Friday 29 December 2017

December Purchases and 2017 Spend: Yearly Budget

Not too many purchases to share with you for December! I hope 2017 has been a good year for you, and 2018 is even better!


I did end up purchasing something off my wishlist from Rebecca Minkoff in the Cyber Monday sale, but as it didn't arrive until December I've included it in this monthly wrap up instead of November's purchases. With an extra 35% off and the items I wanted already reduced before the discount, I got a bargain! Both items together and shipping were still much less than the bag at full price. I love the Rebecca Minkoff sales!


What I Bought:

Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon worn 4 times
Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap worn 3 times
Jeanswest Brianna basque hem tank in black (gift card purchase, worn once)








How I Wore It:


It's easy to achieve my goal of wearing things twice in the month I buy them with accessories, they are frequently reworn. While I technically bought the bag and guitar strap in November, as they didn't arrive until December I count that as the month they arrive. Since I bought the tank in the post-Christmas sales at Jeanswest I didn't get a chance to wear it twice, but a good basic black tank like this is sure to get a lot of wear over the coming months.


December Purchases and Yearly Budget spend for fashion blogger away from the blue


Fashion Spend For The Year


See what I bought in August, in October, and in November.

In January I set myself the goal of 6 months without shopping. And I exceed that, managing 7 months without shopping in the end. I was curious how much more I'd save this year as a result. This year I spent $1,696.53. Only $127.58 less than last year.

Not the massive savings I'd expected, but I did excitedly splurge on an expensive bag that to be honest made up most of the total spend! I'm still pleased I managed to spend less this year, even with the splurge on the drool-worthy bag!

What I'm doing in 2018


I'm not doing another 6 months without shopping. I did have a lot of fun with it in the end. It was amazing that I could change my shopaholic ways and not only achieve but exceed the goal I set myself.

While I'm not setting myself another no-shop challenge, I am continuing with my #30wears goal. This means continuing to blog my daily outfits so I can look back and tally up how many times I've worn things, with the goal of sharing monthly something I've hit 30 wears on. The only way I can continue to do this with my clothes (I've hit it with so many of my shoes and bags already!) is to buy less.

So 2018 will be a buy less and rewear more year. You're likely to keep seeing the same few pieces on frequent rotation as I get closer to 30 wears of them. Also going to try to spend less in 2018 than I did in 2017, and continue the reduction in my spending.



Blogaversary


2018 also marks 6 years of blogging for me and 1165 posts, wow! Hope you're having as much fun reading as I am writing. I don't see myself stopping blogging any time soon, it's nice to have a little relaxing time to myself each day to browse blogs and write posts while the boys sleep.

Thank you all for your clicks, comments, shares and follows over the past few years. Have a happy new year!


Linking up with Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion, Friday Favourites, Style Elixir.



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56 comments:

  1. Happy 6 year anniversary! :) congratulations on spending less this year. My challenge for me with clothes is I tend to wear my favorite ones over and over and I have some neglected pieces that stays unworn for months :))) I need to spend less on makeup and clothes this year since I am planning to move to a new place close to work. Happy holidays and hope you have a fun new year with your family.

    http://www.pinkoolaid.com/

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    1. Thanks! :) I am trying to get more use from all of my wardrobe, the 30 wears challenge is good for that!

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  2. I see you're a fan of Rebecca Minkoff. Glad to know you got a lot of use for that satchel!

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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    1. haha yes! I can't resist the sales! :)

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  3. Great post, thanks for sharing :)

    Camille xo

    www.cococami.blogspot.co.uk

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  4. Whenever someone manages to spend less i say congrats! Happy holidays.

    http://www.glitsxgrace.com/2017/12/27/2017-reflections/

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  5. Hi Mica! I pray you had a beautiful Christmas! You have a stunning handbag collection as always and I absolutely adore how you accessorize your looks.

    I like that you are continuing your 30 wears. It creates creativity and allows you to maximize your wardrobe. ..and you do it so super stylishly:) Happy 2018 and have a blessed weekend!

