Save or Splurge? Type 4 Experts Reveal Their Spending Habits

Type 4 women can have a tendency to approach life as all or nothing.

And that can play out in your wardrobe.

But your choices aren’t between complete cheapskate or over-the-top spender. Your other amazing gift is balance—and that’s what the focus is today.

Type 4 Dressing Your Truth Experts Kalista, Deborah, and Sheryl share their spending habits to help you consider when you want to save or splurge.

So, ladies…

For each category of clothing in your closet, do you prefer to save, spend, or splurge?

• Save = You always choose the cheaper option.
• Spend = You spend a reasonable amount of money—not “breaking the bank,” but not skimping either.
• Splurge = You put your money here, even saving up extra to purchase this item.

Tops, Shirts & Blouses

• Kalista: SAVE + SPEND. I’m more of a save/spend split on tops. I look for quality and fit. I like to keep the price in the low to reasonable range.
• Deborah: SPEND. Spending an average amount on a top allows me to purchase more tops without losing quality. I can have more tops and more variety knowing they’ll last a decent amount of time. I spend less on an everyday casual top and more for a special occasion one. But the quality has to match the price.
• Sheryl: SAVE + SPEND + SPLURGE. Tops really vary for me. I save on t-shirts and I buy the cheapest—some for $6 or $7. But if I am looking for a nice top to go under a business jacket, I will spend what it takes. I’ve purchased nice button-up rayon tops for a high price point but I’ve also purchased some at K-mart that I like just as well.

Jackets, Blazers & Coats

• Kalista: SPEND. Fit is why I spend. I will pay what I need to to get a good fit. You can see some examples in the video about Type 4 outerwear.
• Deborah: SPLURGE. I want jackets, blazers, and coats with good structure, quality materials, and good fit, that will last for many years. So this is where I splurge. I don’t have a lot of them but what I do have, I love the way they look and how they feel on me.
• Sheryl: SPLURGE. I splurge on jackets, blazers, and coats because I make them last for a long time. Many years. I want them to be good quality. (I also have some inexpensive blazers that I purchase for short-term use.)

Jeans & Pants

• Kalista: SPEND. I dislike having to hem everything I buy, so if I can fit the right length I will pay a bit more.
• Deborah: SAVE + SPEND + SPLURGE. This is where I do “all of the above.” I buy jeans and bottoms that fit where or when I’m wearing them (practical). So I “save” on my housecleaning/gardening/errand-running/camping bottoms that I buy from Costco, Target, or even Walmart. I “spend” on nicer bottoms for meeting with people (like parent-teacher conferences, church events, daytime social outings, casual meetings, mall trips, travel, etc). Then I “splurge” on nicer bottoms for date nights, special/social events, casual business functions, parties, etc. For the most part I own jeans and denim capris, but my “spend” and “splurge” bottoms also include slacks.
• Sheryl: SAVE. I am usually able to find what I need in this category for less than I spend in other areas.

Skirts

• Kalista: SAVE. I seldom wear skirts, so I’m not going to spend much on this category.
• Deborah: SPEND. For the most part I spend on my skirts because I like quality and structure without breaking the bank. But if I come across a skirt that I love and it’s different than what is normally out there, whether it’s the fabric design or color, I will splurge on it (I only have a few of those).
• Sheryl: SAVE. Target and JCPenney are my favorite places for skirts.

Dresses

• Kalista: SAVE. I have the same approach to dresses as to skirts.
• Deborah: SPLURGE. For me there’s nothing like a well-fitted, quality dress, so I’ll splurge on the right one. The structure, quality, fit, length, color(s), design line, and fabric are so important to me and I won’t settle for a dress that doesn’t meet all my expectations. Since I wear dresses rarely and usually for dressier occasions, I prefer to wait for the right dress to present itself or save up the money to buy it than settle for something less. This goes for skirt suits also.
• Sheryl: SAVE. I have purchased 2 dresses in 20 years, and I only wore each of them once. I basically don’t purchase dresses.

Shoes

• Kalista: SAVE + SPEND. I save/spend here. I like comfort in shoes, but I will shop places like Ross to find a good brand at a good price. The right shoes can make or break your Type 4 outfit.
• Deborah: SPEND. For the most part I spend on my shoes, especially everyday shoes. Fit and quality are important for me. I’ve made the mistake in the past of buying inexpensive shoes that end up being uncomfortable and don’t last. I do LOVE an elegant, higher-end dress pump that is beyond my budget right now. So I keep an eye out for sales, clearance racks, and look in discount stores like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx for name-brand, quality pumps at a great price.
• Sheryl: SPLURGE. I love well-made shoes!!! I love the way they look and feel. I have a shoe fetish. I keep shoes for 10 years or more, so they need to last. I hate to admit it but the Nordstrom shoe salespeople know me by name. I never buy inexpensive shoes—with one exception: I buy flip flops from Old Navy for $1.50 and I love them. I buy 8 or 10 pair at one time.

