After a year of intensive thrifting, there is very little that I need. Now I find myself shopping for interesting cuts and textures. I found plenty to keep things interesting at Rags for the next few months, but the find of the second day was an unworn pair of pale pink classic Ferragamo shoes in a size 4, perfect for the vintage Ursula of Switzerland dress Emmanuelle is wearing these days. Do any of us know an actual woman with a size 4 foot?
I suspect that my focus will shift from the color of the month theme I tried to maintain in 2010. This year, I will simply "trust my gut" on the purchases. I have a new focus in mind that I plan to announce on Friday, but I wanted to report on my clothing expenditures in 2010.
I spent more on clothing in 2011 than any year in my adult life. The only things I purchased new would be an inexpensive dress I wore to be a bridesmaid in July; stockings for K.'s wedding, and a pair of Bandolino pumps. EVERYTHING else was thrifted. I didn't begin to track expenses until May.
- May $121.44
- June $ 57.09
- July $124.19
- August $ 94.48
- September $106.80
- October $ 68.00
- November $ 36.73
- December $103.76
In addition, we have faithfully contributed to our local thrifts. Below, you'll see the boxes I took to Goodwill the last week of December. This is a bigger haul than most months of this year, but we made contributions monthly.
Did you get your closets cleaned out in time to take this tax deduction?
I am eying the wool I see in the corner box. Although, I would end up with them in rugs instead of clothing.
ReplyDeleteOngoing purging is always done around here. I learned if I left it all to do at once, it never got done.
Gloria
That's a very interesting statistic! Lately I prefer to spend more on quality items than buy several cheaper ones. When I was addicted to secondhand shopping a few years ago, I was spending a LOT more money and buying in bulk, which led to my having too many clothes and not very much money in the bank - I find that buying new things forces me to think twice about the expense and allows me to have items in my closet that I actually use and need!
ReplyDelete♥ Leia
I'm very impressed at the volume of your turnover... thats alotta clothes there! It's fantastic that you are supporting your local op shops so well.
ReplyDeleteI had to smile when I read that statistic also, since I only buy fabric now my annual expenditure is also far far less than that... I guess she must have been referring to people who buy new clothes!
Terri, your mannequin has a great outfit on! Love the hat! It's a shame hats aren't daily wear any more. I'd be sad to have been born too late, but I can't grieve having missed out on wearing girdles. I am impressed by your through put of clothing. It's obviously something you enjoy and it certainly keeps the thrift shops going. Sadly, charitable contributions are not tax deductible here in Britain, though charity shops frequently put plastic bags through the post box and we try to come up with something to collect; it doesn't always happen. I am just catching up with my end of the year accounting. Pretty sure I spent less than £500 this year, some from department stores, some from a consignment shop and £53 for new running shoes. Thrift shops here are very clever at spotting those Ferragamo shoes and putting them on ebay and the like. I suspect a petite Asian lady might wear size 4 and small shoes are hard to find - someone would snap those up! I keep telling myself next time we visit the US to just take one outfit and an empty suitcase! I am back wearing black in January (I try to avoid it most months). One of my aims this year is to be sure I actually wear everything I own.
ReplyDeleteI only bought a couple (literally) of new items this year and I think they only totaled about fifty dollars. The rest I thrifted and to be honest, I feel like I've never dressed better! I'm at the same place you are however. I really don't NEED anything and so when I make a purchase for myself; it's got to be something that I just LOVE. Also, like you, I've donated a TON! Especially preparing for our move to Raleigh! Now, I live right by a Goodwill and every couple of weeks am purging and sending stuff their way. Hugs!~ Serene
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but my closet consists of only a few pieces of clothing.
ReplyDeleteThis does not mean, that I have not bought anything. I buy, trade, and sell things forward, so there are always only clothes I actually wear. Yet I could do with less.
Maybe one of my best purchases for a long time, have been two similar pairs of cargos, which I have worn every day of the year, here at home.
