Clothing Budget

[meatwad]

Riding them, DUH!

lol

I shall name this steed, Eeyore the Downtrodden!

[SmilesSoSweet]

Mine too! I have asian ass!

It's hard finding pants that fit because
a. I have no hips
b. I have no ass
c. I am short!
d. I have a belly

So everything I try on ends up being tight in the stomach if I want it to fit right in my butt and hips, or too big in the hip/butt region if I don't want my stomach to be cut off. OH and in either situation the pants are too long. And petite sizes are too short. :madder:

LOL Asian ass, I couldn't help but LOL at that one. I have what Jen has - I'm between a big ass and a ghetto booty. I kinda have hips (at least they're showing up now that I've dropped some weight. And of course I still have my belly. If I didn't have my belly, I'd actually have a decent figure because of my "ass"et and my rack. LOL

I also have short legs which is why I have to get the short length in jeans (unless I know I'm going to wear them with boots) even though I'm 5'-6" tall.

[blueyes]

Does anyone else wait until the after-the-holidays sales and shop then?

I have made a killing the past three years on work-type clothing. I got hired right after the holidays and had ZERO professional outfits - I spent under $300 that first year and got nearly $600 worth of clothing. This whole 'shop for a bunch of professional clothing right after the holidays' has become a sort of ritual for me and the siblings. Well, mostly me - I bring them along and they give input. It works out nicely - I buy them lunch and they get to escape my mom's holiday hysteria for a couple of hours. :lol:

But other than the post-holiday binge I participate in every year, I only buy stuff when I need it. Or............it's a really stellar deal on a leather jacket. :redface: I actually could use a pair of jeans, but I'm going to have to drop $550+ on my car in the next week or so - so the jeans (and all other non-essential purchases) are on hold.

[steph78]

Does anyone else wait until the after-the-holidays sales and shop then?
YES! This is a great time to buy winter coats, sweaters, shoes, etc. For some reason in Atlanta the stores tend to think that once Christmas is over it is time to start selling summer clothes, so all the winter stuff gets crazy discounted. Especially shoes - there are always INCREDIBLE shoe sales in late dec./early Jan. But it is still cold for a few more months! I am a huge fan of these sales - it's where most of my winter wardrobe is purchased.

[wordsmith]

Does anyone else wait until the after-the-holidays sales and shop then?

Only if I can wait until considerably after the holidays and still hit them before they get cleaned out.

My deep hatred for shopping crowds is the bulk of what's behind my deep hatred of shopping. I can't tolerate crowds. But, yeah, if I can go in mid-Jan and there's still stuff on clearance racks, that's awesome.

[pisces2473]

My deep hatred for shopping crowds is the bulk of what's behind my deep hatred of shopping. I can't tolerate crowds. But, yeah, if I can go in mid-Jan and there's still stuff on clearance racks, that's awesome.
Ditto. And it's not because I'm claustrophobic or anything. I'm impatient!

[WorkInProgress]

Ditto. And it's not because I'm claustrophobic or anything. I'm impatient!

I get claustrophobic in these circumstances. And impatient. And moody, etc. It's not a pretty sight.

EDIT: I think a fair amount of it is the noise.

[wordsmith]

I'm not claustrophobic. I get impatient and am easily annoyed by crowds. Standing around waiting when I absolutely HAVE to makes me irritated. Standing around and waiting when it's someplace I don't HAVE to be in the first place? Insane.

[WorkInProgress]

Boots update: so I went looking (at 4 shops!) and found nothing. So I'll be checking out that website. (Thanks!) Well, untrue, I found some awesome work appropriate mary jane types. They look sorta like character shoes. I've basically been searching for these shoes for 5 plus years and I finally found them. So I got 'em. I might go back for a second pair so that I have another set in a few years when the ones I just bought finally die.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I'm not claustrophobic. I get impatient and am easily annoyed by crowds. Standing around waiting when I absolutely HAVE to makes me irritated. Standing around and waiting when it's someplace I don't HAVE to be in the first place? Insane.

And I thought I was the only one that thought this way of shopping when there are huge crowds.

[Kitty]

I hate crowds when shopping too, which is why i only go first thing in the morning or during work days.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I hate crowds when shopping too, which is why i only go first thing in the morning or during work days.

I will try and do all my Christmas shopping after work during the work week just to avoid the parking chaos and the crowds at the malls. That way on the weekends I can just sleep in and do other things.

[Kitty]

I will try and do all my Christmas shopping after work during the work week just to avoid the parking chaos and the crowds at the malls. That way on the weekends I can just sleep in and do other things.

