To Buy or Not to Buy
‘Tis the season for excessive consumption (and not just food).
How many times have you mindlessly bought things you don’t need or even really love just because it’s cost effective, in style, or on sale? How many times have you spent a pretty penny on that dress you needed for an occasion or for a trip that you only wear once?
I came across the the concept of cost per wear and it is definitely math I can get behind. Spending money on high quality pieces that yes, are more expensive but are staples that I can wear for years to come because they’re high quality and don’t go out of style.
When you break it down, the cost per wear of a $100 shirt that you wear 20 times is $5 while the cost per wear of that $100 dress you bought for an event and only wear once is $100. Generally speaking, you’re better off splurging on a closet staple and spending less on an on-trend piece which you will only wear a couple of times.
When making a list of pieces I really want, I think through things like: is it timeless? How much will I wear it? How versatile is it? Is it easy to maintain? How much does it cost? Will I get sick of it in a few months? Do I have something similar in my closet? If I can’t think of a reason why it’s not a good purchase, it makes the cut and gets added to the list.
I pick one thing from that list, put some of the money from my monthly shopping budget aside for that piece and when I’ve saved up, it’s time to treat myself.
While this is still hard at times, it’s stopped me from mindlessly shopping for items I don’t need, slowed down my shopping a lot and helped me start building a timeless wardrobe. Not to mention saving up for something that you’ve wanted for a while makes it feel that much more special.
Here are some of the items that I’ve purchased and continue to love, or have my eye on.