    Tiff
    http://www.dashoffashandfinance.com

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    1. Thanks Tiff! It's a really fun challenge! :)

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  6. Love the new bag! It's a great size for work and the guitar strap is so pretty! Wishing you all the best for 2018 and I look forward to see more of your 30 wears :)

    Love Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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  7. Happy Anniversary! What an accomplishment! It's a lot of hard work, and as soon as it stops being fun, that's when you know it will be time to move on...which is hopefully not very soon because I love your blog! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and Happy New Year!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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    1. Thanks Shauna! It certainly is a lot of fun, it's quite relaxing for me putting a post together and lets me feel productive when the boys nap! :)

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  8. Such a great post! Happy almost 2018!
    ~Samantha
    http://goldcoastgirlblog.com

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  9. Six years?! Wow! You are such a blogging inspiration! And I'm still so impressed that you were able to go seven months without shopping! (If your big splurge for the year was a purple bag, I'm ok with it, haha! :D)

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    1. haha yes, it was definitely a good splurge! :) I'm amazed I did 7 months without shopping, and that I'm in my sixth year of blogging!

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  10. Looks like some great stuff. love Rebecca minkoff

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  11. Great accomplishment girlie!! I always fail when I set myself that goal, but I'm definitely going to try hard in 2018. -Because of the things in my closet I haven't even worn them. Ha!! Thanks for the motivation and you look wonderful in these outfits.
    Happy new year to you.

    https://www.missymayification.co.uk

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    1. Good luck with your goal! Glad I could inspire you! :)

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  12. I adore your style and that bag is to die for!! Congratulations on 6 years!!!

    Would you like to follow each other? I'm already following you:)
    Visit me here:
    kelseylovescosmetics

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  13. Wow! Congrats on so many years of blogging! I have been blogging for a little over 8 and it is unreal to me that I've been blogging that long... especially when I see so many come and go! I had to laugh when you said you are def. not doing a spending freeze in 2018, but after 7 months I don't blame you... and 7 months of not spending is AWESOME! Looking forward to following you in 2018! Have a Happy New Year!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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    1. Thanks Carrie! It was fun doing it last year, but I want to try without the no-spend and see how my spending goes this year! Congrats on 8 years of blogging too!

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  14. Wow that is commitment right there! I am currently saving up for a designer bag myself. I need one in my life!!!!


    -Brandi Kimberly
    www.cutebrandik.com

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  15. Well done! Happy Blog anniversary, Mica. It's been lovely to visit your blog and see all of your outfit inspirations. I hope you have a wonderful new year in 2018! Happy Holidays!
    FASHION TALES

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  16. Congrats on the upcoming Blogaversary, Mica:) And love your RM haul. That satchel is super pretty and the guitar strap is pretty rad as well.
    Anyhoo, I think your no-shopping goal for 2017 is really inspiring. I would like to try something like that for 2018.
    Anyhoo, wishing you and your family a great New Year!

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    1. Good luck if you do a similar no shop challenge! :)

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  17. You might not have spnt much less, but you were able to purchase one expensive investment piece, that is a great accomplishment.

    Anne - Linda, Libra, Loca

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    1. Yes, it was definitely the stand out purchase of the year! :)

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  18. Congrats on Blog anniversary, wish you many such more successful year of Blogging.
    https://clickbystyle.blogspot.in/

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  19. Thanks for sharing the unboxing of that gorgeous bag! Isn't it great when we can get a little extra off the price! Have wonderful New Year and happy blogging!
    xo Yvonne
    www.aproposh.com

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  20. Congratulations on your upcoming blogiversary and 6 years of blogging! That is so impressive! It's interesting about your total spending with the 6 months of not shopping. While it didn't really decrease your overall spending, I am sure it made you more mindful of what you bought and so you were choosing more quality, pricier items over quantity which I think is the overall goal! That is something I am always working towards too. I LOVE that guitar strap you bought. What a pretty piece! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks Laura! It definitely did do that! :) It was an interesting challenge for sure!

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  21. Happy blog anniversary! My big goal for 2018, especially in advance of returning to work from my mat leave in February, is to build a really solid work wardrobe with high quality pieces that will last. I'm excited to start assembling the pieces of it.

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

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    1. That's a great goal to have! Good luck with it! :)

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  22. I love all of your purchases, they are so cute.
    http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/

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  23. Wow, 6 years! That's such an achievement, congratulations! I've found it really interesting reading about your fashion spending, I'm quite tempted to do the same! Though blimey, 7 months is seriously impressive - I don't know how you've done it!

