AG Tomboy crop jeans | made in the US, mine are older, different wash
James Perse slub t-shirt | made in the US
James Perse long terry cardigan | made in the US
Emerson Fry slides | Made in Italy, Gift for review from Emerson Fry
Everlane Petra Market tote | Made in Italy, purchased with credits from Everlane
Here’s where buying new clothing fits on my list of priorities/things I want to spend my discretionary money on (this is extra money, after business expenses, savings, and paying down debt):
Pure Barre
Hair Cut/Color
Nutrition/Health
Beauty/personal care
Social Activities
Travel
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Clothing
The last thing I really want/need to spend money on right now is clothing/accessories/shoes. I had been doing really well not spending any of my “extra” money on clothes, but this month I bought a bra (a nice t-shirt bra!!) a couple pairs of Hanky Pankys from the Saks sale, and Nux capri pants for Pure Barre. I also added a few pieces from Shopbop using credits. Oh. Sephora. I forgot about Sephora…ugh.
Not bad, really, but I need to get back to relying only on the credits I earn from partners like Shopbop and Everlane for clothing, and save my “extra” money for necessities like Pure Barre & hair cuts. I’m so lucky I DO have those partnerships with companies I love, but I also need to return to a place of balance in my wardrobe where I’m not adding anything for a while, credits or not.
This is all a long-winded way to say that even though I thought I would try to forgo haircuts and color all summer to save money, I’m not sure I can. I have finally reached a place in my life where I DON’T want to change my hair every couple of times I go to my stylist. I love the cut SO MUCH, I’m willing to pay an arm and a leg for it. Literally. And the color is amazing. I couldn’t be happier.
I used to be constantly frustrated by my hair, trying to make it look the way I wanted it to, growing it out, or just pulling it back and giving up. It took a lot out of me. But since I’ve been getting it cut/colored regularly lately (no grays!!), I realize how much better it makes me feel, knowing that even when I’m having a bad outfit day, at least I’m not having a bad hair day!!
So I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am going to pay quite a bit to keep my hair the way I like it for the foreseeable future. I’m beyond happy with my stylist, colorist and the salon I go to (The Songbird Society), and I love my hair this length, maybe just a bit longer; I can go 6 weeks between cut/color.
That means, I do need to get better at remembering what my financial priorities are. At not getting caught up in sales (yes, that still happens to me!) and wanting something new, not going into Sephora ANYMORE…being satisfied with what I have.
And priorities can change. I may decide I don’t want to spend so much money on my hair after a while and spend more on brunch. But right now, I’ll stick with drinking two buck chuck so I can splurge on my hair 😉
What do you spend most of your discretionary money one? clothing? hair? beauty supplies? exercise?
*oh, and for those of you who’ve asked me to do a post on my hair, I’m not sure how. I don’t really even know what my colorist does, except I go for tints just to color my roots two out of three times, then the third time I do tint and highlights which includes some painting or the pieces right around my face. This time I went for a tint and since I was cutting it shorter, she took the blonde on the pieces around my face up a bit (painted them on) at no charge. I’ve found that if I go in to my colorist with a budget for that trip, she sticks to it easily…
**AND. Do not forget to add your comment on the Conscious Closet Challenge check-in post if you left your email to be eligible to win one of 8 made-in-the-US prizes! It ends tomorrow!!!
Making a list of this sort is terribly intelligent – if we’re not spending our money where we want to, who else do we have to blame but ourselves? But often we do find ourselves almost mindlessly piling more clothes into our closets even though it’s NOT what will make up happy!
brilliant thinking!
hugs,
Janice
Hi there,
Just wanted to say from a long time lurker on your blog, that you look beautiful in this picture. Your smile is radient, your clothing is gorgeous, you look so happy.
I love this look!
All the best
Louise
For me, good hair and great skin is more important than nice clothes. I’ve had it with hair salons here in Portugal, I’ve had nothing but bad experiences. Recently I coloured my own hair with a great natural product called Herbatint to cover my grays. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to colouring hair and I prefer a unique cut with natural hair colour. The product worked wonderfully and it’s better than the colouring jobs I’ve been getting in high-end professional salons. It’s not completely chemical-free but definitely on the low end compared to what salons use and I can feel the difference on my scalp during and after. I only colour it once every 3 months, I’m not one that gets it done monthly because the chemicals in hair dye are really bad for you. I also cut my own hair which is a bit trickier but I’m getting better at it and I love doing it. Having great hair really takes years off, way more than what clothes can do.
I’m also really into skin care as well but not into makeup at all. I’ve learned so much about how horrible chemicals are in make up and most skin care products the past few years that I”m really picky about what I put on my face. I use Logona and Rosactive and both uses organic plants to make their skin care products. The only makeup I do use when I feel like using makeup is RMS un-coverup. It’s the only foundation that doesn’t make me feel like I have a mask on. I do use lipstick almost on a daily basis but I usually just put it on once.
In terms on clothing, my interest in anything new has also plummeted. After doing a huge closet clean-out and then taking your conscious closet challenge, I think I’m at peace with my wardrobe. I hope it lasts until at least the end of the summer if not longer.
thank you so much louise! i really appreciate your taking the time to comment 🙂
thank you janice! i think i’ll need to make this list on a post it note and wrap it around my debit cards to remind me though! it’s hard in the moment…
before i started going to this salon, I wanted to try a natural hair color, but chickened out. i like dimension and highlights, and i’m much too clumsy to get those right doing it myself. although i am tempted to try a nice deep brown for fall. and i’d like to try natural hair colors, because i do know how bad chemical color is…i just can’t wean myself off yet. in time!
i probably should invest more in skincare than i do ATM, but i think i at least cover the bare minimum with my sunscreen and i use an organic argan oil i get from whole foods which is much cheaper than the josie maran i used to buy as moisturizer. i do have rms un-cover up and love it, but i feel like sometimes it’s too much, or too greasy feeling if i don’t apply it VERY sparingly. lately, i’m loving my amore pacific cushion compact because it’s very brightening, and has even more added sunscreen in it.
i’d love to try other things, but i get so overwhelmed when it comes to beauty products, what’s new, and amazing, etc., etc., that i just opt out! saves me money i guess. but i worry that because i’m not using serums and creams that somehow i’m not protecting my face as well as i should be?
