Cloud Cuckoo Land

ex-pat_scot

Sea_Shell said:

michaels said:

Minimum lifestyle is £630pa on clothes - no wonder the environment is screwed.

Plus meals out and takeaways, can people really not conceive of a life without such discretionary expenditure?

The key 'finding' seems to be not that things are much more expensive than last year, but that so much more consumption is now deemed necessary for essential, comfortable etc

Two sides of the same coin?!? 😉

If you don't eat out, you don't need going out clothes.   Simples. 😁

Who actually needs (or wants) wardrobes full of new clobber, in retirement?

Any retired fashionistas on here that would like to share their wardrobe habits?

I read an article a couple of years ago (I think - "Covid time" is very elastic), which noted that a person at 50 has sufficient clothing to last them for the rest of their days. Having recently hit that milestone at the time, it caused me some reflection.

Clearly there will be immediate cries of "yes but"...
The principle is sound.
If you kept your clothes until they wore out, how long would they last?
When was the last time anyone mended clothing?

There are clearly changing requirements, for example where your size alters over time, and you no longer fit your clothes. Also when your working patterns change, you might no longer require a "work wardrobe" or need something suitable for later life care-receiving.
But most clothes buying in adult life seems driven by wants - fashion, boredom and envy, rather than need.

Much is also true for non-clothing items. Plenty is replaced whilst still being perfectly usable. Not just the obvious tech (TVs, phones, iPads etc) but also furnishings, cars, etc.

I'm not against spending - certainly my family don't have a minimalist view and spending pattern (and I have a rather embarrassing problem with n+1 bicycles), but I really don't understand the relentless march of fashion/ boredom-driven consumption.

ColdIron

I've got shirts I bought when Blair was PM, even some socks as well I think

Sea_Shell

ex-pat_scot said:

Sea_Shell said:

michaels said:

Minimum lifestyle is £630pa on clothes - no wonder the environment is screwed.

Plus meals out and takeaways, can people really not conceive of a life without such discretionary expenditure?

The key 'finding' seems to be not that things are much more expensive than last year, but that so much more consumption is now deemed necessary for essential, comfortable etc

Two sides of the same coin?!? 😉

If you don't eat out, you don't need going out clothes.   Simples. 😁

Who actually needs (or wants) wardrobes full of new clobber, in retirement?

Any retired fashionistas on here that would like to share their wardrobe habits?

I read an article a couple of years ago (I think - "Covid time" is very elastic), which noted that a person at 50 has sufficient clothing to last them for the rest of their days. Having recently hit that milestone at the time, it caused me some reflection.

Clearly there will be immediate cries of "yes but"...
The principle is sound.
If you kept your clothes until they wore out, how long would they last?
When was the last time anyone mended clothing?

There are clearly changing requirements, for example where your size alters over time, and you no longer fit your clothes. Also when your working patterns change, you might no longer require a "work wardrobe" or need something suitable for later life care-receiving.
But most clothes buying in adult life seems driven by wants - fashion, boredom and envy, rather than need.

Much is also true for non-clothing items. Plenty is replaced whilst still being perfectly usable. Not just the obvious tech (TVs, phones, iPads etc) but also furnishings, cars, etc.

I'm not against spending - certainly my family don't have a minimalist view and spending pattern (and I have a rather embarrassing problem with n+1 bicycles), but I really don't understand the relentless march of fashion/ boredom-driven consumption.

Having a think ...

We have some items that are over 40 years old and still worn (chunky working jumper, leather jacket)

I'll frequently stitch seams, or make small repairs, unless something is end of life.

Old t-shirts go for rag in the garage/shed.  We also have a pile of "DIY clothes" in vary states.  Old jeans, joggers, slippers etc.

We haven't changed size much over the years, which helps.

QrizB

ColdIron said:

I've got shirts I bought when Blair was PM, even some socks as well I think

I've got everyday clothes that I bought before I was married, and before kids. My eldest is at university.

