Here's my annual breakdown of spending on clothes and accessories for 2019.

I've been keeping track since 2012, and I've included the figures from previous years for easy comparison.

Spending total?
2012  £1,751.00
2013  £1,188.00
2014  £745.65
2015  £1,207.87
2016  £742.39
2017  £663.03
2018  £546.18
2019  £400.10
Just look at the difference between this and 2012.

How many items did I buy?
2012  138
2013  131
2014  76
2015  74
2016  63
2017  83
2018  71
2019  66
Whilst I am pleased with this number being one of the lowest, it still means that I purchased more than one item per week, and when looking at it that way, it seems rather a lot!

What percentage of items purchased were pre-loved?
2012  42%
2013  58%
2014  46%
2015  41%
2016  37%
2017  52%
2018  69%
2019  87%

What percentage of items purchased are still owned?
(at the end of the year they were purchased)
2012  90%
2013  65%
2014  ??
2015  75%
2016  85%
2017  85%
2018  97%
2019  86%
At first I was a little disappointed with this figure but the items that were sold or donated weren't items that I would've gone on to wear. I'm trying not to hang on to things simply because I've bought them, better to donate or sell on to someone that might actually wear them.

Total of discarded items
2012  unknown
2013  £240
2014  £91.47
2015  unknown
2016  unknown
2017  £88.14
2018  £21.17
2019  £29.72

What percentage of items purchased remain unworn?
2012  33.3%
2013  13%
2014  ??
2015  5%
2016  12%
2017  19%
2018  22%
2019  3%
Just a swimsuit and a t-shirt remain unworn. The t-shirt will come out in the spring, and as we have a holiday already booked the swimsuit will definitely be worn next year.

What was the most expensive item?
2012  £105.00 (half price) Kurt Geiger shoes
2013  £35.00 each for a pair of Toms and Next ballet pumps
2014  £64.00 for my very first pair of Irregular Choice shoes
2015  £85.00 on a dress worn for my Mum's wedding
2016  £95.00 for a winter coat
2017  £25.60 for my green skirt
2018  £66.15 jeans (full price £105)
2019  £32.00 ASOS jumpsuit
The jumpsuit has only been worn 4 times since I purchased it in April last year, which is much less than I'd envisioned, but I'm hoping that once I've whittled down my wardrobe further I'll be able to wear my favourite items more often.

What was most expensive pre-loved item?
2012  unknown
2013  unknown
2014  £45.00 French Connection maxi dress  
2015  £34.99 Irregular choice frog shoes
2016  £18.00 ASOS floral wiggle dress
2017  £24.99 burgundy leather knee high boots (sold in 2018 on ebay for £22.00)
2018  £12.00 black knee high boots
2019  £13.00 sequin bag
I bought the sequin bag when I got caught up in festival fever but I do use it. It hangs at the front of my wardrobe so I don't forget about it. What's the point in owning something this pretty and not using it? I'm sure it'll be going back to Latitude with me this year.

What was the cheapest of both categories?
2012  unknown
2013  unknown
2014  New grey vest top £2.00. Pre-loved scarf £1.25
2015  New blue pants for my wedding day £4.00. Pre-loved cork purse 75p
2016  New I purchased several items for £4.00. Pre-loved bracelet £1.25
2017  New flip flops for 90p. Pre-loved maxi skirt from ebay 99p
2018  New flip flops for 90p. Pre-loved £1.00 each for a pink scarf, and red summer top
2019  New ASOS boots £9.50 (sale). Pre-loved heart print vest top £1.00 (sale).
The boots are a staple, not worn often but good to have for when I need black on the end of my legs. The heart print vest top was purchased in September and only worn a few times but I know it'll be a favourite when the weather warms up again.


2019 Buyer's Archive Resolutions - how did I do?

Reduce the number of clothes I buy overall.  The lowest number is 63, and this year I purchased 66, so it's not my lowest number of purchases, but fewer than last year.

I have a shopping challenge for 2020, I'm going to try and buy just one item per month because I don't need any more clothes, but I do love shopping. I have so many lovely items that deserve to be worn more often, so that's what I'm going to do.

Buy more pre-loved clothes than new. I'd hoped to be somewhere above 80% for 2019, and I'm pleased to say that 87% was the final figure. I am pleased that I shop secondhand more these days, but now I need to reduce the number of items I have overall, my wardrobe is stuffed. I probably have more clothes than I can wear in a year (which sounds like another challenge!).

Stick within a £500 budget. Yes! I spent £400.10. As you can imagine I'm really pleased with this. As I plan to buy less this year I'm wondering if I can come in under £200 for 2020?

Alter / mend all items that need it. I mended some but not as many as I ignored.

