I Just Set My Shopping Budget For The Year And I’m Crying

In this newsletter, I’m revealing my actual budget, explaining why on earth I’m doing this, sharing my strategy and the struggles I’m already anticipating.

Paris Hilton’s stop being poor tank top: an iconic moment in 2005 that became a staple of internet culture. 15 years later, Paris set the record straight—it was Photoshopped. The original tank actually read, ‘stop being desperate’.

Well, this is a first. Somehow, I’ve crossed into uncharted territory: I now have a fashion spending budget for the year. Who am I?

A little context—I’ve never really kept tabs on my spending. My approach has always been more intuitive: see what’s in my account, then make some part of it disappear on something cute. I wouldn’t call myself a huge spender compared to most fashion aficionados, and for years now, I’ve been a regular at secondhand shops and resale platforms. But tracking? Planning? A budget? Unheard of. Until now.

I wrote about New Year’s resolutions in a broader context before, and one of my personal goals is sticking to this budget. I’ve set myself a budget of €3,000 (around $3,090) for the entire year. And I’m taking you along for the ride. Let’s see how this goes.

Now, I know—€3,000 is a lot of money for many people. It’s a lot for me too, so I want to spend it wisely. Fashion is my priciest hobby, so setting this limit definitely feels like a challenge. Depending on who I talk to, some might say the budget is generous, while others will call it tight. But let me tell you this: if I splurge on the Lisa Yang cardigan I’ve been obsessing over for a month, that budget suddenly feels very tight. And judging by a quick mental tally of last year’s spending… well, let’s just say this is going to be a bit of an adventure. Luckily for me, I rarely ever buy anything high-end at full price, so I won’t be blowing a third of my budget on a (very lovely) cardigan any time soon.

Why am I doing this?

There are plenty of reasons—let’s break them down:

• Saving up for the future. Ask any freelancer, and they will tell you their income has its ups and downs. In the good times, it’s tempting to let lifestyle creep set in. In the bad times, you need to be prepared. Growing older, I’m trying to think beyond fashion: building a pension, saving for the people I care about, and planning for responsibilities towards the future. Freelancers get less of the perks in Belgium, so being financially responsible feels like a non-negotiable.

• Taking social responsibility. Fashion is one of the most polluting industries, and I want to be mindful about the impact of my purchases. Slowing down, buying less, and thinking critically about my impulsive wants feels like the least I can do.

• Improving my personal style. By focusing on fewer, more intentional purchases, I’m hoping to sharpen my decision-making. With less impulsive buying and setting myself some strict guidelines, I think my personal style will only get stronger.

To set myself up for success, I need a strategy.

Here’s the plan:

1. Define my style foundation. I’ve already nailed down my three style words: tailored, minimal, romantic. (That said, I’ve been toying with the idea of adding “ease” to the mix, since comfort is essential to me. Should I swap out minimal for ease or effortless? Or should I just keep all four? I’ll sleep on that for a minute!) These words will guide every decision. I’ll also lock in a few outfit formulas per season using pieces I already own, helping me stay focused on what I truly love to wear. More on this in future newsletters.

2. Declutter and cash in. I’ll decide what needs to go and sell it. Bonus: any money I make from these sales will be added to my budget.

3. Plan ahead. I’m making a small list of the items missing from my closet and the pieces I know I’ll want or need in the coming year. This way, I can anticipate future expenses. For example, I’m thinking a good pair of black, tailored trousers, a fun scarf for styling, a black midi skirt for all seasons and some comfy shorts for summer. I will also be making a list of items I will definitely not be buying this year. And while I say this I’m putting a ‘you don’t need any more jeans’ post-it on my forehead. Might dive deeper into this step in a future newsletter.

4. Before every potential purchase, I’ll be asking myself a few key questions:

   1. Can I create at least 4-5 outfits with this?

   2. Where and how often will I wear it? Does it suit my lifestyle?

   3. Does it fit my style words?

   4. Is it truly comfortable? Will I love the way the fabric sits on my body?

   5. Is the sizing perfect?

5. Leave room for fun. While I want to stay focused, I’ll allow some space for those rare, joyful, unplanned purchases of course.

So, that’s the plan. I’m committed to sticking to it, but I’ll be tracking my progress either way. I’ll keep a record of all my purchases and share monthly updates for the next 12 months. That said, this is also the year I turn 30, so there’s a chance I might treat myself, and all of this goes out the window. Ahhh, we’ll see how it plays out.

I’d love to hear if any of you have tried setting a spending budget before, or if you’re doing something similar this year. Let me know your thoughts <3