Ballin' on a Budget - How to Look Like a Million Bucks Without Breaking the Bank
Hi — My name is Marissa, and I'm addicted to shopping.
I must admit that sometimes I go a little overboard when it comes to shopping for clothes and accessories. I get easily sucked into sales and new trendy items; I think I need everything! Luckily, I've developed ways to shop smart and save money while not giving up my love for fashion.
Here are some tips on how to ball on a budget, and look like a million bucks without breaking the bank:
1. Buy Generic Basics
I've written about the importance of wardrobe essentials in a previous post, but I also want to caveat that you don't need to break the bank on your basics. There's no need to purchase layering pieces such as tees and tanks from high-end brands.
Save your coins, and pick up basics from stores such as H&M and OldNavy.
2. Leverage Coupon Codes and Cash Back Offers
When it comes to shopping online, I always like to make sure that I'm getting the most bang for my buck. Leveraging coupon codes and/or cash back offers is a must when it comes to online shopping.
Check out Honey, RetailMeNot, & Ebates for some great coupons and cash back deals.
3. Sell the Clothes You Don't Wear
I can admit that I'm a HUGE clothes hoarder. I can go years without wearing an item and still not work up the nerve to get rid of it, but realistically speaking, what use do you have for clothes you're not actually wearing? The answer is "None." At the beginning of the year, I decided to part ways with my unworn clothes by putting them in a duffle bag and selling them to Plato's Closet; a used clothing store chain.
The rule of thumb is, if you haven't worn an item in 365 days, it's time to evaluate whether you need it in your closet or not. If you don't, sell that sucka!
4. Go Thrifting
While we're on the topic of used clothing stores; try shopping at them! I've bought some of my favorite pieces of clothing at thrift stores for next to nothing. The cool thing about thrifting is that you have the ability to get creative and experiment with your style without hurting your pockets.
Thrift stores provide some dope, unique & vintage pieces that will definitely make you stand out in a crowd.
5. Skip Unnecessary Sales
Sales are great when you're on the hunt for a specific item and you're able to find it at a discounted price, but sales can be dangerous if you're just browsing around aimlessly. We all know how this story ends...you end up with a cart full of items you don't need; now you've emptied your pockets, and missed the entire point of the sale.
Leverage sales when you see a discount on specific items you want/need, but skip them if you're not on the hunt for anything.
6. Shop out of Season
Shopping out of season is one of the greatest ways to save money while shopping for clothes. A lot of stores mark down their items when they are out of season in an attempt to get rid of them to make room for items that are currently in season. For example, if you have a worn out winter coat that you know won't survive next winter, buy a new one when spring starts to roll around in March. This is when winter items will go on sale.
Trust me, you'll be shocked by the savings you see once you start shopping out of season. Take this form of shopping for a test drive and let me know how it works out for you!