January 2016 Purchases

Despite all of the steep discounts floating around this month, I actually didn't buy too much stuff! I probably would have bought more if I hadn't been so busy with research, job search (I'm looking for a summer internship), and the new semester starting. Anyway I'm really happy with everything I got, and I've even already worn everything (except the bikini bottom - I only wish it was warm enough to get into a pool)!

L.L.Bean kids' Bean boots (tan/brown 4) - My long awaited Bean boots finally arrived this month, and I've been wearing them nonstop! I was worried about the sizing, but in the end the kids' size 4 was comparable to a women's size 6 with room for thick socks (in fact, they look exactly like the adult boots). Personally I don't think I would size down, because I like the flexibility of being able to wear them in the winter in addition to spring/fall. A word to the wise: they're not really insulated inside, so you definitely need to wear them with heavy wool socks when it's cold out. On the bright side, the quality is amazing! They feel extremely sturdy and well-made. I would highly recommend these over duck boots from any other brand. I've tried similar styles from Sorel and Sperry, but neither of those can hold a candle to L.L.Bean. Originally $109. Paid $109 + $10 off = $99.

Sam Edelman Becka flat (black/sand 6, similar) via Marshalls - I have owned quite a few pairs of Sam Edelman shoes in my life. Other brands sometimes run large or small, but this one always fits my feet perfectly. These colorblock flats are no exception. It was love at first sight when I found them at Marshalls. Don't they look similar to these Chanel ones? It's interesting how they don't really match anything but go with everything. Originally $130. Paid $32.

J.Crew buffalo check plaid scarf (ivory) - I tried on this scarf back in November, and my main complaint at the time was how itchy it was. I ended up returning it, and I forgot about the whole episode until I stumbled upon this one sitting all by itself in the J.Crew shoe section. I'm glad I gave it another chance, because this one was soft and cozy! It's incredibly large, so it can double as a shawl or blanket. The price was great too! Since there's such a wide variance in quality, I would recommend that you try this item on in person as opposed to buying it online. Originally $65. Paid $34.99 + 50% off + 15% off student discount = $14.87.

Mossimo strappy bikini bottom (black XS) via Target - I finally found the matching bikini bottom for the top I bought last June! At the time my size was sold out, but I thought to myself, how hard can it possibly be to find a black swim bottom? As it turns out, nearly impossible if you want one that matches perfectly. Either the style wasn't right, or it was a slightly different shade of black. Lesson learned: don't buy just one piece if you want a matching set. Originally $17.99. Paid $17.99 + 2% off ebates = $17.63.


So the total for this month comes to...
RETAIL: $321.99
SPENT: $163.50 (50.8% of MSRP)


My goal for the year is to spend no more than $2400, which equates to $200 per month. Right now I'm at $2400 - $163.50 for January = $2236.50 for the next 11 months, which is an average of $203.32 per month.

So what did you buy this month?