Budget Update: November 2016

Another year of budgeting has come to a close. (And, I use the word “budgeting” loosely knowing that I’ll add blog revenue to offset overspending!) I’ll do an update next month with a year in review with my most loved pieces, the best splurges, and the items I probably should have resisted. As you’ll see below, I didn’t add any of my Black Friday purchases to this month’s budget. I usually wait to deduct the amount of new purchases until they arrive and I’m certain they’re staying in my closet.

BUDGET*
Autumn Budget (September – November): $750
Spent in September: $177
Spent in October: $455
Spent in November: $322
Added: $204 in blog revenue to offset this season’s difference
Amount Remaining: $0

Winter Budget Recap: December, January, February
Spring Budget Recap: March, April, May
Summer Budget Recap: June, July, August
Autumn Budget Recap: September, October

*I don’t add money for tax and shipping into my budget, nor do I add athletic clothing or sleepwear. Most of the money I earn from the blogging goes into my general savings account or is earmarked for travel, but I’ll move some to the clothing budget when needed. That’s usually a last-ditch effort to offset overspending the final month of the quarter!

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here. 

• Banana Republic merino turtleneck ($34): I tried J.Crew’s Tippi turtleneck sweater last year, but didn’t love the fit and it wasn’t slim enough to wear underneath sleeveless dresses as I had hoped. I didn’t think much of finding a different version until this year when the weather started to cool off again. BR had a steep discount on their merino turtleneck and I decided to give it a whirl. Love. It. Seriously, this is what I was hoping for last year. It’s slim, a bit stretchy, and it’s not sheer. It’s a basic that’s definitely worth adding to your own wardrobe this year. I went with a size small.
• Hudson’s Bay fox fur hat in white stripe ($30; worn here): As I mentioned before, I wanted this hat last year for Christmas without realizing the Canadian brand didn’t ship to the United States. Fortunately, Lord & Taylor, one of the company’s subsidiaries, carried in this year and I was able to add it to my collection. I adore the ridiculously oversize pom pom.
• J.Crew Majesty peacoat in soft mint ($147; worn here): My favorite peacoat in my favorite color? How could I resist? Dave gave me the black version a couple of years ago for Christmas and it’s my most often worn winter topper. It runs true to size, but you may want to size up if you plan to wear bulky layers underneath.
• T by Alexander Wang neoprene pleated mini skirt in grey ($41): Like the peacoat above, I’ve owned the black version of this for a few years. I paid full price for the skirt back then and had seriously considered purchasing it in grey, too, but talked myself out of the indulgent purchase. Well, eventually the shopping stars aligned and I scooped it up on clearance at The Outnet.
• Tallulah geometric-print jumpsuit ($35; not pictured above, but you can see the print I purchased here): This was definitely an impulse purchase when I stopped by Anthropologie a couple of weeks ago looking for a baby gift. I fell for the geometric print on what I thought was a maxi dress and headed straight to the dressing room only to realize it was, in fact, a jumpsuit. Sold. As if that wasn’t great enough, it has enough built-in padding in the bust that you can go without a bra if you have a small chest. It runs about a size large.
• J.Crew floral chandelier earrings ($35): In general, I’m not a huge fan of J.Crew’s jewelry. Much of it relies too much on recycled designs and loud colors to make a statement, and it’s usually too expensive for what it is. However, these earrings are gorgeous. I love the evergreen and blush colorway that’s accented by a tiny amount of frosty blue, and the movement the dangling flowers add to the piece.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.

• The 5TH “Aki” watch (seen here; save 10% with code BEDKNOBS)

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love: 

• Ann Taylor poppy ruffle collar blouse: I went to the mall specifically to try this on. It’s not nearly as vibrant in person and it’s incredibly sheer.
• Ann Taylor tiered ruffle sleeve blouse: I love the sleeves on this, but the body is too boxy and didn’t drape well on me. It’s also too sheer to wear without a cami underneath. It would make for a great layering piece under a dress, though.
• J.Crew cluster drop earrings: The shape of the earrings is adorable and they’re surprisingly lightweight for such a statement pair. However, they’re cheaply made. The plastic fishing line that holds the petals together was visible on the pair I tried.

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I’ll be linking up with Fran today!