They were not expensive, but of good enough quality. I intend to keep using them for many more months!
I have a friend who wears a size 4. She's not a pink Ferragamo kind of gal. The Internet and Payless are her main shoe resources. She's not very tall and is by necessity, an accomplished seamstress. Her children are in high school theater and she's got a maniquin in her living room with the latest costume she's got underway. Perhaps your Emmanuelle needs a stand to hold her script?
ReplyDeleteI hope you can feature a photo of DH's new instrument. Does he play?
One of my new year resolutions is to purchase less of what I dont need.....I really should start keeping track......!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year doll!
It's terrific that you kept your stats - and we have seen what a great-looking wardrobe you've put together with those small numbers. You choose well and you know yourself. Can't wait to read your Friday post . . .
ReplyDeleteMy husband made all of us in the family clean out...he wanted a big donation to Goodwill for end of year! Also, I took some nicer items to consignment. I will be thrifting more this year than ever before and I have a lot to learn from you!! There is no way I will spend 10% of income on clothing...espcially not with unemployment in our home!!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently coveting the Burberry-esque print in the right corner!
ReplyDeleteI've been going through my closet this week. (I guess you know you have too much stuff when it takes a week to go through, eh?) A family member gave me a HUGE mass of clothing she was getting rid of, and I'm shocked at how much I've been able to weed out. So much doesn't fit right that I can't understand what I was thinking hanging it up in my closet in the first place!
I do love your mannequin's dress, I thought she was you at first glance, she looks remarkably similar and I imagine it's a great way of appraising possible outfits.
ReplyDeleteI ensure I take a small bag to donate the charity shop each and every time I go into town, there's always a couple of paperbacks or an accessory I no longer need.
A US 4 equates to a UK size 2. I know a girl who is a UK 1 and struggles to find sophisticated footwear in her size, although she did get a pair of Jimmy Choos for her wedding.
I'm a UK7 (US9) and when I was travelling in Malaysia I was laughed out of the ladies' footwear department in a posh department store and shown into the gents' department. I felt like a freak! x
Wow. It's like a whole other world. I'm amazed. BTW, I'm planning a post on the dress you sent me. With photo. Life is no good without adventures, big and small:).
ReplyDeleteI never remember to clean out my closet, so it gets all piled up and scary. Sometimes, I'm afraid I will get lost in it. But then I remember all of the cool stuff I have, and I'm okay with it.
ReplyDelete#fashionbloggerproblems
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
I spend about $100 a month sometimes less in thrift shops
ReplyDeleteWow i surprised about the % you should spend on your wardrobe!
I too want to do different things this year on my blog
I too should bring stuff at goodwill - i have bags and bags of clothing that i will not wear
Ariane
Since we just had a VV move into our neighbourhood, I have spent a bit more on clothing in the last two months. I know that will settle, but I smiled at size 4 shoes - my size is 9.5 or 10 narrow.
ReplyDeleteI really like the new dress. I am retired, but read with interest your job situation. Stressful! Peg on Vancouver Island
Do you think this added expenditure would be due to blogging? Even though well below the recommended budget...
ReplyDeleteI constantly bring bags to goodwill. no need to rush before taxes!
I often clean out my closets and donate, but I never take the slips to do the deductions. After dropping off a pile of things I can't go into the thrift store for about a month, because I find it very uncomfortable to go in there and see something I've donated.
ReplyDeleteEven though I love the deals of the thrift store, I think I need to focus more on quality than quantity this year... I know there are more than a few things I brought home and only wore once all year.
Chic on the Cheap
You are the 'master thrifter!' I contribute about every other month, but am in the middle of a major organization project, so I'm sure I'll have bags going out the door. Making room for the new.
ReplyDeleteAnchorage--I'd love to see some of your rugs. The Pendleton jacket on top has a small moth hole in it. It would be a travesty to make the Burberry skirt into a rug!