Sell or donate all the things that don't fit or I no longer wear. I sold numerous items on ebay in the summer, so many that I almost became a permanent fixture in my local post office. I donated some items too, but there is still a pile of things to list on ebay. I have a feeling it'll be a pile that I never get to the bottom of, I add to it more often than I remove something from it.


2020 Buyer's Archive Resolutions

My goal this year is simple. To buy, spend, and discard less.


Links to previous years - 2012   |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018

Here's my complete Buyer's Archive for the year, every item of clothing, every pair of shoes, and every accessory I purchased in 2019.




There are so many purchases that I really like and enjoy wearing from this year. The burgundy boots have barely been off my feet since I bought them. The brown leather bag has been in almost constant use. Both of my check coats have been worn a number of times already, and the floral shorts I purchased in September will be the first to grace my legs next time the temperature allows.



And the jumpers, it's been a good year for jumpers! I purchased 13 in all, with the first and the last both being gorgeous shades of green.



I've found five footwear items in charity shops this year, which is a lot for me as I rarely find footwear I like. Yes, one of those was a hideous pair of Crocs, but they have their place, acting as the perfect garden shoes.

There have been a few items that didn't stay in my wardrobe, for various reasons, but I made a huge effort to list these items on ebay, and made a small profit in some cases.

It feels like a really successful year of shopping. I purchased fewer items than last year, and kept within budget. Also, for the first time ever, I quickly identified the not-so-great purchases and either sold or donated them, instead of keeping them, trying to convince myself that I'd wear them at some point. It freed up valuable space in my wardrobe, which is something I need to continue to do, starting with a wardrobe purge...

And this concludes the fourth year of keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

It also concludes my blogging for 2019, which just leaves me to say 'Happy New Year', and to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2020!

I was certain that I wouldn't buy any clothing this month, but when my trusty black jumper moved from being 'smart enough to dress up' and into the realms of 'has seen better days', I decided to buy another one.

This is the kind of thing I look out for when rummaging in the charity shops but I find simple black jumpers in really good condition hard to come by, so, on this occasion, I decided to bypass the second hand option and go straight for new.



I don't know exactly how long I've had the old one, but I know it was purchased before 2016, before I started my Buyer's Archives. It's lasted well and will continue to be worn, just not for anything requiring me to look smart.

My old one came from Next so that was my first port of call to find a replacement, and of course they had something to fit the bill.



Then I nipped into a local charity shop with a friend, she wanted to peruse the rails, I had no intention of buying anything, but I picked up a blue long sleeved t-shirt to wear as a pyjama top (£2.00), having just demoted a few to the rag bag.

Then my friend picked up a jumper, handed it to me and said 'you have to get this, it couldn't be more you'. I looked at the soft green jumper (£3.75) and knew I wouldn't be leaving it behind.

As I stood at the counter to pay I wondered how I would manage my Just One shopping challenge next year...


LAST YEAR



Everything I bought last year was secondhand.

The pink scarf was picked up for £1.00, but didn't stay in my wardrobe as it made my neck itch. However the large and incredibly soft spotty scarf (£3.00) remains and has been worn a lot.

My bargain find of the month was a brand new ASOS coat, with the original tags still on for a mere £6.50. I'd been looking for something like this for a while, and it's been worn many times.

The next item was an H&M knitted top for £3.50. I sold this on ebay in the summer as it turned out to be a little on the snug side, but I did make a few quid.

My final purchase of 2018 was a mink bolero, originally from Nougat, for £3.00. It's been worn once or twice. It's the sort of thing that sits in the wardrobe untouched but every so often turns out to be just the thing I need.


Total for December: £20.75

Total for 2019: £400.10

Total at this time last year: £559.18

Left of £500.00 budget: £99.90

Items purchased: 66 (pre-loved: 58 / new: 8)
Buying three items this month does take me over my lowest number of items purchased in a year, but as my shopping challenge for next year will drastically reduce the number of items I buy, I'm not worried too much about these 'extra items', I see them as my last hurrah before my spending challenge starts next month.


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

I've been very restrained this month. I had a charity shop rummage at the beginning of the month with Sophie and Kezzie and usually I buy rather a lot!



This time around I purchased this orange jumper for £2.50. That's it. (I say that's it. That's it on the clothes front, I did buy books, I can't go charity shopping and buy nothing at all, that's simply unheard of!)

It's originally from Tu, is soft, slouchy, and very comfy. I wore it almost immediately, and not just because it was getting chilly, but because I also was excited to wear it.

I left behind a navy polka dot shirt, a fine knit grey jumper, a skirt, and two Monsoon dresses. I hardly recognise myself.


LAST YEAR




I purchased most of these items whilst out with Sophie and Kezzie too!  Everything is second hand.

