Fashion is forever changing, which means that if you are someone who likes to look good then you’ll probably want to update your wardrobe as often as possible.
The problem with this is that not all of us have a budget to buy new items as much as we would like – especially when the cost of some fashion trends is so high!
Does this mean we have to miss out and live with a wardrobe that we are not happy with? Not at all! It simply means being a savvy shopper & buying the right items for you and your wardrobe.
Buy From the Right Retailers
Whatever fashion item you want, there will always be a range of retailers that offer exactly what you are looking for. One of the best things you can do is shop around and compare prices. If you are on a budget, then the last thing you want to be doing is spending more money than you need to on an item.
Remember though, that cheapest isn’t always the best option because when it comes to clothing, quality matters. Try and read reviews before you buy, so you know that whatever you are spending you are getting great value for money.
Also look out for sales, voucher codes and other offers to help bag yourself as much of a bargain as possible. There are different voucher websites you can check to see where is offering the best discounts at the time! It is also worth checking out cash back websites to see if you can save money on your purchase that way.
Buy the Right Items for You
When it comes to clothing, it is easy to get carried away and buy items that aren’t essential. If you are on a budget this means you’re going to be left with little money to buy the items you really need.
When you see something that you like, firstly have a think about how you would wear it, when you would wear it and how it will fit in with the items you have now. If you aren’t really sure how you’re going to wear it and there is a risk it will be left in the back of your wardrobe then do not buy it!
Where possible, try on clothing – if you are buying online check measurements and make sure it fits! Don’t be tempted to buy something that isn’t the right size for you, just because you want it and that is the only size they have left – because you’ll end up wasting your money!
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
Another thing to remember is that you can easily mix and match items that you already have in your wardrobe. I am sure we have all been in the situation where we are invited to a social event and we don’t know what to wear –because we feel like we have worn everything we own so many times already!
The best way around this is to consider mixing and matching items – wear a top with a different pair of trousers this time.
On top of this you should consider adding different items of jewelry to the outfit you are wearing! The great thing about this is that fashion jewelry is really affordable, so even if you can’t splash out on a new outfit you can afford to get a new necklace to give it a fresh look.
Match that up with wearing your hair in a different way and doing your make up slightly differently (there are hundreds of tutorials online) you can look amazing with minimal cost and hardly any effort at all.
Swap with Friends
At times you might feel that you are the only person struggling to stay fashionable on a budget, but the truth is that you are far from alone. In fact if you speak to friends and family you’ll probably find that many of them feel exactly the same as you.
Why not get together and arrange to swap some of your clothes? Just because you have worn a dress a few times and don’t want to wear it again, that doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t get benefit from it! Half the time our clothes are in perfect condition, we just don’t want to wear it because we feel we have worn it too many times already.
By swapping with someone else everyone benefits from a new outfit without having to spend any money – and it is the perfect excuse to catch up with friends for a gossip!
Be Ruthless
The biggest fashion on a budget tip you can follow is to be ruthless. Do not be tempted to buy items ‘just because’. Make sure you always have a solid reason to buy something so that you don’t waste your money on something that isn’t going to be worn.
If there are items in your wardrobe that you aren’t wearing then don’t just leave them sitting there.
There are different places you can sell your old clothes to help raise some extra cash. In most cases you’ll be able to get about half back for what you paid for it – which might not sound great but it means you can sell two dresses you don’t wear in order to buy one dress that you will. When you think about it this way, it makes sense to do it that way!
Don’t over pay for something just because it is hyped. Often when fashion trends take off, retailers up their prices because they know people will pay it. Don’t be tempted by this because it a few weeks the prices will be back down to something more reasonable.
It is all well and good paying over the top for items that you can afford, but if you are on a strict budget then it is silly to pay for items that your budget can’t really stretch to!
Be sensible and savvy with all your purchases and you can have a fresh looking wardrobe without breaking the bank.
