What do you spend the least on in the course of a year?

[GREENBACK]

I recently was reviewing my 2008 expenditures and noticed that I had spent just $104 on clothing for myself. This kind of surprised me but I thought about it and I really never buy much in the way of clothes(I'm male, by the way). I don't dress like a bum or anything but I do make clothes last. I bought an $80 pair of sandals for $15 with CC rewards and a in store discount I also bought a pair of running shoes and a pair of jeans and that's pretty much it. My work clothing is paid for by my employer so that certainly helps.

An even more pleasant surprise was that I only spent $80 on a category I call meds which covers everything from bandaids to doctor's visits. I'm getting into my mid 40's so this category is very important to me. I feel very fortunate to not have prescriptions or any health problems.

I was curious what others spent the least on?


By the way, This is just personal expenses for me and not household expenses.

[disneysteve]

I don't have the numbers, but I'm positive clothing would be mine, also. I hardly ever buy clothing. Maybe a couple of dress shirts each year, a pair of pants and a pack of socks or underwear now and then when needed. Probably no more than $200/year.

[JustDave]

Definitely clothes as well -- around $20 so far this year to replace socks and underwear.

Maybe my clothing is out of style ... don't know, don't care.

[eileen1]

Leisure I was suprised to find was our smallest category. But I think we have a lot of fun, so maybe we've just managed that adage that the best things in life are free;-).

[wincrasher]

I'm in the same boat - very little on clothes or drugs.

I get alot of clothes from vendors with their logos on it - so I often wear those at work. If I buy for myself, it comes in spurts - I'll catch a sale on jeans and get 5 pairs. Or I'll pick up a big package of socks or underpants at the Costco.

I did have to get glasses last week - that was $250 - but my last pair was 3 years ago.

[Radiance]

Clothes for me, under $60.
Jewerly $0
Hair dresser - $60 (I cut my hair twice a year, no tint)

Even the IRS thinks I should spend more in clothing.

[rizzmo]

Clothes is the top for my wife and I. Between us we normally spend about $160 - $200 each year.

[Radiance]

That is nothing, I have a good friend who spends close to $600/yr.
Well, she has never visited this site....

[KTP]

Financial advice. Especially since I have found this site.

[GREENBACK]

That is nothing, I have a good friend who spends close to $600/yr.
Well, she has never visited this site....

I think clothing will be a top choice here whether you're new to the site or not. You're either somewhat frugal or trying to become so if you're here and clothing is probably low on the list of things to buy.

I'd be interested to see what the general population spends on clothing compared to those here.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, but some people might be looking for ways to be frugal in other aspects of their spending so that they will have more to spend on clothes.

I think that the average middle class USAmerican spends more than $600 per year on clothes, easily.

[disneysteve]

I think that the average middle class USAmerican spends more than $600 per year on clothes, easily.

I'm often amazed when I see budgets that include a couple hundred per month on clothing. Really, I wonder what the heck they are buying. I've got all the clothes I need. Except for occasionally replacing something that has worn out, I don't routinely shop for clothing. Most stuff holds up for a long time. I have dress shirts that I still wear to work regularly that I've had for 15+ years. I have t-shirts that are over 20 years old. Pants are probably the things that wear out the soonest (other than shoes) but I'm sure I have slacks in my closet that I've had for 8-10 years.

If I was spending hundreds per year on clothing, I wouldn't have anywhere to put it all.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

You'd have somewhere to put it all, Dis. Same as those folks who spend $200 or more per month on clothes. You'd send it to Goodwill, Sal Army, etc, where people like me would buy it for a fraction you paid for it.

[disneysteve]

You'd have somewhere to put it all, Dis. Same as those folks who spend $200 or more per month on clothes. You'd send it to Goodwill, Sal Army, etc, where people like me would buy it for a fraction you paid for it.

i guess so. 90% of our giveaway clothes are things that our daughter has outgrown. We gave away 5 bags of clothes last month. I think there were 2 or 3 items of mine among them, some stuff from my wife and the rest from our daughter.

[Daylily]

I probably spend more on clothing in a year than I do on eating out - and I don't spend a lot on either.

No jewelry purchases.

Cosmetics - under $10 a year