Crazy 2011 clothes challenge

Lula-Hula

Hi lotti379 & welcome to the craziness :j

I'll add you to the members list in a bit but just wanted to say how impressed I am at you already recognising where other could make make money go further :A.

To go back a bit - Rosa I now see why you haven't full enrolled :rotfl: That is some awesome spending girl

(I'm only jealous though as I reckon you have bought some gorgeous items).

My joe browns items finally arrived yesterday ( for £4 delivery charge, I expected them a lot sooner) not a great result though.

The one-size hat was too large so had to go back & the swim shorts were also too large so they had to go back too. I had to pay £2.16 to return them so I have paid £6.14 & for that I got to unwrap & try on 2 items & then wrap them back up again :mad:.

I hereby pledge not to buy stuff online unless I can return items to shops or by post for free. Please remind me of this. Regularly.

I have bought DD some new school blouses - none in her size at M&S store so went to Tatco & got a pack of 3 short sleeved for £6.
Went online to M&S ( via Quidco of course ) this morning & they had some in her size that were long sleeved, so I've ordered them at £24.30. I might take the Tatco ones back but for now that's another £30.30p added to her spends.

lotti379

Hehe, I think that is part of the problem! I can recognise how to make pennies stretch (where there are pennies to stretch, there seem to be no pennies available at all in my life atm) it is just the doing it that I really struggle with!

I hate buying clothes online, 'cept ebay. Even then a few weeks ago I bought a gorgeous pair of diesel dark salmon-pink jeans (well I like them..!) for £20, ostensibly my size... but a different cut, so they give me a horrendous muffin top! Mistake methinks. However, I am now trying to tone my way into them because they are just too nice, and will be lovely and colourful... when they stop making me look like I have a rubber ring stashed under my t-shirt! :rotfl:

Also, thank you for the welcome :T

Shoe_Gal

Some spends to report - need smart stuff for a work conference. Blue and black patterned shift dress from Tesco £18, black flower print dress from Wallis £9 (I had the rest in vouchers) and super high bright pink wedges from New Look £9 in the sale, so £36 added to my total

RosaBernicia

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hi lotti379 To go back a bit - Rosa I now see why you haven't full enrolled :rotfl: That is some awesome spending girl

(I'm only jealous though as I reckon you have bought some gorgeous items).

I did say I'd have no idea where to set a realistic budget - and as I'm tracking absolutely everything clothes related it's been extremely useful to see what I do spend. (That total even includes hairslides!) And what I really wear out of what I've bought. Knowing I have to add stuff to the spreadsheet has at least made me think what else is already in the wardrobe and how much wear something will get. Oh and of course is giving me a budget to reduce next year :rotfl:

Rosa xx

kerri_gt

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I did say I'd have no idea where to set a realistic budget - and as I'm tracking absolutely everything clothes related it's been extremely useful to see what I do spend. (That total even includes hairslides!) And what I really wear out of what I've bought. Knowing I have to add stuff to the spreadsheet has at least made me think what else is already in the wardrobe and how much wear something will get. Oh and of course is giving me a budget to reduce next year :rotfl:

Rosa xx

I'm trying to do the same thing - or at least track more what i spend and set a budget for next year. The inside of my wardrobe is another matter...it's a bit chocca atm, must do a sort out soon as I'm afraid the hanging rail might collapse :rotfl:

Lula-Hula

Hi Rosa,

I absolutely understand about not knowing how much to budget for. When I started the £100 challenge I left out things such as coats, shoes, undies & accessories. That was an eye opener for starters. I spent way more on those than I did on actual clothes.

This year I chose to share my budget with DD - fully aware that I would need to provide her with a complete uniform. Only half way through the year, & I already feel that I haven't budgeted enough, by about £300

I have overspent on myself & some of what I have bought has been passed on fairly immediately due to not fitting or not suiting me. This is the risk taken with ebay.

However, I will continue to shop on ebay in the future because I estimate that I have an 85% hit rate with what I buy, they are good quality branded items that I love & I like the fact that I am reusing stuff & if I don't like it then it really hasn't cost me too much & the local charity shops are re-stocked .

RosaBernicia

Lula-Hula wrote: »

When I started the £100 challenge I left out things such as coats, shoes, undies & accessories

:rotfl: see I already know that coats and underwear are definite danger areas for me... I am liable to make exaggerated claims about coats being practical or required for work, and have an underwear obsession anyway. Though am doing surprisingly well as haven't bought any underwear yet this year - am trying to remind myself that at the moment nobody else sees it and I'd rather see my credit card reduced

I am staying away from Ebay, but was surprised to realise how much of my stuff wasn't getting worn due to small mends being needed - and I mean small in a way that even my very inexpert needlework can fix. So that will release a few more things as I get them sorted. Getting organised is also helping as I can't miss stuff in other boxes or forget that I already have one in that colour :rotfl:

Rosa xx

NGlady2

Rosa - to make you feel better about your spends, I dont even know how much i've spent I sort of had a bit of spare 'holiday' money which I classed as 'freebie' clothes money, lost the total i'd got up to before, an couldnt really join in after that lol. Even if I pledged another £500 now, id have probs spent wellll over my intended target at the start of the year.

Whooops

Will have to try again next year and try harder to keep on top of my totals etc.

ThinkingOfLinking

Binned 2 more tops and found another pile to add to eBay. Feeling really pleased with myself at the moment although I've seen a LOT of new season items I want to buy from where I work...my uniform allowance is SO small I'll be forced to buy some at nearer to full price (still get a discount on everything thankfully)...Being really ruthless with what I already have and of course with things I am considering buying though.

Shoe_Gal

Whoops - another £49 today on a top and some snakeskin shoes