Clothing Costs

[sarah]

I've just finished clothes shoppong for myself.I'm a teacher and need to look professional. I've spent about 200.00 on school clothes. I spend about 500.00 a year. Mostly at thrift stores and on ebay. I've rread that the average middle class American Woman spends approximately 1750.00 a year on clothes I suspect that readers of these forums do significantly better. How much do you average a year on clothes and how do you keep the cost down and still maintain a proefessional appearance.

This is an area I really struggle with.

[Diolla]

I spend about $400 a year on clothes for my DS and I. My job does not require that I dress in professional type clothes so mine are more servicable but I always try and look neat and adult. I already have most of the dressier clothes I need and since I don't wear them everyday they don't wear out too fast.

I buy tops for both of us at the thrift store, this weekend I purchased 2 lightweight tops and one long sleeved fall top for $3. I usually purchase our pants new at a discount store such as Kohls. I watch the sales. Necessaries are usually K-Mart. Shoes for my DS and I are usually the most expensive items but I already have all the dress shoes I need. I have a pair of beige, black and white pumps and a nice pair of fawn colored boots that do for all my dress up needs. I buy my tennies when I get my sons and usually either get the free or 1/2 off.

To be fair my son's stepmother likes to shop and takes him to Old Navy 2-3 times a year so I have been getting off easy as far as his clothes since my ex remarried. I have never liked shopping so I usually get in get out and get on with my life.

[Ima saver]

To be honest, I probably spend less than $100 a year on clothes. i don't work, so I mostly wear shorts or jeans. I just replace them when they wear out. That and underwear, is about all I buy. I am a low maintence woman!

[pearlieq]

With working from home I don't need to keep up a professional appearance, but even when I was office-based we had a casual dress code.

I do still spend about $800 a year on clothes--mostly because I'm a bit of a clotheshorse. We have an amount budgeted for basic clothing, which covers about half of that. The rest I make up out of my pocket money.

Part of the expense just comes from the fact that plus-size clothes are generally more expensive, and since there isn't much competition truly spectacular deals are hard to find. Basics (T-shirts, jeans, sweaters) can usually be had at decent prices on clearance, but I've never found a nice party or cocktail dress for less than about $50.

[Ima saver]

I have so many clothes I don't wear, so I am embarrassed to buy any more. My closet is full.

[Thrifty Ray]

We spend about $400 per year on clothes. Primarily steel toed boots and work jeans for DH and school clothes for DD3.

Im pretty low cost. This year Ive spent about $30 on myself to buy a couple of t-shirts and some new socks/undies. And this should be it for me since I have added clothes/shoes for me to my list of things Im not buying for the remainder of 2006.

[debtfree]

I don't spend very much on clothes-maybe $250 per year. But I don't work outside the home, otherwise it would be alot more! I love to bargain hunt and find clothes on clearance. I found a couple of really nice shirts last fall at Kohl's for $1.50 ea. I wore them all summer!

We just finished school clothes shopping for my kids. I tried to budget $100 ea for them on average. My oldest daughter had her own school clothes money from her summer job, so she was able to by the brand name shoes she wanted.

My husband buys the cheap jeans at Costco, but he buys VERY expensive work boots so they'll last for him, which they usually last about a year.

Having five kids I try to by clearance whenver possible. Buy summer clothes in the fall when the go on sale and buy winter clothes in the spring when they go on sale. You can find some really good deals that way!

[PrincessPerky]

I was just talking to a friend about this..I don't spend much at all....but I only have to be 'proffessional' for church (I do insist on skirt/dress for girls..long, and collars on boys)

but I will wear the same three skirts in rotation, with the same 6 shirts..not in rotation (cause I can't keep track)

I just see no reason for the huge closet space for that much variety in something, but then I don't like most clothing..so how many simple black skirts can you own anyway!

Kids wise, I wouldn't mind more variety, but I am not paying for it..I just drop hints to those that buy clothes...cause most people don't take their kids to church, or if they do, they don't 'dress em up' so if I didn't say anything no one would give em nice things..

(two pairs pants for boy, two skirts for girls, some shirts all in rotation..)

Now if you like clothes..that sounds like a great place to splurge..on sale..thrift, you can stock a wardrobe so cheap..and if you like shopping you can find it all! On the other hand, model rockets, and remote control cars hardly ever go on sale! (two of our many hobbies)

[Bookie]

Welcome to the "I Hate to Shop for Clothes" comedy hour.

