Budgeting Diaries: January Recap + Styling My New Buys

As promised, I’m pulling back the curtain on my 2025 spending journey—full disclosure, no gatekeeping. Plus, a peek at how I’m styling my January purchase(s). Here’s how the month shaped up.

New year, new me? Or at least, new spending rules. In case you missed it (despite me mentioning it a million times), I’ve set myself a €3000 spending budget for the entire year. Each month, I’ll give you the full scoop—what I bought, what I resisted, and how it all adds up in the bigger picture.

January’s off to an unreasonably smug start. Who knew feeling actually satisfied with my winter wardrobe could zap my shopping cravings? I’m already way ahead of my spending goals—aka this is going to be a bit of a boring newsletter <3

Here’s the full breakdown of how I spent (or, more accurately, barely spent) this month.

January spend

1. Uniqlo Men’s V-Neck in Black: €39.90

Here. That’s it. This list begins and ends at 1. This leaves the remainder of my budget for 2025 at €2,960.10

Styling it 5 ways

As I am following my own advice, I should be able to style each of my purchases in at least 4 or 5 ways. Here’s how I’m putting this month’s single addition to work.

Left: Same look as in last weeks newsletter. | Right: Threw on my mom’s old fur coat and a self-made leather bag.

Left: Old NEOUS kitten heels, Old Jacquemus trousers, Vintage Versace blazer. | Right: Acne Studios boots, ARKET denim, old boyfriend’s shirt, self-made leather bag.

Left: The Row Fall 2025. | Right: Some sort of recreation of that look. Would need a longer white tee, though.

Things I did not buy

I did dabble in some shopping. A few pieces were ordered, tried on, and returned because they just didn't make the cut. Case in point: the following Ludovic De Saint Sernin top from my Farfetch Sale Edit. I love this look, but the fit? Not so much. The fabric sat awkwardly with every movement, as the back closure is clearly made for a longer torso.

So, I made the very responsible decision to send it back. That said, it did inspire me to start hunting for black and white/ecru evening tops. Is there anything more chic? I’m keeping my eyes peeled.

Ludovic De Saint Sernin Top | Old Acne Studios Trousers | Old NEOUS kitten heels | NONA Box Bag

What’s next?

It’s clear I’m gearing up to allocate most of my spending budget to spring and summer pieces, so here’s a list of items I am in the market for:

• Black wide-leg tailored trousers

• A good trench coat (in olive or dark grey, maybe?)

• A windbreaker (more on this in a future newsletter!)

• Dark grey wool scarf

• And/or a fun scarf for styling

• Relaxed midi skirt, perfect for layering in fall/winter with boots, but equally great for spring/summer with flip-flops

• Flat boots (and maybe parting with one of my many heeled pairs)

To stay on track with my budget, I’m getting clear about what I’m not buying this year. Keeping this list in mind will help me maintain focus and resist temptation:

• Jeans

• Sunglasses (I treated myself to a beautiful repurposed pair from a local shop in Brussels last summer, and I don’t think I’ll be needing another one this year)

• Leather bags (making my own in leather class)

• Rings

Reflections so far

Being ahead of my budget feels freeing. Keeping a budget is a true mindset shift. It’s letting me focus on what I truly need, leaning into quality over quantity.

That said, who knows? Next month, I might be inching closer to my budget’s edge. I’m keeping it real here—this isn’t about perfection, but about being more intentional. And knowing I’m sharing this journey with all of you is keeping me accountable. It’s made me pause and reflect on my purchases in a way I never really did before.

I’m genuinely curious to see how this experiment will shape my personal style and spending habits over the year. Will it lead to smarter investments? A more curated wardrobe? Stay tuned; we’ll find out together.