How much do you spend a month?

[UCLABelle]

If this is too personal, please accept my apologies....

For those of you who want to play....HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND A MONTH ON CLOTHES/JEWELS/HANDBAGSETC.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Boy, Belle, I'm trying hard to figure out the right choice here but my spending varies SO much from month to month, especially on the jewelry front. I *guess* I spend $200-$500/month on clothes and handbags, but some months I really spend almost nothing and other months I go on a spree. Also, in terms of jewelry, there will be a lot of months when I buy nothing at all and then I might but a little something at the gem shows (in the hundreds of dollars range) and a big something around the holidays (which could be in the tens of thousands of dollars range). I guess I'm not really doing you much good here, am I?!

 

[chrono]

Mine varies so I did not vote. Like DJ, sometimes I spend nothing (no jewels, clothes, fun stuff) for months, then I might splurge $$$ on a diamond or some $$ on a gemstone or $ for some fun small accessory, all in the same month. So even if I wanted to vote, there''s no category for such wacky spending habits.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

My spending also varies. I can go for a couple of months without buying anything and then go on a clothes or handbag binge.

 

[kcoursolle]

My spending varies considerably on jewelry, but not as much for clothes.

I spend about $80 a month on clothes and handbags, makeup, and other non-essential accessories besides jewelry. I mostly shop at marshalls and tjmaxx except for jeans....I buy a nice expensive pair of jeans about 2x a year.

For jewelry, I will spend nothing for months and then I will get something big. I usually save up and get 1 nice piece a year that is about 1-2k. I spend almost nothing on other jewelry because I''m not a huge fan of silver jewelry and wear mostly rings instead of earrings and necklaces.

 

[musey]

We were given $50-60/week for shopping when I was a teenager and through college (too much IMO, but not like I was gonna turn it down

).

I wish, in a way, that I hadn't had that much "provided" for me because it set my standards for shopping higher than most kids (in my area at least). Now that I'm in the "real world" it's hard to adjust. I never spend beyond my means, but I take the "no, self, you cannot buy that pair of jeans this month" a little harder than other people seem to.

Kind off-topic, sorry about that

But I spend about 10% of my income on "non-essentials." I think that in the long run, for my income level and cost of essential living, that's still too high... I'm still learning!!

I figure as long as I'm still debt-free... ... ...

 

[butterfly 17]

It''s funny that you asked this because I don''t really have a spending amount per say, but sometimes I go way over board and sometimes I spend nothing. I can go months without buying a single thing, and then suddenly, go and spend a decent amount of money.

Things I regularly spend money on are beauty items, esp. makeup and lotions, which I love.

In May and June I didn''t spend money on clothes, bags or jewelry, but in March I bought a LV manhattan PM and a LV multicolor pochette and a Balenciaga Lilac Boobie.

This month I got my WF baby bezel earrings, the WF bangle bracelet, a sapphire bracelet off ebay and I just won a LV cherry blossom red/cream pochette.

Once I get everything, I will post the pictures for you guys!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Butterfly - I can''t wait to see your earrings and other goodies! Be sure to post photos soon.

 

[Lorelei]

I''m with Chrono and Dee, it varies where it could be nothing or a huge spend up!

 

[Harriet]

Same here.

 

[iwannaprettyone]

I doubt count, that way it''s less painful....

 

[diamondfan]

I pretty consistently spend a lot, which is not always music to my dh ''s ears. I buy a lot of make up and all the other things, clothes, shoes, bags, jewelery. I do have months where it is less, but overall I have a pretty similar pattern each month.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I generally spend about $400-600 a month on clothes and cosmetics, but ususally only buy one handbag a season and use it daily. Unlike all the ladies here on PS, I''m just not "into" purses. I did find a cute Coach that I am loving and plan to get in the fall, but it''s around $400 and that would be my max. budget for a purse.

But, I have to say, a few months back I reeled in my extravagant makeup purchases and have started reassessing my shopping sprees. I regret a bit that I''ve spent so friviously. . . but, then again, after "cutting back" on purchases I ended up getting a pair of ACA studs with the money I saved! lol

My new spending goal is to save for nicer things (my next project is a pendant) rather than lots of little items that get lost in my closet or in my makeup train case!

