Shopping For Value

Here is a glimpse into my regular thought process when shopping Tell me you can't relate...

”This is SO cute!”

”But it’s too expensive. I don’t need it.”

“This is on sale and kind of similar. It will do”

... wears once and hates the way it fits... donates.

So are you with me? The older I get the more the word value is making it into my every day thoughts. What am I getting for what I am paying for and am I using my money wisely? With household responsibilities and more on my plate I am having to make decisions between clothing and saving. I don't like it. Clothes are my weakness. Buying one shirt here and there doesn't necessarily break my bank account but it also isn't helping me save anything and get ahead. Hence my constant inner shopping dialogue. Don't even get me started on the feelings of guilt when I do a closet clean out and see unworn items.

I don’t think I am alone in this. I have a friend that is a stay-at-home mom of 4. Spending even $10 on yourself can feel too extravagant in that situation. She recently came across a pair of jeans that were $50 and decided to splurge on herself. She loved them so much she told me about them. I splurged on myself too and let me tell you these jeans are miracle jeans. I wore them one day and was feeling so good in them I had to text her a thank you for sharing her find with me. We discussed getting some in every wash and then she said she just couldn’t spend that much. It got me thinking about how much I’ve worn them and how valuable they have been to me and about other purchases I’ve made recently that weren’t so valuable.

I was reminded of a mathematical formula (sounds intimidating but it is actually very basic math that you already know how to do) learned in my fashion merchandising days called Cost Per Wear. Cost Per Wear is simply dividing the price of an item by the number of wears to determine the value of the item. I don't like doing math. I tend to just go through my closet and say to myself "I haven't worn this in a year so maybe it is time to get rid of it" or "these are my favorite jeans and I will wear them to my grave". Cost Per Wear simply allows you to take things a step further. It might prevent you from making an unnecessary purchase you otherwise would have. It might help you identify styles that have been really good buys so you'll know what to shop for next. It can also help you in cleaning out your closet on some of those garments that aren't the worst but definitely aren't you favorite. I'm not a minimalist. I will always have an abundance of clothes, but my word for the year was Simplify so I have been looking for ways I can simplify my life. Add on the financial crisis Covid left many families experiencing and you can see why I believe even more so now that value is so important.

Fifty dollars might not be a figure that you would second guess or would even need to second guess. Every family situation is different, but I am sure we have all had a moment of debate over an item due to the cost. This goes both ways. It can be an expensive item or a cheap one. My aunt encouraged me to buy a legitimate winter jacket after spending a week visiting her in Minnesota and freezing my rear off entire time. I had never purchased one because of the cost. I saved and finally heeded her advice. I was in a little shock the first few days that I had spent that much money as a young single out on my own for the first time. After 3 months of the coldest winter of my life, my cost per wear on that coat was about $1. And I've had and worn that coat for three winters since! Before you think I am telling you to spend money you don't have let me add that it works both ways. I bought a cheap pair of summer sandals.I literally wore them every day for 2 months. Then they broke. I was really mad at first. I had only had them two months! But when I calculated my cost per wear they came out to ten cents a day. I'm not happy they broke but I do understand I got really good wear out of them!

As consumers it is easy to think price equals quality but that isn't always the case or the only way to view items. Calculating Cost Per Wear isn't going to change your life but it might be helpful. It helps you look at your clothing and/or accessories in a new light in terms of the value you got out of them not just the price tag. That item you splurged on may actually not be such a splurge. It may be a steal! The cheaper item may have been low quality but you wore it so much they practically owe you money! It can also help you see that some middle priced garments that seem affordable enough actually aren't once you do the math. It's not something you necessarily calculate for every item you own or intend to buy, but it is a nice little tool to keep in your back pocket when you find yourself questioning a decision.

If this article concerns you because it mentions the word math then rest assured that I am not a math student. If I can do this, then you can too!

Pictures below are from my trip to Minnesota to see my family because it was a fun week, a beautiful setting, and you can see me slowly mooching clothing from my cousins because I was unprepared with a real winter coat.