What are your work related expenses per week/month?

BillJones

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I'm surprised Bill doesn't go to get a bespoke suit made up abroad... my dad had a tailor that would take orders (given measurements taken in a shop) then make them up in Thailand, and post them over.

If my work ever takes me back to Asia, then I may well give that a try, but I've found suits here now that, with very little adjustment, fit me extremely well, so there's not much to be gained with a fully tailored one. I also know a few too many people who've ended up with an expensive disappointment when they've not been present for the final fitting.

I do keep getting tempted to try a fully bespoke suit from Savile Row but, again, can't see how much better they could be, and it'd be a big step up in price. There's also the issue that there is very often a Savile row "look" which can be a little more traditional than I'd be comfortable with. I'd need to do a lot of research before being willing to go that route.

(Quite like Jones the bootmakers)

I used Jones in recent years, and was pretty happy with them, especially when bought in the sale, but they seem to have changed in the last year or so, and I'm not happy with the at all (annoying when I bought a job-lot in the last major sales). I've gone back to Church now (again, bought in the sale), and think that that's what I'll stick with for a while.

gettingready

BillJones wrote: »

Clothes wear out, and need to be replaced. Even at a conservative to £500 per suit, you probably get well less than 200 wears before each one needs replacing. £350 per pair shoes, times four, each pair needing a £100 refurbishment once per year, and replacement after a few years.

Shirts, £100 each, washed each wear, and you'll be lucky to get 50 uses from one, and so on.

It all adds up.

Edited to add, yes, I know that I could wear a £50 suit from Asda, but I'm not going to want to start doing that.

Of course.... and you are on MSE forum because?

:rotfl:

gettingready

On a serious note though - perhaps the question should have been:


what percentage of your income goes for work related expenses?

As clearly that would be a better picture - there is a massive difference between jobs/vocations and what seems normal for one will be crazy for another so percentage would be a much better calculation..

Hmmmm

(just had another M&S iced coffee typing that)

BillJones

gettingready wrote: »

Of course.... and you are on MSE forum because?

:rotfl:

Came here looking for something on my electricity bill, stayed to chip-in on some interesting subjects.

As I've pointed out before on here, you don't lose interest in saving money just because your earnings increase. Pretty much everyone still looks fr value, whether that's in buying a ham sandwich, or buying a supercar.

gettingready

True, true....

[Deleted User]

BillJones wrote: »

If my work ever takes me back to Asia, then I may well give that a try, but I've found suits here now that, with very little adjustment, fit me extremely well, so there's not much to be gained with a fully tailored one. I also know a few too many people who've ended up with an expensive disappointment when they've not been present for the final fitting.

You can get measured up in various London hotels, and the work gets done over in Thailand/China, then shipped over. After that initial measurement, they can re-order new suits without new measurements.

It's got to be worth a punt

My 'bargain suit' is my M&S autograph dinner suit, which cost me £35 in a sale, fits great, and would have cost me about £250.

gettingready

They keep on advertising in London papers - you get measured in London, pick the material you want for your suit and then suit /shirt etc are posted to you.

BillJones

ringo_24601 wrote: »

You can get measured up in various London hotels, and the work gets done over in Thailand/China, then shipped over. After that initial measurement, they can re-order new suits without new measurements.

I've seen the adverts, you are probably right, there's no harm in giving iit a try.

I do have visions of the tailor from the Inbetweeners, though, sending me through something a bit "jazzy".

gettingready

well, you said Saville may be too traditional for you so go for something jazzy then hahah

Annisele

gettingready wrote: »

On a serious note though - perhaps the question should have been:

what percentage of your income goes for work related expenses?

As clearly that would be a better picture - there is a massive difference between jobs/vocations and what seems normal for one will be crazy for another so percentage would be a much better calculation..

I think even that can give you overly simplistic results.

I used to spend nothing on travel to work, and very little on lunches - because I lived a ten minute walk away, and went home at lunchtime. Now, I'm still in the same job - but my transport costs alone are almost £150 a month. On the other hand, my rent is about £400 a month less than it would have been in my old place.

That makes it look as though I'm now spending much more on work-related stuff than before, but actually my overall expenditure has gone down.