one in, one out: may 2015

or each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

 

 

item bought	price	original $
hanson "sound of light" t-shirt	28	28
*oklahoma route 66 t-shirt	22	22
j crew factory pullover - pink (thredup)	4.53
merona lace popover blouse - navy (thredup)	0.54	19.99
j crew factory cream blouse (thredup)	3.03
*not pictured
	$58.10

 

i don't have too much to report for my budget this month, but for that i'm thankful.  i did some traveling which incurred costs of its own, so i knew i didn't want to go overboard with buying clothes.  i did buy two t-shirts when i was in tulsa - i actually found a hanson band t-shirt that doesn't have their name or faces scrawled across the chest and another oklahoma themed t-shirt that will be a fun reminder of my love for the state.  

 

i also put in a thredup* order that was covered mostly by credits and a coupon code.  i found a pink sweater similar to the one that was cancelled in my j crew factory order last month, my favorite merona lace blouse  in navy, and a white blouse that i think deserves a place in my closet as i really do not own any white or cream colored blouses.  i think it will work with pants or tucked into skirts and i'm a sucker for ruffly necklines and swiss-dot patterns!

so, that's it!  nothing too exciting to share but this sure was an easy post to compile.  i am still abiding by my one in, one out process of eliminating a similar item for every one that i buy so i did set aside five items to donate this month.  thanks for visiting!

*join thredup through my referral link and you'll get $10 to spend; i receive a $10 credit once you've made your first purchase!

one in, one out: april 2015

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

{what came in}

item bought	price	original
target round stone drops necklace	5.64	16.99
old navy v-neck cami - nude	3.50	4.50
old navy ponte sheath dress - charcoal	19.00	34.94
elle rhinestone collar button-down (gw)	3.74
jessica simpson cream blouse (gw)	3.74
merona crewneck sweater - camel (new-gw)	5.24
minnesota twins 3/4 baseball tee	10.00	10.00
minnesota twins luke hughes tee	1.00	1.00
minnesota twins zip-up hoodie	0	0
mossimo long-sleeve blouse - burnt red	7.85	22.99
target beaded necklace - gold/brown	5.08	16.99
mossimo mid-rise straight leg jeans - black	4.72	27.99
j crew factory basket-weave dress	30.60	118.00
*j crew factory teddie sweater - pink		64.50
j crew factory eyelet tee - navy	17.61	79.50
	$109.99

*unfortunately, i was notified this sweater was out of stock after putting together this post!

as i reflect on what i purchased this month, it was a little bit of everything:  thrifted deals, baseball shirts from a sidewalk sale, and deals from my favorite online retailers oldnavy.com and jcrewfactory.com.  what i want to highlight is the basket-weave dress from j crew factory.  my twin sister is going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding this november for one of her friends.  i've become closer friends with the bridge and her fiance throughout the past couple years and have been involved in discussions and updates regarding their wedding and venue, so i assume i'll be invited?  i'm running with that and have already started thinking about what i may wear because, well, i don't get invited to many weddings so it's fun to think about!  

the short sleeve basket-weave dress on jcrewfactory.com really stood out to me while i was considering taking advantage of a 35% off clearance promo this month.  it was only available in two sizes, one of which was mine, so i decided to purchase it for a steal.  hopefully this will be an appropriate winter wedding dress with black tights, black heels, and some sort of statement necklace?  actually, hopefully i get invited to the wedding so i can wear it!  if not, i know i'll wear it to work, so i feel confident with the purchase!  do you all think this would be an appropriate dress for a winter wedding?

overall, i'm pleased with the purchases i made this month aside from my two thrifting fails, but i trust if i keep up with my exercise regime they'll fit a bit more comfortably in no time.  i found a great pair of jeans (that's always a cause for celebration) and filled a couple holes in my closet - i wear a lot of navy but realized i don't have a navy short-sleeve blouse, so that was also included in the JCF purchase.  if i were to return anything it would be the brownish/gold necklace (lower right) from target, but considering it came to about $5 i'm not sure that it's worth it.  target.com has a pretty liberal return policy of 90 days, though, so if i found that i haven't wanted to wear it in the next month i may return it but i am hoping it will be a nice alternative to the gold bauble necklace i wear frequently that is getting a bit worn and tarnished.

