If having the wardrobe of your dreams is out of your budget, you won’t want to miss these tips about how to save money on clothes and still have style.
Your personal style is a form of self-expression. It reflects your moods, attitude and is a constant public representation of your own story. We all go through phases and the fashion we choose to adorn us often evolves along with the internal changes we experience.
I remember loving frilly, girly dresses as a child, wearing all black during my more sullen teenage years and now dressing for a love of comfort while still looking good.
Fashion is important and anyone who says it’s not is ignoring just how much the clothes we choose tells the world about us. However, clothes can be expensive!
When you want to look your best while sticking to a budget, follow these seven tips to show off your style for less.
7 Ways To Dress Well On A Budget
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1. Clean Your Closet
Most people have a ton of clothes and only ever wear a small percentage of them.
Pare down your wardrobe by removing everything and only replacing what you absolutely love. Make sure the items you keep tick the following boxes:
- Fit your body well
- You really like them
- You wear them often
- Are still fashionable
- Are well-made and in good condition
Give away or discard anything that does not fit those profiles. Doing this is extremely freeing and will leave you with a wardrobe that fits your current style and makes you feel great.
2. Create A Shopping List
After you’ve cleaned out your closet, you may be lacking a few items. Make a list of everything that you need and stick to that list as you shop.
A shopping list is a great resource that helps keep you on track and on budget. It’s easy to get distracted and end up with purchases you didn’t need especially when clothes shopping. I mean, who doesn’t like new clothes? But, when you’re trying to save money, you need to stay focused.
As you buy the items on your list, cross them off to prevent yourself from getting duplicates of something.
3. Stick To A Classic Style
Clothing like a white button-down shirt, blue jeans and of course, the little black dress are classic because they never go out of style.
Stop chasing trends! You will save lots of your hard-earned dollars because what’s hot doesn’t stay that way for long.
Stick to classic shapes and colours that can easily mix and match. The ability to combine complementary items in several different ways can stretch even the smallest wardrobe and make you look like a million bucks!
4. Buy Used Clothing
Don’t be afraid to buy used outfits! Finding second-hand clothing that matches your style is possible.
Thrift stores are great sources of affordable clothes. Shop at ones that are organized and carry a selection of quality items. No-one wants to waste time searching through poorly made clothes scattered everywhere.
Clothing in second-hand shops rotates regularly so visit often to find great bargains. Don’t be lured into purchasing items just because of the cheap price tag, though.
Search for classic clothing that you really like and try on each item so you can be sure that it fits you well. Before you complete the purchase, check that everything is in excellent condition.
5. Wait For Sales
Sales are a great way to purchase clothes for less. Many retailers offer discounts when major holidays are approaching. Take advantage of these deals and buy the items on your list then.
6. Get Cash Back
If you got paid to shop, you would do it a whole lot more, right? When you use Ebates, you can do just that.
Ebates is a free service that allows you to get cash back when you shop online at some of your favourite retailers. All you need to do is create an account, shop and receive your money through PayPal or via check. It really is pretty simple.
Be careful when shopping online. You won’t be certain the clothing actually fits until you receive it and try it on. Then, if you don’t like the way it looks in person, you may have to pay return shipping along with the cost of getting the package in the first place. Pick stores that offer free shipping and allow you to return purchases to your local store.
For more ideas about how to save while online shopping, check out 5 Ways To Save Money While Shopping In Your Pyjamas.
Everyone wants to look their best at all times but it can be challenging when you’re on a budget.
7. Use Cash Only
When you want to save money and express your style for less, using cash is a tried and true method.
I know paying with cash seems old-fashioned but credit cards are dangerous debt traps. They allow you to spend and spend and before you know it, you’ve racked up quite a bill.
Also, you need to pay the total balance by the due date or brace yourself for the high interest fees the bank happily applies to your account. That’s not how we do things here on Leisurely Does It because we practice smarter living!
When you go shopping, take the cash equivalent of what you have set aside in your budget. Yes, you need a budget by the way! The money acts as a tangible reminder of how much you actually have to spend and this helps to keep on you on track. When you don’t have any more money, you can’t buy anything else. Seems pretty straightforward to me!
When you have a huge mortgage and bills to pay, these have to be your priorities. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t look great. Use these tips to save money and embrace your personal style for less.
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