Hmmm...I never noticed that your clothes are the "latest" fashions but they always seemed very nice and very you. Unless you really want to change your look, I don't really see a need to add more clothes or makeup than you already do.
If you decide you want more clothes, I'd suggest consignment stores, sales, outlet stores, etc rather than giving retailers extra cash. Most of my wardrobe this year wardrobe came from Costco and Penny's (10 items for under $70 in the final winter sale!). Even with two splurges (shoes and bras), I'm still on track for my clothing budget this year. I managed to find a $300+ designer jacket for nights out at an antique store this fall for only $30, too, so that's another good place to look.
Some of the women's magazines, like Health, give comparisons of makeup so you can get good stuff at the drugstore rather than pay dept store prices. I've walked into Sephora once, got quite the sticker shock, and walked out promptly never to return.
As for cutting back on the food budget. I would think you could trim back here and not feel it much by going out to cheaper restaurants like the wonderful dim sum you pulled together. Then, you have spare cash for more trips like Hawaii and your rainy-day fund. As an added bonus, weight loss has been much easier for me now that we're eating out less.
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If you decide you want more clothes, I'd suggest consignment stores, sales, outlet stores, etc rather than giving retailers extra cash. Most of my wardrobe this year wardrobe came from Costco and Penny's (10 items for under $70 in the final winter sale!). Even with two splurges (shoes and bras), I'm still on track for my clothing budget this year. I managed to find a $300+ designer jacket for nights out at an antique store this fall for only $30, too, so that's another good place to look.
Some of the women's magazines, like Health, give comparisons of makeup so you can get good stuff at the drugstore rather than pay dept store prices. I've walked into Sephora once, got quite the sticker shock, and walked out promptly never to return.
As for cutting back on the food budget. I would think you could trim back here and not feel it much by going out to cheaper restaurants like the wonderful dim sum you pulled together. Then, you have spare cash for more trips like Hawaii and your rainy-day fund. As an added bonus, weight loss has been much easier for me now that we're eating out less.