{what went out}

i purchased 14 items this month and got rid of 14 items, including a blouse sold on ebay.
 

{next month}

it's time for me to cut back on spending as the month of may is going to be full of many other expenses that are going to come along with my upcoming trip to tulsa (gas, hotel), paying a dentist bill to replace a filling (ugh), and some necessary car maintenance.  however, i always enjoy picking up a new piece of jewelry from one of my favorite vendors who is based out of tulsa so i'm going to set aside $50 to spend as fun money!

hanging out with fran!

one in one out: march 2015

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

{what came in} 

item bought	price	original $
old navy sleeveless ponte sheath dress - navy	21.13	34.94
old navy lightweight open front cardigan	12.96	19.94
old navy canvas field jacket - brown	29.21	44.94
merona printed crepe shell	11.04	19.99
merona bi-stretch twill barely boot pants - black	1.96	27.99
merona ponte sheath dress - mint	3.06	29.99
j crew factory linen-lace tee - vivid spearmint	19.86	75
j crew factory skirt in basket-weave - roz floral	23.00	85
	$122.22

this month i tried very hard to stay around $100 for my clothing budget which i am impressed i was almost able to do despite three online retail hauls.  fortunately, i got some good deals and promotions:

• target.com: i took advantage of a promotion that was offering 30% off a $99+ clothing purchase, plus i saved another 17% off for st patricks day followed by another 5% off with my redcard.  i had a $30 gift card put toward purchase to make some great deals on full-priced items i'd had my eye on and probably ended up being a better deal than had i waited for a sale!

• oldnavy.com:  i never purchase anything at oldnavy.com unless there is at least a 30% promo code to use, which is what i used with this order.  it didn't make for huge savings, but i knew i wanted the dress and jacket and was afraid my size would sell out if i didn't act.  the prices i paid weren't the cheapest i've ever paid for similar items at old navy, but something i was comfortable with.
  
• jcrewfactory.com:  the entire store was 40% off but i was also able to use a 30% off code i obtained through gilt.  i don't always know about those things but just happened to see it on alice's instagram.  it's available through 03/29/15 but it took about three hours before the code was emailed to me, so request one now if you think you'll use it by 3/29.  i also used $28 in my paypal account (that i got for selling the j crew skimmer pants from this post on ebay) toward the purchase, making both items roughly $20 each!  $20 for a j crew skirt?  that's definitely my favorite price point! and the minute i saw the lace blouse in that lovely mint color i knew it was so "me" so i'm glad i could get it for less than 1/3 of its original price!

i like sharing my thought processes behind the purchases i make and the deals i use because it helps me process if i made smart shopping decisions and hopefully it's helpful to others to realize how it is possible to get great deals online!

{what went out}

this month, i purchased 8 items: 2 dresses, 1 jacket, 1 skirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 cardigan, 1 sleeveless blouse, and 1 short-sleeved blouse.  i eliminated a comparable item from my closet for each item i purchased.

one in, one out: february 2015

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

{what came in} 

item bought	price	original $
target metallic skinny belt - silver	2.26	14.99
j crew factory skirt - purple (via thredup)	2.97	9.49
ann taylor loft dress pants (via thredup)	2.97	16.99
sorel tivoli herringbone winter boots	50	120
cl by laundry marcie wedges	19.58	49.99
minnesota twins t-shirt	gc	17.99
impo tesla platform pumps	7.29	76
one wink casted crystal pendant necklace	0	50
	$85.07

i feel pretty good about the purchases i made this  month.  i finally invested in a proper pair of winter boots, whose price was cut in half thanks to using christmas money i'd been hoarding from my grandpa and  amazon.com coupon codes i redeemed from mypoints.com.  i felt pressured to put in an order from dsw.com due to a $10 rewards coupon i had that was expiring, but i've already worn the black booties at least once a week since they arrived, so i count that as a good purchase!  i also had a balance in my paypal account that i put toward the purchase, as well as the thredup purchase i made this month, so what i paid out of pocket ended up being pretty reasonable.

i have always considered myself a smart shopper - i look for ways that i can save money by using gift cards (i bought a new minnesota twins t-shirt for upcoming baseball games from target with a gift card i received from buying a new iphone) or promo codes on retailmenot.com or going through sites like ebates.com or mypoints.com so i get some money or points back that i will, in turn, eventually redeem for gift cards/codes like i did through amazon to buy my sorel boots this month.  i only put in orders at thredup.com on mondays so i can use the "mobilemondays" code and get an extra 10% off.  and the belt was so cheap because of a high-value cartwheel i used.  i know all of these methods helped me save a lot of money this month and stay under $100, which was my goal!

