Joined 31.05.16

[Deleted User]

Now that the loan is gone the OD can be your new focus.

Just small changes each day add up to a big change overall once a new habit forms.

Dxxx

Verbatim

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

I do have a plan Cumbria but then things happen.
I have an important thing at work and really think I need a new outfit. (I know this breaks the rules Verbatim but it's on Wednesday and I don't think anything in my wardrobe is suitable) so that will be some spending. This is honestly an Investment!

Today- small food shop
Monday- new work outfit and lunch out
Tuesday - NSD
Wednesday - NSD. please note my cheeky amendments!
Thursday - NSD
Friday - small food shop

It does feel better having the loan gone but do need to get out of the overdraft.

So what is your budget for clothing this year? How much have you put away for this category each month? You have bought work clothes just about every month but have nothing suitable. Why is that? Are you impulse buying rather than assessing what it is likely you'll need over the months ahead?
Good luck if it's an interview!

Poor_Single_lady

Verbatim I don't know what a normal amount to spend is. What is a normal but realistic budget to spend on clothes incorporating 5 days a week in an office
Over 12 months.
After this week I am going to think about this much much more. Because I don't know what is realistic and what is normal and I work with an unbelievably massive amount of people who have an unbelievably giant amount of money either from parents or wealthy spouses or giant inheritance. (And I'm not trying to keep up honestly- I just mean it completely skewers the line of normality.

I have lots of ok-ish work clothes and things but nothing that is super-smart and that is what I need this week.

I have totally re-evaluated this word "need" but honestly this week is a "need" situation.

Not going to Sainsbury's today when I am itching to and doing a scaled down food shop at tea. Then putting in lots of time at home till payday. Keeping away from alcohol until Saturday (going to a party) and having some beans on toast some of the days.
Just need this week done and dusted really.

penny*pincher_2

Hi PSL,

Over the past few days I have been reading your diary and just wanted to say, from an outsider point of view, well done for coming as far as you have. As others have said, you can see a real difference in your 'documented' mindset over the past year.

I had almost 20k of debt at one point. I had NO idea how I would ever pay off the loans I had - and credit cards!!! (there were store cards too :eek:) - but I did it, and I now have around 16.5k in savings. I promise it is totally possible to turn things around whilst being single, I did it all on my own and have around the same essential expenditure and income as you do. (I am 35)

Stick with it and I found focusing on being debt free the answer. I love shopping as much as the next person, but it certainly does not beat the feeling of financial security (albeit short term if something were to go wrong).

Thanks for sharing your journey with us and keep it up - it will be hard, but worth it

Verbatim

Hi again,
Thinking about what is reasonable to spend on clothes obviously depends on your income and outgoings. But you might add up what you've spent each month over the last 12 months and divide by the number of months 12) to get an idea of your monthly spend. Looking at your income does it seem sustainable once all your essential spends and priority spends have been taken into account.
Then perhaps think about what you need/ want to get over the next year, when you plan to buy and how much it'll cost and start a savings pot.
Would it help to be that organized? I tend to know which months I can't afford clothes but I also have regular savings put away each month with some going at the end of the savings period to "long term savings" which I wouldn't touch except in extremis, and some going to available savings which I try to build up for holidays, Xmas, car etc. I would dip into that pot for a large clothing purchase I suppose but wouldn't get into debt for clothes.
Would it help to have a stash of cash for a very smart clothes purchase once or twice a year? Put whatever you'd need to fund this into an account for just this purpose. But I suspect your smart outfit this time will go on a card? And increase your debt.
Vx

charlies_tribe

Glad to see the loan has finally gone. Hope your feeling a bit better now it has, I know you wanted to see it gone.
Hope whatever it is you need the clothes for goes well. Good luck with finding a new outfit that does the job.

Poor_Single_lady

Thank you all. I am going to track the clothes and work clothes spending from now to Christmas. Try to sort out some organisation.

I am going to get there penny pincher. Just not yet. Once the overdraft is paid off will do a new diary and hopefully will be less boring to read.
But this month has been bad on spending and have had to decline lots of upcoming unnecessary social which should help.

coastalchick

I'm hoping that as we are coming out of summer soon, the social invites will decline until closer to xmas.

louby40

PSL your diary has not been boring at all. Loads of people post and spur you on. It's a journey and we are with you!

heartbreak_star

Poor_Single_lady wrote: »

Verbatim I don't know what a normal amount to spend is. What is a normal but realistic budget to spend on clothes incorporating 5 days a week in an office
Over 12 months.

Delurking as I might be useful!!

If it's any help I work in a business/business casual office and spend about £300-£400 a year on clothes

HBS x