Midyear report: I'm under $70 for the year despite all the business trip angst above. $20 of that is a pair of cheap sandals on clearance at Walmart which miraculously had enough arch support to work. I've worn virtually nothing else since I got them. Another $30 is a pair of Dr Shoal's black sneakers to give me a closed-toe option. In late May, I developed debilitating foot pain from what I believe to be plantar fascitis, and these two pair of shoes, combined with new inserts, have got me walking again. Oh, add $12 for arch supporting heel cups and gel padding for the ball of the foot, so I'm probably right at $80 for the year.
We've now been told that the business trip will be "business casual, emphasis on the casual," so I've revamped my plan to khakis. I think I'll look one more time for black pants that are more along the line of Dockers than the slacks I found, and then take the slacks as well so I'm not counting on two pairs of pants over six days with no ability to wash in case of a spill. I will, of course, seek these pants at thrift stores.
I also found a shredded tear in one of the pairs of carpenter pants that my husband wears to work, and it's too shredded to repair cleanly (thought not to patch) so that pair will be demoted to actual carpentry work and I'm on the prowl for sales on work pants for him. He can't wear actual jeans to work, but he tears up dress slacks, so our compromise has been Carhartt style brown and khaki pants. I'll buy another pair of those sometime before August when he goes back to school. A good sale or an off-brand alternative at the building supply store will mean I don't have to fork out for actual Carhartts, but if nothing turns up by August, that's what I'll have to do. He needs a pair for every day of the week because he gets visible dirt on things daily, and I do not have the time to wash during the week. I get the majority of his (pants) wardrobe at the little local building supply place and at Ace hardware, though his shirts I can find at thrift stores. :-)
So, that should be it for planned purchases this year. I will likely cave and buy something cute at the thrift store, a new sweater for fall or something like that. Regardless, however, we will come in about $150 if we buy name-brand Carhartts, well under my budget of $200 a year for clothing, and under $120 if I find an off-brand again this year.
The above is not perfect, but it's good enough for me, especially since we've managed to sustain at this level (the $200 or under budget) for at least the last eight years. It was harder the years I bought $100 Danskos new, but we did it. I'm comfortable with spending at that level even in retirement, and now that I know summer is a weakness for my wardrobe, I'll start looking for core pieces at thrift stores.
So, I didn't cooperate with the challenge, exactly. But I think I showed myself that I'm doing all right anyway. Following the challenge to the letter this year would have been counterproductive to a system that is working.
