Hi, I’m Bethany, and I’m a shopaholic. But for real though. I’m a stress shopper, a boredom shopper, and an impulse buyer. If I have money, I will spend it. With the craziness of 2020 and the boredom of quarantine, I definitely have gone a little overboard. But now I am definitely trying to calm down a bit. And I’m sure I’m not the only one! So for today’s post, I thought I would share some tips for how to be stylish on a budget.
Give yourself a spending limit, and stick to it.
This first tip for how to be stylish on a budget seems so obvious of course. Know what your budget is, and stick to it. I also try to use my Venmo account for spending money. My husband and I also have a joint bank account that most of my monthly paycheck goes to. I don’t touch that account without asking him first. This was my idea since I know I have a spending problem. If you don’t have someone to watch your finances for you, then having a separate bank account can help! You can have a portion of your paycheck go to your saving account, and a portion to your spending account.
Shop your closet!
You don’t need to constantly be shopping for new clothes in order to be stylish on a budget. Get creative with your outfits. Look through your closet and pull out a few pieces you haven’t worn in a while. Now, think of ways that you could style those pieces in an outfit you have never worn before. Go to Pinterest or Instagram if you need some inspiration. You’d be surprised at how many new outfits you can put together with old clothing items.
If you missed my last post, I shared three ways to style one pair of faux leather leggings. Find statement pieces like this, and then figure out multiple ways that you could style that one statement piece. On a related note, it’s a good idea to buy statement pieces! Try to remember to buy items that can be versatile and worn many times and not just once or twice. This way you get your money’s worth!
Go to thrift stores or secondhand websites
Thrift store shopping can actually be really fun. Make a day of it with your girlfriends! Go out to brunch and then go thrift store hopping. You may have to search for a while to find some hidden gems. Another option would be stores like Ross, Marshall’s, or TJ Maxx. At these stores, you can often find more affordable items than going to boutiques or department stores like Nordstrom.
Another option is to shop thrifted online with ThredUP. I feel like it’s easier to find what you’re looking for by searching for specific items you have in mind. I also use their closet clean out kit. They send you a bag; you fill it up with any old clothes you don’t want anymore and send it back to them. They let you choose to donate, or sell. You may only make $15-20 from a bag, but it’s super convenient! Poshmark is also another good option for buying secondhand, although I have never used it myself. I know a lot of bloggers sell their clothes on Poshmark. You may even be getting items that have only been worn once or twice.
Shop smart and wait for sales!
Of course, there are times of the year when big sales always happen. Black Friday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I would also recommend signing up for emails from some of your favorite retailers. I am always getting sale alerts from Old Navy, Banana Republic, Pink Lily, and so many others.
You can often find discount codes from some of your favorite bloggers on Instagram. Sometimes they will have discount codes that always work (like “BETHANY15” from Alex Erinn always gets you 15% off). Other times it is just a temporary code. If you’re looking for a specific clothing item, try searching for it on the LIKEtoKNOW.it app. A lot of times, influencers will share their code on their LTK posts. I will tell you right now, you should never have to shop Pink Lily full price. Every month there is a 15% off discount code. So this month, the code is “SEPTEMBER15.” Some bloggers have personal discount codes for 20% off as well. When it comes to being stylish on a budget, this is probably my biggest tip. Never shop full price if you can help it!
Know when to splurge
There are certain items that it’s fine to get more affordable options. There are other items that I would say it’s better to spend the money and get good quality products.
I try to splurge more on jewelry, jeans, and shoes. These items can last you for years if you get good products, and can go with many different outfits potentially. I have some cheap necklaces that I bought years ago. I may still wear them, but they don’t look good anymore. The paint has chipped or rubbed off, or they break. Sometimes it’s worth it to invest in something that’s better quality. That way, you don’t have to keep buying it over and over.
Sometimes I will get more affordable shoes, but I would recommend spending more on boots for Fall or Winter. I wear them often and they have to last through snow and ice potentially. If you wear tennis shoes, I would also suggest investing in those. That way, they will last you longer and provide the amount of support your feet may need.
I tried to buy some pairs of jeans from Amazon last summer. I ended up wearing them once and then donating them because they weren’t comfortable. It can be so hard to find a good quality pair of jeans that you love to wear. When you find them, splurge on them if you need to. Just know that you will likely be wearing them for years, so it’s worth the money.
Let me know your tips for how to be stylish on a budget. It can seem really intimidating at times, but have fun with it! I love searching through Pinterest or Instagram and figuring out how I could recreate that outfit with items from my closet. It can be challenging, but you definitely don’t have to constantly be broke because of shopping for clothes. Learn from my mistakes and be creative with your styling!
