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Pensions Planning: The NUMBER

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  • stuhse
    stuhse Posts: 303 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    For some people shopping is a way of life. Back in the mid 90s my neighbours at the time spent all week at work, Saturday mornings would be down the town and they would land back home with a new (logo) outfit to go out in that night.  We are all different.  

    I would go out with the on an evening, but was happy with my 'Geordie Jeans' 
  • ader42
    ader42 Posts: 328 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Nebulous2 said:

    Are you familiar with the Vimes theory on boots, by Terry Pratchett?   Sam Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness (samvimesbootstheory.com)

    I fully concur.

    My everyday boots cost me £250 10 years ago and are still in brilliant condition especially when cleaned and polished. I have worn them at least 99% of all the days I have owned them. Chippewa. The last time I looked they were priced at over £400 new and second-hand pairs were listed at more than I paid new. 

    Buy quality. Same with my jeans which only cost me £150 a pair. 
  • michaels
    michaels Posts: 29,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    ader42 said:
    Nebulous2 said:

    Are you familiar with the Vimes theory on boots, by Terry Pratchett?   Sam Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness (samvimesbootstheory.com)

    I fully concur.

    My everyday boots cost me £250 10 years ago and are still in brilliant condition especially when cleaned and polished. I have worn them at least 99% of all the days I have owned them. Chippewa. The last time I looked they were priced at over £400 new and second-hand pairs were listed at more than I paid new. 

    Buy quality. Same with my jeans which only cost me £150 a pair. 
    My £12 cargos from Aldi also last forever.
    I think....
  • daz378
    daz378 Posts: 1,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I buy my Jean's from supermarkets,  do buy t..shirts from next but also from primark...do spend more on shoes and boots...walking boots for winter 80 pound range,  Caterpillar boots 120 or so but last ages...seldom worn...couple pair of decent trainers..good old Adidas samba...I'm approximately 2.5..3.5 years from retirement..60/61
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,449 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My wife is often complaining about the quality of clothes available to buy. When we had a M&S in the town centre she also was disappointed with the range of women's clothes available.
  • Silvertabby
    Silvertabby Posts: 10,118 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Eighth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 11 July 2023 at 9:29AM
    westv said:
    My wife is often complaining about the quality of clothes available to buy. When we had a M&S in the town centre she also was disappointed with the range of women's clothes available.
    Have a look at Lands' End UK for casuals.  Much better quality than M&S, and reasonable prices.  
  • MallyGirl
    MallyGirl Posts: 7,201 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I know that everyone's number is different but I am curious how anyone can spend several thousand pounds per year on clothes. This figure is supported by www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk so it's not without foundation. I ask because I buy new clothes/trainers whenever I need them, I buy Next/M&S/brand names, however I barely spend £200-£300 per year on new clothes. What is the experience of others here? Especially if you are already retired?
    My biggest clothing expenditure each year is new running shoes, but even a couple of new pairs would only be about £100. The only expensive thing I regularly wear is a sports watch, but that is only about £150 every 5 years or so.

    An annual budget of £200 would usually be fine for me - much more (eg £300 - £400) and I could renew my entire wardrobe each year, except for maybe the few pieces of formal wear I have, coat and hiking boots which are all very occasional big expenses. I can't see how I could use an annual budget of £500+ without updating things well before they are required 

    Personally I have never seen the point of expensive clothes unless necessary due to technical performance (sports watch, running shoes, suits, hiking boots, coat on my case), I prefer to invest in keeping healthy and fit, my clothes are just for practical purposes.

    But clothes can be a bottomless money pit. I recall chatting to a couple of young colleagues who spent a fortune on watches and trainers. The watches had no features, they were just fashionable. Ditto the trainers, just for fashion, no practical use at all.
    Same here. Running shoes are expensive as I have awkward (long, skinny) feet so each pair is more like £150. They do get worn as everyday shoes once the tread has gone. Walking boots have the same problem in that I have only found one model that fits and I think I am probably on my 6th pair. I wear them every day to walk the dogs and also for weekend/holiday walking. Retired ones are used for heavy garden work. Outdoor wear must be fully functional so we buy quality and it lasts multiple years (big Sam Vines fans here). FB memories show how long some of it has lasted.
    I have no interest in fashion and the awkward feet mean that shoes are difficult to find.
    I got a new running watch for my birthday this year (and as a reward to myself for running my first marathon). It was expensive but the previous one had done maybe 6 years in all weathers and I wear it as my only watch. I changed size so needed to buy some new running kit as well.
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Pensions, Annuities & Retirement Planning, Loans
    & Credit Cards boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • SpeedSouth
    SpeedSouth Posts: 361 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Shoes I only wear Salomon for 90% of my daily life.  In the past 4 years I think I've spent about £30-£40 net.  I buy 2nd hand on ebay but very good hardly worn ones.  The most I've paid was £33.  Then I sell them on after 12-18 months and generally clear about £20.

    Kids shoes is another story and financial nightmare entirely mind you, which just keeps pushing my retire date back.

    Jeans same pair has lasted me since I last went clothes shopping in 2004.  From H&M so probably paid about £30 maybe.
  • stuhse
    stuhse Posts: 303 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    You should always have a good pair of boots and a good mattress...because if you're not in one you are in the other.
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