£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Cherryfudge

Hopeless_Case wrote: »

Do you have plenty of clothes which you can carry on wearing? Also could you go to charity shops (posher ones maybe) and look for stuff?

Oxfam online is worth a look: I've seen some nice upper-end High Street items there as well as designer and vintage clothing. I think they put the best items nationwide onto their website. I tried googling 'online second hand clothes UK' and there are lots of other sources as well.

Perhaps you could set your wardrobe out and imagine it's a client's - what would you advise them? I've found that getting things out and trying them on sometimes gives me ideas for new combinations of clothes. It might also uncover a few items that are good but never worn and which you could sell to supplement the budget.

As to cost, I'm sorry I can't help - I'm still frowning disapprovingly at myself (a difficult feat, I don't recommend it) for spending £7.98 on scrunchies today!

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 76: Day 7

Thank you for all the realism around spending. Ellen Vannin you're right - the reason I've (finally) mentioned it is because I know it's excessive, and I am also painfully aware it's not bringing me the most amazing wardrobe in the world, so it's not even like I can say 'well, at least I look and feel incredible all the time.' Of course, now I've done the maths I can see that's partly because of the enormous skincare cost eating up 50% of my clothing budget .

Secondhand clothes are really tricky - I find buying them online an unfailing disaster - I have literally never ended up with something I loved. In person would be much better, but I have had absolutely zero success with local charity shops, and I don't really go anywhere else. I also find the time:cost ratio is terrible - if I spent the time I would need to spend browsing in charity shops actually working, I'd be better off buying something quickly and new. I think charity shops are brilliant if you have the time for a browse once a week or more, but otherwise not great, and they are miles better in affluent areas.

The Moo yup I'm all over the ethics of skincare, hence the high price tag. I don't buy from anyone that sells in China.

Enthusiasticsaver I honestly don't know if I'd lose business if I spent £50 a month. I suspect I would, gradually, because 95% of my business is word of mouth referrals, and a lot of people comment how stylish I look. But I also know a lot of it is about me having the self confidence to carry myself and 'sell' my services (honestly; not a prostitute :rotfl: ). So the spend is partly about my own confidence, not just what my clients see in a static image.

Cherryfudge that's a really good idea to look at my wardrobe as if it were a client's. I'm going to do that today once I've done house stuff and imagine my client has £150pm for everything and see what I plan out for 'her'.

Cumbria lass I don't get discounts (except with one or two brands I do a lot of work for, which I do use occasionally), but I do think I will start doing affiliate links once my website has a little more traffic, so hopefully that will start to generate a small income at some stage.

Hmmm. I definitely need to cap this budget, but I'm struggling a lot. I suppose the answer is to try a lower number and just see how it goes. £150 all in feels painful but perhaps possible.

A it stands my budget for August is actually currently £0, as I haven't taken any client bookings this month to give me a clothing budget. I know I have one booking coming in which will give me £30 or so, but that could feasibly be it for August on the current system. But there aren't many months like that, or my overall budget would be lower!

Onto other matters. The weather is awful here. I know we needed it, but I'm not sure we need the howling wind and forecast constant heavy rain all day today! Poor DH has to pack up the tent in awful weather too I think, although a bit less grim than here. Hope all my tomatoes haven't blown over in the garden, and feeling glad I've already washed and line dried all the sheets!

I need to go food shopping today (on foot! In the rain!), but I have only £11 left in the food budget, so anything extra I spend will be stolen from my £20 'biulk supplies' pot, which I really wanted to leave intact. Going to go through the cupboards later to see what I can create with minimum spending to limp through until Wednesday and the new month. Hoping I can do it for £11.

Today is all about house cleaning and cooking. I've done loads and loads of little jobs and chores that have been waiting for some time and attention while DH has been away with the DCs (although not a huge amount of work) and now I need to return the house to some kind of civilised state!

