Everyday, we wake up, open our closets, and search through the racks for that perfect outfit. We pass on the designer jeans, one of a kind dress, and name brand purses. It can be tough to keep up with the whirlwind of trends. Sometimes it feels like we need to sell an arm and a leg just to feel trendy… Unless, of course, you’re a recessionista. If you haven’t yet mastered the tricks of bargain shopping, by the end of this article, you’re going to be a pro! There are three tips to becoming a recessionista.
Tip number one is to know your stores. There are thousands of consignment stores and discount department stores out there. A secret of great recessionistas is making their stores personal. Call up your local TJMaxx or Nordstrom Rack and ask them when they receive deliveries. Many stores will receive deliveries during the middle week; if you wait until the end of week or weekend to go, you’ll be missing out on all of the good pieces! So the trick is to get there the day after deliveries.
Another great tip is prioritizing. Within these stores, there are racks upon racks of clothes. There are shelves of shoes that stretch for miles and more accessories than a girl could ever know what to do with. So where is one supposed to start? Before you go to the store, know what you’re looking for. Don’t go to consignment stores or discount department stores thinking you’re just going to shop around. These stores are great for finding the one piece you’re looking for. They’re also great for finding really trendy pieces at a lower price. You probably won’t be wearing neon color blocked dresses in ten years so why spend tons of money on them. Instead, go to a discount department store and pick pieces that look great and keep your wallet full.
One last tip is combining new discounted pieces with pieces you already own. Part of being a recessionista is learning to recycle your clothing. Look at your wardrobe with an open mind and fresh eyes. There are tons of DIY projects to turn old pieces into new pieces. You can take old sweaters and turn them into scarves! It’s like shopping without even leaving the house. Another way to recycle your older pieces is to have a clothing exchange party. Get your best girlfriends together and tell them to bring old pieces they no longer want. Again, it’s like shopping without leaving the house, or spending money!
In these tough times, we’re all looking for ways to cut back and sometimes that means skimming the budget on clothing. If you follow these great tips, it will still look like you’re the trendy fashionista…while you’re really a recessionista!