It calls your name. You look at it through the window. You decide to pass on by… but then you stop. You’re drawn to it’s message. Could it be possible? It’s what so many girls dream of. You walk back and face it head on: it’s the sale sign.
On a recent shopping trip to the Southside my friends and I were discussing how we feel like they aren’t utilizing our money wisely and are failing to keep an appropriate budget. Since then I’ve come up with ways to get the most out of my money, when I decide to spend, and save in that very familiar realm of clothes shopping.
Two Budget-shopping Tricks
First off, when you go shopping for something try to only pick up things you absolutely need. I think about it like this: If you feel like you could put an article of clothing down and walk away from it, only to forget about it 20 minutes later, it’s probably not a very necessary purchase. Or if you’re in the dressing room and you have to convince yourself that you like what you’re wearing, then it’s probably not vital to your wardrobe. So put it down!
Secondly, try to buy things that you don’t need to buy seven other things for. For example, don’t get those blue pants if you only have purple shoes and a green shirt to go with it. Clearly they won’t match, and now you’re stuck buying new shoes and a new top just so that you can wear the blue pants. It’s a vicious cycle.
Watching the Weather
Another aspect of shopping you should consider is the current weather. I’m way too guilty for buying a tank top or a skirt in the dead of winter. Sure, I may be able to wear it to one party or one dinner but then it’s going right back in the closet. And chances are if you buy these items in the winter they will most likely be designed with a winter pattern or color that you’re not going to want to sport in the spring. That’s how stores get you! Solution? Go ahead and get items for special occasions.
Note: this does not mean you need a special tank top to get sushi with your best friend. But instead, buy a pretty dress for a date on New Years Eve or even a tank top for a special birthday dinner. For all the other instances, only get things that are weather appropriate or essential. However, if you’re open to layering (with some layers you already own!) then it’s okay to get a cute tank to put under that sweater in your drawer or a skirt with the tights and boots you have stored away.
The Day and Night Solution
And finally, get items that you can wear day and night. This may be one of my favorite tips. Making an outfit appropriate for the day and for the night is actually really easy to do. For example: you just bought a simple tank top. On a nice autumn day, you can pair a fall scarf with the tank, jeans, and boots. Or you can wear the same tank top with fun jewelry and heels at night. Likewise, you can wear a fall blazer with a t-shirt and jeans during the day or wear it with a lace tank and black jeans at night.
Of course you can adjust this to fit your wardrobe or budget, but there are many different variations of day to night looks that allow you to buy less and create more. Hopefully this will help you budget your wardrobes better and save some money for the future. After all, we can’t spend all of our money on clothes and then have no money to go out anywhere!