The boots were £12.00 and were exactly what I had been looking for. They were worn a lot last winter.

Striped short sleeve knitted top, £4.00, originally from Next. This sat weirdly around my hips so found itself on ebay. I wish I'd kept a record of how much it sold for...

Fatface sweatshirt, £5.00. This was always going to be a 'chuck on over anything as the evenings got cooler' kind of top. And it was, until I managed to get paint on it. Now it's a DIY top.

Tu dungarees, £10.00. These still had the tags on and ended up on ebay after I realised I had no desire to wear them.

Joules trousers, £3.00. I bought these for meetings, or occasions when I needed to be a bit smarter than usual. I haven't worn them yet, so they might go in to the ebay pile.

Oasis stripe top, £3.00. I really like this dual pattern top, it's only been worn 10 times but it'll stay in my wardrobe for a while yet.

Raglan sleeve stripe top, £2.49. This sat uncomfortably around my shoulders and ended up in the charity bag after one wear.

New Look shoes, £5.99. Only worn once so far, but lovely, comfy and a good staple to have.

Zara shirt with red detailing, £7.00. I haven't worn this, it's a bit boxy, and has been waiting to be listed on ebay for a ridiculous amount of time.

M&Co jumper, £1.87. This is a great little jumper, it has decent length sleeves (hurrah!), and has been worn a dozen times so far...

Full skirt, £3.50. Worn a few times this summer, I'm going to be layering it up so I can wear it now.


Total for November: £2.50

Total so far for 2019: £364.35

Total at this time last year: £559.18

Left of £500.00 budget: £135.65

Items purchased: 63 (pre-loved: 56 / new: 7)
I made a slight miscalculation last month and thought I'd purchased 1 item fewer than I actually had. My purchase this month means I am level with my lowest number of items purchased in a year since records began. So I need to stay away from the charity shops in December! Of course it won't really matter if I don't, but it's nice to have that magic number motivating me, and it's not as if I need anymore clothes.

Also, look at my yearly total, I'm well within budget!!


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

I've been on another spree this month, mostly pre-loved charity shop finds that were too good to be left in the shop!

THIS YEAR



M&S v neck top £3.50. A classic wardrobe staple.

Lace top £3.00. Something a little bit unusual for me, but I thought would be nice to dress up jeans.

Christmas jumper £5.99. I've been looking for one for a few years. This was exactly what I was after. It's so soft and warm and as it's not overly Christmassy I can wear it into the new year too.

Sequin top £6.99. Something for the Christmas festivities.

Grey jumper £4.75. I love a grey jumper and as mine last one found it's way into a charity bag last year, this is an excellent replacement.

Tu Premium check coat £12.50. I did buy a check coat last month too, but this was too nice to be left in the shop.

Twist front t-shirt (not pictured) £1.50. Another staple, and half price in the sale.

George check shirt £1.90. Good for dress down days, with lovely long sleeves and made of the softest cotton.

Coated jeans £4.99. Purchased on a whim in a last minute ebay auction, I actually really like them, and they'll satisfy my hankering for a pair of leather trousers - which I've never seen in a charity shop, and I'd probably never be brave enough to wear anyway.

And a few new purchases, boring but necessary, two bras totaling £11.00.

LAST YEAR



Pre-loved grey jumper, £3.75. This was only worn a few times before it was put back in the charity bag. It didn't sit well over jeans and I knew I wouldn't wear it much as a result.

Pre-loved stripe top, £4.75. This has been worn a lot, I love the long sleeves but it's also really nice in slightly warmer weather as it's a thin material.

Pre-loved floral shirt, £6.00, was from an Instagram sale. I've only worn it a few times so I'm considering putting this in the charity bag too.

Pre-loved navy shirt, £4.00. I bought this knowing it would be a good wardrobe staple and I was right. It's not worn a lot but comes out when I need something I can rely on. I wore it with a big skirt on Christmas Eve last year and with shorts when the sun started to shine. It's pretty versatile.

Pre-loved French Connection embellished dress, £7.00. I've only worn this once, to a dinner and drag show, but it was perfect.

Navy heels, £24.99 (sale price). These were worn once and will be going on ebay as soon as I can get my act together, I just don't wear heels as often as I used to so I don't see the point in hanging onto them.

Boots, £45.27. These went straight on ebay as they didn't fit well and I couldn't be bothered to return them to the States (I didn't realise they were coming from the States when ordering). I sold them for £30.00, so I made some money back at least.


Total for October: £56.12

Total so far for 2019: £361.85

Total at this time last year: £456.88

Left of £500.00 budget: £138.15
This is a good amount to have left at this point in the year. Historically I don't do much clothes shopping in December, so if I can keep my spending under control in November I can easily come in under budget.