I typically take a day off work here or there to go shopping in the City (and get my hair done!). The stores are typically dead. It's awesome.

[winneythepooh7]

Didn't read this whole thread, but I despise crowds. I had to purchase some "funeral attire" yesterday after work, and it was so nice to walk through H&M and Old Navy and not be bumping into crowds of people, as well as being able to get right in and out of the dressing room.

As for my "shopping budget", I've started to adopt the style of just purchasing something when I really need it. And I tend to stick to the classics over the trendy stuff. If I want something trendy, I will buy a funky new bag or piece of costume jewelry, that tends to be a lot cheaper than buying a whole bunch of clothing pieces.

[mishl982]

Does anyone else wait until the after-the-holidays sales and shop then?
YES! It's the best time to shop. I also can't stand the fact that stores put out their Fall line in August or their Summer stuff in March, so by the time it is actually the right season, the clothes are on sale :)

Around Christmas time I'll try to shop during lunch hour or first thing in the morning. Or I will do it online or go to a mall that is usually deserted. I can't stand shopping around Christmas time. People are all over the place and in a frenzy. Even after work it's ridiculous.

[Kitty]

I hate shopping near the holidays - that is some true hell for me.

[labrat2111]

I avoid the mall and walmart complex from Thanksgiving until a few days after the new year. However I like to shop from time to time. I was going to go after work and look for a few things seeing as I finally got a new job with a substantial pay raise (not that my old salary was anything to write home about). They have all the winter stuff out and on sale now that it hasn't been cold yet. I got a nice sweater last weekend so I figure I can find more stuff if I look around. I was going to go after work but a coworker who is leaving next weekend to move to the new spot for our facility is going out for a few beers so I figured I'd rather hang out with him and his friends.

[WorkInProgress]

I hate shopping near the holidays - that is some true hell for me.

I do a ton of online shopping. I would soooo much rather pay shipping than go deal with the hordes.

[Kitty]

I do a ton of online shopping. I would soooo much rather pay shipping than go deal with the hordes.

YES! Me too!

[embrassezla]

I do a ton of online shopping. I would soooo much rather pay shipping than go deal with the hordes.
Amen! And it seems like more online retailers are offering free shipping around the holidays anyway.

[Kitty]

Amen! And it seems like more online retailers are offering free shipping around the holidays anyway.

Yup, and if you do a little online searching you can usually find codes for free shipping.

[veniqe]

This is the problem I'm finding. I can't find anything that's not pointy, thin-heeled, or slouchy. I'm just not feeling very Kelly LeBrock circa 1985.

Oh!! I love pointy shoes so much! I only have pointy shoes.

[WorkInProgress]

Amen! And it seems like more online retailers are offering free shipping around the holidays anyway.
Yep. Works for me.

I'm like, "lemme get this straight...I can sit here in my jammies and buy all of my gifts in a couple of hours without having to get up, deal with obnoxious people, noisy kids, pushy salespeople, lines, parking, etc. And it's (worst case) gonna cost me an extra 5-10 bucks at each venue?! SOLD!!!"

[winneythepooh7]

Yep. Works for me.

I'm like, "lemme get this straight...I can sit here in my jammies and buy all of my gifts in a couple of hours without having to get up, deal with obnoxious people, noisy kids, pushy salespeople, lines, parking, etc. And it's (worst case) gonna cost me an extra 5-10 bucks at each venue?! SOLD!!!"

You spend that much in gas and sometimes parking to get to the mall!

[mishl982]

I'm like, "lemme get this straight...I can sit here in my jammies and buy all of my gifts in a couple of hours without having to get up, deal with obnoxious people, noisy kids, pushy salespeople, lines, parking, etc. And it's (worst case) gonna cost me an extra 5-10 bucks at each venue?! SOLD!!!"
I agree! Even if online stores don't have shipping specials or free shipping it's still so much more worth it than to deal with the crazies at the mall.

[embrassezla]

Yup, and if you do a little online searching you can usually find codes for free shipping.
Absolutely every time I order something online, I do a coupon search first.

[pisces2473]

I hate shopping near the holidays - that is some true hell for me.
UGH ME TOO.

I started my Christmas shopping in August. When I was in Maine, there were great sales and a lot of artisans and stuff.

[pisces2473]

I'm like, "lemme get this straight...I can sit here in my jammies and buy all of my gifts in a couple of hours without having to get up, deal with obnoxious people, noisy kids, pushy salespeople, lines, parking, etc. And it's (worst case) gonna cost me an extra 5-10 bucks at each venue?! SOLD!!!"
Yeah, and the gas you spend...

But the best part...

YOU GET PACKAGES!!!!! :huge: :huge: :huge:

[WorkInProgress]

Yeah, and the gas you spend...