do you do a lot of "research" like this before you make purchases online or in a store?



thanks for visiting!  linking up with fran.

one in, one out: january 2015

last year i embarked on a "one in, one out" philosophy to manage my clothing, shoe, and accessory purchases.  i felt so good about how it worked last year that i am continuing that effort through 2015.  for each item i buy, i will continue to eliminate a comparable item from my closet.  however, i am making a couple changes this year:  

first, i am not going to stockpile all of the items i am planning to get rid of at the end of the month just to photograph for the blog as i had been doing.  having multiple "to trash" or "to donate" piles in corners of my room is just as overwhelming as having an overflowing closet... so i am going to select items to get rid of immediately and make a trip to the goodwill whenever i am ready instead of waiting to the end of the month.  since this effort is really for me and i have no reason to "cheat."  i'm sure you guys won't be heartbroken about not seeing a picture of the worn pile of clothes i am getting rid of each month!

secondly, i went the entire year of 2014 without maintaining a monthly clothing budget, so i am instituting that in 2015.  no more crazy shopping sprees!  unfortunately, i didn't set a number for myself before the year started and i can't undo the spending i already made this month, so i'll figure out an arbitrary number (setting a monthly budget really has always felt arbitrary, but if anyone has suggestions of how to determine an appropriate monthly budget, let me know) for myself next month and go from there... since i spent less than $100 this month, that may definitely end up being my goal each month.

{what came in}

item bought	price	original $
world market "woodland" blue paisley scarf	7.99	17.99
charming charlie blossom bib necklace set	gc	13
charming charlie five times fabulous necklace	gc	15
charming charlie bull's-eye beauty bracelet	gc	10
charming charlie birdy marquise necklace set - red	gc	13
j crew factory slim stretch wool pant - camel	26.39	89.50
j crew factory slim stretch wool pant - gray	25.79	89.50
merona satchel - blue	21.83	39.99
merona 3/4 boatneck tee - green	4.56	12.00
merona 3/4 boatneck tee - berry purple	4.56	12.00
merona embellished color block sweater	6.37	27.99
mossimo ona flats - leopard	0.08	16.99
	$97.57

my "whomp-whomp" purchases were the two pairs of j crew pants that are sadly final sale and non-returnable.  i haven't bought j crew pants in many, many years so i guessed the higher range of the sizes i fall between but they are so tight and unforgiving.  ugggghhhhhhhh!  i guess i'll be listing them on ebay!

{what went out}

i purchased 12 items this month and i got rid of 14 items (3 necklaces, 2 pairs of earrings, 1 bracelet, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 purses, 2 sweaters, and 1 tee).

thanks for visiting!  linking up with fran.

one in, one out: december 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

{what came in} 

item purchased	$ paid	original
j crew factory lace-stripe blouse	23.60	78
j crew factory embroidered-front top - pink	21.59	59.50
toms metallic desert wedges	66.75	89
merona doubleweave straight leg pants - gray	16.74	27.99
merona crepe ss blouse - floral	13.09	22.99
merona embellished crew neck sweater	14.36	27.99
old navy cableknit sweater - emerald	7.60	34.94
old navy swing coat - gray	11.68	49.94
old navy sleeveless fleece dress	5.97	34.94
old navy boat-neck top - raisin	0.75	12.50
j crew factory heathered tights	ppal	16.50
j crew factory tipped peter pan collar tee	ppal	74.20
*merona boot-cut jeans (gw)	2.62
target sleeveless navy/green blouse (new-gw)	3.74	19.99
*loft floral pencil skirt (gw)	3.74
*loft navy/yellow striped SS blouse (gw)	4.49
mossimo fleece sweatpants - black	gift	19.99
handmade gray cowl (see below)	gift
charming charlie gray/pink houndstooth scarf	gift	14
	$196.72

* not pictured

there wasn't much reason behind what i purchased this month, just stuff i liked!  i was happy to get a few new j crew factory blouses (i don't have much willpower at that store, so thankfully their 30% off clearance codes come around pretty frequently) and some good deals at old navy with a percentage off code and gift card.  i'm glad i found a few deals when i went out thrifting with my mom last week too, including a nice dark-wash pair of jeans i can wear to work on fridays.  i also always include any clothing/accessory gifts i receive in my spreadsheet; here's the cowl that my sister knit for me for christmas:

(i know, awesome huh?)

