Personal finance and love of fashion (they don't mix!)?

I absolutely love clothes, shoes and accessories. However, I also have a lot of goals (owning my own home, funding my retirement, etc.). While I consider myself reasonably frugal (i.e. I don't just blow bundles of cash and often buy things at thrift stores) clothing and accessories are easily my biggest expense after rent/food...and my income is a modest one.

Fellow budget fashionistas: how do you reign in your love of shopping? Do you give yourself a budget? I don't have one and honestly have no idea how much I spend (although I'm not in debt).

They DO mix. Personal finance is MOSTLY about behavior, not math. If you love cloths, you need to take that into account when you make a budget. Increase your clothing budget and cut back in other areas.

I agree with those who said to use CASH. WRITE a budget at the beginning of each month. Put the cash amount of your clothing budget in an envelope labeled "Clothing". Purchase ALL clothing and ONLY clothing from that envelope. When the envelope is empty, you are DONE buying cloths until next month. Use envelopes for food, gas, etc as well.

You should always have a budget - and make it cash.

Put that cash in an envelope, and when you buy your clothes, use that money - when it's gone, you're done shopping.

One trick that might work - don't buy anything unless you've gone to the store 3 times and still want it - that will eliminate frivolous purchases, or purses that you can only wear with one (or no) outfits you already own.

I think you need to acknowlege the reality that you don't have a bottomless pit of money to spend on fashionable clothes and shoes. Limiting yourself to a certain dollar amount per month for fashion is the only rational thing to do.

There are several websites where you can buy designer stuff for a discount price. Poke around the internet and find them. I'm not sure, but one of them may be www.bluefly.com

who told you they don't mix. Who HAS been telling you that. It's up to you, if you like personal finance you can still love fashion. Take you goals and get to them carefully and still fufil your love of being a total fashionista!

I know exactly what you mean....it's hard trying to keep up with the latest trends and keep your savings account looking decent.


Budget yourself, maybe do an analysis of your bank account...see where most of your money is going. Give your self and allowance every 2 weeks, if you get a check for 1500(depending on bills), pay yourself 250....but of course I don't know how your rent, car payment, insurance, etc is. Or save up for a shopping spree every other month or so, where you can spend just on yourself....? Maybe? It's always good to shop girl. It relieves stress.

no, not a good combo.I absolutely love shopping 鈾?I have so much clothes & shoes that I have no more space to put them.that is quite a dilemma lol I don't have a budget but I don't buy anything too over-priced.usually I see a couple items that I want and just select 1 or 2 from that list:) I've spent way too much.credit cards are getting the best me!:-P I can't really pinpoint the exact amount.shopping is one of my guilty pleasures;) it's sooooooo addicting but it's euphoric and like an aphrodisiac lol I'm trying to save some money this year.I haven't bought anything in 1 month and hopefully, that streak lasts:) umm...wait did I just self-incriminate myself and confess to my evil addictions;-D good luck with your quest.

Marry young and marry well. Take a page out of Kimora Lee Simmon's book.