Items purchased: 61 (pre-loved: 54 / new: 7)
My goal was to buy fewer than 63 items but I doubt that'll happen. I'm meeting up with Sophie and Kezzie soon which always entails much shopping!


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

It was sale season in the charity shops this month and I picked up a few lovely items for the end of summer, and, nearer the end of the month, a few items for the coming season.

THIS YEAR


Laura Ashley shirt £2.00
I love this but I'm not sure I'm going to keep it.

Heart vest top £1.00
This is such a sweet little top, it's been worn twice already but has been put away until the weather warms up again.

Shorts £2.00
Another bargain, worn once before the sun left us again.

Long tunic top £2.00
I didn't get a chance to wear this and it could actually be a dress, I'm sure I'll wear it as a top and a dress next year.

Winter coat £11.50 (it was actually £12 but I found 50p in one of the pockets when I got home)
This is originally from Next and would've been £80.00 if I'd bought it new. I've been keeping an eye open for something like this.

Burgundy boots £12.00
After finding a fabulous pair in December '17 and then selling them earlier this year due to their uncomfortable nature I was delighted to find these. They've got a smaller heel, making them far more comfortable, and they don't have suede parts meaning I can wear them in any weather without worry.

My autumn wardrobe is shaping up nicely.


LAST YEAR

Bras. Altogether these cost £50.00. They do their job but I haven't worn them as much as I thought I would. The white one is a sod to fasten so is often discarded. Bras are such a boring thing to have to spend money on.

Leather shoulder bag  |  £7.50  |  pre-loved This is a really nice bag and was used a lot until I found a wonderful leather tote bag in February this year.

Tote bag  |  £5.75  |  pre-loved
This is great for charity shopping and beach days alike.

Red shirt  |  £2.00 in the sale  |  pre-loved
I seem to have accumulated a number of shirts over the last few years, this one has only been worn 8 times so far.

Jeans  |   £66.15  |  La Redoute
A new purchase. I knew these would be worn a lot and the total currently stands at 107 times, and they're not anywhere near reaching the end of their useful live just yet...

Yellow jumper  |  £23.00 using a £5 discount code  |  ASOS
This is about to be dug out of my wardrobe for another season. It's been worn 22 times so far and I'm looking forward to wearing it again.

Blue shirt  |  pre-loved   |  £4.75  |  originally from Topshop
This one has been out of the wardrobe 20 times in the last year. It's a really good staple.


Total for September: £31.50

Total so far for 2019: £305.73

Total at this time last year: £406.56

Left of £500.00 budget: £194.27

Items purchased: 51 (pre-loved: 46 / new: 5) my goal is to buy fewer than 63.

With three months to go and nearly £200 left in my budget I'm hopeful that I can stay below a £500 spend this year. I know this total has everything to do with the fact that the vast majority of purchases have been pre-loved.

I'm not sure I'll buy fewer items than 63 (which is my lowest number of purchases since records began in 2012) because plans are afoot for another charity shop rummage with Sophie and Kezzie, but I hope it won't be far out.


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

THIS YEAR

I said in my last Buyer's Archive post that I wasn't going to buy anything this month, but I didn't believe that when I wrote it anymore than you did when you read it. I've been very restrained though. The only thing I purchased was this coin purse.



I did wonder if a coin purse really counts as a wardrobe purchase but as I've counted a previous coin purse I felt I should include this one too, it's an accessory of sorts.

My current one is three years old. I like fabric ones and I don't see them in charity shops very often, especially ones that haven't been used. There are plenty of vinyl or plastic ones to be found but I don't like them. And this one has a button so...


LAST YEAR

I only purchased one item last August too. A secondhand mustard yellow bag for £4.75. I used it a lot but it was plastic and it started to split and flake after a few weeks. I tried to mend it with some very basic embroidery skills but I ruined it, and that was the end of that.



It was fun while it lasted and I'm keeping my eyes open for another bag in this colour as it proved to be rather versatile.


Total for August: £2.00

Total so far for 2019: £275.23

Total at this time last year: £247.41

Left of £500.00 budget: £224.77

Items purchased: 45 (pre-loved: 40 / new: 5)


One of my new years resolutions was to spend less, and buy fewer new items. Last year I purchased 71 items (63 in 2016). I'm already up to 45 so I need to start being a little more discerning with my purchases from here on in.


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

I bought rather more than I intended to this month, but, because I'm taking part in Slow Fashion Season, it's all secondhand.

THIS YEAR



Stripe crop top £2.00
I bought this to wear under my navy jumpsuit which I hadn't worn much due to the weather not being as consistently scorching as last year. It's perfect for it's intended use and will hopefully mean I wear my jumpsuit more often.

Mantaray shorts £2.00
Comfortable and a nice length, I can't pass up shorts that are my preferred length, they're not easy to come by.

