This year I'm joining A Buyer's Archive with Elise, to keep track of my spending on clothes and accessories.

I'm posting this a little early as I've vowed to stop spending this month. Umm, I seem to remember doing a similar thing last October, which didn't quite have the outcome I'd hoped for...

That said, I'm not issuing a spending ban, I'm just not spending anymore until next month, which is seven days away - even I can manage that.

At the end of last month I worked out that I had £54.70 per month to spend on clothes and accessories between September and December, in order to come in below my £745.00 goal.

In September I spent £4.75 - a very good start, however this month hasn't gone quite so well.

Early in October I had a little look in Next to see if they had their new season coats in stock, they did. And I purchased one. And a pair of shoes, and some jewellery. I was on my way home from a massage, feeling very chilled out with nothing to rush home for (except housework), so I decided to have a good look around.

Grey hand finished military coat  |  £95.00  |  Next
I hadn't planned on buying a coat, I just wanted to see what they had on offer, y'know for future reference. I tried this on, decided I liked it, and that I'd keep it in mind as a definite possibility. But as I made my way to pay for my other items I thought 'fuck it', and that is how the coat came to be mine. How's that for an impulse purchase?

Fringed loafers  |  £28.00  |  Next
These are a little different to anything else I own, they'll look cute with skinny jeans and several other items in my wardrobe. And I feel they're a little more autumnal than my ballet flats and loafers, with a bigger heel and more substantial sole.

Necklace  |  £14.00  |  Next (not available online)
I loved this the moment I saw it (hello, pom poms!) and tried to think of what I'd wear it with. I came up blank. I told myself that if I couldn't think of even one thing to pair it with, I couldn't have it. I was about to walk away then my white dress popped into my mind and that was all the persuasion I needed.

Earrings  |  £4.00  |  Next (not available online)
Cute, delicate and only £4.00...

When I got home I tried it all on, and worked out what I could wear everything with. My thoughts of perhaps returning the coat went out the window when I realised that the last time I purchased a coat I really liked was before I met my husband!

I'm glad to say my new shiny things have all been worn already.

But the shopping didn't end here. I took myself off to Felixstowe for wander on the beach and I made a tiny charity shop purchase.


Wallis spot dress  |  £8.00 |  Charity shop
Sadly the hem is wonky, a fact that I managed to miss completely in the shop, so I'll need to alter this before I wear it. Pretty though right?

And then came a trip to Bury St Edmunds to meet Sophie and trawl the charity shops. I was rather restrained this time around, only buying three items.

Phase Eight black dress  |  £8.00  |  Cancer Research shop
I really like this but it isn't the best fit. I'm pondering making it into a midi skirt, I'll wear it more as a skirt than an ill fitting dress - if I do a good job of altering it.

T-shirt  |  £2.50  |  Cancer Research shop
A decorating t-shirt. After a huge wardrobe cull earlier this year I hadn't left much in the way of 'clothes I can happily ruin in the process of making my home beautiful'.

Monsoon cardigan  |  £3.50  |  RSPCA shop
It's not particularly flattering, but it's big, cosy and warm, and some days it's all about the cosy!

Which gives me a whopping total of £163.00 for October (so much for my £54.70 budget!).

Overall total for 2016: £694.60

Which leaves me with £50.40 to hit my target of £745.00. Yikes, two months to go...

Check out the #buyersarchive hashtag on Twitter to see posts from everyone taking part.