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How much do you spend on clothes in a year?

(203 Posts)
ecci53 Sat 21-Sep-19 22:51:26

Just read on another discussion where someone reckons she is frugal, spending under £150 per year on clothes. That seems like a lot to me.
I spend a lot less than that. Admittedly, I tend to frequent charity shops and jumble sales. I also think ebay is a girl's best friend-buy something nice to wear, and then sell it on when you're fed up with it.
I don't buy clothes every month and I was wondering how much other people spend on clothes in a year.

oldgimmer1 Tue 24-Sep-19 07:38:03

I agree with MOnica. It's not how much you spend but how much value to get out of the item that counts.

I seem to spend more than most of you but I work full time. I think the £1042 quoted as the average spend is actually quite conservative. As a percentage of an average wage, it's hardly anything.

I find it's hard to buy decent quality these days. I bought a long cardi from Hush a couple years back; great styling by it literally fell apart after a few wears. I had to send it back. It was £100.

Similarly, some of the Zara stuff is pretty awful quality. I've had to take many a shrunken top back! I love their styling but....hmm

I budget around £50 for a decent top. Jeans, t-shirts etc I don't mind so much about.

NanKate Tue 24-Sep-19 16:14:46

Yes Mary but the year isn't over yet so you could outdo me. I shall be counting up any mention of new clothes Mary. You have a full 3 months to go !

lemongrove Tue 24-Sep-19 16:23:12

There was a time, that paying say, £60 for a top guaranteed quality, now it doesn’t guarantee a darn thing.
You would have to pay a real fortune which is beyond the reach of most people.
In most cases the clothes are made in the same foreign factories.

Nannylovesshopping Tue 24-Sep-19 17:56:55

Am really annoyed, have been wearing girlfriend style jeans from tu range, for bout two years, fabulous fit, denim and price, £16, went to get two more pairs today and they have changed supplier, were made in Pakistan, now Bangladesh, the quality, fit and colour, appalling awful, shall now have to hunt down replacements, they will no doubt cost me a lot more dosh, I loved those jeans☹️

annsixty Tue 24-Sep-19 18:44:39

I bought two winter tops from poetry last year as recommended on GN.
I loved them, so, bought 4 T-shirts in their hemp and linen mix.
They are awful ,wash like rags and I shall never buy from them again.

LondonGranny Tue 24-Sep-19 22:35:46

lemongrove

I was the poster who said I spend about £150 a year on clothes (although later realised I'd overestimated & spent £80 in the last year).
This evening, as I was putting the bins out, a lady who lives round the corner that I only know by sight, said I was one of the most stylish people on the street!
I think this is because I buy good quality secondhand and it's generally based around three basic colours....black (goes with everything) autumn browns and peacock blue. I often use Dylon machine dye which dyes cotton, viscose and linen really well.
I think also that when older, one has long worked out what is more comfortable (no-one looks good if they feel awkward) and suits body shape, colouring etc best. Also good accessories rarely date and in my case, long scarves and brooches really add the finishing touch (many are charity shop finds).

I'm ridiculously chuffed, all the same, particularly as I'm more Miriam Margolyes than Meryl Streep.

Maggiemaybe Tue 24-Sep-19 23:29:48

When it comes to style, LondonGranny, you’ve either got it or you ain’t, and you’ve obviously got it. Like so many things, it’s not something you can buy.

I’m still working on it. smile

dizzygran Wed 23-Oct-19 20:09:34

Feeling guilty after reading your posts. I am going to try to not buy anything new to wear in January.

planete Thu 24-Oct-19 08:35:12

I tend to wear stuff until it falls apart but the bulk of my expense is walking boots and decent all weather gear which tend to be very expensive. In a year when nothing has worn out or sprung a leak I might spend under the £150 and the next it might well be double that. Fashion just does not come into it for me any longer but I like being warm and dry.

GabriellaG54 Fri 25-Oct-19 08:38:31

I buy across the board but recently tend to buy more from M&S.
Was in their store yesterday and bought a bag, dogtooth check trousers, silk midi skirt and 3 prs coloured tights plus, of course, a collection from the food dept including 3 superb apple turnovers from the bakery. I also bought a cream/grey bathmat £15 and 4 creamy/white star-shaped deep bowls @£9.50 each, both with 20% off. Quality goods.
I haven't been in Primark for at least 4 weeks.

Callistemon Fri 25-Oct-19 09:27:18

Are we including shoes in this?

I probably spend more than £150 pa on shoes/sandals/boots because I am forever in search of comfort.

As for clothes, some of mine are ancient but I will probably spend quite a bit on new jumpers this year as most of mine are rather tatty.
I don't need a new coat I feel quite justified.