I have trouble finding clothing that doesn't envelop my slender self in excess fabric, so when I do hit on the right item/fit/price, I splurge. This leads to interesting conversations:

"I'd like to order #xyz in size 15/33, please"
"That's our button-down, tapered men's shirt in cotton. What color?"
"All of them."
"Well, it come in white, blue, maize . . . "
"I know. I want one of each . . . "

or

"From your August sale catalog, I'd like to order the jacket, #xyz in green."
"We have that in stock, sir, but the only size we show is 38 regular."
"By a happy coincidence, the only size I wear is a 38 regular."

Shoes are another sore point. I wear an 8D, which means I'm in competition with every 12-year-old in the city for sale shoes. I can buy dress shoes, wingtips, all day long for pennies on the dollar. (Not a lot of 12-year-olds wear wingtips.) Casual shoes are a challenge.

On the bright side, I wear the same clothing sizes I wore in college, so I get long-term returns on my clothing dollar. I've probably averaged spending $150 a year over the past six years.

[sarah]

I can certainly relate to the comment about plus sizes. I am a size 24 which is one of the reasons I think that my clothing expenses are so high.

[Kris10Leigh]

I work in the schools also, but I find that teachers vary greatly in their appearance! I'm one who goes for comfort. I am very fortunate to have a mother and many friends that like to clean out their closets and cast off to me! This suits me fine because I hate shopping for myself. Clothes just don't look good on me. Honestly, I probably spend $30-$100 on myself and IF it is ever $100 it's for shoes.

Now for my boys, I spend about $160 which is $80 for Fall/Winter and $80 for Spring/Summer. We do well at the Thrift Store.

I just bought "new" bathing suits for the boys for $.50 each. We showed them off at a pool party and I was not shy about sharing where we got them. DH said "Ewwww." They washed up just fine and they look as though they've never been worn? What's "ewwww" about that?

[T_I_N_A20]

aaah... I love clothes. Eum, I have been spending a lot this year, I'm thinking of reducing it to a 100$ every 3 months, that makes 400$/ year.

[jodi]

I budget abot $20 per month for clothes. I don't necessarily pass up deals if I am over budget, because most months I spend nothing or little. I shop almost exclusively at thrift stores and garage sales for myself, DH, and my two boys. DH needs some dress clothes for student teaching this fall - luckily, I found some nice shirts and ties for $.50 each at some garage sales this summer.

[Snoopy2645]

I probably spend on myself around 300-400 a year & I dont buy much at all!!! USUALLY though I end up buying a dress outfit once a year this year I had to buy one for easter I had to get up in front of the church I had to have something NICE!!! Sometimes I can get stuff really super cheap on clearance so I try to do that if possible!!!

[getforfree]

When I buy clothes, it's mostly for kids. They need a bigger size for every season. This year I bought 3 workpants and 3 shirts for me, and some underwear, probably spent about $40 total, maybe about $50 for dh, and more than $100 for kids. Most of the clothes I have is 5 yrs or older, some even 8yrs.

I buy most of my clothes on clearance, usually in late january-march for winter, and august-september for summer. Looks like my kids have enough for next summer, so I am going to skip fall's shopping and save some $$. Half of their clothes will still fit them next summer, since it looks like they are only getting taller, but not any wider.

[lrjohnson]

This year, $157 so far; since my Challenge starting March 1, $43. Last year, $458. Last year was too high in my opinion.

[mmbugs]

I do thrift/vintage shopping on the special tag days and challenge myself to find only clothing that is 50 to 75 percent off. I have some great outfits that cost me less than $2.50 for a complete business outfit (jacket, pants, blouse, shoes). I also like to Garage sale in Communities if it's late in the day on a hot summer day you can really get fall/winter items for next to nothing. Another thing that has helped is to buy off the clearance racks in off-season....buy when there are sales and stock up for the year (underwear/socks).

[sarah]

These are great posts and they are helping me think about these issues. I am still a little confused on one issue.
Do you consider shoes and purses to be part of a clothing budget or a separate accessories budget?

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by sarah

Do you consider shoes and purses to be part of a clothing budget or a separate accessories budget?

I do. My $458 last year included a couple pair of Danskos (great shoes but not cheap).

I don't include jewelry. When I'm not on my Challenge, I can spend up to $300 a year. It's more hobby/special interest though; I could certainly never buy jewelry again and have enough. But I love to buy pieces when I travel; silver earrings in oaxaca, amber pieces in Krakow, etc. They are souvenirs, in a way.

[tabbycat31]

this year I have barely bought clothes at all. However when I do I usually shop clearance racks.

I also can't wear just anything. I am very picky about the clothes I wear, and purses for that matter