BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

  • Interiors
    • My Home: Main Bathroom
    • My Home: Powder Room
    • My Home: Living Room
    • My Home: Dining Room
    • My Home: Main Bedroom
    • My Home: Front Porch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
    • Travel Posts
    • Travel Guides
  • Style
    • Style Posts
    • Outfits
    • The Coveted
  • Collaborate
  • About

Budget Update: December 2015

December 26, 2015 by jessica 11 Comments

Gerard Yosca Rose Ball Dangle Earrings
OBSERVATIONS
Looking back at 2015, I may have went a bit overboard on sartorial spending, so I’m bringing back a stricter budget in hopes that it’ll force me to be more selective about purchases and be more creative with the items my own closet. I’m trying a seasonal budget with four installments of $750 to spend over a three-month period. I tend to spend more at the onset of a new season, making this approach more realistic than a monthly allotment.

In addition to the money I’ve set aside for clothing and accessories, I’m tucking away $50 per paycheck into a Capital One 360 savings account earmarked for special splurges. I’ve mentioned Capital One 360 before, but it’s worth repeating with a new year — and new financial goals — on the horizon. The bank allows you to create savings accounts for different things whenever you want with no minimum balance. I have a general savings account, the aforementioned splurge account, a travel account, and a Christmas account that I’m putting away $25 per paycheck to make end-of-year gift giving a little easier. Any blog revenue I earn usually gets divided between my regular savings account and my travel fund.

Even though I’m set to start the year on a fiscally responsible note, Tory Burch was a little too tempting for me to resist this morning with an additional 30% off sale items. I had a $200 Visa gift card to spend and put it toward this gorgeous satchel in light oak. It looks like the perfect bag for travel with ample room for my camera, daily essentials, and souvenirs, without being overwhelmingly large. After the discount and gift card, my spending came to $8.25. I’m waiting for it to arrive before officially adding it to my budget.

I’m also seriously considering adding this faux fur number to my closet.

BUDGET
Winter Budget (Dec. – Feb.): $750
Spent in Dec.: $154.5
Amount Remaining: $595.50

Wardrobe-Update-December-2015
PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

  • Monica Vinader “Atlantis” wide band ring ($87.50): This was my only Black Friday purchase this year, which is fitting since one of the designer’s “Baja” bracelets was my Black Friday purchase the year before. Like the bracelet, the quality is impeccable. I’ve been wearing it every day since it arrived.
  • BCBGeneration tie-neck shift dress in deep blue ($37): I actually ordered this in the orange colorway first, but hated the nearly fluorescent hue when it arrived. The dress, however, was darling and I immediately placed an order for the navy version. The necktie is a little thin and looks silly tied in front. I opted to tie it in the back instead, which looks pretty above the keyhole opening. There are strings at the shoulders to keep the tie in place. I snipped those off.
  • Foley + Corinna framed petite crossbody bag in white ($30): The pricetag for this little bag made a sharp increase after I placed my order. It’s somewhat practical with room for my iPhone 6s, a tube of lipstick, a card case, and my keys (without a key fob). However, I don’t think it’s worth more than what I paid. The quality of the leather is good, but the chain is flimsy.

Budget Update December 2015
GIFTED

As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration. I’m selective about the pieces I accept and will only work with companies I feel good about recommending. 

  • Onecklace monogram ring
  • Onecklace nameplate necklace
  • Gerard Yosca “Rose Ball” dangle earrings
  • Gerard Yosca “Amelia” necklace
  • Gerard Yosca “Gladys” stud earrings

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

  • Banana Republic “Damsel” d’orsay pumps in faded coral: The color was gorgeous, but they were terribly uncomfortable.
  • BB Dakota “Miles” sequin dress: I wanted this to work out for New Year’s Eve, but the fit didn’t work for me. The arms were too tight and restricting. I’m going to wear the navy BCBGeneration dress with sparkly jewelry instead.

***
linking with Fran

You might also enjoy:
Wardrobe Update: July 2017
Reflecting on a Month of [Almost] No Shopping
Budget Update
Budget Update

Filed Under: Budget Tagged With: Budget, clothing budget, seasonal budget, wardrobe update

Hello!