To do this week
1. Make teacher gifts - candles.
2. Keep up with social media for work. This is going ok so far
3. Have a total blitz of the house, either during the week or when DH takes the DC away (I'd like to get at least some of it done before they go so I can get some work done while they're away instead of endless cleaning).
3(a) sitting room.
3(b) dining room.
3(c) kitchen.
3(d) bathroom.
3(e) hallways and stairs.
3(f) our room.
3(g) DCs' room.
4. Phone garage to get the car checked - it is emitting an 'interesting' smell of burning plastic. Maybe my budgets won't be looking quite so healthy very shortly.
5. Make a list of preliminary questions to ask builders, and of builders to ring around.
6. Ring at least 3 builders to ask preliminary questions and arrange a quote.
7. Pay balance on final camping trip of the summer.
8. Change all the sheets, with attendant washing and ironing implications.
9. Check 0% offer end dates and discuss with DH if we need a new balance transfer card.
10. Sign off preschool paperwork (I'm a trustee).
11. Food shopping for camping trip.
12. Plant the succulents I propagated from leaves (VERY proud of this).
13. Start a new batch of vanilla extract for Christmas presents.
14. Update work mileage from driving for work on the weekend.
15. Investigate whether someone can service my Kenwood mixer - it definitely doesn't sound right since the Wedding Cake Extravaganza.
16. Order DCs' school uniform. I have heard a rumour that uniform is going to change slightly (polo shirt colour) with the new management of the school, so need to check this.have bought new logo polo shirts and jumpers in confirmed new colour, need to order the rest.

Mini goals:
- £25.56/31 July rounding down pot.
- £3,193.40/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.
- £465/£932 extension pre-build costs shortfall.

Busy_Mee1

Could you not turn this into an opportunity for your business and develop a frugal/eco friendly narrative to your blogs and online presence. After all buying new stuff and beauty products doesn't really fit with the life you are trying to lead. I am thinking challenges that you could maybe blog about:

Buying no "new" clothes for a year- updating your wardrobe with charity shop/ebay/clothes swop/home made items

Building a capsule wardrobe for under £100

Testing lower price skin care and beauty products, with a good ethical provenance

Making your own skincare and beauty products ( you already make your own candles and bread - this shouldn't be beyond you). This will also have the added benefit of reducing packaging.

You could develop the narrative focussing on your desire to cut down on waste and plastics, rather than the financial benefits. But I do think other people would be interested in articles about dressing for less or skin care on a budget

Sea_Shell

Flipping this around, and ignoring the debt for a minute.

If you did save £50+ per month on the Skincare budget, just think, if you could then put that money into the kids "adventures" kitty. What additional wonderful educational / experiences stuff could you do with them for an extra £50 per month.

Also think of the more subtle message you'd be sending them by cutting back...that you don't need to spend a fortune on yourself to look and feel good.

Surely you want them to grow up knowing that it's what's on the inside that counts. Not how much you spend on clothes and cosmetics.

MatyMoo

I have a family member who could look stylish in a sack! She used to have an almost unlimited clothes and shoe budget but was made redundant a few years ago and had to learn to budget carefully.

She now buys much cheaper clothes ranges with a couple of high end things per year. She hasn't compromised on style at all but she does shop around and carefully considers each purchase.

Supermarket TShirts, jumpers and Jeans can look great with a bit of accessorising and or a decent jacket.

She has even sold most of her Gold and diamonds and uses costume jewellery to great effect.

You really don't need to spend £100 per month to look good!

crunch_time

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

Could you not turn this into an opportunity for your business and develop a frugal/eco friendly narrative to your blogs and online presence. After all buying new stuff and beauty products doesn't really fit with the life you are trying to lead. I am thinking challenges that you could maybe blog about:

Buying no "new" clothes for a year- updating your wardrobe with charity shop/ebay/clothes swop/home made items

Building a capsule wardrobe for under £100

Testing lower price skin care and beauty products, with a good ethical provenance

Making your own skincare and beauty products ( you already make your own candles and bread - this shouldn't be beyond you). This will also have the added benefit of reducing packaging.

You could develop the narrative focussing on your desire to cut down on waste and plastics, rather than the financial benefits. But I do think other people would be interested in articles about dressing for less or skin care on a budget

This is such a good idea!! I would be interested in reading.

I’m totally with you on ethical beauty products. Up until this year I would buy my face creams etc from Holland and Barr but just can it justify £20 a pop. Have found Sainsbury’s own brand just as good and they are cruelty free. I still buy make up from there or beauty naturals but it lasts longer so I can justify. I just have a splurge once a year to stock up and such products are often in my stocking at Christmas!!

