Step One: Try to avoid shopping for as long as I can. This, I assume, will help me save money.
Step Two: Look into my closet and think, "I have nothing to wear!"
Step Three: Go shopping, with no plan at all, and buy things.
This plan has "worked," if "working" means that I have not yet had a real-life experience of that terrifying dream in which I have to take a test/give a presentation/teach a class with no pants on. But now that I'm flailing around at "fashion blogging," it's probably time to step up my game. And so, I shall join the ranks of budgeting bloggers, hoping that Fran's awesome linkup will help me stick to a budget and make good shopping choices going forward.
My new plan is to set my budget at $150 a month and roll over whatever is left over. I'm also going to add any money I make from selling clothes I no longer want in my closet. I hope that a roll-over budget will help me to prioritize filling my wardrobe holes and investing in classic, high-quality pieces.
So, without further ado, my July purchases:
Mossimo D'Orsay Flat | $23
July Budget: $150
Total Spent: $23Total Earned: $9
Rollover Amount: $136
Pretty unspectacular, huh? And even this purchase was a total accident. But while I didn't bring home much this month, I'm excited to be rolling over $136. I'm hoping to put it towards filling some holes in my wardrobe with high-quality basics. Here's the list I keep in Evernote:
Top of the list is a black work bag. Fran blew my mind a few weeks ago when she suggested that I could work toward acquiring a complete set of items -- flats, heels, belts, bags, etc -- in a few colors of leather. I've been spending the past fifteen years buying random unmatched leather and feeling sloppy. I'm really looking forward to coordinating my bag to my black leather shoes. These are some of the bags I'm contemplating.
I'm leaning towards either one or two, not only because they're cheaper but also because they don't have any hardware so I'll feel good about wearing them with both silver and gold. The Madewell Transport tote seems to be everybody's favorite, but I like the shape of the Banana Republic Larkin tote more... If anyone's out there and has stuck with this monster post to the bitter end, I'd love your advice!
I have the Madewell transport tote (albeit in cognac), and I have a few minor complaints about it. 1) It doesn't have enough structure to stand on its own, and 2) it only has one interior pocket so everything gets jumbled inside. I suspect the Banana Republic Larkin has similar issues based on other tote bags I've seen there. If neither of those are dealbreakers for you, then either one is fine. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice -- I was kind of figuring jumble would be in store for me. I'm going to try to check out the Larking in person -- I'll report back on what I find!
DeleteWelcome to the budgeting bloggers! Your shopping style looks very familiar to be honest. When I started my blog I had to force myself to go shopping. It's helped somewhat, but I still have a ways to go.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried any of those totes personally, though I've also seen the Madewell one all over the blogosphere. Personally, I almost think I like the shape of the Larkin tote better, but that would be dependant on the bottom holding it's shape while there's stuff in there. I'm curious to see what you end up getting!
I think I like the shape of the Larkin better, too, but I've been reading some comments that suggest the construction of the Transport is better... so who really knows at this point!
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