Clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories are a large part of your personality. When you piece them together, you create a style that lets others know who you are. That’s probably why shopping for fashions is a favorite pastime for millions of consumers across the country. Finding creative new ways to express yourself while fitting in with the latest trends is exciting and somehow, therapeutic. For lots of people, however, when it boils down to paying the bills or buying something off their “must-haves” list, fashion takes a back seat.
If funds are a problem for you, you should know that you can create your own personal style without spending a lot of cash. There are so many ways to find clothes, shoes, jewelry, and fashion accessories that are both trendy and within your means. Here’s how:
Yard Sales
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. When it comes to fashion items like clothes and jewelry, you can find them in abundance at your local yard sales. Lots of people purge their homes with the hopes of freeing up space and making some extra cash and you can use this to your advantage. You can find items that have never been worn as well as classic pieces that you can add to your wardrobe for 50 or even 75% off what you’d pay for it in stores. Spend your Saturday mornings driving around your neighborhood to see what others have for sale and negotiate your way into some great bargains.
DIY
If you’re a creative mind, you can really slash the cost of fashion by making your own unique pieces. You can invest in bulk materials, a sewing machine, thread, and some patterns and make clothes others won’t be able to find anywhere else. Need some accessories? Jewelry is pretty easy to make too. All you need is some string, beads, jewels, and other cool additives to make your jewelry stand out. You can find sales for jewelry making supplies through vendors like Gempacked by Bella Findings and create special pieces to match your new wardrobe.
Second-Hand Stores
Those that don’t sell fashion items they don’t wear anymore end up donating them to nearby second-hand stores. You can do yourself and your wallet a favor by shopping there first. As you know, fashion trends have a way of repeating themselves. If you look hard enough, you can find pieces that people donated years ago that are now trending again. Imagine finding a few outfits and accessories for a fraction of what you’d pay at the mall or retail shop.
Renting
If you really like keeping up with the trends but can’t afford to keep paying full price for them, you can rent items and save money. Clothing rental services are becoming all the rave. Women can shop during their spare time online and find unique clothes, shoes, and accessories. Want to buy one of those fashion blazers but can’t afford it? Simply search the fashion rental site, add it to your cart and rent it for a week or two. This gives you more flexibility to switch up your wardrobe as frequently as you’d like without going out and spending your money every time you want to rock a new trend.
Savvy Shopping
When you do shop for fashion being savvy can save you a lot of money. There are a lot of methods that can be used to get discounts on jewelry, clothes, shoes, and everything else you might need. One of the more basic tips would be to use coupons. Another suggestion would be to shop off-season (buying winter clothes in the summer when they’re on clearance). Also, be sure to look for good deals. Retailers are always looking for ways to get new business, so you’ll likely come across a ton of savings. From coupons and free merchandise to sales events and huge clearance savings, start following your favorite brands online to receive updates on the latest ways to save.
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice rocking your personal style because of a cash flow problem. How you dress is a big part of who you are and inspires how you feel about yourself. If you love keeping up with the latest trends or shopping for your favorite clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories, there is a way to do it affordable. Hopefully, these ideas will allow you to continue to be fashionable without going broke.