{what went out}

 

looking ahead:  in 2015, i definitely plan to continue with this "one in, one out" philosophy and i am going to challenge myself to stick to a budget (no more spending sprees of $200 a month, gah!).  i'm sure closet organization will be an ongoing project in 2015 as well, which may include some sort of inventory.  i always feel a bit embarrassed when i have friends or family over and we take them on a tour that inevitably includes my small walk-in closet that is packed with clothes.  everyone has something to say, and i'm starting to feel a bit embarrassed and gluttonous by the shear amount of clothes i have.  i've always had this mindset that if i have the space, i might as well fill it, but if the space i have isn't filled with clothes i love and wear all the time, what's the point?  if you're curious (i know i always am), here's a quick look at my closet:

left: folded up sweaters & cardigans on a bookshelf / boxes of tights & folded up pants sitting on top
middle: blazers (unseen, on far left) / sleeveless blouses / button downs / dresses (unseen, on far right)
right: 3/4 sleeve blouses / short sleeve blouses / skirts hanging underneath

one in, one out: november 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

oh dear.  november is always a tough month of spending for me as it is my birthday month, there are always sales around black friday/cyber monday/small business saturday, and i visit my parents for thanksgiving and always go thrifting with my mom.  i'm glad i had a no-spend october as i sure made up for it this month.  for my birthday, my mom & dad gifted me a $50 gift card to dsw that i had to use right away.  instead of picking out 1-2 pairs of shoes that the gift card would cover entirely, i went to the extreme and bought 7 pairs of shoes to take advantage of a promotion online and use a certificate i had.  each pair of shoes ended up being really cheap and i did end up returning one of the pairs, but it still seems a little frivolous when i stop to think about it (and have to share it with the interweb).  because i paid for that purchase with a combination of a gift card, paypal balance, and credit card and then returned one of the pairs that was credited to my credit card, i honestly had no idea how to adjust the prices for the shoes i bought so these prices may not be exactly accurate.  that probably only bothers me because i keep track to the penny of what i spend on clothes.

anyway, let's get on with it!

{what came in}

item purchased	$ paid	original $
world market white opal stud earrings	1.14	4.99
world market topaz stud earrings	1.15	4.99
world market blush rhinestones headband	8.80	12.99
mossimo cream printed SS blouse (gw)	3.74
old navy aqua 3/4 boatneck tee (gw)	3.74	14.5
c label sherry ballet flat - navy	3.73	19.95
c label sherry ballet flat - pink	3.73	19.95
mix no. 6 optic wedge pump - yellow	18.71	70
restricted slice it wedge pump - taupe	13.71	65
qupid salya-821 ballet flats - nude	8.72	40
andrew geller girly platform pumps - orange	13.70	99
mossimo sweat pants	gift	19.99
5 pairs socks	gifts
herbergers autumnal colored infinity scarf	gift	28
j crew factory scalloped collar top - geometric	28.95	78
j crew factory long-sleeve crewneck tee	12.68	24.50
mossimo supply co boyfriend tee - heather aqua	6.84	12
mossimo supply co boyfriend tee - mustard	5.70	12
mossimo ultrasoft scoopneck sweater - purple	14.24	19.99
loft rhinestone cap sleeve top - olive (gw)	3.94
merona short sleeve tiered tee - gray (gw)	3.94	12.99
jack flutter sleeve floral blouse (gw)	3.94
old navy women's quilted tweed vest	25.93	34.94
toms desert wedge booties - taupe	66.75	89
gleeful peacock stay close locket	19.95	28
gleeful peacock fanciful headband	16.05	22
	$289.78