Bras & Underwear

• Kalista: SPLURGE. I spent way too long wearing bras that didn’t fit right. I now get what I need, and spend what I need to get it. (See Carol and Anna K’s online event about bras and shapewear.)
• Deborah: SPEND. I always look for fit and comfort when it comes to my bras but I’ve never “splurged” on one. I would love to splurge on a higher-quality bra someday to experience the fit and comfort I hear they offer.
• Sheryl: SPEND. I don’t enjoy spending money on bras. I will buy a few fairly good quality and make them last.

Exercise Clothes

• Kalista: SAVE. I usually work out at home, so simple yoga pants and a tee are good for me. I share some examples in the Type 4 workout wear video.
• Deborah: SAVE. For workout clothes, I always buy on sale or clearance. I want them to look good but also want them to be practical. I really don’t care about what I wear, other than the colors (because the Type 4 colors inspire me and keep me motivated). I would rather have more items to work with than the brand or quality.
• Sheryl: SAVE. I buy them at K-mart or Shopko or Target. Whatever I can find that fits.

Swimsuit

• Kalista: SPEND. Fit and quality. You can see some of my swimsuits in the Type 4 swimwear video.
• Deborah: SPEND. I must have quality, well-fitting swimsuits that look good and can last. I don’t have a lot of them but the ones I have are great.
• Sheryl: SPEND. Fit is my priority. I find them at JCPenney.

Purses & Handbags

• Kalista: SAVE. I’ve found that I prefer simple bags, I can usually find what I need inexpensively.
• Deborah: SAVE. I usually buy high-quality handbags on sale or clearance. The quality and structure is important to me but I don’t like to splurge. I usually have one bag at a time and replace it when it starts to show signs of wearing out. I share what matters most in a handbag in the Type 4 purse video.
• Sheryl: SPLURGE. I love high-quality leather purses. I collect them and they last for a long time. I change my purses daily or at least weekly.

Watches

• Kalista: SAVE. I like just a simple watch. I’ve had the same one for about ten years.
• Deborah: SAVE. I no longer wear a watch.
• Sheryl: SPLURGE. I love mid to high-end watches. I invest a lot to buy them, but I only own a few.

Jewelry

• Kalista: SPEND. I get what I know I will wear often. There are many perfect Type 4 pieces in the DYT Store.
• Deborah: SPEND. I prefer to spend on better quality fashion jewelry. I no longer buy gemstones or fine jewelry because I found that I never wore them—I think because they usually are not as bold as I like to wear. Plus because of the cost, I was always worried about damaging them. I rarely buy inexpensive, cheaply made jewelry that breaks or tarnishes easily. I sometimes spend more on something special or unique. I don’t wear any rings other than my wedding rings.
• Sheryl: SPEND. I have inexpensive to mid-priced jewelry. I don’t mind being trendy with jewelry and I get rid of it when the trend is over. I also have jewelry that is good quality but I don’t care about diamonds.

Eyewear

• Kalista: SAVE. My kids lose or break them too often. I keep eyewear on the cheap.
• Deborah: SPLURGE. I wear prescription glasses and sunglasses. I’ll splurge on the quality, protective and glare elements, and for the right look. I’ve spent quite a bit for a pair of prescription glasses (thank goodness insurance covered most of it).
• Sheryl: SPEND. I spend $20-50 for sunglasses.

(Find classic Type 4 eyewear in the StyleInspire.)

Where else in your lives do you ladies SAVE?

• Kalista: I’m a frugal homemaker. I use simple and effective cleaning products. I menu plan and shop deals on food, without compromising nutrition. I shop yard sales, thrift stores, and clearance. On the whole, I would classify myself more on the minimalist side of consumerism and spending.
• Deborah: I look for deals and saving opportunities on entertainment, dining out, and travel. Otherwise, I don’t do it enough.
• Sheryl: When I needed to save in a certain area, it was in entertainment, travel, and food. We rented movies only (no movie theaters) or roasted marshmallows in the canyons. We drove (never flew) for very short vacations. We rarely ate out.

Other places in your lives where you SPLURGE?

• Kalista: Nutrition, personal growth, and education.
• Deborah: I splurge on anything to do with my health or the health of my family: supplements, essential oils, some medications, quality food, therapy, medical/dental appointments and procedures. I also splurge on educational opportunities for my children.
• Sheryl: Self-care.

The bottom line for your Type 4 wardrobe?

Some things matter to you, other things don’t—and YOU are the authority on which is which in your style and your life.

Allow yourself to spend or even splurge on your highest priorities. (And then save on things that just aren’t that important in your world.)

May your spending habits support you in creating a life that’s true to you.

How do your style spending habits stack up? Where do you spend when the Type 4 Experts save? What’s worth a splurge for you? Please share a comment below.