Yearly clothes budget

Me too Ana..... And have just had eyes tested (sigh)

I read that as 'Captain Torture'... Yikes!

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I had a shock when I saw my credit card pye chart for my expenditure because I would have said about £1,000 per year. But including books, hairdressing and clothes (including shoes and and bags) it was nearer £3,500. I am drawing my horns in.

I don't keep a tally of what I spend, but it's not much. I work part time so regularly get a few work type tops from M & S or george at Asda, as they wash well and aren't expensive. A lot of makes don't fit me

Unfortunately I just can't seem to lose weight, it's been increasing over the years. So over half my wardrobe is clothes that are too small, hardly worn. Ridiculous!

The main thing I don't scrimp on is shoes, I have fairly wide feet and high instep and need comfort - I like Clarks, but always try and get them in the sales or find a discount code.

Thanks Gillybob. Had a look at Clarks but I have wide feet and was not inspired by the selection, they usually have more at the start of the new season so I will hold out....I am in warm, dry walking boots with extra socks atm!!!

Some good boot bargains to be had in Clarks (on-line) Pittcity.

I couldn't really say how much I spend in an average year. What is an average year? I do like clothes and fashion but tend to stick with casual as very rarely go anywhere for which I need to "dress up". I tend to make clothes last. I dress up older clothes with nice cardi's and scarves although usually buy at least one-two pairs of skinny jeans every year (not expensive ones) as I wear them a lot. I did get a lovely Joules quilted jacket for christmas this year which will last me for ever and I bought a new pair of Mary Poppins boots with some birthday money I had which I absolutely adore. Again they will last me for ever.

Probably £250 in an average year. No more than that.
My sister is about the same size as me and because she still works, has a larger wardrobe than me. So she chucks a few clothes in my direction. She has been doing that for years. She is a bit of a hoarder, so it helps her to be able to get rid of some things.

Like Mishap, I'm not particularly interested in clothes. I tend to buy things as I need them, or for occasions, which is not very often. I have good things in my wardrobe which I have worn once and will probably not wear again, and blazer which I will wear until it drops off my back. I used to spend a lot on my work clothes. Until someone tells me I look like a bag lady, I won't worry about it. So far this year, I have spent £28 on a sweater, and bought a cardigan from Debenhams with a voucher DS gave me, so I suppose that doesn't count. Have my eye on a new fly vest though and could do with some new waders... now there you are talking about serious money!

I have worn a hole in my only pair of brown boots and the shops all have sandals now. So those are first on my list for July when the winter stock comes in.

I'm going to have to spend on a few new Summer clothes as I had a big clear out before I put them away. I have enough Summer shoes though to last another year...

Last year it was £800. Oh dear!

That did not include face creams, hair cuts, earrings (three pairs).

My theory is that this year I won't spend much at all, having stocked up last year.

I hate shopping including buying clothes and only tend to do it when I really need something.
My feelings as regards budget, spend what you can afford, certainly don't get into debt for something like clothes it's not a necessity.

Petallus - re what's in the budget - all make up, creams etc go in what I call housekeeping - like food, part of body maintenance and regarded as essential. Hairdressers goes in miscellaneous - a very useful category and infinitely redefinable

Thank you FlicketyB. To be honest we would prefer to stay in a farmhouse B and B but DS always chooses what I think is called Boutique type properties. He is so enthusiastic about them that we haven't the heart to be negative.

That's Iceland the country btw

NanKate I live 20 miles south of Witney so I only know of the Cotswold Lake Resort from the adverts. It seems very upmarket. Individual houses sited around a series of ex-gravel pits, planted and landscaped to look very pretty in the pictures.

I like the stuff from the blue lagoon in Iceland. They really do seem to help a little.

petallus Skincare products, hairdos, manicures, lunch out with one's friends etc should be regarded as 'personal expenditure' and definitely do not come out of one's clothes budget

flicketyB you mention Witney which I agree is a nice town for shopping.

Now to my main point DS and family have booked us in next year for 2 whole weeks to help with the grandchildren at the Cotswold Lake Resort which is near there. Have you been there or know anything about it please ?

Petallus I too bought that Boots skin balm. And do you know what I still have as many wrinkles as ever.

I am a sucker for advertisements for beauty products.

I fancy those 'Frownies' which you stick between your eyes overnight to remove the frown lines. I bet they won't work either.

I find shopping online for clothes very difficult. When the site just lines the clothes up in rows they all look as dull as ditch water and because I cannot look at the details of the cut I have no idea how or whether they will fit me. If they pose them on models their height and figures again are so different from mine and they look so different to me that again I have no idea whether the dress will fit properly, I do not mean size but fit.

I have ordered clothes online before but with the exception of trousers from Landsend every single garment has been sent back because of quality, fit or the garment just being unflattering when on.

Fortunately I have now sorted out the first event satisfactorily from my own resources. I have lost 21lbs on the 5:2 diet recently and found a top DH gave me last Christmas, which I had forgotten I had. His sizing was optimistic and I knew the acrylic jersey would cling unattractively to every undulation of my excess weight so I didn't even try it on. This morning I slipped it over my head and it was a nice loose fit. With some existing trousers and shoes and a belt from New Look, that is ticked off the list.

The other, more important event is at the end of the month, when, back from holiday I will have time to spend a day in Witney which is a nice mix of a High Street full of independent stores and a new bit stuck on one side with Monsoon, Phase 8, Wallis, East etc. Plus by kate September, hopefully the choice will be better.

I've just spent £25 on a No 7 facial serum. A few weeks ago I spent £45 on two Molton Brown body moisturisers. Yesterday it was £38 on a hair cut.

I don't include these expenses in my clothes budget total and wonder if that's cheating a bit.