We tried to live within a budget, but we can't

[ivinsfan]

Why are you posting about then. Your thread title is like you tube click bait

 

[Amethyst]

$7200 is even a lot for a clothes-conscious woman, such as moi. Not if jewelry is included, though. Or if she wears $800 shoes.

And then there are all the other things some women feel they need to do with their appearance, such as $250 every few weeks for color, megabucks for hair extensions, BOTOX injections, etc etc. So...next to that, $7200 for clothes doesn't sound like so much.

Wow, $600 a month on clothes? I don't spend $400 a year on clothes with most of that being on running gear. Of course, you indicate none of that was on clothes for you. Being a single guy I just cannot relate to $7200 a year on clothes for one person......maybe that's why I'm single?

 

[corn18]

Why are you posting about then. Your thread title is like you tube click bait

I guess we can't share stuff on ER.org? Move on. You are bitter about something.

 

[Aerides]

Ok so let's get over "she spends WHAT on clothes?" because it's really not the point. And it's super easy to complain about the spouse who isn't here asking the question with no way to defend themselves....

You have a history of spending X per month on things, but for some reason set a budget of spending X-20% - that's a recipe for a failure unless both of you are aligned with that goal and have a specific way to get there.

It's like saying I'm going to run faster. Sure I'd like to, but I'd need to train to do it. I'd also have to give up some free time and probably spend more on running shoes - something would have to give, I can't just say I will run faster in a vacuum.

I'd like to spend less on groceries, but I like fresh meats and quality items and I'm not prepared to clip every coupon and drive around for every sale.

Your best bet is to reset your budget to base it on actuals. I think that's what most of us would recommend (before you retire). You have been here for a while so you've seen the Can I retire threads - we don't ask what your budget is, we ask what your expenses are. Big difference. Your budget wasn't based on reality.

 

[Sunset]

OP - Pray that you don't have to move.

All those clothes seems pretty excessive for a retired person.

We have been cleaning out a home of a cheap, hardly buy anything fellow, and we found boxes of

• packages of socks,
• packages of underwear,
• packages of undershirts,
• unopened shirts,
• jackets and coats with sales tags still on them.
• new shoes in the shoe boxes (nike, etc).

They were probably gifts that never got used as he already had enough in the drawers.

I have spent an avg of $200 /yr on clothes, trying to decrease my closet mountain

 

[corn18]

Ok so let's get over "she spends WHAT on clothes?" because it's really not the point. And it's super easy to complain about the spouse who isn't here asking the question with no way to defend themselves....

You have a history of spending X per month on things, but for some reason set a budget of spending X-20% - that's a recipe for a failure unless both of you are aligned with that goal and have a specific way to get there.

It's like saying I'm going to run faster. Sure I'd like to, but I'd need to train to do it. I'd also have to give up some free time and probably spend more on running shoes - something would have to give, I can't just say I will run faster in a vacuum.

I'd like to spend less on groceries, but I like fresh meats and quality items and I'm not prepared to clip every coupon and drive around for every sale.

Your best bet is to reset your budget to base it on actuals. I think that's what most of us would recommend (before you retire). You have been here for a while so you've seen the Can I retire threads - we don't ask what your budget is, we ask what your expenses are. Big difference. Your budget wasn't based on reality.

Spot on.

 

[RetiredHappy]

So what? I often wonder why people that have a 1% WR don't spend more. Or give it away. You do you, I'll do me.

^^^^^ What he says!

We spend about $60K a year on food, groceries and household stuff. Golf runs about $20K a year. Travel is another $25K a year. We are enjoying our retirement and not about to stop soon. I figure when both of us are less mobile, golf will run closer to $5K by occasionally playing at public courses instead of 4 to 5 times a week for each of us at the club. Travel will also drop to $5K or so when we sell off our timeshare and no longer get on plane rides or cruises.

 

[Amethyst]

Mr. A. used to be the male equivalent. With a great build for clothes and the ability to wear any color, he always bought the very best men's clothing, and kept it literally forever. We donated a whole closet full of fine wool suits when we moved to Florida.