 

[Cind11]

My spending varies so much per month. I tend to spend a lot more on clothing at the beginning of each "season". This summer I feel like I overdid it on summer clothes considering I live in Ohio and we have such short summers. (but there was such cute stuff!) I don''t spend that much on makeup though and I don''t buy many bags so maybe I can get away with buying more clothes-hehe.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

As far as jewelry goes, I try to get something really great every year or two. The amount will vary because I don''t often upgrade my e-ring or anything like that! I really don''t go clothes shopping more than a couple of times a year, and I might buy two purses a year (not more than around $100 each). So I really don''t budget for those kinds of things on a monthly basis. But when I want a piece of jewelry, I only buy what I really want.

 

[Mara]

i would imagine i spend between $200-500 a month (that's a big range though) on stuff for myself...it could be clothes one month and a bag the next (or a bag the next 2 months) or i might go 2-3 months with nothing then buy something big. jewelry wise i get about a piece a year, typically smaller items..as i don't wear much jewelry and the only 'big ticket' item i really have is my e-ring. i do want to upgrade my earrings later this year but i am also jonesing for a bigger solitaire pendant so we'll see. i want to get a new b-bag too in the next few months...so i gotta space it all out! and fall shopping will be coming in about october so i have to plan for that too. it's easy to go and drop a few hundred dollars on clothes especially...it seems like things get more and more expensive the older i get. and quality isn't even on par with cost half the time.

 

[KristyDarling]

I average about $300/month for random clothes/lip glosses/fun accessories. Now and then I go crazy and spend like $500/month. And now and then I''m a good girl and spend hardly anything. Overall, I''m spending too much. I don''t *need* most of the things I buy -- but the past couple season''s flab-friendly trends have been so tempting. I''ve been loving the tunics and floaty tops, and items I can layer. I''m just hoping I can reduce my monthly burn rate and have better discipline!

 

[monarch64]

I voted like three days ago but never did post anything about my vote, sorry.

I''m like most everyone else here, i don''t spend the same amount each month, so I sort of did a quick average in my head and came up with my vote. Usually I spend more in September and March than I do the rest of year as far as clothing, shoes, and accessories, and I supplement every other month with smaller purchases. That way DH only has a couple of headaches per year, lol! Unfortunately our anni falls in September as well, and my b-day is in May, so I have to time things really well in order to still get gifts. Example: my b-day gift this year is just now being shipped!

 

[AsscherGirl]

Right now - $0 per month (wedding is coming up VERY soon). I got into this habit of spending nothing also when we first moved into our house and I would spend all my extra money on stuff for the house as opposed to stuff for me.

In normal years though, I probably spend on average $50 a month on clothes. As much as I love jewelry, i never buy it for myself (this will probably change in the future though!). As far as handbags are concerned, I generally buy one per year. And it''s usually in December (I work for a company that makes handbags and we have an employee sale every December!) I probably spend $50 a month on makeup!

I actually have thought to myself that I should spend more money on clothes. I feel like I wear the same stuff all the time and I definitely do not have enough clothes for a girl! So maybe I will increase my spending after the wedding!!!

 

[TravelingGal]

I spend less than $50 a month. Many months it''s actually zero. I use makeup until it''s just crumbs and bits in my makeup bag. Only buy clothes when I have a big out of town meeting so I can actually have decent things to wear.

My friend I were talking about this the other day...I just rarely need to dress up! Even get togethers are always house parties, and with Asians we don''t wear shoes in the house - so I am always in flip flops!

I wasn''t always like this. When my mom lived with me, she said I had a "shoe disease" because I''d bring home a pair (in what seemed like) every week. I loved shoes and clothes but working from home just sort of killed it for me. I just like being comfy and casual.

Plus even though I was buying stuff way back when, I''ve always hated shopping.

 

[twigski]

For some reason I only keep track of clothing (not including undies, pj''s, or workout stuff). I average around $400-500 a month. I usually get handbags & jewelry as gifts from family & SO. I rarely buy jewelry for myself, I should start though.