I’m not entirely convinced that spending $$$$ on all the different creams and serums that are out there are really any better in “preserving” your skin. Sunscreen is the #1 most effective thing you can do when it comes right down to it. At least that’s what I tell myself. 😉
Also, having a good haircut is a major piece to feeling like you’re put together. And you could go darker but keep some dimension to it if you wanted.
In terms of shopping though, have you received your Everlane linen tee and the Zady tee? Would love to hear your comments.
ha. i tell myself that too. about sunscreen 🙂
i haven’t received my everlane stuff yet – it’s taking much longer than usual!
i heard that zady is backordered on the t-shirts also, not sure when i’m getting that in.
as soon as i do, i’ll review them – hope they’re good, cuz i’m ready to be done shopping 😉
although now i know i must get rid of my black jeans, so i’d like to find a replacement. but realistically, that can probably wait until fall.
In no time at all it will HOT in Texas and you won’t even want to think of putting on a pair of jeans 😉
You look amazing in this outfit! So glad you’re having a good day.
Figuring out your priorities and not letting yourself spend can be quite a challenge. I usually spend most of my money on craft supplies and books, which after moving I learned I need to cut back on any miscellaneous extra materials that would only add more to a future move. I probably restrict myself too much from spending and could let myself enjoy it a little more sometimes.
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Yeah totally with you on having clothing as a low priority. Aside from some weird needs for an upcoming work-related internship (the reason why I inquired about jeans recently), I’ve got bigger fish to fry. Even before I read the Marie Kondo book, I had pretty much stopped making clothing purchases & kinda shopped my own closet. I had a lot in there to choose from & even after going konmari on it – I still have a lot to choose from.
I recently finished Gretchen Rubin’s book called Better Than Before. You would really dig this book. It discusses habits & how we go about forming them (& failing at them) and strategies to make & keep good habits. She discusses decisions & how habits free us from having to constantly make decisions – which can be exhaustive & frustrating at the same time. Seriously, you’d dig this book. I got it in audiobook format, loved it enough that I bought the hardcover. Something I never ever do. But. I wanted the sctual book to make annotations & highlight some stuff – which I can’t do with an audiobook for obvious reasons.
i’ve been wanting to read that book. in spite of the fact she spells her name wrong 😉
i’m drawn more to physical books lately, too – but i’m trying to restrain myself, after getting rid of nearly all of my books a few months ago. i don’t want to add many more. but i do like to write in my books. anyway, i’m getting books from the library lately, trying not to spend so much $$ on them, so i’m writing my thoughts in my moleskine notebook instead. not the same, but it’ll do 🙂
I <3 you so much, and I love this outfit!! I appreciate the fact that you keep it real. We finished Financial Peace University last month, and between our new financial goals and the wedding, we're working really hard to stay in our budget. It's definitely made me more aware of where/how I spend my discretionary income. And honestly, that's a very good thing. I too am coming to terms with the fact that I have to start regularly dying my hair. Even though I only have a few grays, they show up soooooo much in my dark hair. I love your hair so much! I wish I didn't look like my 80 year old great aunt with lighter/blonde hair 🙁
Cathy´s last blog post ..Plus Size Outfit Post – Two Looks and My Thoughts
I’m a very recent (British) follower of yours and felt that I wanted to add my tenpeneth worth (Brit slang!!).
I love your look in the picture and wish I could get some of the brands in the UK-guess I’ll have to try and find the equivalent over here although not before fully exploring my wardrobe in case its already there.
Keep blogging!!
Oh Sephora (!) just to keep myself from going I order only what I need online! Great post nice reminder to stay conscious with our spending…
thank you sue! i wish i could suggest some similar brands for you in the UK, but i have no idea…toast & COS maybe?
but yes, better to shop your wardrobe a bit first 😉
yes, that’s a good idea also, but then you have to order a minimum for free shipping! which gets me everytime…
i’ve said this before, but i’ll say it again, you guys are really setting your lives up right doing the hard work up front. seriously. those are THE MOST IMPORTANT things in a marriage i think – communication and money, and communication ABOUT money. so happy for you both 🙂
Great photo – love the outfit and your haircut is fabulous. I agree – the cut/color upkeep is definitely worth it! i have a similar haircut but unfortunately my hair doesn’t look as healthy.. Is your hair the same length everywhere or is it slightly shorter in the back?
Interesting observation, Wendy, about how your desire to shop/add has lessened since the challenge. Me, too. And I’m feeling really good about that!
TOTALLY agree! (Speaking from nearly 33 years of experience, on May 29th!) Cathy, do you talk about this financial “thingy” …yeah, that’s how well-versed in finances I am 😉 …on your blog?
I love this whole outfit, your hair style/color which is such a great style and length on you, and I still want that James Perse cardi! And are you wearing lipstick??? LOVE!
I was actually shopping my own closet for an outfit to wear to a dinner we attended last night. It was a semi-dressy occasion, so I pulled out an old GAP black short-sleeve tee maxi that still had the tags on it, and tossed a sheer boho floaty open front top over it, and wore my Worishofer wedges (which are a bit narrow for me, so they’ve got to go!). I felt good and received compliments…what more can I ask from unworn closet gems?!? 🙂
P.S. What did you get at Sephora?