seasonal budget

2016 is off to a good start sartorially. This month’s purchases are a mix of classic and fun pieces that work well with my existing wardrobe. The faux fur coat was a splurge, but I kept clicking to the Nordstrom site to daydream about it every single day for two weeks. I figured if I was that interested in it, I should at least try it on! Of course I kept it.

We booked an April trip to Denmark and Belgium, so I’m planning to use the remaining balance of this season’s budget on a couple of versatile items for the trip: a trench coat (love the detachable lining and hood on this one, but I can’t decide between khaki and navy) and a pair of comfortable loafers for walking (maybe these). I’d also like to add a couple of dresses to my travel wardrobe that I can wear a couple of times over the two-week period. I’m particularly interested in this dress. It looks like it could be amazingly versatile with a trench, flats, and statement pendants.

In other news, I looked at additional ways to save money throughout the year. I’m using MyFitnessPal to count calories and cancelled my Weight Watcher subscription, saving $240 annually. I also shopped around for auto and renter’s insurance and left Geico for Progressive to save $430 annually. I received $112 back in prorated refunds from Geico, which covered most of the renter’s insurance with Progressive for the year.

BUDGET
Winter Budget (Dec. – Feb.): $750
Spent in Dec.: $154.5
Spent in Jan.: $257.75
Amount Remaining: $337.75

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

J.Crew drapey beach pant ($36): When I first spotted these palazzo pants on J.Crew’s website, I knew I had to purchase them before they sold out. They’re intended for beach wear, but they’re also pretty cute with a loose cami, oversize pendant, and sandals. (Summer, where art thou?)
Topshop v-neck camisole in navy ($28): Earlier this month, we toyed with the idea of booking a last-minute jaunt to Florida. Since I had already purchased the beach pants, I added the camisole to my wardrobe for a breezy ensemble. We obviously put Florida on the back burner in favor of Europe, but this cami is staying in my closet. It’s a lovely layering piece. You’ll have to go up at least one size.
Tory Burch “Brody” small satchel in light oak ($8.25): For being on the small side, this satchel is incredibly roomy. It has more than enough room for my DSLR, a Kindle, full-size wallet, phone, and other small daily must-haves (ahem, lipstick). I have a feeling that this is going to be perfect for traveling. I can fit all of my in-flight essentials inside and stow it away under the seat in front of me with ample foot room. The leather is incredibly soft and the bag is lightweight. (I received a $200 Visa gift card for the holidays and put it toward the bag.)
Gorjana “Ryder” lariat necklace ($22.50): I considered purchasing this lariat at full price a few months ago and was delighted to see it made it to Gorjana’s end-of-season sale for a fraction of the price. It’s a flirty piece to wear with a v-neck cami or a button-down shirt. (I had a $10 credit, which basically took care of the shipping cost.)
Eliza J faux fur coat in navy ($150): I’m such a fan of this coat (worn here). It’s a convincing replica of real fur and warm enough for the subzero temperatures we experienced last week. It runs true to size. It also has a bright, floral lining, which was a lovely surprise.
H&M striped long-sleeve tee ($13): This is my least exciting purchase of the month only because it’s a necessary staple. My old striped long-sleeve tops are starting to show their age and I need a few more to replace them with. This one runs small, but is stretchy enough that it doesn’t lose its shape during the day.

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

H&M flared blouse: I daydreamed about this for a couple of weeks before dragging myself to the mall to try it on. The fabric was ultra soft, but the cut was terrible. Drop shoulders and a wide torso don’t make for a flattering top. It’s also kind of short for being so loose. Pass.

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linking with Fran

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

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.

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.

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.

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linking with Fran

Budget Update: January 2016

Budget Update: December 2015