 

[butterfly 17]

Date: 7/5/2007 1:29:07 AM
Author: KristyDarling
I average about $300/month for random clothes/lip glosses/fun accessories. Now and then I go crazy and spend like $500/month. And now and then I''m a good girl and spend hardly anything. Overall, I''m spending too much. I don''t *need* most of the things I buy -- but the past couple season''s flab-friendly trends have been so tempting. I''ve been loving the tunics and floaty tops, and items I can layer. I''m just hoping I can reduce my monthly burn rate and have better discipline!

Speaking about those flab-friendly tops, I just love them!

I have to say, I am not a big spender on clothes, except for my jeans, but the last time I bought an expensive pair was at least a year ago. When I do spend money on clothes, I usually go to the cheaper stores, like Mandees, the Gap, etc. I am not that much into clothes or shoes anymore.

Also, I do notice that I will spend alot on jeans, but not that much on capris by the same designer. Like I will by a pair of Citizens or AG''s at retail price, but I won''t buy their capris unless it''s on sale.

 

[Phoenix]

It's really weird, I have gone from being really thrifty to being a big spender, relatively speaking of course. When I was in my teens I saved practically everything I earned from my part-time jobs, the rest I gave to my parents. In my twenties and early thirties, I hardly ever spent on what I considered luxuries, ie. clothes, handbags, jewelllery etc. I spent on average 20% of my salary (primarily on food, transportation and the occasional designer bags) and saving the rest. I was so determined not to be poor. My parents used to be middle class in Vietnam but we lost everything after the Communists took over South VN and when came to the UK, we were penniless. I bought my first home (a six bedroom house) in my late twenties and was so proud of that and still am.

Now I am older, and hubby and I are more established, I find myself spending quite a bit. I'd say anywhere from (the equivalent of) USD1,000 a month to much more on things like diamonds, make-up, bags, shoes, clothes (less on clothes than the other stuff). In the past few yrs, we've had friends who have passed away at a young age or are having major illnesses and my philosophy is if you don't spend now and start enjoying what you've got, what's the point? You can't take it to the grave! I know it is really irrational and crazy and selfish, but in a way, I am tired of having to save most of our money. We do give to charities and also my parents and some siblings, quite a bit and we don't have kids (at least not yet. If and when we do, I imagine most of our money will go toward them and their future), but for the time being, I am just enjoying what we have and can afford. Luckily, hubby has no desire to spend money on clothes, or any designer goods. He is very unlike yr "typical man" (if there's such a thing), he doesn't go for expensive cars, hi-fi's, anything, at all! Just as well!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/7/2007 11:45:33 AM
Author: lienTN

Now I am older, and hubby and I are more established, I find myself spending quite a bit. I''d say anywhere from (the equivalent of) USD1,000 a month to much more on things like diamonds, make-up, bags, shoes, clothes (less on clothes than the other stuff). In the past few yrs, we''ve had friends who have passed away at a young age or are having major illnesses and my philosophy is if you don''t spend now and start enjoying what you''ve got, what''s the point? You can''t take it to the grave! I know it is really irrational and crazy and selfish, but in a way, I am tired of having to save most of our money. We do give to charities and also my parents and some siblings, quite a bit and we don''t have kids (at least not yet. If and when we do, I imagine most of our money will go toward them and their future), but for the time being, I am just enjoying what we have and can afford. Luckily, hubby has no desire to spend money on clothes, or any designer goods. He is very unlike yr ''typical man'' (if there''s such a thing), he doesn''t go for expensive cars, hi-fi''s, anything, at all! Just as well!

Hey, I''ve also lived with the philosophy of spending while you''re alive. A few of my close relatives died at a young age, so I felt spend it while you have it is the only way make sure life is properly enjoyed. But, now as I''m living in my 30s, I''m worrying that attidude may have been a mistake. My SIL who makes nearly $100K on her salary alone and in her early 40s has NO savings ended up changing jobs and for a few weeks had to borrow money from another relative! I do NOT want to end up like that. I''m not sure having every Chanel Makeup collection from each season is worth that risk.

Butterfly - I also have a thing for designer jeans and usually buy full-price Sevens and will pair them up with a t-shirt from the Gap or Old Navy and then a pair of shoes from Nordstrom. The most I pay for my shoes is $100, but I do pay more for hiking/workout shoes.