{what went out}

what really stood out to me this month was that i finally showed some tough love in dealing with my "what if" syndrome.  you know, old favorites that hang around in your mental "to get rid of pile" all year that you just can't bear to part with because - what if...?!?  i'm getting rid of three specific items this month that fall into that category:  my mossimo varana shooties that are worn down to nothing and scuffed beyond belief (and that i actually mentally replaced with these heeled booties some time ago), my scalloped white blouse that doesn't fit anymore, and my chinese laundry open-toed sandals that feel too "sexy" to wear to my current work place - not to mention that i hate open-toed shoes.  why did i ever buy them in the first place?!  it makes perfect sense to me why people hold onto clothes & shoes because of an emotional attachment or the "what if..." syndrome.  what if i fit back into this one day?  what if i can somehow wear these shoes so the terrible scuffs don't show?  what if i wear this blouse with a sweater and magically love it? 

i think the truth is, those "what if" statements are never tested and if they are, they rarely hold true.  i spent all sandal season at my new workplace and there was never one day where i think i would have felt comfortable wearing those open-toed sandals.  yet i kept telling myself, "what if i want to try wearing them next summer?" and "what if i get another desk job in the future where my feet can stay hidden all day?"  these statements are never going to hold true, but it's so hard to get rid of something if you feel you didn't get enough use out of it or if you know it wasn't a good purchase to begin with.  yet i honestly know that three months from now i will probably not be yearning for any of these items.

do you struggle with the "what if" syndrome with your own wardrobe?  how do you deal with it?

note:  i decided to only get rid of one headband even though i purchased two this month as i don't own an excessive number of headbands.  the ones i have are also different enough so i don't feel i need to edit that collection of accessories down any.  i also did add 5 pairs of socks this month but didn't picture the combination of tights/socks i got rid of.

one in, one out: october 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

last month i mentioned how i was going to go on a shopping freeze during the month of october, and i'm happy to report back today that i did not make any clothing, shoe, or accessory purchases!  like i mentioned in that post, not a month has gone by in the past 4 years in which i haven't bought something, so this is a huge accomplishment for me.  i feel really proud of myself for setting this goal and sticking to it--and it was a lot easier than i thought.  i had to just immediately delete all of the store emails i received without even opening them, and this worked just fine.  there was one day when i thought i would make a purchase at oldnavy.com because their jeans were on sale for a decent price and i had a gift card i would have been able to use, but i didn't want to find other items to add to my shopping bag just to reach the free shipping quota and end up spending money on items i didn't need (all i really needed was the jeans).  so, i let that one go since i know jeans go on sale pretty regularly at old navy.

{adjustments}

last month i spent $138.73 on a wintery patagonia jacket.  mid-month, i saw that the price dropped to $89.73 online.  i immediate re-bought it and returned the other one.  i am so glad i noticed this price change because $40 is a big savings!  i also added a skirt i purchased from anntaylor.com back in september for $17 to my spending spreadsheet.  it did not fit when it arrived and i thought i would be able to return it until i re-read my receipt and realized it was a finale sale/non-returnable item.  so, for now i'm hanging onto it.  finally, my sister bought me a pair of $1 halloween socks from that dollar spot area at target this month.  i included them in my spending tracking sheet that i keep for personal use because it is a new clothing item i brought into my closet this month (yes, i keep track of everything).  i tossed a pair of tights in return.

looking ahead:  i'm not sure if i want to challenge myself to anything the remainder of the year.  if anything, i'd like to be wiser about the purchases i make online...  and i think having this month off from online shopping will definitely help with that.  it is so easy to browse, fill your cart up, and justify something as being a good deal.  this is definitely a shift for me as i used to have this same mentality when i shopped at the goodwill.  i'd fill up a basket and justify the items within due to their cheap price tags.  neither methods of shopping are healthy.  even if it's taken me four years, i'm glad i've finally realized this realization!

one in, one out: september 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

so, this month of shopping was definitely a wake up call for me. sure, i spent over $100 on a new winter coat (a necessity where i live, so my mindset is "what are you going to do about it") but aside from that, i still spent so much money on so many online purchases. i do feel fortunate that an item was cancelled from all but one of the online purchases i made this month due to being unavailable, so i guess that helped my cause some.  and i have zero regrets about any of the blouses that i bought, which i definitely feel i needed in my wardrobe.  the one clothing item i either have to suck it up and wear with confidence or try to sell on ebay are the printed skimmer pants from j crew factory.  they fit wonderfully (so i will be keeping an eye on the 'skimmer' pants in the future), but i am not sold on the print.  they were a final sale/non-returnable item, so i figure i owe it to myself to wear them at least once before i decide.  anyway, here's my shameful collage of spending:

{what came in}

item purchased	$ paid	original $
j crew factory draped novelty top - polka dot (gw)	5.24
j crew geometric eyelet top (thredup/9.99)	ppal	110
j crew orange lace 3/4 top (thredup/6.84)	ppal
j crew factory lace panel tee - black	15.95	85
j crew factory floral eyelet top - melon	12.45	75
j crew factory printed cutaway top	12.45	74.50
patagonia r3 fleece hoodie - aloe green	138.73	199
j crew factory skimmer pants - green fuchsia	25.89	74.50
j crew factory ruffle collar tee - black hearts	23.79	69.50
c9 workout capris	16.61	34.99
c9 baseball hat	7.11	14.99
target $1 spot socks - teal triangles	0.67	1
target $1 spot socks - gray/white stripes	0.67	1
minnesota twins stocking cap	0	0
minnesota twins zubaz pants	0	0
ann taylor cotton sateen straight leg pants	14.95	89
old navy plaid flannel shirt - white/red plaid	13.70	24.94
old navy quilted zip-front vest - canvas	21.20	34.94
c9 workout capris	11.86	24.99
merona ponte fit & flare dress	10.39	27.99
	$331.66

{what went out}

no picture this month... sorry... i just get too anxious to get everything i am getting rid of in a donation box/bag so i did not keep everything separated out to take a picture, but i am staying faithful to getting rid of a comparable item for every one that i buy!

so, i do most of my grocery shopping at aldi and they always have pretty useful home items in addition to the regular groceries, but they are only available until they're sold out.  last week, i noticed they had boxes of 20 velvet slimline hangers (like huggable hangers) for $5.99.  20 hangers for $5.99!  i immediately bought 3 boxes, then went to two different aldis the following day to buy... well... i don't tell you how many more boxes of 20 hangers i bought.  but anyway, i took everything i own off the mismatched hangers i'd been using and transitioned to these slim velvet hangers (amazing) and in doing so, culled out quite a few additional things to get rid of this month.  it's also kind of amazing how much space these types of hangers do make.  i am really starting to love how  my closet looks and how it is organized, and i think when you reach that point you're more likely to "see" or appreciate the outfits it contains, don't you agree?

{looking ahead}

based on my assessment of my spending this month, i've decided to go a month without shopping in october.  since i started tracking my purchases in 2011, not a month has gone by that i haven't purchased something.  that just seems kind of crazy to me.  plus, i either delete or italicize the items that i have gotten rid of or re-donated over the years, and seeing all those blank spots on my spreadsheet was another good visual reminder that hey, maybe you aren't making the best purchases if you just end up getting rid of something a year or two later.

thanks for visiting!

one in, one out: june 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

i've been trying to decide whether or not it would be useful to write up a " one in, one out" post for the month of june. i moved mid-month and, well, that just made life crazy. i donated about 14 items to the goodwill as i was packing up my closet to prevent moving items i decided i would never wear and i sent off another 31 items to thredup in one of their clean out bags. there was just too much going on & too much stuff everywhere to specifically parcel out a particular item to get rid of for each item i bought, though, but i definitely got rid of more items (about 44) than i purchased (26), so i'm just going to call it a draw!

{what came in}

item purchased	$ paid	original $
merona textured 3/4 sleeve top - black/white	6.54	22.99
merona basketweave blazer - black	8.32	34.99
american eagle bayley twist flat (11.25)	ppal	24.99
american eagle justify oxford shootie (11.25)	ppal	39.99
brash gypsy hoop trio earrings (6.13)	ppal	12.99
minicci stone statement necklace (9.12)	ppal	16.99
j crew factory eyelet-front top - strawberry	20.25	62.5
j crew factory lightweight long printed scarf	11.86	39.5
j crew factory clare pullover - sea glass	15.46	49.5
merona navy print scarf	3.92	14.99
c9 sports bra	3.92
old navy slub tee - mint/silver print	7.50	12.94
old navy skinny boyfriend khakis - navy	9.89	29.94
old navy white eyelet shirt	2.08	24.94
old navy nude v-neck cami	2.00	4.5
merona satchel handbag - navy	14.94	34.99
merona emma flats - lemon	17.08	39.99
merona lace top - orange	13.75	22.99
merona lace top - berry cobbler	13.75	22.99
merona crewneck lace top - navy	8.54	24.99
annalee + hope flowy blouse (thredup)	1.57
merona navy sweatshirt (thredup)	1.57
merona doubleweave skirt - gray (thredup)	1.57
j crew floral skirt (thredup)	1.57
axcess taupe blazer (thredup)	1.57
banana republic factory white ruffle blouse  (thredup)	1.57
	169.22

