Closet Confidential - June Spend.

I can remember back in the early days of blogging when I used to table my purchases and yearly fashion spend in my right hand side bar, but when I reached just over £1,000.00 I got a little bit scared that OH would see it and removed - pronto!  It was only whilst seeing a recent blog post over at The Small Fabric of My Life and seeing that Jane had done a post showing us her June spend and how she had fared with her monthly clothing budget, that I was inspired to do something similar and keep track of my monthly clothing spend.

Unlike Jane, I don't really have a monthly clothing budget, what I buy/spend is dependent on so many other factors, like bills, clothing for my son, my four children's birthdays, forthcoming events like Weddings, Meals out etc but most importantly what I have earnt.  Being self employed means that I do not have a fixed monthly income.  Some months, usually September to March can often be dire as beauty treatments are not really considered essential as we all cover up in long sleeved clothing and maybe only bother with a £5 brow wax. Come summer and work is a completely different ball game as people prepare for holiday/wedding/Ascot season with fake tans, lashes and the removal of every conceivable strand of body hair, but you still have some bad weeks which impact on the household income.  The recession also has a massive effect, even with regular clients who may go 8 weeks instead of 6 for a  treatment but if your husband has lost his job, you may think a hair cut and blow dry is a necessary part of your beauty regime, eyelash extensions, not so much.  I know I would be reaching for the mascara and a Bic razor if times were really hard.

Despite spending a small fortune in June on two of my childrens birthdays, one of which was a 21st as most of you know, I have spent far more than I realised and sadly haven't spent my money on what I really need i.e. clothes for my holiday.  Of course I could jet off tomorrow and manage just fine with my existing pieces, but I am a bit fed up of the clothes I have taken away for the last couple of years and am in desperate need of a couple of lightweight summer dresses.  I will of course be taking a couple of my basic t-shirts which were recent purchases from Isabella Oliver and Gap, but I am almost a bit annoyed that I have spent my money on things that aren't at the top of my shopping list. I am also annoyed with myself that there are so many investment purchases I would love to make at the moment but have to restrain myself for now.  The Phase Eight Cape Mac featured on the Blog last week would be a must have, as would my favourite Isabella Oliver pieces, but as none of those can be worn on holiday, they are on the back burner for now, but if I have a good month and the Sales are still on and pieces still in my size, who knows.  I am also waiting on 60 - 70% reductions, so come on retailers, you all need a good sales season, so drop your prices from the measly 30-40% and get us fighting over your bargains!

Its so easy to forget what you have actually spent, take my House of Fraser order for example.  I was convinced I had bought this mini haul at the end of May but upon checking, it was ordered at the end of  the first week of June and arrived early week beginning the 11th.  I had also completely forgotten about the two tops I had bought in the Gap sale on the Bluewater trip on the 11th of June, the same day I bought my Sunglasses.

If you don't need to keep a track of what you spend and can just shop away with little or no consequence, then fine, but I still think it is a great idea to keep track, just for the record, you may find that you are surprised either by how much or how little you have spent.

The other thing I find really interesting about keeping track of your purchases is for those people who say they can't afford designer.  I am sure for a lot of you "High Street is King" despite budget, but there are also many of you out there that could take your monthly High Street spend and invest in one great designer piece instead.

June Spend:

Topshop Sandals was £28 now £12
Topshop Jumper was £30 now £20
Topshop skirt was £20 now £10
Topshop vest top was £35 now £20
Oasis Jeans was £48 now £30
Marks and Spencer Kaftan was £20 now £12.50
Chanel Sunglasses £277
Linea Weekend Dress was £65 now £39
Linea Top was £50 paid £30 (now even cheaper at £25)
Linea Shorts was £45 paid £27 (now even cheaper at £22.50)
Gap Navy Basic t-shirt £4.99 can't remember full price.
Gap Vermillion silky top £14.99 half price I think.

Total items = 11. Total Cost £497.48

See what I mean about all those little bargain purchases adding up? I've still managed to spend £200 on top of the cost of the Sunglasses and I am shocked to be honest, especially when you think I could have bought a fantastic pair of designer shoes in the sale for that!  I feel like I don't want any of it now, well apart from the sunglasses of course and as OH pointed out, I had saved for the sunglasses.  I had sold two pairs of old designer sunglasses which I never wear now so only had to put a small amount of actual cash towards them, which was good as it does seem an obscene amount of money, but I was put off from buying them earlier because of the dreadful weather!  Sadly I fell in love with them before I knew how much they cost!

Do you have a monthly clothing budget? Ever blow it? or just buy as and when with no regard for what you spend?