I might classify myself as a shopaholic. I work at a clothing boutique, but on my days off where do I go? The mall. I don’t even spend much money most of the time, but I love looking at all of the new things to see if anything catches my eye. Here are some of the ways I sustain this hobby without draining my bank account.
- Shop online. Sites like Tobi and Lulus always have great deals. Tobi offers 50% off your first purchase and they add new items almost every day, which are 30% off for the first week they are on the site!
- Beware of “dry clean only” pieces. Buying a shirt from Forever 21 won’t save you money in the long run if you need to pay for it to be dry cleaned, too.
- One word: Target. I know I’ve raved about it before, but it’s true. It has great knock offs of trendy, designer styles.
- Make a list of what you need or REALLY want and stick to it! Go through your “Fashion” board on Pinterest and write down the items or outfits you seem to repin the most. Then go to the mall with a mission.
- Buy versatile pieces. For example, a chambray or denim top can be worn with colored jeans, over a dress, opened, closed, under a coat, with a scarf… the list goes on!
- Ask yourself these questions: Is it different from all of the other clothes I have? Is it worth X many hours of work? Do I get that excited, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to wear it all day, every day and can’t live without it!’ kind of feeling? The answers to these questions should help you make a wise decision. Another rule of thumb I have is if I’m still thinking about something a few days later, it might be worth going back for.
- To make some extra spending money, clean out your closet. If you haven’t worn it in a year chances are small that you’ll ever wear it again. Also, try things on because the fit might be weird. It might look cute, but there’s a reason you don’t actually wear it. If it’s an item you’re sentimental about (maybe it’s the dress you wore for graduation or the designer purse you got for your 16th birthday that is totally out of style now) take a picture of it! That way you still have the memory without it taking up room in your closet. I’ve made almost $300 this year by taking my old clothes to Plato’s Closet or consigning them at Peridot Boutique. It all adds up!
Hope these help! Happy shopping!!