January 2015 Purchases

January was a good month for me budget-wise. Between research, my cooking experiments, working out, and personal issues, I've been too busy to shop. I still made a few purchases here and there though, including a rebuy. I caught the J.Crew origami skirt in elephant parade on sale, so I returned the more expensive one I bought in December, saving myself over $20. I usually hate playing these price games, but I felt justified in this case since I hadn't even gotten around to wearing the skirt yet. For simplicity's sake, I'll just count it as part of last year's budget.

A handful of things caught my eye during the 70% off flash sale at LOFT earlier this month, but most of my purchases didn't work out. I really liked the fit of this black open cardigan, but it was already super pilly when it arrived, and I figured it would only get worse with wear. Based on the reviews I ordered an XXSP (my normal LOFT size is XXS), and that was the right choice. I also liked this black waterfall cardigan (true to size) but found it slightly too bulky in the front.

Gap also had some goodies that interested me. After trying on a cashmere hoodie in store and being impressed by the weight of the wool, I ordered the crewneck cashmere cardigan in mushroom. I haven't worn it yet, but I like the unique neutral color and the quality seems good. I'm thinking about ordering a second one in a different color since they're on sale right now.

J.Crew Factory released their spring roll-out recently, and I saw a lot of things online that I liked. For example, how adorable is this black and white scalloped dress? And what about this mixed metals necklace? It totally solves my daily morning dilemma about whether I should wear gold or silver jewelry. My favorite item though is the classic long-sleeve navy striped tee! More on that later.

So the keepers for this month are... (drumroll please)

Gap cashmere crew cardigan (mushroom XS) - The wool isn't as soft as other cashmere (which may be a problem for people with wool sensitivity), but it feels thick and warm and doesn't seem prone to pilling. This cardigan is more fitted and cropped than other Gap sweaters, so definitely size up if you want a regular fit or longer length. I stuck with my usual XS, because I prefer a closer fit. Originally $159.95. Paid $111.99 + 40% off + 2% off ebates = $65.85. Updated 01/31/2015: I changed my mind and decided to return this cardigan after all. I like it, but it's not a must-have for my wardrobe at this time. I would rather put the money towards a longer length black cardigan.

LOFT sequin stripe tee (whisper white XXS) - This all-cotton tee runs a hair large, but I like the fit, and I just couldn't resist the sequins. A word of caution for anyone who's interested though: the back is a little sheer, so plan on wearing a nude bra. Originally $44.50. Paid $39.99 + 70% off + 3% off ebates = $11.64.

LOFT striped 3/4 sleeve tee (black XXS) - I really like this cotton boatneck tee! It's super flattering since the fit is slim, the fabric isn't sheer, and the price can't be beat. My only complaint is the three-quarter sleeves. In general I find this length to be awkward, because it doesn't layer well with long sleeves, and it's too cold to wear alone right now. I'll probably save this for warmer weather. Originally $29.50. Paid $24.99 + 70% off + 3% off ebates = $7.27.

J.Crew Factory long-sleeve stripe boatneck tee (oat navy spring XXS) - I've been looking for a classic striped tee for a really long time now. Preferably long sleeves, all cotton, not sheer, with thinner navy or black stripes on a white/ivory background. I don't know why that's been so hard to find, but it is what it is. I was pleasantly surprised when this met all of my criteria! The fit is true to size, and the quality seems very good. The cotton material is quite thick and appropriate for winter. The shirt is a little tight in the shoulders, and the background is oatmeal/ivory instead of white, but other than that, it's great! Originally $49.50. Paid $34.50 + 1.5% off ebates = $33.98.

J.Crew origami skirt in elephant parade (golden elephants 00) - Originally $118. Paid $89.99 + 40% off + 1.5% off ebates = $53.18. Counting it towards last month's budget since I returned the more expensive one I bought in December.

Wow, I sure bought a lot of striped tees this month. That's okay though. I'm definitely a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, so I can never have too many tees.

RETAIL: $283.45 $123.50
SPENT: $118.74 (42% of MSRP) $52.89 (43% of MSRP)

Yay, I finally came in significantly under budget! My goal for the year is to spend less than $3000, which translates roughly to $250 per month. Right now I'm at $3000 - $118.74 $52.89 for January, which leaves me with $2881.26 $2947.11 for the next 11 months, an average of $262 $268 per month.

As always, I'm linking up with Franish and the Budgeting Bloggers. How did you do on your budget this month?