Joules trainers £10.00
Purchased to wear at Latitude. When I was deciding what to pack I didn't want to take any of my footwear because it's so flippin' dusty and anything I've worn in previous years has been ruined. So I bought these. They still had the original £35 pricetag on but I decided I liked them too much to take to Latitude, so I continued my search.

FootGlove sandals 5.00
I tried these on when buying the Joules trainers because they're the sort of thing I've been looking for. They are so comfortable there was no way I was leaving them in the shop.

Bracelet 50p
It's cute and it made me smile, so why not?

Sunglasses £3.99
Bought to be back-up in case I lost my other pair, and it's a good job too because a few days later I misplaced them.

GEEK t-shirt £1.49
I like a slogan t-shirt.

Crocs £3.00
Love them or hate them, I brought them for the garden.

M&S trainers £6.00
These are the ones I ended up taking to Latitude and whilst they did get really dusty, the metallic finish meant that I could wipe them clean and they're still wearable.

Heart sundress £2.00
Worn in the garden. It's too short for public wearing but gets worn when I'm pottering about outside and no one else is around!

Sequin bag £13.00
I wanted something cute and sparkly to take to Latitude (yes I feel into that trap), but I didn't intend for it to be single use, even though I purchased this for a festival it will, and has already been, used again. It was preloved on ebay but came with it's original pricetag.

Navy bag £5.00
Another Latitude purchase, and again one that will be used again. I needed a zipped bag, not too big, wipe clean, not leather and this was perfect. It had a horrible chunky chain strap so I swapped it for a yellow fabric strap I already had - it looked so much better.

It's been my spendiest month so far this year. But I like everything I purchased and have already worn / used every item. Most importantly it's all secondhand.


LAST YEAR

Fat Face denim shorts £4.25
These are really comfortable but I've only worn them once. Writing these posts certainly draws attention to how often buy things and wear them only a few times.

Khaki cropped jeans £10.99
I've worn these a number of times but they're not something I'm drawn to, they might be on ebay soon.

Jigsaw sequin top £3.20
I was annoyed that the ebay seller didn't mention a mark on the back of this (handwash only) top, and that some of the sequins were missing, but it was still a nice top. That is until I pulled at a loose thread and unraveled a whole line of sequins. I gave up and put it in the charity bag having only worn it once.

Total for July: £53.98

Total so far for 2019: £273.23

Total at this time last year: £242.66

Left of £500.00 budget: £226.77

Items purchased: 44 (pre-loved: 39 / new: 5)

For this first time this year my total spend has crept above that of last year, but I don't intend to buy much over the next few months so I might reverse the situation, and if I don't it's hardly a huge sum of money. I do hope to stay within my budget for the year though, so I better stay away from the charity shops - they're just too tempting!


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

June has been my spendiest month so far this year. I made a few carefully considered new purchases but these will be my last new purchases for a few months as I signed up to the Slow Fashion Season. I don't think it'll prove to be too much of a challenge for me, as in the last six months I've only purchased five new items.

THIS YEAR

We booked a short break away and that prompted the purchase of a red tropical print Warehouse swimsuit, £28.50 from £36.00. I don't think I would've paid full price for it - shopping secondhand has made me a bit stingy when it comes to parting with cash for clothes - I did look in the charity shops, even though the thought of a second hand swimsuit does make me cringe a little, I'd hoped to find one with tags still on. But our break was booked at short notice so I didn't have time to wait for a good one to turn up in a charity shop.

I've had my last swimsuit for so long I think it pre-dates Andy, which would make it over a decade old. I certainly hope I can repeat this timescale with this latest one.

I gave the purchase of a pair of Havaianas flip flops, £24.00, some thought. Yes, it's a lot for flip flops but I didn't want to buy another cheap pair, and I've already worn these so much, and will continue to do so until sock weather comes around again. I'm hoping these will last for a few summers at least. I had an ebay search set up but it turned up nothing except pink ones or ones with diamante detailing, neither of which appealed to me.

My first secondhand purchase of the month was a cornflower blue Escales Paris clutch bag for £6.50. When I got home, I Googled the brand and discovered that these retail for over £200 (I'm tempted to stick it on ebay!) It only had a wrist strap but I found a woven yellow shoulder strap that I can use that does the job nicely. I love the contrast.

My second pre-loved purchase came in the form of this ASOS embroidered dress. I really didn't need another dress but this was only £5.00, and I kept going back to it every time I tried to leave it on the rail, it's just so pretty!

Towards the end of the month I signed up to the Slow Fashion Season, which is a pledge to buy no new items for three months. They wanted 10,000 participants, and an encouraging 14,487 people signed up.