But the best part...

YOU GET PACKAGES!!!!! :huge: :huge: :huge:

Yeah, that too. :huge:

[Kitty]

UGH ME TOO.

I started my Christmas shopping in August. When I was in Maine, there were great sales and a lot of artisans and stuff.

I admit that I'm really lazy about it and tend to wait until the two weeks before xmas. This is partly because I have those two weeks off - it's always HELL though. I hate stores like Target around that time.

[pisces2473]

I admit that I'm really lazy about it and tend to wait until the two weeks before xmas. This is partly because I have those two weeks off - it's always HELL though. I hate stores like Target around that time.
You have two weeks BEFORE Xmas off? I had that much time off before, but it was a few days before Xmas, and we went back after New Years...

OMG I totally hate EVERY store at that time of year. It is NOT the most wonderful time of the year. It effing sucks.

[Kitty]

You have two weeks BEFORE Xmas off? I had that much time off before, but it was a few days before Xmas, and we went back after New Years...

OMG I totally hate EVERY store at that time of year. It is NOT the most wonderful time of the year. It effing sucks.

LOL!!! Yes, it really does - which is why in the past we've just gone on vacation to avoid it.

And yeah, the University "closes" for two weeks.

[WorkInProgress]

It is NOT the most wonderful time of the year. It effing sucks.

I'm singing that song in my choir. And it makes me think of Staples and back to school, NOT Christmas.

[pisces2473]

LOL!!! Yes, it really does - which is why in the past we've just gone on vacation to avoid it.

And yeah, the University "closes" for two weeks.
No, so did mine...but we didn't get the time off before Xmas, like you're saying...that's why I was confused. We only got a few days off before Xmas, and we'd go back around Jan. 2.

I think retailers should set up lounges for people to hang out in, with water and coffee and stuff, esp. at the big box stores. Shopping is tiring when you're in lines, it's cold outside so you wear a coat but then it's hot inside (OOOH they should start COAT CHECKS!!!!), they should have "adult only" times so no screaming brats. They should also have checkouts for "cash only" and "debit/credit only" to make things go faster.

[CTGirl]

OMG I totally hate EVERY store at that time of year. It is NOT the most wonderful time of the year. It effing sucks.

Aparently I am in the minority here, but I actually like the crazy madness of pre-christmas shopping, I think it's fun.

This may be, though, becuase in my family we shop ridiculously early, so when I go shopping right before christmas, I'm not scrambling and stressed like everyone else, I just get to watch and laugh.

[pisces2473]

Oh I shop early too....but I just don't want to be around people who can't get their acts together sooner in the season.

[Kitty]

I hate crowds in general - anywhere.

[Taza Tikha]

I currently have no clothing budget. I just buy whatever the hell I want.

Ditto. My "budget" has only three categories: savings, bills, and everything else. Any money leftover after the first two obligations is fair game. Yes, food falls under "everything else." Sometimes a new pair of shoes wins over groceries, and it's rice and beans for me.

I hate that women's sizes are just random numbers. It makes it such a pain to find clothing that fits, since you have to try on half a dozen various sizes to find what actually fits you. I wish it was like men's clothing. If you're a 32 waist, you find a pair of 32 waist pants and you're done.

I agree with the others who said that it isn't necessarily that simple. It would have to be a waist AND hip measurement, and different fits to account for the hip size being lateral (true hips), in the front (the womanly pouch), or in the back (booty).

I hate shopping near the holidays - that is some true hell for me.

Word to infinity. I would much rather pay full price for something than to brave the crowds looking for the best deal. I hate having to go to any store during the holidays for any reason. Out of toilet paper? Gah! Now I have to go to Target and wait in line for an hour! Can't they have separate Christmas shopping lines and daily necessity lines? Want to pick up a new book from Barnes and Noble? Not a chance, because the parking lot will be gridlocked. Whoever designed the shopping center my local B&N is in brilliantly created two ways to enter the parking lot but only one way to exit. And don't even get me started on the mall. Never mind that they expanded Tysons Corner and added 50 bajillion parking garages. Everyone MUST get the space closest to the entrance, and will sit and wait until someone pulls out, nevermind the mile of cars waiting behind. People! Just DRIVE to the next level, or the level above that, and there will be hundreds of empty spaces! Well, except on weekends between Thanksgiving and New Year. Great googly moogly, I get stressed just thinking about it.

One vote for Christmas shopping in my bunny slippers while sipping hot chocolate next to my fireplace. Minus the clicking to add to shopping cart, only to be told that item is out of stock. Say it is out of stock BEFORE I click.