Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're making 500K/year and we're both inheriting over 10MM. The grandparents pay for college for our kids. We moved from the DC area because we can WFH so our mortgage is low. We don't spend a ton of $ on travel because our families have vacation houses in a ski resort, on the beach, and in Europe so all we pay for is airline tickets. We're not into cars and we drive regular cars, like Toyota. I'm a fed so we have cheap health insurance.

Lol-you've taken every DC stereotype and put it in one post. Love it!

Anonymous wrote:We're making 500K/year and we're both inheriting over 10MM. The grandparents pay for college for our kids. We moved from the DC area because we can WFH so our mortgage is low. We don't spend a ton of $ on travel because our families have vacation houses in a ski resort, on the beach, and in Europe so all we pay for is airline tickets. We're not into cars and we drive regular cars, like Toyota. I'm a fed so we have cheap health insurance.

Anonymous wrote:You feel sick to your stomach if you buy new clothes more than once every 3-4 years? That sounds a little extreme. If it's really a money issue you can buy from thrift sites like Poshmark or just do cheaper clothes like Old Navy and Target. I get compliments on stuff from Old Navy and Target all the time, and it's often cheaper than a take-out salad. Another good trick is to make a list of things you want that would help spruce up your existing wardrobe (e.g., a military-style jacket, low-heel black boots, high-waisted jeans) and check out sales until you see something that fits the bill.

But if you are making over $200k I think it's probably more of a psychological issue, like you feel that spending on yourself is a waste. Do you buy new clothes for your kids?

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you work? Because I can’t imagine any professional job requiring at least periodic in person attendance where you could survive let alone thrive on that wardrobe. Looking the part is an important component of getting external facing or higher roles.

I wouldn’t consider myself especially stylish. Most of my day to day is built for comfort, and my work gear is an investment in my career. Decent fitting separates from any of the mid-range stores above can serve you well across multiple uses. For example, dress pants and a nice TJ Maxx blouse look great in a business casual office, at a PTA meeting, or at a baby shower. I have work dresses that can do double duty at weddings, depending on what shoes and accessories I wear. Some of my favorite pieces are 10+years old and didn’t cost more than $100. Clothes are kept cleaned, pressed, and mended.

As for shoes, $80 seems like the bare minimum for a quality leather pair these days. I have wide feet, and I view shoes as an investment in my health. A decent pair will last me for years with proper care. A cheap pair will hurt my feet, hurt my knees, and fall apart quickly. I can spend $100 now, or $400 on the chiropractor or podiatrist later.

Anonymous wrote:They make more money than you. They have family money. They have a trust fund.

Anonymous wrote:How in the world do people afford style? I look at my take home pay, taxes, health care costs, etc. etc. And I'm left with a modest paycheck. Then after I pay mortgage, utilities, groceries, a car payment for a modest car, and the rest of the bills, I only have modest amounts of disposable income that mostly goes towards savings for emergencies. It isn't like we are poor either - we are a $200k+ household. We don't live in an insanely expensive house and drive a $22k car. I max out the retirement accounts, which is expensive. I literally cannot figure out how people afford style. Like how are people able to afford to wear new outfits every day that you don't buy from Walmart? Shirts are no like $30+. Pants? $50+. Sweaters? $60+. Decent pair of shoes all $80+. I think right now I have one pair of jeans, 3 chinos, about 6 plain T shirts, about 5 collared shirts, and about 3 sweaters. 3 pairs of shoes (2 dress + 1 sneakers) My wardrobe is pretty pathetic, I know it. I just cannot fathom blowing hundreds of dollars every few months on buying more clothes or shoes. I probably do clothes shopping maybe once every 3-4 years, but only begrudgingly because I get sick to my stomach spending money on clothes when that money could be used to save for emergencies, investing, or paying off debt. How are people able to afford style to keep their wardrobes modernized and to have a selection wide enough where they're wearing something new almost every day of the year?