ReplyDeleteLeia--If Rags lasts past 2012, I'm wondering about making the smallest possible wardrobe the focus. I may retire that year and my husband and I have discussed the possibility of travel. I'm wondering how small I could make my wardrobe.
Carolyn--she undoubtedly was referring to gals who buy new. I'll bet your fabric bill is less than what I have spent.
Serene--What, you're moving to Raleigh? I missed some significant news somewhere. Sounds like our approaches to thrifting are very similar.
Mette--Perhaps I really should make that my challenge in 2013, seeing how little I can live on. I've been impressed by your trading...and the quality of what you buy always seems to aim up!
Rose--I will publish a photo of the organ once he has finished refurbishing it. He has already spent hours...and the improvement is visible.
Shelley--Yes, I keep wondering if my expenditures at the thrift shops might not be tax-deductible too, but I have never tested the waters. I have yet to do our end-of-the-year bookkeeping. That happens end of January at our house. I need to take a cue or two from you when retirement hits.
ReplyDeleteCollette--I wonder if keeping track would help or hurt. This is the first year I've ever done it.
Patti--Hope the Friday post doesn't disappoint...I'm going to need everyone's help getting the project organized.
Pam--I dare say that YOU could teach me a thing or two about consignment. That is a type of shopping I really need to explore more.
Heather--I have 5 pounds that come and go seasonally, so I won't always part with things that don't fit at the moment. We really need to hook up, as I would have GIVEN you that Burberry skirt. I took it to Goodwill on Santa Fe Drive!
Vix--Your comment revealed something about myself...I hadn't even thought of Asian women who generally are finer built!
ReplyDeleteLPC--Can't wait to see the dress on you, but as I said when I sent it, please don't feel obligated!
Bonnie--Yes, my closet(s) have kind of expanded this past year. I keep one for costumey type things, another for off season clothing, and then the working wardrobe.
Ariane--I wonder if you would receive a tax deduction in Canada for taking things to these shops. Our budget sounds like it is about the same size...and that relieves the slight bit of guilt I've felt over the spending this year.
Peg--Our feet are the same size! I would rather have comfort. But when I wrote the post, the only woman I could image who would fit in those Ferragamo's would have had to bind her feet.
Paula--I am certain the expenses went up because of blogging AND because of my own project to try different colors every month. We take things monthly too, but I did a closet overhaul before this particular trip.
ReplyDeleteLyddie--I know in my thrifting I've tried to shop harder for quality this year. There have been a handful of things I've purchased and returned unworn simply because I don't like to try things on while shopping. Like you, I HAVE come across things I've donated...and almost purchased a second time!
Judith--Wish a could be there for the master purge. Undoubtedly I would find something of yours I would want. I know my daughter P. raided all my boxes and snagged a bunch.
Wow, that's an interesting statistic! It made me really curious what my clothing expenses looked like last year, so went back to my expenses lists and pulled out the clothing items... My average per month was around $50, which is somewhat lower than I expected (and skewed by shoes that I did buy new, including running shoes). But this number doesn't even vaguely reflect the amount of clothing that's come into my closets in the past year -- almost all the clothes I bought were thrifted, the majority at my favorite dollar-a-pound thrift store, where just a few dollars will buy a LOT of clothing. Additionally, my mother's been moving house and so going through her closets and giving me a ton of things she got at the dollar-a-pound that she now no longer wants.
ReplyDeleteLots from both our closets has been going back to the Goodwill as a result. (I actually rather like seeing things I've donated show up on the racks; from the thrift store they came, to the thrift store they shall return...)
Also, hadn't gotten a chance to mention -- glad you're back around more regularly in the blog world!)
Elly--For all the thrift stores I visited in my area (30+), I have yet to figure out how to access these dollar a pound deals. How could I find out?
ReplyDeleteYea for Sal- a fellow Minneapolitan! and yay for the deal on the organ too!
