Style Budget Special Week - Day 4 Going Forward

For some reason I love a plan. I think it is part of being a stylist. I make lists - a lot. I have to write down items, what was used, what to reference. Even with an assistant to help I tend to do the doing part. I prefer to send them on errands or sew and steam.

I've always found the best way to have a versatile and useful wardrobe is to know what you've got and what you need. Don't get me wrong, spontaneity and that sudden must have isn't out of the question...except when times are hard. There have been some wonderful comments this week to help organise my thoughts. My favourite is the direct action option from Fashionistable 'cut back'.

Over this week the purpose of the posts has been to make you think about what action you can take (if you need to) to assist you to baton down the hatches or keep in credit. The hardest element for the fashionista is how to stay stylish. It is quite difficult if you are a trend terror but less so if you have your own style that is based on what you like.

The first piece of advice is the dullest but most important. After you have paid your taxes and NI, plus contributed to a pension plan you need to save 10% of your net income - in my case that 10% goes to pay off my MA loan and costs.

Then you need to sort your outgoings out for all the essentials and whatever is left over is your spend. I read somewhere recently that the most pleasure people get is from experiences. I mulled this over for quite sometime and realised I get the most pleasure from being dressed up - drat!

horrified that dressing up won't count

I am more than happy to make do with what I've got but am bound to have moments of weakness. I like Pearl's suggestion in her guest post of just getting a new nail varnish to fill those moments. Also the idea of selling items to buy a new one is a good shout, but I think you have to pay off what you have first before you can buy. Not always the easiest thing to do, especially when you have a bad hair day.

Here is my plan for the next year. My birthday is in November and I've decided to stick to it for a whole year. Rather than set buying restrictions, I'm setting category/retailer restrictions.

My radical approach (well it isn't actually) calls for a cocktail of restraint, creativity and cunning. My category for buying is... (X Factor style pause, big music and lights plus big hair do) designer.

I've chosen the designer category on the basis of quality and exclusivity (of sorts). It gives me a broad range of buying opportunities from car boots sales, charity shops, ebay, TK Maxx, the Outnet and full price if I can afford it. I felt designer would naturally restrict me and stop me buying high street 'homages' to the catwalk which somehow always date quicker. I value high street less for some reason,ss unless it is something I really love and then I don't care where it is from. I have until mid November to get my marabou fix in from Oasis.

The less is more suits me more than a rammed wardrobe and I will feel I'm really getting good additional items I will always keep. I might not get many but rather than fritter money away I will have to think, think about what I buy.

My going forward plan is simple. Make sure 10% of my net is squirrelled away. Think nail varnish first then only designer items can be purchased. Bonkers I know but it is what suits me to help me make do. I think I'm with Dame Viv and might throw my tablecloth around me with a good belt if it comes to it.

Will you have a plan? Would you think it would help to have one? And what category would you choose?