When the brackets holding the top rail (12' long) in our master bedroom closet ripped out of the wall that held DW's "collection" of clothes going back to 1976 happened, we had a heart to heart conversation on the contents of the closet(s).

.

 

[corn18]

Mr. A. used to be the male equivalent. With a great build for clothes and the ability to wear any color, he always bought the very best men's clothing, and kept it literally forever. We donated a whole closet full of fine wool suits when we moved to Florida.

OMG! That actually happened last month in our closet. The top rack pulled out of the wall and all the boot boxes came crashing down in the middle of the night. She's going through her closet and thinning the herd.

For those that are married or have an SO, would you make a big deal out of this with your spouse? All she has to say "You spent $2,500 on a telescope, and I like nice/new clothes." Just doesn't seem like a battle that needs to be fought if we can afford it. If either of us has a serious issue with spending, we can and do talk about it and make adjustments.

 

[SnowballCamper]

This thread reminds me of the hoarder shows. It's amazing how many of the hoarders on the show have the funds to accumulate so much stuff, until the funds run out, and all they have left is the stuff which has gained so much importance in their lives. We should be careful about this....

 

[brett]

We only track after tax annual spend. No categories since we only care about the bottom right hand number.

So far, after almost ten years, our back of the envelope projections at that time are bang on.

The big plus is inflation has been lower than we f'cast, investments returns were much higher than we f'cast, and the ten percent we added for just in case was never needed.

 

[RetiredHappy]

OMG! That actually happened last month in our closet. The top rack pulled out of the wall and all the boot boxes came crashing down in the middle of the night. She's going through her closet and thinning the herd.

For those that are married or have an SO, would you make a big deal out of this with your spouse? All she has to say "You spent $2,500 on a telescope, and I like nice/new clothes." Just doesn't seem like a battle that needs to be fought if we can afford it. If either of us has a serious issue with spending, we can and do talk about it and make adjustments.

You are right. I would not make a big deal out of it. My husband drinks wine and I don't do alcohol. His wine.com order is about $400 each month. He spends about $200 per month on online games. I spend about $200 per month on golf clothes, shoes, balls and gloves and he spends about half of that on gloves and balls. But he keeps buying new golf clubs, driver change every 6 months to a year at about $500 a driver, and several hundred dollars for individual wedge and putter changes. He wants to enjoy his retirement and we can afford it. So why put stress on the relationship by having a money discussion?

 

[tb001]

As long as she keeps the spend within a budget that you’ve both agreed works and is sustainable, I don’t see what the problem is.

The over flowing closets would personally drive me nuts. I can see having a ‘one comes in, two leave’ until things get under control. But I have a spare closet full of clothes. Most don’t fit and need to be gone through and donated, but for now we have the space and other things have taken priority on time.

 

[W2R]

When I want to cut back, I don't really target certain categories. I keep track of my spending (to the penny) every day, and cut back wherever I can. You are keeping track of your spending too, and that information is a terrific tool in the effort to spend less.

Your clothing budget makes my mind want to explode. I have averaged $26/month on clothes (including shoes) since 2010, and I buy whatever clothes I want and like. This year I bought nothing but 9 bras, last year I bought nothing but bunny slippers. I have lots of my usual "retiree wear", shorts and t-shirts and Teva sandals, mostly bought on sale from Amazon and Lands End several years back. But still, if it is important to you to spend a lot more on clothes than I do, then that is your choice and prerogative! If you don't want to cut back there, then cut back somewhere else. Time to substitute soup or hamburger for steak and lobster, or substitute water for beer or wine, or vacation locally instead of internationally, or something like that. Then once your spending is back on track, you can go get a steak dinner with fine wine in Paris or whatever it is that you eliminated for a while.

It's as simple as that.