Keep up the hard work!!!
Crunchy xx

Treadingonplaymobil

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

Could you not turn this into an opportunity for your business and develop a frugal/eco friendly narrative to your blogs and online presence. After all buying new stuff and beauty products doesn't really fit with the life you are trying to lead. I am thinking challenges that you could maybe blog about:

Buying no "new" clothes for a year- updating your wardrobe with charity shop/ebay/clothes swop/home made items

Building a capsule wardrobe for under £100

Testing lower price skin care and beauty products, with a good ethical provenance

Making your own skincare and beauty products ( you already make your own candles and bread - this shouldn't be beyond you). This will also have the added benefit of reducing packaging.

You could develop the narrative focussing on your desire to cut down on waste and plastics, rather than the financial benefits. But I do think other people would be interested in articles about dressing for less or skin care on a budget

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Flipping this around, and ignoring the debt for a minute.

If you did save £50+ per month on the Skincare budget, just think, if you could then put that money into the kids "adventures" kitty. What additional wonderful educational / experiences stuff could you do with them for an extra £50 per month.

Also think of the more subtle message you'd be sending them by cutting back...that you don't need to spend a fortune on yourself to look and feel good.

Surely you want them to grow up knowing that it's what's on the inside that counts. Not how much you spend on clothes and cosmetics.

I am loving both of these ideas! I think I need some challenges around it to make it seem like less of a disaster and more like a positive benefit. My cogs are turning...

arsenalbarnie

I have a friend who has beautiful skin on soap and water and Nivea. I think good skin is a blessing that some of us just aren't blessed with and the cosmetic industry have a field day conning us to buy their expensive lotions and potions. My mother was told in the late 70's by a dermatologist the best thing she could do for her skin was drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen. I have used spf on my skin since teenage years because of this advice (53 now). I must say I do not have the skin of a 53 yr old. Hardly any lines.
I use an ethical soap on my face now made in Penzance, Pure Nuff Stuff ( love this company). Skin seems fine. Was told toner is a waste of time just tone with water! Again seems fine. Sainsbury's I agree great cruelty free products. Maybe when you're looking to simplify your life there could be an overhaul of your cosmetic spending. A paring down of items. One thing at a time to see whether it makes a difference to your skin.

I do have a nail habit but luckily just treated my 18 yr old to Led shellac kit. Wow she is so good at it, we all have our vices, but it has paid for itself already!

Silver_Queen

To be honest, I'm completely unsurprised about your budget. I worked for a while in fashion and beauty and I know that you do get a bit of a skewed view.

I completely understand your famine and feast mindset too, as that is quite a normal thing in the community I find. It is hard to break the habit but I think it will do you a world of good to set budgets. Remember, if you really want a £200 piece you can always - gasp - not spend a month's budget and roll it over so you can afford that expensive piece. The issue with splurging at the beginning of the month as you've quite rightly noted is that there's always something else or always boring stuff you need, like tights or underwear, which end up busting the budget.

Have you considered in the interim whilst you're still working on breaking the habit and sticking to the budget, to simply not buy the wonderful lovely thing you want until the end of the budgeting month? That way you need to get through the entire month first and all your essential clothing spends on the boring stuff come first.

Would you go through your skincare routine with me? I'm fascinated! I am an absolute addict when it comes to make up and skincare but I don't spend more than £50 a month. What are you buying? I hope you're not buying la mer and sisley etc because I have strong feelings about the effectiveness of their products :rotfl:

KxMx

A 50ml pack of Olay face cream (which I only ever buy when on sale) lasts me 6-8 weeks because I am sparing when I use it.

If you have a routine that is several steps, how about cutting one product out and see how you go?

Anything I use like shampoo gets stood on the top when getting low, then when I can't get out anymore it goes upright again and cut in half, so I can scoop out the remains.

I am beginning to recognise cheap isn't always best when it comes to cosmetics, because i am so frugal with toiletries I have the budget room to go for slightly more high end items.

Given that you blog and are in an appearance faced business, how about approaching companies for freebies in return for mentions/ recommendations?