Jessica Hamm
Hello there! I'm a first-time homeowner updating a 1920s house in Madison, Wisconsin. I have a penchant for travel and a love of costume jewelry. Follow along for personal style, travel, and lifestyle content.

Search

Keep In Touch

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

You Might Also Enjoy These Popular Posts:

  • Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Wet Clay We stained the front porch!
  • How to Remove Paint from Antique Hardware How to Remove Paint from Original Antique Hardware
  • Loloi II Layla Oriental Blue / Spice Printed Area Rug Review: Loloi II Layla Rug
  • Copenhagen Travel Guide: Dos and Don’ts
  • What Fits Inside the Gucci Small Marmont Bag? What Fits Inside the Gucci Small Marmont Bag?

Currently Coveting

A retro-inspired blouse that’s fun for spring!

Vintage-like glasses that could easily pass for heirloom pieces.

Visit Me on Instagram!

I planted over 100 flower bulbs last fall and whil I planted over 100 flower bulbs last fall and while that many haven’t come up, I’m feeling exceptionally proud of the ones that did — even if my involvement was minimal. 

#muscari #flowers #springgarden #zone5a #zone5agardening
I am just the happiest! I keep looking at this bat I am just the happiest! I keep looking at this bathroom and thinking how lucky we are that we were able to do this! It wasn’t always easy to navigate the stressful moments, but the end result is worth it. I feel like I’m at a luxury hotel every time I shower! (And it sure beats showering with the spiders in our [basically unfinished] basement bathroom. It was like camping in our own home for the past six weeks — and I very much hate camping!)

More photos to come!

#bathroomremodel #bathroomdesign #bathroom #bathroomrenovation #thisoldhouse #1920shouse #subwaytile #showertile #marbletile #marblefloor
For as stressful as this project has been, it’s For as stressful as this project has been, it’s amazing to see it come together. (Swipe for a before!) 

The rest of the shower tile will be installed on Monday and then they’ll starting laying the floor tile. I can’t wait!

#bathroom #bathroomremodel #bathroomrenovation #thisoldhouse #1920shouse #home #oldhouselove #oldhouse #centuryhome #tile #tiling #floortile #progressphotos
Grocery store tulips arrived a month later than us Grocery store tulips arrived a month later than usual this year. Let’s hope spring doesn’t follow suit. 

#flowers #tulips #whiteflowers #whitetulips #grocerystoreflowers
My NCAA bracket was busted within the first few ho My NCAA bracket was busted within the first few hours of the tournament, but there's a much more fun one to take part in: a bagel bracket with @bantambagels -- and you can win a month's supply of the winning flavor! There will be a daily matchup on their Instagram stories each Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday now through April 5. Each vote in the daily face off is a chance to be one of five grand prize winners! My vote goes to Everybody's Favorite, an everything bagel stuffed with veggie cream cheese. 

#sponsored #springtable #breakfast #bagels #bantambagels #tablescape #breakfasttable #tablesetting #foodphotography #thebiteshot #foodflatlay
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye ... to So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye ... to this bathroom. Demolition on our upstairs main bathroom starts today! I love old houses and #OldHouseThings, but this bathroom's prior renovation clearly isn't part of the original home -- nor was it done well. A leak from the bathtub into our kitchen on Easter 2020 kicked off our plans for the renovation and it's finally coming to fruition two years later. The prior damage wasn't caused by leaking pipes (although we just replaced all of the old galvanized pipes with PVC plumbing to futureproof the house); it was from water pooling on the edge of the tub after a shower and then spilling over the side onto the floor. As we discovered, the tub isn't level (nor is the toilet) which caused water to flow over. I'm sure we'll discover plenty of other water damage as our contractor's team starts pulling everything out and I'm so excited for the peace of mind that will come from getting everything in tip top shape. 

Today is also the day that fixtures will be installed in the half bath! There's a short punch list of small things yet to do in that space, but the finished product is right around the corner! 

#bathroom #bathroomremodel #bathroomrenovation #thisoldhouse #1920shouse #home #oldhouselove #oldhouse #centuryhome
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Jennifer on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Posting....