It seems like an easy challenge for someone who already shops secondhand a lot. But as you can see I do buy something new occasionally. My move to secondhand has come about gradually, and can be attributed to keeping a list and running tally of my purchases since 2012. Looking at where my money was going was a real eye opener, and yet it still took a while for my buying habits to change (and there is still room for improvement).

They say unless you analyse and question the things you do, you'll keep doing the same things over and over again. It's the analysis that brings about change - certainly for the better in this case.


LAST YEAR

All of my purchases in June last year where secondhand.


Oasis floral ra-ra dress, £6.00. This has only been worn twice so far. It's a casualty of owning too many dresses (she says having just purchased another one). It'll get worn again soon I'm sure.

Mink maxi skirt, £3.50. Again, this has only been worn twice. It's a tad too long and tripped me more than once. I'm dithering over altering it or donating it back to charity.

The pink v neck top, £3.25, hasn't been worn at all. It's a lovely shape, very flattering, but as it's a synthetic material it's not good for hot days. I keep it for evenings out, of which there aren't many, evidently! I'm keeping it though, I like it too much to part with it just yet.

The white shirt, also £3.25, is only classic white shirt in my wardrobe, it's 100% cotton and very soft but has only been worn four times so far. Even though I've recently decluttered my wardrobe, donated a lot of items to charity and listed a load of things on ebay, it's clear that I still have too many clothes. Further thinning out is required.


Total for June: £64.00

Total so far for 2019: £219.25

Total at this time last year: £224.22

Left of £500.00 budget: £280.75

Items purchased: 32 (pre-loved: 27 / new: 5)


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

I thought I wouldn't buy anything in May, after feeling all sorts of buyer guilt last month, but after some careful consideration I did decide to make a few purchases.

THIS YEAR

Firstly, I decided that if I found a pair of sandals that I really, really liked I would buy them. Sandals don't feature highly in my shoe cupboard and I often wish I had a pair.

La Redoute offered up the most options and I ordered 4 pairs to try, with the added bonus of them all being reduced by 40%. To my surprise it was the cheapest pair (£28.00) that won my approval.

Then on a charity shop tour with a few friends I saw a pair of almost new Next jeans for £5.00. I rarely find jeans that I like in charity shops so after some thought I decided to buy them. I do have a number of pairs but I'd rather buy second hand when I see them than buy new, even if it means they sit in the wardrobe for a while before they're worn.

LAST YEAR


Last May we were experiencing consistently glorious weather which influenced my purchases.

Blue shirt  |  Next  |  £30.00
Worn 11 times so far, a good staple.

Sunglasses  |  Next  |  £12.00
A summer staple and still going strong.

Pre-loved shorts  |  Oasis  |  £5.00
I got these from an Instagram sale, I thought that the background was more grey than beige. The beige was not flattering and these are going on ebay soon.

Pre-loved vest top  |  George  |  £1.75
I picked this up as I have very few sleeveless tops, it was worn seven times last year and I'm certain it'll be worn again this year.

Pre-loved maxi skirt  |  Next  |  £5.00
Worn 10 times last year, it's not been in a capsule yet his year but it will be...

Pre-loved gingham top  |  River Island  |  £7.45
Despite thinking that this top was perfect I haven't worn it. Time for it to be added to the ebay pile.


Total for April: £33.00

Total so far for 2019: £155.25

Total at this time last year: £264.95

Left of £500.00 budget: £344.75

Items purchased: 26 (pre-loved: 24) (new: 2)


One of my new years resolutions was to spend less, and buy fewer new items. I think this month's purchases were pretty good. I know I'll get a lot of wear out of them both and hope that they'll last a good few years.

So far my total spend is pretty low but I have a few items I want to buy next month that will push up the total but with plenty still in the budget I'm confident that I can stay within my budget for the year.


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

April appears to be a spendy month for me. It's the month that makes me think of lighter, sunnier outfits. I start mentally preparing for sunshine, and then I start buying for it. And I also tend to meet up with Sophie in April and shopping ensues. I'd already purchased seven items before we met up and then bought four items in the first shop we set foot in, and that was just the beginning.

New Look black tunic dress  |  £5.00
I took one look at this, imagined it with tan sandals and a bag and took it to the till.

Red Herring star jumper  |  £5.50
This looks brand new, but it's not staying in my wardrobe. It's listed on ebay, I really like it, I just don't think it's going to get worn.

F&F red floral top  |  £3.25
This is in my May capsule, it's an item that I just knew would slot into my wardrobe and work really well.

Jigsaw scarf  |  £1.50
How could I resist those tassels?

M&Co navy jumper  |  £5.00
Technically I didn't need another navy jumper...

H&M black tee (not pictured)  |  £2.00
I love a tee with a curved hem, this will be a wardrobe staple.

