*Week 8 of My Great Shopping Plan of 2010, where I attempt to stay on a budget and fill out my wardrobe*

Since I didn’t really focus much on filling up any wardrobe gaps last week, I felt that I should use the last $43 of my budget money (er, birthday money from February) on something that would fill a gap, something that could be useful at my new job.  And then the most amazing eBay deal ever fell into my lap.

J Crew Super 120s Blazer
$40!!!!!!! on eBay

Gap filled: High quality blazer

Yes, that really says $40.  Yes, those really are the original tags.  A brand stinkin’ new J Crew blazer.  These things are $238 on the website people.  I could not believe that I got this.  J Crew blazers rarely show up on eBay, and when they do the price usually gets bid up beyond my range, or they aren’t in my size.  But I was the only person who bid on this one.  Wow.  Albeit, the extra pocket flap is a bit weird, and it’s a bit longer than I prefer.  But even after I pay my tailor to fix those problems, it will still be less than half the original price.  Now I just have to find a J Crew Super 120s pencil skirt in charcoal in my size at a reasonable price.

I was also the lucky recipient of two wonderful gifts this week.  Two months ago, I saw Jen of Jen Lovs Kev wearing an adorable robot necklace from ModCloth, and I immediately wanted it.  I sent my boyfriend a link telling him it was what I wanted for my birthday, and dropped constant hints about how much I would like a robot necklace.  Then, it sold out on ModCloth before he had the chance to order it, and I was so sad.  I resigned myself to not getting a robot necklace.  And then my super-smart boyfriend did a search on Etsy, and found a necklace almost exactly the same as the one on ModCloth.  I don’t think it really counts as homemade, but I don’t care because it’s freakin’ awesome.  It shipped from the Philippines, so I just now got it this week.  Love.

Robot Necklace from Love Spell Jewels on Etsy

Gap filled: Super awesome robot necklace

I also received a lovely gift from Kate of A Tale of Two Closets.  I met up with her a few weeks ago when she was in Florida, and gave her a skein of my hand-spun yarn.  She sent me a lovely thank you note, and included a bracelet from her mom’s Etsy shop.  Thanks Kate!

Rainbow bracelet from Accidental Artists

Gap filled: Stone bracelet

So I had $3 of b-day money left at the end of March.  Since I’m starting a new job, I’m raising my budget next month from $125 to $175 to spend on clothes.  I’m going to try to focus on beefing up my working wardrobe.