8 Poor Girl Hacks to Looking Good on a Budget appeared first on OLENA.
Let’s be honest; when it comes to spending our hard earned cash, most of us would love for our entire pay check to go on a new outfit, the latest MAC collection or a sleek Michael Kors tote bag in every available color. Unfortunately, bills and rent tend to take up a huge chunk of our earnings, often leaving us with pittance to split between food, gas, nights out and ‘luxuries’ like clothing and makeup.
Luckily for budget-restricted fashionistas, there are ways to update your wardrobe on a regular basis without breaking the bank. Follow these simple tips to ensure you always look on trend, without delving into your overdraft (by too much, anyway).
Shop Consignment
Shopping second hand is a great way of scoring clothes at a fraction of their retail price. Vintage shops are usually full of high fashion products but can come at a price; thrift shops are a lot cheaper but will require sifting through some unusual or undesirable outfits. Spending the time doing so is worth it though, as you can come out with designer products for less than the price of a coffee.
Other ways to shop second hand is online. Follows of fashion bloggers may be aware of blog sales, in which a fashion blogger sells their clothing online at extremely good prices. These are a great way of grabbing a bargain and wearing the latest trend without having to pay the highest price.
eBay is also a great way of snapping up a bargain online, although if you really have your eye on something set an alarm so you can get a last minute bid in and avoid a bidding war.
Trade in Old Clothes
There are times when your wardrobe is packed, but full of clothes you don’t want.
Rather than throw away your unwanted items, look for places which offer trade ins – H&M sometimes offer a voucher in exchange for every bag of unwanted clothes, whereas online sites like Swishing and Swap Style give credits for your clothes which you can then spend in their store. Many cities also organize clothes swapping events, allowing you to take a bag of your unwanted rags and swap it with willing participants.Use Cash Back Sites
Many online retailers can be browsed through sites like Top Cash Back and Quid Co who will give you ‘commission’ for your purchases, meaning you can save a certain percentage with each purchase as you get the money credited into your account. While this is useful on clothes and makeup, it also is a good tool for more expensive purchases such as holidays and appliances as the money you save can be put towards more clothes.
Use Voucher Sites
Before making any online purchase ever, always google a variation of “site name voucher” or “site name discount” as more often than not, there will be a voucher or discount code kicking around which you can apply at the checkout. Google shopping allows you to search for items sold in multiple retailers and compare the prices, often enabling you to save on your purchase.
Stock up on Basics
An easy way to make sure you always have something to wear is to have plenty of basics which can be worn on their own or layered up for various looks. Camisoles, crop tops and oversized tees are all staple items which can be bought relatively cheap and won’t look any different to designer versions.
Invest in Quality Pieces
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There are certain items of clothing which are worth spending more money in due to the quality and durability. Jeans, coats and a good pair of boots are all products that are subject to wear and tear, meaning budget versions will only last a month or two before needing replacing. Owning two good pairs of jeans for three years is a lot more cost effective than owning 10 budget pairs every year.
Sign up for Brand’s Newsletters
Many brands will offer flash sales and 24 hour promotions which, unless you happen to be on their website at that particular time, you’re likely to miss out on. Signing up for their newsletters will not only let you know when these sales will happen, it usually gives you a one off code to use as a thank you for signing up.
Shop Classics
Fashion trends come and go each season, meaning your on trend purchase is suddenly not so on trend. Shopping classics ensures that your clothes can be worn all year round and always look in style. There are some trends which come around so often they are almost classics, such as pastels in spring. Buying clothes which are current trends isn’t a complete no-no but if it’s a tossup between spending $200 on a new season coat or a stunning LBD, always go for the LBD. You can pick up current season clothing at shops like H&M for a price which won’t leave you out of pocket when the next trend comes in.
Cover photo: celebs101.com