Black and tan shorts  |  £4.00
I think these are cute, but I don't really know why I bought these.


M&S cream top  |  £3.75
Love this but the fit isn't quite right, it's another thing I've listed on ebay.

Zara white tee  |  £1.50
Curved hem tee. Enough said.

Dorothy Perkins jumper  |  £2.25
Love this, the sleeves are really long, covering the backs of my hands, unlike so many of my other jumpers.

Scarf  |  £1.50
I was under dressed for the temperature, I needed warmth. I bought it, I wore it.

F&F jacket  |  £4.50
This had only just been brought into the shop, I saw it on the counter and asked about it. They didn't even get a chance to put a tag on it before I was paying and putting it in my bag.

PJ bottoms  |  £2.99
I had my eye on a similar (new) pair on ASOS, these PJ bottoms from Tu need to be altered so they fit (they're two sizes too big) but I'd rather do that and buy pre-loved than buy new.


Fatface shorts  |  £5.49
These are in really good condition, I doubt they've been worn much.

V-neck tee  |  £1.29
I have one of these already but I wore it a lot last year, and I like the idea of having a back-up, especially at that price.

Next pink jumper  |  £1.00
A cheerful light weight knit, good for slightly chilly summer days, and only £1.00.

Floral midi skirt  |  £4.00
Love it, don't think I'm going to wear it. It'll be listed on ebay soon, maybe, I'm undecided.

All of the items above are pre-loved.


ASOS jumpsuit  |  £32.00
This is my second new purchase of the year and is already in my next capsule wardrobe selection. I'd seen it weeks ago on ASOS and kept going back to look at it. I loved it's simplicity, I knew it would be easy and comfortable to wear. I waited for ages before ordering it to make sure I still liked it as much as the first time I saw it.

I was fully prepared to hate it when I tried it on, which happens so often when some longed for item finally arrives. But this was everything I hoped it would be, sure it's not the most interesting or flattering item in my wardrobe but I really, really like it. If I am going to buy something new then it needs to be something I'm going to wear repeatedly and enjoy, and I think this fits the bill nicely.


LAST YEAR


Floral maxi dress  |  £13.00
I love this, it's only been worn once but it will be coming out of the wardrobe again this year.

Black / navy flip flops  |  90p each
Both of these were worn until they fell apart in early autumn. I'd say they were worn daily from April through to October.

Pre-loved Chatham pink brogues  |  £9.75
I still adore these, they're not something I wear often, but they put a spring in my step when I do.

Pre-loved H&M grey jumper  |  £4.75
This has been worn a lot, it's easy to chuck on over anything when the chill sets in in the evenings, and is a good autumn/winter jumper as it can be layered over other items.


ASOS green dress  |  £15.00
I shortened the sleeves on this and much prefer my version, it feels more summery. I wore this six times last summer.

Pre-loved Phase Eight cardigan  |  £2.49
Only worn once so far.

Pre-loved Monsoon dress  |  £8.00
Worn twice. I thought I'd wear this more, now I'm wondering if it's time it went on ebay. It's very nice but I have other dresses I like a lot more.


Total for April: £54.52

Total so far for 2019: £122.25

Total at this time last year: £147.02

Left of £500.00 budget: £377.75

Items purchased: 26 (pre-loved: 24) (new: 2)


One of my new years resolutions was to spend less, and buy fewer new items. Until this month I'd been quite restrained. This haul prompted a massive wardrobe clear out. I find it very tempting to buy what ever I like in charity shops because everything is so cheap, but what's the point if I don't get to wear the items I buy?


For the fourth year running I'm keeping track of my spending on clothes and accessories with A Buyer's Archive.

THIS YEAR

Everything I purchased this month is pre-loved, bringing my pre-loved total for the year to seven items. I've only purchased one new item so far, and this is how I'd like it to continue.

Cream jumper  |  £1.99
It's soft and is a lovely pale cream with long raglan sleeves. I didn't even have to think about whether or not to buy this, I saw it and just knew it was coming home with me. I really must stop buying jumpers though, if only for the time begin,  I've already bought four this year.



Black jumper  |  £2.00
A black fitted jumper is an absolute staple for my wardrobe. My current one is starting to look a little bit jaded so finding this when I did was serendipitous.

Navy bag  |  £4.99
I'd forgotten to take extra bags with me on this particular shopping trip so I bought this, but having used it, I'm not keen and it's not as nice as a navy bag I already own. It's going back to the charity shop.

Camo t-shirt  |  £3.00
I'd been thinking about camouflage material and a few days later I spotted this. Another no-brainer purchase, it's gone straight into my spring capsule.


