Money conscious shoppers always abide by some sort of budget when purchasing items for their wardrobe and lifestyle. Sometimes this means putting that item that you adored back onto the rack because its price exceeded your budget of $30. In this post, I would like to share five tips on how to navigate the world of fashion when operating on a tight budget.
Tip #1 – Only Shop Discounts
This tip may seem obvious, but you are bound to get a deal if you keep your eyes peeled for discounts and clearances. Personally, I don’t buy any of my closet items unless they have been discounted. Most times for me, this looks like purchasing used items from a thrift store. The original price that the item had been brand new, is of course, discounted since it has been used. Some items at thrift stores may even still have the tags on them meaning they have likely never been worn and you’re getting a significant discount on a (basically) brand new item!
Tip #2 – Shop Used
I already touched on this tip in #1, but shopping used is a great way to get brand name items for cheap. You would be astounded by how many brand name items you can find by sifting through thrift store bins and racks to find quality items for a fraction of their original cost. The best places to shop for thrifted items are smaller thrift stores. Some of the larger chain thrift stores jack-up their prices because they are better known. My advice is to find smaller thrift stores. These places will often sell shirts as a blanket $2 across the board with no regard to brand names or trending styles. It means working your way through a lot more undesirable items, but if your goal is to find inexpensive attire, these thrift stores are the places to go for unique and inexpensive finds!
Another way to shop used is to make use of places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Kijiji and other apps for private sale of goods. Shopping here allows you to negotiate price or even make trades for the desired item.
Tip #3 – Make Use of Online Shopping
Online shopping can be fabulous for so many reasons, one of them being you are more likely to pay less for the items you are purchasing because the company isn’t upcharging for a fancy storefront. Also, many well known brands will sometimes only advertise certain deals on their online websites even if they do own a physical storefront. However, do beware of overpriced shipping and other suspicious costs. Check out my blog on tips for successful online shopping by clicking the button below!
Tip #4 – Consciously Purchase Items
There is a reason why the candy and chips are always placed near the checkout line. Impulse buys are sometimes the purchases that set us over the limit that we had established as our budget at the beginning of our shopping experience. Wardrobe based impulse buys are often the items that look fantastic on the clothing hanger (or maybe even when we try them on ourselves) because they have a gorgeous pattern or unique color, but when we bring them home to our own closets, we find ourselves desperately searching for what on earth we can pair that item with. Don’t make wardrobe based impulse buys! These items end up being pushed to the corner of our closet, still taking up space on a hanger in the hopes of one day being paired with something it “goes with”, when in reality, that pairing never happens and the impulse buy ends up getting donated or thrown away. A way to prevent this from happening is, when you are at the store, ask yourself if there are at least 5 other things in your EXISTING wardrobe that you can easily pair this item with. If the answer is an easy yes, then you’re golden. If the answer is sadly no, then you just saved yourself some money and a psychological headache of not feeling good about your “incohesive and dysfunctional” wardrobe.
Tip #5 – Off Season Buys
Many, if not all, clothing distributors will mark down their clothing items that are going out of season. This helps them sell items quickly to make room for the new season’s collection. If you are a fan of brand name clothing, or prefer to purchase new items rather than used, this method of purchase may be one worth checking out. By purchasing off season items, you acquire brand new clothing without compromising your wallet by paying full price.
When people compliment an aspect of my outfit I love telling them the low price that I purchased the item for. To me, it is a great way to show people that they too can procure a functional wardrobe no matter their place in life or their financial situation.
Looking great means feeling great and ultimately being more productive.
Share these tips to help your neighbors tackle life with confidence!
Budget Buys and Beauty 