Clothes: How Much Of Your Income Do You Spend?

[fionas]

I've been keeping a record of how much I've spent on clothes this year. The figure looks scary BUT in winter it's very cold (we get snow so good coats and boots are essential) and summer is quite hot.

So what I'm saying is that I can't buy a few pairs of shorts and thongs and get away with it. Weather doesn't allow that.

I reckon by the end of the year, I will have spent between 2-3 weeks of DP's income on clothes/shoes. OR 2-3 weeks of my OLD income (I'm not working ATM). OR about a week of our old combined income. When I put it like that, it doesn't seem so bad!

[Amity]

The boys' clothes I buy the year before at the target end of season clearance sales. So probably $400 per year on non-school clothes. Shoes are expensive and they go through a pair a term plus their other shoes so say $800 per year for shoes. School uniforms are really expensive so I buy from the second hand store so say $300 per year for uniforms. Not bad really.

Mine? I don't want to think about it. $2000 for a suit and I usually buy 3-4 a year. Shoes are my addiction and I have about 60 pairs after a recent cull so am trying not to buy any new ones. Work shirts are at least $100 each and jewelry is also expensive. And that's just work stuff, not leisure stuff. Or bras. My bras are $100 each at least.

However if I don't look the part, I don't get the jobs so I have to look my best all the time.

I reckon I spend $20K on clothes and shoes for me each year.

As a percentage of my income I have no idea. Well I do, but I prefer not to tell because then I'd have to kill you.

[2plus1is3]

Honestly I've never kept count... I only buy what we need and luckily my DS still fits the same shirts he was wearing 2 summers ago, so we get lots of use out of his stuff which is a bonus! This summer ill have to buy more clothes though as I've lost weight since last Summer and my shorts won't fit etc

[Astrid]

Will need to check my spreadsheet, but it does combine all our clothes and shoes, plus I am sneaky and sacrifice part of my pocket money on some bargains. Guessing $1500 + in the past 11 months as a family.
I have had to spend a fair bit. I found after a few years out of the work force I really had nothing to wear, plus even my home clothes were suffering due to lack of money, so had to replace some of those. I do think though, I will probably be spending the same. Buying less items, just better quality.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Hooley Magooley Div! Does that mean you can claim those things on tax?

I spend a tiny amount in comparison to all of you! Particularly this year. Thinking about it, it's probably less than $300 for the whole year, including shoes. If I was working, it would be closer to $1k.

[Jellyfish]

Not very much. I have the same shoes I've had since high school lol not a shoe person I guess and it seems unnecessary when my feet are the same size.

This past year I bought a special outfit for DD1 for when she met her brand new sister (who got all of DD1s old clothes lol terrible me, couldn't believe my luck in having two of the same gender), I bought a $5 dress at an OP shop for our family photos (stunning dress if I don't say so myself) as well as a headband for DD2 to wear which was $7ish (from some kids clothing shop) and we got DP some new work shirts for his butcher apprenticeship, plain black polos that were $7 each? Plus some boots that were around $30. So how much is all that um less than $100 in the last 12 months. Actually I did buy DP two for $30 shirts for Christmas but not sure if gifts count!

My mum however has spent a bunch on both the girls and me. I'm happy to wear the same stuff year in, year out and wore my usual wardrobe through both pregnancies. Most of my stuff has been in rotation for about 5yrs? Some dates back to high school like my shoes! My mum thinks I'm very odd and buys me a few new things every season so that is handy and I guess part of the reason I don't need to buy things myself.

I did see some leather sandals I fell in love with the other day that were $60 I think, so I downgraded my WoW Expansion (tomorrow wooo) from collectors to normal which freed up $80 but now I'm thinking hmm do I really want them? I'm terrible at spending money lol.

[nothing2lose]

I think Div is right. There are some professions where image (ie. the clothes you wear) is very important. If you are not dressed the part you won't get the part.

Mind you, I would hire Div if she was wearing Kmart leggings and a Big W halter top.

[Jellyfish]

That's true. For me as a stay at home mum the only thing I need to check with clothes is can I get my boobs out easily and can I bend over a bunch lol. Thankfully the wardrobe from my later teen years before children needed similar practicality.

[fionas]

Obviously, we all have different income levels - that's why I asked the question as what proportion of income.

Though you've made me feel much better about my spending Divvy

I honestly don't know if I'd be able to tell if a man/woman was wearing a $600 suit or a $2000 suit. But I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that grooming (hair, nails, make-up, polished shoes) can make or break an outfit. Not that I wear suits any more but when I do (again), I'm going to pay more attention to grooming. Hopefully.

[Sopdet]

At the moment, minimal on clothes because I'm losing weight and I've got enough clothes to last me for the next couple of months. This summer is going to be a killer because I will need to buy clothes.

As I'm not 100% sure what next year will bring, I will hang off buying too many work type clothes. I will be going back to uni but I know I will need to work to support me, so what type of work & where will direct the clothing choices. If I stay in the corporate world, I will need a couple of suits again and shirts etc.

[Astrid]

Obviously, we all have different income levels - that's why I asked the question as what proportion of income.

.

Do you mean before or after tax? You own income or combined family income? Sorry accountancy training coming out in me now
4-5% of my after tax income.

[sushee]

I think I spend maybe about $8000 a year on clothes, and of that 70% will be on shoes. I love a good bargain and will wear a $10 skirt with a $150 blouse without blinking. I have gone to parties where my whole outfit combined cost less than my shoes (and my shoes were $70).

I own four or five relatively expensive suits but now I'm on a client site long term, I dress down more. Suits are supposed to be mandatory at all client sites but I've been at mine almost a year and really they're more concerned about how I work than what I wear now, so the on-going cost of my corporate clothes have lessened.

[Artechim]

I spend approximately 0.3% of our income on my clothing, or 16% of one weeks pay.

I am a stay at home mum i.e. I go nowhere so I don't really need anything flash. My favourite jersey is 8 years old and the zip doesn't work but I still wear it.

[Jaycee]

As a family income after tax, I'd spend probably only 2 percent. We are on a relatively large income though.

[LuluHB]

I dread to think how much I spend on clothes and shoes for the girls. All I know is its hideous. I spend next to nothing on DH and me. His idea of getting dressed up is a clean pair of tracky dacks (he works from home so no decent clothes required), and I live in the same jeans and shirts given I'm a stay at home mum. We don't have a glitzy social life that requires dressing up so for me personally I would estimate less than 1%. When I was working I would spend a fortune on clothes, shoes, jewellery and my biggest weakness - matching underwear. I'd say maybe 15%.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

When I get a job, I have a clothes and shoes wishlist for back to work, to top up my wardrobe. £175. Including a new suit.

That will probably take me up to £500 for the year on clothes, underwear, jewellery, shoes and bags. I buy clothes that last years. I still have stuff in my wardrobe that I bought before DH and I married - and still wear it.

I have no income at the moment so cannot calculate a percentage. But it is about 2% of my expected pre-tax income, when I do get a job.