How Much You Should Really Be Spending on Clothing Every Month (2024)

How Much You Should Really Be Spending on Clothing Every Month (1)

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We can confidently say that we spend a substantial amount of our hard-earnedpaycheck on clothes, but what exactly should our clothing budget be? To be quite frank, we had no idea, which is why we were excited to research this story. And just in case you’re in the dark about your spending habits as well, we thought we’d bring the matter to light with a super-simple equation.

To get to the bottom of it, we looked to award-winning financial planner Pete Dunn. Based on his expertise, we calculated what your clothingcostper month should be based on your salary. And because we still fully condoneadding a few pieces to your wardrobe each month, we included a fewon-budget items that we recommend for each of the salaries listed below. Keep scrolling to get ready for your reality check.

5% of Your Take-Home Pay

How Much You Should Really Be Spending on Clothing Every Month (2)

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Who What Wear

According to Dunn, you should spend 5% of your monthly income on clothing. To find the exact dollar amount you should be spending per month, multiply your take-home pay by 0.05. For example, if your monthly take-home pay is $3000, you should spend around $150 per month on clothing. While everyone has a unique financial position and you likely know your own situation best, we find that the 5% guide is helpful for reeling in those oh-so-tempting shopping sprees. Read on to see the types of purchases that are appropriate fordifferent income brackets.

If your annual salary is around $30,000…

You likely don’t have much cash to spare on non-essentials, so focus your spending at more affordable stores that are still high-quality, such as Zara, Topshop, Everlane, Mango, H&M, and ASOS.

If your annual salary is around $60,000…

Your disposable income is growing, but your expenses might be too if, for example, you’ve upgraded your car or apartment. Accordingly, keep your thrifty shopping haunts in regular rotation and choose one clothing item a month to spend slightly more on.

If your annual salary is around $90,000…

You likely are feeling relatively comfortable financially and have the freedom to purchase a few nicer items for yourself. At this bracket, clothing and accessories from midpriced boutiques like Shopbop are a good fit.

If your annual salary is around $120,000…

If you’re in this income bracket, youmight be able toafford to splurge on a luxury item that you’ll have forever. Consider adding a classic pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps or timeless items to your closet. Justbe sure to limit these clothing purchases so you don’t exceed spending 5% of your take-home pay.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you figure out how much you should be spending on clothes per month. But like we’ve said before, you know your financial situation best.

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Up next, dresses are my weakness—here are 11 styles everyone should own.

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How Much You Should Really Be Spending on Clothing Every Month (2024)

FAQs

How Much You Should Really Be Spending on Clothing Every Month? ›

According to Dunn, you should spend 5% of your monthly income on clothing. To find the exact dollar amount you should be spending per month, multiply your take-home pay by 0.05. For example, if your monthly take-home pay is $3000, you should spend around $150 per month on clothing.

What percent of your money should you spend on clothes? ›

Most financial experts recommend spending no more than 5% of your monthly take-home pay on clothing.

How do you justify spending money on clothes? ›

Here are some reasons you should start spending more money on clothes.
  1. They'll Last Longer. ...
  2. You'll Be More Inclined to Mix and Match. ...
  3. You'll Get More Use Out of Them. ...
  4. You'll Be More Comfortable. ...
  5. You'll Be Less Likely to Impulse Buy. ...
  6. You'll Be Less Likely to Spend More Later.

What is a good monthly budget? ›

Try the 50/30/20 rule as a simple budgeting framework. Allow up to 50% of your income for needs. Leave 30% of your income for wants. Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt repayment.

How much does the average person spend on clothes a day? ›

Average American Spending per Day: All Ages
Average Daily Spending by Americans of All Ages
Groceries$11.95
Entertainment$8.78
Cellphone Service$3.06
Clothing/Apparel$5.02
11 more rows

How much does 1 person spend on clothes per month? ›

The average American spends $161 per month on clothes. Typical American consumers allocate 2.6% of their annual budget to shopping for new clothes. Americans between 25 and 34 years old spend the most on clothing per month ($123), while those aged between 65 and 74 years spend only $68 on average.

How much clothes you really need? ›

The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.

Is it necessary to spend a lot of money on clothes to look good? ›

Although people often shop because new clothes make them feel good, you don't have to go overboard with your spending. In fact, take inventory of your closet and organize it to see which pieces of clothing you can put together to create a new look.

What is the argument for clothing? ›

Protection. First and most important reason for our clothing is it provides protection from heat cold, wind, and rain. We all know extreme weathers can affect our skin and body. Since our skin is open and uncovered these extreme weathers can easily affect our skin for eg.

Is clothing a want need or savings? ›

Some needs to consider are food, rent or mortgage, utilities, and other expenses. Transportation costs, insurance coverage, and any clothing and tools you need for work are included in this part of your budget. A want includes expenses that you can comfortably live without and is not essential for survival.

What is the most popular budget? ›

In the 50/20/30 budget, 50% of your net income should go to your needs, 20% should go to savings, and 30% should go to your wants.

How much savings should I have at 30? ›

Savings by age 30: the equivalent of your annual salary saved; if you earn $55,000 per year, by your 30th birthday you should have $55,000 saved. Savings by age 40: three times your income. Savings by age 50: six times your income. Savings by age 60: eight times your income.

Is it good to save 1000 a month? ›

Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.

How much should the average person spend on clothes? ›

According to Dunn, you should spend 5% of your monthly income on clothing. To find the exact dollar amount you should be spending per month, multiply your take-home pay by 0.05. For example, if your monthly take-home pay is $3000, you should spend around $150 per month on clothing.

How many clothes is considered too much? ›

There's no magic number of clothing items that you should have in your closet, but a good rule of thumb is only to keep clothes that you love and actually wear. If you haven't worn something in the past season or for more than a year, chances are you're not going to wear it again, and it's time to get rid of it.

How much do you spend in a month? ›

There are folks at the Bureau of Labor Statistics who keep track of what Americans spend on everything from cereal to housing. And they say the average monthly expenses for an American household add up to $5,577.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting technique that involves dividing your money into three primary categories based on your after-tax income (i.e., your take-home pay): 50% to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt payments.

What is the average expense for clothes? ›

How much do clothes cost per month? In the United States, households spend an average of about $120 per month on clothes. That comes out to $1,434 per year.

Is it OK to spend all my money on clothes? ›

It's not bad to spend money on clothes, as long as you can afford it while meeting your other financial obligations, it doesn't cause you to go into debt, and you enjoying using the clothes that you buy.

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