the purchases i think will be the most versatile in my closet will be the short sleeved blouses from target. i have been eying these for a while, so when they finally went on clearance online with an additional 10% off, plus another 5% savings with my target red card i grabbed two. i also really like the two skirts i found on thredup this month and the jewelry from payless.

i still tend to shop halfway with my needs in mind (short sleeve blouses, pants) and halfway with a "this is going to be a really good deal" mentality. i'm not sure if the latter is always the best way to shop, but i do gain a lot of satisfaction by making sure i am getting the absolute best deal i can for something otherwise i leave in on the shelf or in my virtual shopping bag. i think i accomplished that this month evidenced by the extra promotion codes i used at payless, the supercash i used at old navy, and the credit i used at thredup (thanks to anyone who has signed up and purchased through my referral link!).

linking up with fran.

one in, one out: may 2014

for each clothing, shoe, and accessory purchase i make this year, i am donating/selling/recycling a comparable item in an effort to better manage my closet.  check out my "one in, one out" tag for more of these monthly posts!

like last month, i don't have a whole lot to say about the purchases i made this month other than... whoops.  i seem to keep spending more money than cutting back, but i anticipate that changing next month as i will be moving.  that whole change-of-address thing will be a good excuse not to do any online shopping in case purchases don't arrive at my current address before i move. 

i also hope the fact that i am moving and will have a different closet space will help my overall inventory.  i will have a slightly bigger closet, but i anticipate it equaling the space i have now.  even though my current apartment is small, i have been spoiled with a standard sized bedroom closet, a hall closet that i took over as my own, and my own half bath where i have stored all of my makeup and jewelry.  i'm up for the challenge and making a good use of my new space, though, and i'm looking forward to being intentional about putting everything away for the first time into my new closet and dresser.

anyway, cue the collage! if an item is still available for purchase online, there will be a link to it below.

{what came in}

item purchased	$ paid	original $
old navy printed gauze scarf	9.69	14.94
old navy striped pullover - blue	9.73	24.94
crown vintage tisha pump - navy	37.45	49.95
cl by laundry nima wedge pump - gray	27.45	39.95
*express editor slacks - charcoal (gw)	2.50
old navy flirt bootcut jeans (gw)	3.50	29.50
j crew haberdashery orange oxford (gw)	4.49	72
*j crew yellow pinstripe oxford (gw)	3.74
*banana republic brown trousers (twice - $3.66)	ppal	69
anjolee essential diamond hoop earrings	c/o
gap stripe twill jacket (thredup)	ppal	88
*banana republic maroon plaid blouse (thredup)	4.47
merona lace blouse - berry	16.38	22.99
gleeful peacock tears of joy earrings - cream	15	15
gleeful peacock narwhal tee	22	22
old navy boyfriend khakis - gray	15.20	29.94
old navy boyfriend khakis - olive	15.20	29.94
old navy gray twill pixie pants	27.95	34.94
	$214.75

* not pictured

if i am to analyze my purchases this month, i'll say that i am really pleased that i found two great pairs of dress pants and 3 pairs of work/casual pants (the last 3 pairs from old navy), plus a decent pair of jeans for weekends.  i am also happy that i found two short-sleeve blouses that will be great to wear this summer.  it was fun to pick up some souvenirs in tulsa from one of my favorite small businesses, gleeful peacock, and i also found some great deals on twice and thredup. 

{what went out}

it wasn't too hard to find like items to remove from my closet after reviewing the purchases i made.  i eliminated four skirts for the four pairs of pants, all of which were skirts i made.  i went through a short-lived phase of making skirts a couple years ago, but quite honestly i never chose fabrics that i liked well enough to wear again and again... but i'm okay with getting rid of some of the skirts i made that i know i will never wear again.  if i ever pick sewing back up, i'll be more selective about the fabrics i choose.

not pictured: one skirt sold on ebay and two pairs of shoes (oops, i just forgot to get them in the picture)