The only things that sem to need regular replacement are underwear - socks and pants.

ex-pat_scot

ColdIron said:

I've got shirts I bought when Blair was PM, even some socks as well I think

I am a runner - there's a saying that runners have more t shirts than they will ever need in their entire lives.
I'm still wearing lots of my clothes from 90s and some from 80s. 
A lot of the good quality stuff just hasn't worn out.
It helps that I've not changed size by much over the years, just like SeaShell.

ColdIron

Sea_Shell said:

We haven't changed size much over the years, which helps.

I have bad news for you. I've been retired for a few years and at a recent Dr's appointment I've shrunk 0.5 cm

I think my shirts and socks are safe though

westv

ColdIron said:

Sea_Shell said:

We haven't changed size much over the years, which helps.

I have bad news for you. I've been retired for a few years and at a recent Dr's appointment I've shrunk 0.5 cm

I think my shirts and socks are safe though

I think we shrink something like 2.5 cm every decade after a certain age.

Nebulous2

westv said:

ColdIron said:

Sea_Shell said:

We haven't changed size much over the years, which helps.

I have bad news for you. I've been retired for a few years and at a recent Dr's appointment I've shrunk 0.5 cm

I think my shirts and socks are safe though

I think we shrink something like 2.5 cm every decade after a certain age.

I didn't have a huge number of cms to start with. I like gadgetry and have often fancied one of those contraptions where you strap your ankles in, then hang upside down. Good for getting blood to your brain, and stretching instead of compressing your spine. 

kimwp

ex-pat_scot said:

Sea_Shell said:

michaels said:

Minimum lifestyle is £630pa on clothes - no wonder the environment is screwed.

Plus meals out and takeaways, can people really not conceive of a life without such discretionary expenditure?

The key 'finding' seems to be not that things are much more expensive than last year, but that so much more consumption is now deemed necessary for essential, comfortable etc

Two sides of the same coin?!? 😉

If you don't eat out, you don't need going out clothes.   Simples. 😁

Who actually needs (or wants) wardrobes full of new clobber, in retirement?

Any retired fashionistas on here that would like to share their wardrobe habits?

I read an article a couple of years ago (I think - "Covid time" is very elastic), which noted that a person at 50 has sufficient clothing to last them for the rest of their days. Having recently hit that milestone at the time, it caused me some reflection.

Clearly there will be immediate cries of "yes but"...
The principle is sound.
If you kept your clothes until they wore out, how long would they last?
When was the last time anyone mended clothing?

There are clearly changing requirements, for example where your size alters over time, and you no longer fit your clothes. Also when your working patterns change, you might no longer require a "work wardrobe" or need something suitable for later life care-receiving.
But most clothes buying in adult life seems driven by wants - fashion, boredom and envy, rather than need.

Much is also true for non-clothing items. Plenty is replaced whilst still being perfectly usable. Not just the obvious tech (TVs, phones, iPads etc) but also furnishings, cars, etc.

I'm not against spending - certainly my family don't have a minimalist view and spending pattern (and I have a rather embarrassing problem with n+1 bicycles), but I really don't understand the relentless march of fashion/ boredom-driven consumption.

I do try to mend clothing, but never get a result that I'm happy to wear in public 😊

Albermarle

Mr.Generous said:

bluenose1 said:

I do like all these studies and yes you do have to compare with your own expenditure but it does make me think about my outgoings, though would have preferred the amounts in this study to reflect what the actual weekly / annual expenditure was for each group rather than hypothetical amounts.
Just checked and the Which retirement income targets does this and as of March 23 the couples Essential, Moderate and Luxury lifestyle was £19k, £28k and £44k.
Will be interesting to see the revised amounts this year.

Much more realistic figures. No, I  can't afford a superyacht, but I think Myself and Mrs Generous had a very nice last couple of years on less than £44k. I guess the key is no mortgage or debts.

However if you stopped someone in the street and asked them what they thought a luxury lifestyle was, they would probably have some vision of someone very wealthy sitting on a big yacht in the Bahamas.

A true luxury lifestyle would cost a lot more than £44K, more like £244K, so I think Which referring to a luxury lifestyle in this way is a bit misleading. The other surveys description of Comfortable is better, but not perfect. 
Maybe we should try and think of a better description !