usually have a myriad of options for slacks and dress shirts. We average about $200 to $300 a year for new clothes for the family (a must on a teacher's salary).
Post a Comment