Callistemon Fri 25-Oct-19 09:31:53

LondonGranny I did throw some of my linen trousers in the washing machine with dylon and they came out well.

I'm relieved to note that wider trousers seem to be the fashion again this year, which means I can delve into the back of the wardrobe and retrieve my old (but still good) ones!

annsixty my nice soft linen tops from Whitestuff have got wider and wider over the summer and are now too baggy to wear.

PernillaVanilla Fri 25-Oct-19 09:38:12

Probably between £100 and £150 a month, plus DH sometimes buys me nice clothes or boots as birthday or Christmas presents. I tend to sell of anything I'm not wearing anymore in the autumn on ebay and usually get around £300 back from that. I buy in the sales and sometimes on ebay as I like fewer better quality things rather than more cheaper stuff.
Toast, Brora Hush and Whistles are my go to brands, so very frugal with the number of purchases, though they all have really good sale.

Callistemon Fri 25-Oct-19 09:38:37

abstamhe
I've probably spent well in excess of £150 on clothes for DH in order to try to smarten him up and get him out of his flippin' fleece!
He does get given these clothes for birthday/Christmas though.

Men's clothes (particularly in M& seem to be of far better quality than women's).

Callistemon Fri 25-Oct-19 09:39:14

M&S!

MawB Fri 25-Oct-19 09:42:27

I am a terrible “sucker” for the 20% /30% offers when they come up- currently Joules, White Stuff and Woolovers.
I did top up on PJs, socks and a couple of pairs of their straight cord jeans from M&S when they were doing their 20% Family and Friends discount recently.
I also bought another 2 pairs of the most comfortable ankle boots in the whole wide world, chocolate brown and navy (last years colour) fur lined “Pixie” from Hotter at a very generous discount. They are as soft as slippers!
Saving all this money is costing me a fortune.??

FlexibleFriend Fri 25-Oct-19 09:47:13

I have no clue how much I spend on clothes in a year, I suspect it varies enormously but I spend what I want.

Callistemon Fri 25-Oct-19 09:47:25

I've just been doing some mental arithmetic and, er, yes, way in excess of £150 so far this year.

All necessary and nothing frivolous!

NannyJan53 Fri 25-Oct-19 09:58:24

I buy quite a lot from charity shops. Last week a pair of Hotter ankle boots for £10 (new and still in box). I have a few Phase Eight dresses from charity shops, and numerous pairs of jeans and jegging type jeans averaging £3-£4 a pair.

Yesterday bought a lovely Regatta waterproof coat for £12, looks hardly worn.

I do buy new clothes too, but usually in a Sale.

At a guess I would say no more than £500 a year, that includes underwear.

LondonGranny Fri 25-Oct-19 10:46:00

Callistemon
I'm glad you found Dylon works well. It's often more expensive than the garment I'm dyeing but worth every penny however sometimes when dyeing, for instance a secondhand linen dress, the dye will show up what were previously invisible stains. I just get creative with embroidery, I realised that I didn't factor in Anchor Perle cotton embroidery thread to my clothes total. I've spent just over £15 on embroidery thread this year. It's like drawing with a needle and covers a multitude of sins. Prettier than darning too.

newnanny Fri 25-Oct-19 10:52:38

When I worked and so had to get to work dressed smartly I spent about £100 each month to keep my wardrobe updated. Now I don't have to look smart all of the time I tend to wear what I am comfortable in. I spend about £100 per year on a couple of pairs of shoes one for winter and summer sandals but not much on clothing itself. Maybe £80 each year renewing underwear and £100 each year on a few tops and a skirt. I have got so many winter coats (7) that I will not need to buy another for years to come. So about £300 for everything.

gabriellamroyal Thu 11-Jun-20 16:11:19

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kissngate Sat 13-Jun-20 19:23:51

Spend at least 150 pa on shoes/boots/sandals/trainers as I'm very heavy on my feet. Around 50 pa on undies/nightwear (due to not colour sorting the washing) and possibly 150 on the rest mainly jeans, jumpers and t-shirts.

paddyanne Sat 13-Jun-20 21:08:16

Just noticed this has been resurrected ,now how much have you spent on clothes during lockdown?
I've been very good two new pairs of lycra exercise leggings ,a couple of long sleeved t-shirts ,a grey and white stripey jumper and a knee length tunic style dress..My OH tends to trail me round shops trying to make me buy clothes when I'd rather buy CD's.books and kitchen stuff.I buy mainly online total about £160 .

grannylyn65 Sat 13-Jun-20 21:15:14

Scruffy and poor (and 70)