    Musings & More

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    1. haha yes I'm amazed I managed it too! :)

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  24. I love that Ho ho ho t-shirt! So adorable!
    Victoria-Maria xx || Vidcaria

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  25. I like how you included the unboxing video
    I love shopping and I have a bit of an addiction but this was inspirational xx

    http://www.nudesandpinks.co.uk

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  26. Congratulations on your 6 year anniversary! Fantastic,. Also excellent restraint on your budget, very inspiring! Love your new bag and cool strap. Also love your sweet voice!
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com

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  27. Congratulations on 6 years of blogging, Mica! That's a great achievement! I'm so happy to have finally discovered the world of blogging this year! Your blog is one of the first I discovered and I'm so glad that I did! I really enjoy your blog and seeing all of your outfit combinations. I absolutely love your new bag and the guitar strap is so pretty! I look forward to enjoying many more years of your blog, Mica! Hope you have a wonderful 2018 filled with much laughter and happiness. Happy New Year! :) XXX

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    1. Thanks Sasha! I've been so glad to connect with you this year! :)

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  28. Happy 6 year anniversary, that is awesome! And way to go in reducing your spending this year, even with a fun bag splurge. I hope to continue to do a lot of remixing and rewearing as well in 2018.

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  29. Happy Blogaversary - I just celebrated 6 years too! That bag is gorgeous and how swoonsome is that strap! I'm looking forward to seeing your 2018 outfits!

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  30. Congrats on your 6 years of blogging, that's amazing! I love how you always analyze what you wear and try to wear things more than once. I do that myself. This year I have been shopping my closet.

    Some say that buying more quality and expensive bags is a good investment. I haven't tried it yet because I'm more a shoe than a bag lady, but it seems to make sense to me. So, maybe this year you made an investment that will pay off in the long run and in this way you have saved money for the future.

    All the best in 2018! sorry for not stopping by for a while, I had a very bad year health-wise, I had to have a difficult stomach operation but I survived and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your posts in 2018.

    xoxo

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    1. I'm so sorry you had some health issues in 2017 but I'm glad you're feeling much better now! :) It's definitely a lot of fun shopping your wardrobe, you can make more outfit combinations than you think!

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  31. OMG, you are one goal-oriented momma! Hehe. I think it's very admirable to really follow through and then exceed your expectations when it comes to shopping. I'm not a shopaholic at all but it's so easy to overspend on the little things as well. I'm motivated to be more conscious of how I spend this new year and continue to live life with boldness! I can relate with rewearing as it's something I do all the time. Mother Earth can only take so much so I'm going to do my part and donate and recycle clothing I will never ever wear ever again as I have tons :3 Stay beautiful! :D x

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    1. It is so easy for spending to creep up! I'm going to keep an eye on my spending and rewear more :)

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  32. Oh yeah! Rebecca Minkoff is fab’ I love her bags.

    ♘ www.sugarpopfashion.com ♘

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  33. Congrats my dear! I wish you happy 2018 and lots of health!

    https://highheelpoodl.blogspot.rs/2017/12/happy-new-year-new-video.html

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  34. I love that purse and purse strap Mica! You will be able to pair it with so many things! It's a really gorgeous purse. Great neutral as well. HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY! I just made 6 years as well! We've been blogging the same amount of time >.< You're a great friend as well Mica.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  35. Great new bag and strap, RM does make fab items.
    You know I saw your total amount spent for 2017 and this means that you spent almost the same in 5 months than in 12 months in 2016, is this correct ?

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    1. haha, yep! I would have been so far under last year's spend if I hadn't splurged on that Balenciaga bag, but I really wanted it and it was such a good deal! :)

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  36. Thanks all for your lovely comments and congratulations on my blogaversary! :)

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  37. The fact you made it a solid 7 months without shopping is somewhat miraculous! lol I will admit I have become soooo much better over the last year of my life, but there's no way I could make it 7 months! Props to you! I think your 30 wears idea is genius, really. By forcing yourself to use what you have, there's literally no easier way to keep yourself from shopping. It's something I think I could benefit from.

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