Any idea how much you spend/year on clothes?

[WorkingMomx3]

I've been tracking finances for the last 7-8 years for our household. Out of curiosity, I checked on how much I spend per year on clothes. Since I haven't been working, I really can't justify spending much on clothes and as a result, I'm feeling rather dowdy. To top things off, I have a very difficult shoe size to find. The typical shoe that I wear runs $150-180 a pair (not including tax).

I spend about $500 a year (in a year where I buy a pair of shoes). Otherwise it's under $400.

How much do you spend per year on your clothes/shoes?

PS It's tough to spend on yourself when your kids are growing like weeds and need new pants/shoes/shirts etc. Luckily, I have all boys and have saved everything, but it's not enough.

[Viola]

Hey, I wouldn't have a clue what I spend on clothes. I don't think it's much since I love shopping at second hand stores and also get lots of hand me downs.

I really think though, if I felt bad about my clothes I would spend heaps more. Life is too short to feel sad about your wardrobe choices. You have worked so hard on yourself, you deserve to have nice clothes!

Have a great day

Vi

[carseatmom]

I really don't want to know! LOL

[cherir]

Being home 24/7 and disabled, I know it isn't much. I've had to go out and purchase some yoga type pants now that I have that new pain (severe "sunburn type burning from my bra strap to my hips on my back, detailed on the blog) so that I can limit the pain of clothing. Otherwise, maybe every few months I pick up a short or pants at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. My shoes do run $120 each because I have to Dansko brand for the balance and safety with my numb feet. Can't put a price on safety!

The boys? We do give them some money (until age 18), but they primarily purchase their own clothes once they start working. (We give them an amount of money that is reasonable; they then combine it with their money and spend ridiculous amounts on name brand items.)

I would be shocked if I spent anywhere near $500 a year, including shoes. I do have all my "fat" clothes on a shelf in my closet (to remind me that it wasn't very long ago! lol), but I still only have purchased a few things, less then 10-12. When you don't go anywhere and have the laundry-issues I do (where I can't stand piles of laundry, and do 2 loads a day minimum), the few clothes I have are always clean and available. lol

When I do fantasize about finding some kind of job (in my dreams.......just not physically possible), I realize I have no clothes! lol Makes for a happy hubby, though!

[JulieB]

I spend over $1K a year. Really have know idea though. $200 here, $200 there. I get rid of clothes from season's past pretty quickly. Excpet for the basics which I may keep for a few years. I get rid of stuff often. 2 big trash bags of goodwill stuff just today this is AFTER gutting out last spring before putting the house on the market and then again when we moved. Today I did the final unpack/organize of my closet. feels good to have just the clothes that I will actually wear in there.

[Linda]

I'm trying to think...I spent $100 in the spring because a family friend (more like an Aunt) sent me $100 with 'buy yourself a new outfit' as the attached strings . I spent $20-ish on t-shirts when Old Navy had them on deep discount - I think they were 1.99 or 2.99 each. Maybe $80-100 over the course of the year above that.

So I guess about $200 or a little more. My wardrobe sucketh though.

[Tara]

I work outside the home so some of the items I "need" can be expensive. I probably spend $1500 - $2000 per year. It will vary each year, but that is an average and includes shoes, coats, etc. I don't want to even attempt to "add" it up as it may be higher although I could be pleasantly surprised.
Tara

[April]

I honestly think I spend about the same on my clothes- no more than maybe 400. I am a big thrifter, and get most of them nwt, practically all designer stuff. I am lucky in that we have an awesome chain that stocks mostly new stuff. I can even get shoes there (from TJ maxx) and just bought a pair of bn easy spirit slip-ons for 7 bucks.

[Angel]

wow, i have no idea what i spend, but it's deffinately less than ~$100. that's me being happy, green and thrifty. i'm just not that into clothes though, and can usually get by with what i pick up at the thrift store.

[Sandy]

Not much. When I was working I easily spent $1,000-$2,000 a year but since I quit it's not really necessary. Currently I spend maybe $100-$200 a year. I have pretty basic taste so the clothes last quite a while. Plus I usually buy stuff when it's on clearance.

[Cheryl]

I think it is around $700 or so if you include shoes.

[Cathy]

I probably only spend 100-200 a year on me. I buy most of my stuff on clearance, outlets or thrift stores. This spring I bought myself 4 pairs of pants for work and a pair of jeans from an outlet store and spent about $40. I also bought a few shorts for about $20 and that's about it this year so far.

[Esmeralda]

No idea. I spend most of my clothes money at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Target, so I get a good deal. I honestly don't keep track. As long as I don't have a credit card balance, have money in the bank, and am socking away for my IRA, I try not to stress over money.

[wanda]

Not a clue! I'm hard to fit (pants and shoes), so when I need things I pay whatever if they fit well. This year I'll spend probably a few hundred on pants alone as my menopasal body doesn't fit into last years pants...annoying because I really haven't gained weight, everything just sort of melted downward. Anyway, I probably spend no more than a thousand a year - most likely less is the norm.

[Sue]

Going off-topic long enough to violently nod my head in agreement to this ...

... my menopasal body doesn't fit into last years pants...annoying because I really haven't gained weight, everything just sort of melted downward.

I read a description this weekend which likened a post-menopausal body to a melting ice cream bar ... so true.

[Lesley]

Going off-topic long enough to violently nod my head in agreement to this ...

wanda wrote:
... my menopasal body doesn't fit into last years pants...annoying because I really haven't gained weight, everything just sort of melted downward.
I read a description this weekend which likened a post-menopausal body to a melting ice cream bar ... so true.

Well THAT'S something to look forward to. NOT!

[Andrea040805]

I dont know. Including shoes (Which are typically not cheap because my feet are high maintenance, LOL) I'd say about six hundred bucks. Half of that is shoes this year. My summer sandals were 95.00 and I just bought fall/winter shoes to the tune of 250 for three pairs. The majority of my clothes are from thrift stores, but about 100.00 per year at least is spent on an outfit for dh's Christmas party. I actually spent 150.00 on a dress for my brothers wedding, and ended up not using it, so I'm not sure that counts towards this year's spending, LOL!

[erin]

Nothing. At least not this year. I got some gift cards to Target and I used them for nursing bras. Then I got some cash again for having the baby and I bought some nursing tops and last, I got my birthday presents of cash and I bought some shoes that I only wore once and probably will only wear once. So technically I have spent maybe 150, but none of it was my income. I just dont buy things for myself and you can tell by looking at my closet. Yuck.

[holliejjj]

I say $100-150 a year. I have such a hard time paying for clothes. I even think the Goodwill is expensive (everything is $3 to $4 a piece there).

[cathie]

Wow, this is an atypical group of ladies! I don't consider myself a big shopper at all but I must spend at least $500 a year on clothes (and dh is always telling me I should spend more on myself because I usually hang on to things for a few years...). I find it hard to see how you can look nicely put together without spending that... given that a pair of jeans is at least $50 and shoes $100. I'm a pretty typical size though, so I can rarely find stuff that fits in clearance. I would bet that most of my friends spend at least $1000 a year, probably more.