Shopping on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or style. As an avid shopper, I’ve learned how to minimize my spending in what could be seen as an expensive hobby. Here are some tips I’ve acquired along my shopping journey of how to get cute clothes while shopping on a budget.
Consignment Stores
Consignment stores are one of the best kept secrets for budget-friendly, stylish shopping. Consignment stores sell gently used, high-quality, and often designer items at a fraction of the original price. For example: a good pair of jeans at a typical store are priced around $70, however, at a consignment store they would be priced around $20, still being in excellent condition. One of the best parts of shopping at consignment stores is the opportunity to purchase unique items, sometimes from brands, or styles that have been discontinued. At consignment stores there is an enormous selection of brands and styles, as it is an accumulation of collections from a wide variety of owners opposed to a typical clothing store where items are mass produced. Living in Dallas my two favorite consignment stores are Clothes Circuit in Preston Center and Clothes Horse Anonymous in Preston Royal, which both have an excellent selection of clothes from affluent parts of Dallas. A common misconception is that consignment stores and thrift stores are the same. However, they are significantly different. At thrift stores the clothes are heavily used, and are often low quality items that only have a few wears left. However, consignment stores are picky about the items let into the store, only letting in gently used, fashionable items from quality, reputable brands.
Instagram Clothes Accounts
On Instagram, many people run “buy my clothes” accounts. These accounts sell gently used clothes that they no longer need or never wore in the first place, and are heavily discounted. This is a great way to buy high quality items in good condition for a fraction of the original price because the sellers are often wanting to declutter their closet and make quick money. These accounts are especially useful for special occasions. Girls often sell their dance dresses from past dances for around $30 when the original is usually about $150, significantly discounted from the original price. Given these types of dresses are usually worn once, buying them second-hand and discounted makes more sense. With today’s climate of mass consumption and not wanting to repeat outfits, purchasing from “buy my clothes” accounts is a smart alternative because you get the thrill of new cute clothes at a way cheaper price.
Shop during big sales
Mainstream stores have large sales after big holidays making it a great time to stock up on clothes you need. These sales happen around Black Friday, Labor Day, Memorial day, and after Christmas- these sales can be up to 60-70% off. It is the perfect opportunity to stock up on items like shoes, shirts, and other items you know you will need year-round. Big sales are also a great time to splurge on high-end items, such as a nice watch, because many stores will have discounted prices, making these items more affordable. If you wait a few months for a sale, you can get amazing items that are marked down because they are “out of season”. Sales allow you to buy the same clothes as everyone has, just at a cheaper price. Stores have sales often so keep an eye out and wait to purchase your items so you can save money!
Buy basic
When you purchase basic clothing items, you present yourself the opportunity for endless mix and matching, allowing you to create more outfits. This is essential because one of the main reasons people feel compelled to buy new clothes is because they feel like they “have nothing to wear” because they choose to wear “statement pieces” that can only be paired with certain things, leading to repetitive outfits. However, if you get versatile, neutral items that can be worn with anything, you create a fluid wardrobe allowing you to have almost limitless outfits within your closet. This will minimize your craving to shop for new clothes because you will have many items to make new outfits with.
Incorporating these strategies into your shopping habits will not only give you affordable prices but can help you build a stylish, well-rounded wardrobe with both quality and variety.
When you focus on spending wisely, you will gain confidence not only in your wardrobe, but in your purchasing decisions and good spending habits. Happy shopping!