LAST YEAR


Gap cords  |  pre-loved from ebay  |  £6.49
I love these cords and they've more than earned their #30Wears Badge of Honour. They've been worn 51 times now and have recently been dyed a rather pleasant shade of green (which you can just about see in the first photo), giving them a new lease of life.

Red Warehouse top  |  pre-loved from a charity shop  |  £1.00
In truth this has only been worn once, for some reason it didn't make it into a capsule at any point last year.

White Stuff shirt  |  pre-loved from a charity shop  |  £3.00
This has only been worn 8 times so far. It'll be appearing in a capsule soon!

H&M floral dress  |  pre-loved from a charity shop  |  £5.00
I still have this but I've never worn it. It doesn't sit right on my body, the zip bulges weirdly at the back so it's been sitting in a pile of things to ebay...

Bag  |  pre-loved from a charity shop  |  £3.50
I love this and use it often.

Pink night shirt  |  Primark  |  £8.00
Worn more in the warmer months this has had it's fair share of wear, it's been worn and washed a lot but still looks in good condition.
 

Total for March: £11.98

Total so far for 2019: £35.73

Total at this time last year: £92.23

Left of £500.00 budget: £464.27

Items purchased: 8 (pre-loved: 7) (new: 1)


My new years resolutions, to spend less, and buy fewer new items, is going really well. Summer will be the biggest test of my resolve, I always want all the summer dresses!


For the fourth year running I'm taking part in A Buyer's Archive inspired by Elise (who sadly doesn't blog anymore but can be found on Instagram), to keep track of my spending on clothes and accessories

THIS YEAR

My first new purchase of the year was a pair of black ankle boots from ASOS. They were in the sale, and I had a voucher to use so they ended up costing me just £9.50. They remind me of a old pair that I used to love (seen in this post back in 2012). I think I'll get a lot of wear out of them, especially as I've sold all my other black ankle boots on ebay.

Just look at the colour of this Tu yellow jumper, found in a local charity shop. How could I not part with £3.50 to make it mine?


My best buy of the month must be this M&S leather bag. I paid £8.75 for the gorgeous aged leather in my local charity shop. Why would anyone want to get rid of a bag that's just starting to get beautifully worn in?

Whatever the reason, I'm glad they did because I love it.

LAST YEAR

Last February I spent £9.75.

The gloves have been worn a lot (they were purchased in the H&M sale because it was a bitterly cold day and I was out and about without gloves, I was more than happy to pay £3.00 for warm hands).

The PJ bottoms were £2.00 from a charity shop but still had the Next tags on. They turned yellow when I stupidly washed them with my dyed yellow maxi, but have now washed out to a rather pleasant cream colour. Maybe one day they'll return to their original white. Not that it matters, they get worn on rotation with my other PJs, no matter what colour they are.

The cardigan hasn't been worn much, only five times in fact. I do like it but we seemed to go from winter straight into summer last year and the opportunity to wear it came and went in the blink of an eye. I'm beginning to think that this year will be much the same.

I am enjoying the warm weather, I've just been out without a coat on, but it does seem too warm for February, and that feels all kinds of wrong.

Total for January: £21.75

Total so far for 2019: £23.75

Total at this time last year: £65.24

Left of £500.00 budget: £476.25

Items purchased: 4 (pre-loved: 3) (new: 1)


For the fourth year running I'm taking part in A Buyer's Archive inspired by Elise (who sadly doesn't blog anymore but can be found on Instagram), to keep track of my spending on clothes and accessories

For the best part of January I thought that I'd have nothing to share with you in this post. I hadn't intended on going shopping at all, but late in the month two appointments took me into town, with an hour to spare between them. Naturally I had a little rummage in a few of my favourite charity shops and came home with this, a green cable jumper originally from Tu for just £2.00.

It has buttons on the cuffs, which I really like, I just don't like the buttons. So, inspired by Ann, who regularly swaps buttons, I'm switching them for a random selection from my button box. Watch this space.

LAST YEAR

All of these items have been worn, and remain in my wardrobe. The red skirt is definitely the favourite and has been worn 25 times so far. I've had to mend it, more than once, but it's still going strong. The green dress, as much as I love it, has only been worn once. This needs to be put into a capsule to ensure it gets the use it deserves.

Total for January: £2.00

Total so far for 2019: £2.00

Total at this time last year: £55.49

Left of £500.00 budget: £498.00

Items purchased: 1 (pre-loved: 1) (new: 0)

It's a great start to the year. My goals are to buy less overall, and for more of my purchases to be pre-loved, so I'm definitely on the right track.


For the fourth year running I'm taking part in A Buyer's Archive inspired by Elise (who sadly doesn't blog anymore but can be found on Instagram), to keep track of my spending on clothes and accessories. Over the years my spending has reduced and changed, I think, in small part, because I keep this record.