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 7/7/2007 12:29:45 PM
Author: MC

Date: 7/7/2007 11:45:33 AM
Author: lienTN

Now I am older, and hubby and I are more established, I find myself spending quite a bit. I'd say anywhere from (the equivalent of) USD1,000 a month to much more on things like diamonds, make-up, bags, shoes, clothes (less on clothes than the other stuff). In the past few yrs, we've had friends who have passed away at a young age or are having major illnesses and my philosophy is if you don't spend now and start enjoying what you've got, what's the point? You can't take it to the grave! I know it is really irrational and crazy and selfish, but in a way, I am tired of having to save most of our money. We do give to charities and also my parents and some siblings, quite a bit and we don't have kids (at least not yet. If and when we do, I imagine most of our money will go toward them and their future), but for the time being, I am just enjoying what we have and can afford. Luckily, hubby has no desire to spend money on clothes, or any designer goods. He is very unlike yr 'typical man' (if there's such a thing), he doesn't go for expensive cars, hi-fi's, anything, at all! Just as well!

Hey, I've also lived with the philosophy of spending while you're alive. A few of my close relatives died at a young age, so I felt spend it while you have it is the only way make sure life is properly enjoyed. But, now as I'm living in my 30s, I'm worrying that attidude may have been a mistake. My SIL who makes nearly $100K on her salary alone and in her early 40s has NO savings ended up changing jobs and for a few weeks had to borrow money from another relative! I do NOT want to end up like that. I'm not sure having every Chanel Makeup collection from each season is worth that risk.

Butterfly - I also have a thing for designer jeans and usually buy full-price Sevens and will pair them up with a t-shirt from the Gap or Old Navy and then a pair of shoes from Nordstrom. The most I pay for my shoes is $100, but I do pay more for hiking/workout shoes.

That's so sweet of you, MC!

and i mean that sincerely. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. I don't spend all that we earn. We're lucky in that hubby has a good paying job and I am very good at investing our money, inclg those funds which we saved in the earlier years. We're very well provided for. We're debt-free (well, except the smaller mortgages on our main home and our place in Melbourne, which we fully intend to pay off completely in the next 10-15 yrs, if not earlier), have substantial investments, inclg retirement funds. I just don't save 80% of our earnings like I used to with my own salary. I just meant that I don't want to live so frugally like I used to, not enjoying the fruit of our labour. I think I was being so overly worried abt being poor because of what happened to my family.

These days, the saving: salary ratio is lower but we do still save and we invest most of what we save in high-growth but still relatively safe vehicles and as we get older and older, we switch more and more of our investments into safer vehicles even if that means lower growth. We have built up our nest egg very nicely which continues to grow. We fully intend to have a more than comfy retirement. There is NO way we're going to be destitute. We've set our targets, inlg living in our debt-free home, still being able to travel and eat at nice places etc. We're well on track to meeting our targets.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/7/2007 10:17:23 PM
Author: lienTN

That''s so sweet of you, MC!

and i mean that sincerely. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. I don''t spend all that we earn. We''re lucky in that hubby has a good paying job and I am very good at investing our money, inclg those funds which we saved in the earlier years. We''re very well provided for. We''re debt-free (well, except the smaller mortgages on our main home and our place in Melbourne, which we fully intend to pay off completely in the next 10-15 yrs, if not earlier), have substantial investments, inclg retirement funds. I just don''t save 80% of our earnings like I used to with my own salary. I just meant that I don''t want to live so frugally like I used to, not enjoying the fruit of our labour. I think I was being so overly worried abt being poor because of what happened to my family.

hahaha I must live among shopaholic women friends/family as I was imagining you spending every dime! lol

You sound like you''re well set

Hopefully my husband and I can secure our future. I am nervous about it since we are self-employeed and have two little boys who will need to be put through college and we do have a substantial house loan, too!

