May 2016 Purchases

I feel like I didn't shop that much this month so I expected that I would be under budget, but obviously the numbers tell me otherwise. At least I'm not over budget. Traditionally I tend to shop more in May, because it's my birthday month. I usually splurge on a birthday gift for myself that doesn't count towards my budget, but this year I didn't spend it on clothes, because I'm planning to buy a new bicycle. By the way, good bikes are super expensive. There seems to be no upper bound... A decent one starts around $500-$600, and the price just keeps climbing from there. I'm excited about getting one though!

Back to clothes, I feel like I always want to shop more as the weather warms up, which is ironic because you can't wear as many clothes in the summer. I'm not sure why that is. Does anyone else feel that way? Maybe I just get tired of my other clothes, or maybe the sales are just that good. Anyway, onto my haul this month.

J.Crew Collection featherweight cashmere cardigan sweater in gingham (navy snow XXS) - It's a little crazy to be buying cashmere when summer is just around the corner, but I couldn't resist snagging this cardigan at such an amazing price (thanks, website glitch)! It's super soft and lightweight as the name implies. I initially bought an XS because the reviews on the website suggested it ran small. However it fits true to size so I had to exchange it for an XXS. I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but based on the fit of the XS, it'll be pretty cropped. Originally $228. Paid $39.99 + 30% off sale = $27.99.

J.Crew Factory neon sunwashed garment-dyed v-neck t-shirt (vibrant fuchsia XXS) - This hot pink tee was promising, but sadly it's not my favorite. Don't get me wrong; I love the color, but the fit drives me a little crazy. It has a tendency to ride up throughout the day, so I find myself constantly pulling it back down. At least it's completely opaque, and the vee isn't too deep. Also, this color tends to bleed, so wash it a few times by itself before you wear it. Ask me how I know. Originally $29.50. Paid $17.50 + 25% off sale + 1.5% off ebates = $12.93.

Madewell whisper cotton v-neck pocket tee (heather pewter XXS) - You guys, this is my new favorite tee! It's soooo soft and completely opaque, at least in this colorway. It runs large, so even in my normal size XXS, it's still slouchy, but in a good way! We'll see how well it holds up in my washer and dryer (AKA the t-shirt destroyer). Originally $25. Paid $22.50 + 30% off sale + 1.5% off ebates = $15.51.

Cole Haan Tali bow ballet flat (black 6.5) - These black bow flats are my most expensive purchase this month. I wanted to replace my trusty black Me Too Patty bow flats (RIP) with some equally comfortable flats, and these came highly recommended. I decided to size up as I usually do when shoes have elastic sides. They were surprisingly comfortable and didn't require any real break-in. By the end of the first day, my pinky toe rubbed a little bit but no blisters at all. I do wish they had more padding in the ball of the foot though. Overall, a very solid option. Originally $170. Paid $119.00 + 2% off ebates = $116.62.

Missha M signature real complete BB cream SPF25 PA++ (No. 23 natural yellow beige) via Amazon - This is my first foray into Korean cosmetics. I've been interested in getting a BB cream for a while, and I considered some American ones before moving onto researching Korean ones. I was looking for something that feels lightweight, has SPF, looks natural, and has light-to-medium coverage. After looking at tons of other options, I settled on this well-reviewed Missha BB cream. I haven't gotten it yet, but hopefully it'll work for my skin tone and doesn't smell too strongly. Originally $29. Paid $17.40.

[Not pictured] Banana Republic essential pima cotton vee tee (blue sunrise XXS) - This tee is pretty similar to the J.Crew vintage cotton v-neck tee (which I love but is too flimsy). It's also a hair slouchy, soft, thin, and lightweight. Not much else to say about it. Hopefully it holds up better in the wash than the J.Crew one. Originally $29.50. Paid $16.99 + 40% off sale + 2% off ebates = $9.99.


The total for this month comes to...
RETAIL: $511.00
SPENT: $200.44 (39.2% 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 - $447.87 for 2016Q1 - $177.38 for April - $200.44 for May = $1574.31 for the next 7 months, which is an average of $224.90 per month.

How did you do on your budget this month? As always, I'm linking up with Franish and the other budgeting bloggers!