Smart Spending: Clothing

     I've been thinking a lot about spending lately. Specifically, how I choose to spend my time and my money. My aunt says something about spending that I think is especially relevant for the world we live in today: every time we make a purchase, we're casting a vote for the world we want to live in. Because of that, I want to make a series of posts about my current spending habits as well as ideas and methods for improving them. I want to become more intentional about spending, so that I'm not just spending but investing in the world I want to live in and the person I want to be.

     Recently I've been realizing that I'm not the frugal spender I thought I was. Sure, I never spend exorbitant amounts of money all at once. Instead, I make dozens of seemingly "insignificant" purchases that, in the long run, start to add up. For example, I refuse to spend a lot of money on clothing. I shop almost exclusively in thrift stores and sales racks. I rarely spend more than $10 on any one article of clothing, including more traditionally expensive things like jeans or dresses. If I spend $25 on something like a swimsuit, dress, or pair of shoes, it means I love it and I'll be wearing it for a long time. You would think that having such a low clothing budget means that I hardly spend any money on clothing. This is not the case. I have a habit of replacing quality with quantity, meaning that instead of investing in one shirt I absolutely love for $20, I'll buy 5 shirts I really like for $4 each. In the end, this means that come next season, I'll be donating half those $4 shirts and buying new ones. Meanwhile, that shirt that I spent more on that I love, I'll keep season after season.

     So this begs the question, "Well, do I have to spend more to find things I love?" Absolutely not. Spending smart is all about being intentional. Because $20 is a lot in my book, I really stop to consider whether what I'm buying is worth it. It's an investment to me, not just a spur-of-the-moment-I-have-$5-to-spare purchase. $4 or $5, on the other hand, doesn't mean as much to me, so I let go of it a lot easier. But I make a habit out of these small $4 or $5 purchases, meaning that in the long run, I'm not saving any money and I'm spending without much deliberation or intention.

     "So how do I make frugal and intentional money decisions?" One thing I find myself doing regularly is finding something I like and then immediately flipping over the tag to see how much it is and if I'm willing to spend that. It's something we all do. The problem lies in seeing something we kind of like, checking the price, seeing that it's cheap, and then deciding we like it more than we really do, just because it's cheap. So the key is to ask ourselves how much we'd pay for something before we check the tag. If it's something you love, you're willing to pay more for it. If it's something you only like and the price is too high, you'll pass it up. But if you find yourself consistently seeing things and thinking "Eh, I'd pay like $5 for that"... well, maybe you should pass it up without even checking the tag, because it's clearly not something you NEED to have in your closet, even if the tag turns out to be $4.99!

     "But what about thrift stores, where I know everything will be cheap?" Go in with a list. A list of "Do" and "Don't" buys. For example, I have wayyy too many pairs of jeans. So that would go on my "Don't Buy" list and I'd refrain from even looking at the jeans section. Something that could go on my "Do Buy" list could be "cotton, floral, short sleeve t-shirt". Be specific. Look at what kinds of colors, prints, and fabrics you already have a ton of before going shopping so you don't end up buying more of the same old same old. I've always gotten the most compliments on things other people have picked out for me, simply because they're different than my usual style and therefore stand out and make a statement. If you really want to buy something you already have a lot of, have in mind what you're going to get rid of. Think of your closet/dresser as a limited-capacity thing that is currently at full capacity. You can't add without subtracting. Replace instead of add. For example, if I cave and peruse the jeans section knowing I don't need any more jeans, I need to have a pair of jeans in mind that I'm going to put in the donation pile as soon as I get home. And I better love the ones I'm buying.

     Another thing to think about is the ethics of your purchases. Some people will only buy fair trade clothing. Other people will only buy clothing made in the country they live in. And yet others only buy clothing made in environmentally-friendly ways or from sustainable materials. I'll admit: I don't fall into any of those categories. To me though, sustainability does matter in that I'd like to buy things I'll have for years. And I'd prefer to buy it pre-worn. And I will always donate clothing that I no longer like or no longer fits, never throw it away, unless it's underwear or in terrible condition. So to me, sustainability means making very intentional purchases and investing in things that I imagine wearing for years (barring massive weight gain). I plan to continue to buy cheap clothing, but not because it's cheap. I want to buy things because I love it and it makes me smile when I put it on. I refuse to continue to buy things that don't fit quite right, need mending/hemming/adjusting, are uncomfortable, are likeable but not loveable, or fall under the category of "Things I Already Have a Million of & Don't Need More of".

     Like all habits, spending habits can be changed. But it takes time and effort. For me, I think the best thing I can do is put a complete freeze on clothing spending for one season. I have all the clothes I could need or want, so for this summer I want to get rid of clothes that I no longer love and wear the heck out of the ones I do. Also, I've been away from my closet(s) for so long that I no longer remember most of the clothing I own so it'll be like going shopping in my own wardrobe! I cannot wait to wear clothes that are not the ones I brought to Spain and have been wearing for 5 months straight...literally the same clothing, since it's so temperate here my wardrobe has not changed at all between January and May. I've decided I don't like temperate climates. I like change. I like seasons. I like having boxes of clothes in the attic I don't see for 6 months at a time. Anyway, we'll see how this challenge goes! (Most definitely going to cave, but hopefully it'll only be for things that I love love love).

Until next time...

-SE Wagner