ReplyDeleteI am with you all the way. I do not think I bought brand new last year. Even my Christmas presents came from Ebay.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you back, Terri
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We're twins in this respect of having spent more on clothing and jewelry in 2011 than any other year of adult life :). I spent about $5,000, not a sustainable clothing budget for me but understandable given how far I'd let things go.
ReplyDeleteI rarely purchase anything I don't wear. Sometimes I make a mistake. I bought a belt without actually looping it through my khakis just a few days ago, it wasn't returnable, and it turned out to be just an inch or two too big for me to use. It will end up donated. I also donated a shirt or two and a belt prior to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I don't buy anything, full price, sale, or thrifted that I am not absolutely sure I will wear often. I have a full closet, but every time I look through it, I see only things I wear regularly.
Meri--Sal is a fount of information. I was so struck by this factoid that I remembered it for months.
ReplyDeleteSacramento--I keep trying to talk the entire family into a thrifted Christmas. DH & I could easily do it, but the kids are more reluctant.
Susan--It's good to indulge ourselves! I'm rethinking my approach and one of my goals for 2012 is to actually enter and even shop designer duds in my area. A scary proposition for me.
Kionon--Yes, my wardrobe might be far more workable if it was smaller...and more of my creativity might emerge from it too.
i would like to do some thrifting this year to offset some of last year's overspending. you know, my mom wears size 4 shoes!
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
This was the year I bought more clothes in so much better prices than before in my life.I also have almost everything and my focus for this year is to find more creative combinations of what I have. But I will have my eyes open for more accessories and I planto make some myself.By the way ,You made the comment one thousand to my blog!I'm so glad it was you.
ReplyDeleteVery generous donation pile! I don't file a long tax form, so I donate w/out tax deduction.
ReplyDeleteThose percent figures have been around for a long time--I remember seeing them in magazine articles 30plus years ago. Clothing is much cheaper (relative to other things) than it was back then, so sticking to those percentages would lead to overabundance--unless you only buy top quality at full retail.
great buy for 70.00!
ReplyDeleteWe purge our closets every August right before back to school. I can't believe how well you have done with your shopping budget, I need to start recording my purchases too.
Hi! Just found your blog so I thought I'd say hi. I cannot believe they recommend spending between 3-10% of your income on clothing! I feel you on how my closet seems full already without coming close to that. Glad you were able to give away a lot of clothes! I love cleaning out my closet and decluttering my life.
ReplyDeleteAudrey
www.puttingmetogether.com
That really is an interesting statistic. I think the most recent government statistics are that the average family (2.5 people -- love that) spend about 3.5% of income on clothing & services related to clothing. I can't judge whether that is high or not. We spend more than 3% but well under 10% which strikes me as quite high. I include my fabric and yarn purchases in that number because they do eventually become clothing. I have thrifted clothing, but not recently, and I do buy a few high end pieces each year, but only a few and I do tend to hang on to them, and wear them, for quite a long time.
ReplyDeleteI gave a lot of things away this year, and tend to donate regularly. As I've gotten older I find I am happier with fewer things of better quality (and quality does not necessarily correspond to price paid) but I am no means a minimalist, and if you hold on to things a long time you still end up with bulging closets.
I find the whole thing about average expenses/statistics to be quite interesting anyway. I know we spend far less than average on some things, and more on others and I suspect most people are this way, depending on the choices they make in their own lives.
Oomph--As some of the other comments reveal I hadn't thought about Asian women and their feet.
ReplyDeleteAngie--Like you, I need to do more with accessories. Judging by your last post, you are off to a great start. What explains the better prices?
FrugalScholar--Do you have a clue how one might search for more recent figures? I know I'm astounded at the low prices some pay for retail items.
Bella--I will post a photo of the organ after he's finished the refurbishing project.
Audrey--decluttering is definitely a monthly process for me. Thanks for visiting Rags.
Mardel--Yes, I've been participating in a census study about quarterly purchases. It will be interesting to see the results--they've asked me about jewelry, dry cleaning, and shoe repair, all of which might qualify as "clothing expenses."