Money Monday-- Some Unexpected (BUT FUN!!) Buys

 Budget-wise, we did a solidly good job this week. If we are only talking about our normal things. Looking at my monthly calendar where I record spending, we were below our daily spends compared to the last 2 previous weeks. Until (cue the suspense music), Ben told me about a gala we need to attend for his job. 

BOTH of us had to buy new evening clothes (and shoes!!). For Ben, this is a solid investment-- his previous tux is almost 20 and will happily get passed down to Harry. He is on the fence about shoes as we speak. He is thinking about buying some pretty cheap tux-only dress shoes. He'll have these forever since he won't wear them very often, and as long as they look non-noticeable and are kept shiny, they aren't really an important thing. He's sort of thinking about buying nicer shoes that he could also wear in his daily life since he wears suits to work. I think this is fine if that's what he wants to do but I also think that the next time a formal event rolls around, he'll end up buying new shoes since the ones he's considering now will be too worn out to be dressy (as in the case with his current cap-toed oxfords). He is buying a new white french-cuff dress shirt, but, again, this is something he'll wear again and is practical. It might also need to be refreshed next time he gets fancy, but if you are a dude who wears a suit to work, new shirts can just get folded right in.

For me, though, I probably will not wear my dress again. Shoes maybe-- although they are silver and very right-now shaped, so maybe not? I might just start wearing them with jeans and sweaters because YOLO. But, I guess that's why a dress and sparkly shoes cost less than a tux-- I have to keep renewing my look and Ben should be able to coast for the next 2 decades. Hashtag patriarchy.

When shopping though, I did think about my budget, which is probably not something I would have done before. The dress I bought, for example, does not need special undergarments-- it is cut like a sleeveless mock turtleneck on top (honestly not the most flattering for my arms, but I carry weight in my arms and always have-- this is not going to change right now. In fact, they will get more pillowy as I get older, and I think this is just How It Is), so my regular bras will work. I got some sheer control top hose (LOL), so I won't need anything special underneath. I bought close-toed shoes, so my current pedicure in a non-issue. I will probably wear my plain old diamond stud earrings (maaaaaybe I will cruise by Anthro and see what's there-- they have THE BEST fun costume jewelry). The dress will look best with my hair pulled up, and I can do this by myself with a hair-colored tie and maybe some sparkly bobby pins (which I already have because DANCE MOM. Also, Dorothy's giant sparkly dance earrings would look solidly not bad...) All of these things lower the cost of my total look, and I thought of them while trying on dresses. I will need a manicure, and I have stated using cuticle cream in anticipation. I might also need a small clutch, although I am holding out hope that my small black purse with the gold strap might work? Or that my mom (our clutch baby sitter) has something pretty.

Also-- and this is very on brand for me-- my wedding dress fit fine off the rack but was too long, and my solution was to wear TWO GIANT PETTICOATS/hoop skirts instead of one to increase the circumference and make it the right length, too-- I ended up buying a midi dress that fits me evening-length because I am barely five feet tall. 

All of this is to say that the best/worst buys of the week ARE THE SAME THING.