<prompt> Human: Hello! I have a question. My husband and I are still paying off student loans and have 41k left to go. Over the past two years we have paid off 42k in medical and student loan debt. Our salaries have increase so we should be done in the next year. However I am starting to go insane. My clothes are starting to look really wornunprofessional. I am not saying this as someone who has nothing to wear but has a closet full of clothes. My bras are on their last leg. My underwear and socks have holes. My shoes are starting to get frayed and worn through. I have thrown out countless items in the last two years that have gotten holes womens clothing is not very durable. I wear glasses everyday because I dont want to pay for contact upkeep. My makeup is cheap and so is my hair upkeep things. But I feel like a frump and I fear this is affecting me professionally. I feel like women are held to a much different dressing standard in the work force than men.With that said, what would be a reasonable amount to spend on winterfall clothing? My work is business casual but you are still expected to look nice and put together. I have tried thift stores last year but I didnt do a very good job picking out things that lasted well and wound up throwing things out. As for specifics we make 6.5k a month and are putting 4k on debt per month. Thoughts? Thanks!  <response>: I see from your comments that you are aggressively paying off debt, and thats great, but I would encourage you to think about updating your wardrobe as an investment in your career. It may not be fair or right, but people notice when you dress well and look nice. It shows that you are willing to make an effort, and makes you stand out or blend in, whichever is appropriate for your work environment. Some other posters have recommended discount and thrift stores, and I second that. Virtually everything I own comes from Ross, Target or DSW, and people compliment my style on a regular basis. I would urge you to think about your purchases in terms of use-value, as in, how many times will I likely wear this item? A pair of nice black pants that fits you well can be the sort of wardrobe staple that you wear twice a week for the next few years. When you think of it like that, a pair of pants that costs 50 is actually costing you about 0.25 a day or less. Sometimes its worth it to spend a bit more if youll get more out of it. Theres a show I love called What Not To Wear that is sadly no longer on TV, but available on netflix. The hosts teach women how to build wardrobes from pieces that can be used in multiple ways. Thats another great way to get more value from your purchases. I rarely buy something if I cant see myself wearing it in at least two contexts or two seasons. I also like dresses because a single item constitutes a whole outfit. You can accessorize for personality, but a serviceable cotton dress can be worn 3 seasons out of the year and requires no more effort than tossing it over your head. Finally, I think you might want to make shopping a regular part of your budget. If your wardrobe is as mangled as you claim, I would plan to spend 200 or so at the outset at someplace like target. You can get socks, underwear, bras, casual clothes, and work clothes all under one roof. Then you can fill out your wardrobe month by month will a small budget, say 50. That way your wardrobe stays fresh and you arent in this same position in the spring. Good luck! 