 

[Marita40]

I sincerely doubt if I spend $400 a year on clothes. I'm happy in retirement to live in jeans and t-shirts, with a dress or two on hand for nice occasions. Really, besides occasional underwear replacement, what more does one need? I remember the days when I used to love new clothes, but I haven't felt that urge in years. I've just pared down closets and given away about 1/2 of my clothes--feels great to have half empty closets.

 

[ponyboy]

What exactly is OP's question? So you said you cant live within a budget...ok? Are you looking for like minded people to tell you how great that is?

If you can afford it, which you said you can, keep up the good work. No need to change. Again, what was the point of this thread?

 

[Aerides]

No need to change. Again, what was the point of this thread?

Sometimes people just like to chat on a subject, doesn't always need an end goal.

 

[RobbieB]

Yeah, pretty easy. If you blow the budget but can afford it then you need a bigger budget. Or better yet, no budget -

 

[aja8888]

Some points to summarize (so far) in this thread are:

1. Make a realistic retirement spending budget. Stick to it!

2. Don't go too crazy with your DW's clothing spend when you spend $2,500 on frivolous toys.

3. Make sure the brackets that hold the clothes rod on your closets are very secure.

I know there are more significant points, but I just can't think of any.

 

[NW-Bound]

Yes she is. And her closet is overflowing and we have more clothes in the basement. I don't complain because my hobbies aren't cheap...

Sounds like the OP's wife is addicted to shopping for clothes.

Perhaps the OP should be grateful she is not addicted to something worse, such as drugs or gambling.

We can afford it, so I'm not sweating it. I still like tracking everything. Always have. My spreadsheet goes back to 1996. It's always interesting going back and looking at what we spent money on back then.

I don't make a big deal out of it with her and we never fight over money.

Then, if clothes make her happy, then clothes it is.

All the OP should do at this point is to urge her to make trips to Goodwill more often. Or perhaps add a storage rental to the budget. Perhaps just another $200/month?

 

[JRon]

Wife and I have budgeted and kept track of spending for years. What worked for us is to set the budget amounts together and review the spending together. Food is currently high, but due to prices lately rather than mis-spending.

 

[NW-Bound]

Sometimes people just like to chat on a subject, doesn't always need an end goal.

Like I often chat about how hot it is where I am.

I do have an end goal though. I want to add more solar panels on the roof, and to add another mini-split so that I can avoid turning on the 5-ton central AC.

But it has to be cool before I can start on this. Meanwhile, y'all will read about my complaint every so often. Besides, even with multiple ACs running full-blast, it's still hot outside and I do not want to get cooped up inside all the time.

 

[W2R]

We can afford it, so I'm not sweating it. I still like tracking everything. Always have. My spreadsheet goes back to 1996. It's always interesting going back and looking at what we spent money on back then.

I don't make a big deal out of it with her and we never fight over money.

I didn't notice this until NW-Bound quoted it in his above post #45!

Well gee, if you can afford it, where's the problem? I don't see any. That's what money is for. We all have our weaknesses when it comes to spending.

Here's mine: I just pre-ordered the new OLED Switch which will cost me $349 upon its October release. People say it's no different from a regular Switch (which I already own!) except it has a prettier screen, more RAM, better sound, and it is a lovely white color. I don't care if it's not that different. It's something I want whether that desire is illogical or not. I am happy to throw $349 at Nintendo for it.

 

[NW-Bound]

I didn't notice this until NW-Bound quoted it in his above post #45!

Well gee, if you can afford it, where's the problem? I don't see any. That's what money is for. We all have our weaknesses when it comes to spending.

Here's mine: I just pre-ordered the new OLED Switch which will cost me $349 upon its October release. People say it's no different from a regular Switch (which I already own!) except it has a prettier screen, more RAM, better sound, and it is a lovely white color. I don't care if it's not that different. It's something I want whether that desire is illogical or not. I am happy to throw $349 at Nintendo for it.

Y'all should be posting on the "Blow dough" thread, while I keep hitting the "Miserable Weather" thread.

 

[W2R]

Y'all should be posting on the "Blow dough" thread, while I keep hitting the "Miserable Weather" thread.

OK! I'll go post on BTD.