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 7/7/2007 11:53:45 PM
Author: MC

Date: 7/7/2007 10:17:23 PM
Author: lienTN

That's so sweet of you, MC!

and i mean that sincerely. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. I don't spend all that we earn. We're lucky in that hubby has a good paying job and I am very good at investing our money, inclg those funds which we saved in the earlier years. We're very well provided for. We're debt-free (well, except the smaller mortgages on our main home and our place in Melbourne, which we fully intend to pay off completely in the next 10-15 yrs, if not earlier), have substantial investments, inclg retirement funds. I just don't save 80% of our earnings like I used to with my own salary. I just meant that I don't want to live so frugally like I used to, not enjoying the fruit of our labour. I think I was being so overly worried abt being poor because of what happened to my family.

hahaha I must live among shopaholic women friends/family as I was imagining you spending every dime! lol

You sound like you're well set

Hopefully my husband and I can secure our future. I am nervous about it since we are self-employeed and have two little boys who will need to be put through college and we do have a substantial house loan, too!

He he, LOL!!

. I would never do that, too worried abt being destitute!!

I personally think being more frugal and investing wisely in yr earlier yrs really pay off later on. And we've both worked extremely hard to get to where we are.

You sound like you have a good head on yr shoulders. I wouldn't worry unduly. As long as you're careful what you spend, and invest, invest, invest - wisely, I can't over-stress that - you'd be fine. If we'd just relied on own salaries, as good as they are, there is absolutely no way we'd be where we are now.

Good luck!

 

[divergrrl]

I''m all over the place, but I bet I average $300 to $500 on clothes n stuff...but that includes my little boy too, and stuff for the baby as of late. Some months I decide to reel myself in and not spend a thing, but I did go blow about $250 at Gap on maternity wear a little while ago and about another $75 on new baby girl outfits. Tonight I just spent $46 on a cool baby sling..(you wear it, its like clothing!)

I have really cut back on my makeup purchases...and fortunately the skincare that works for me is a Neutrogena/Clinique/Olay combo, so its cheap.

But it seems that if I''m not buying clothes for me, then its clothes for my son, or new running shoes for me, or workout wear, or sportsbras, or I need regular bras, or underwear, or Dh needs new work trousers or shoes.....something always comes up.

I took all my non-maternity wear OUT of my closet & stored it, and am going to gradually add things back in & my goal is to shop less often, and buy fewer well made things that flatter & avoid the Old Navy Trap. I wind up with a ton of crap in my closet that I don''t particularly like & always wind up reaching for my favorite premium denims & higher end tops/dresses/etc. If I avoided the "little stuff/cheap fixes", I bet I could save a bundle each month.

That''s my plan. I''d rather have $$ for bling.

 

[nejarb]

my husband claims that i''ve been spending 1k a month so far this year on clothes/accessories/makeup/hair/etc. i don''t believe him but it may be close b/c i just got married and needed a bunch of stuff for wedding weekend/honeymoon, not to mention the other weddings we''re going to this summer. (that included my wedding dress but it was cheap.) but i actually looked at my end of yr cc statement in 2005 to see how much i spent on that stuff, and it was about 500/mo on average that year. so we''re trying to figure out a budget right now and i mentioned $500 for those things. of course he thinks it''s unnecessary and ridiculous, but i''m just being realistic.

if it wasn''t for weddings and parties i wouldn''t spend that much b/c i don''t go shopping that often. but it seems like every time there''s a wedding or something where i need a dress, it''s hard to get the outfit together for less than $600-700. it''s like you find a great dress on sale for 200 or 300, then you realize you don''t have a navy clutch or you don''t have shoes that match or whatever, so it''s just more and more $!

i guess the older you get the more likely it is that you''ll be able to look in your closet and say aha! i do have a navy clutch! but then that thought makes me want to buy classic looking well-made pieces so they last and i can still use them in 5 or 10 years. which means more $.

 

[Allisonfaye]

I am like many of the others. I spend much more in some months than others. I am a big time impulse buyer so I make it a point to shop only in places that I can return things. I saw a thread recently on the purse forum asking how many things in your closet still have tags on them. I couldn''t believe how many things many of these people had in their closets with tags. Every once in a while I splurge on a nice sweater or something and if I haven''t worn it within a certain period of time, I either take it back or get the sale price adjustment if I want to keep it.

I think there are a lot of categories that I don''t spend much on like makeup, for example. I went a bit nuts on the purses and shoes this year. ( I hold Mara responsible for this, but at least I can sell some of the B-bags if need be.

And I had to buy some every day clothes after a few years of being pregnant or losing pregnancy weight.