Happy Friday friends! I can’t believe we made it to the end of week 6 of quarantine life. Since I am on a tight shopping budget these days and I imagine most of you are too, I thought it would be fun to share my top 5 tips for how to shop on a budget. None of these are groundbreaking or may even be new to some of you, but I love sharing my fashion finds so here we go.
#1-Set aside money from your family budget for things for yourself, even if it is just a small amount. I recently redid our budget with all of our job changes and made sure I kept things in there that are important to each of our well beings. For example, my husband started taking guitar lessons in the last year and it is one of the things he truly looks forward to every week. I knew it would be important during this time for me to try and make sure that stays within the new budget. As a trade off, I take a small budget for myself that can be used on anything, like shopping, personal care items, or even items for the house. This way we don’t get caught up in how much the other is spending on outside expenses. Obviously, if we had to tighten up the budget further, these things would need to be reduced more but, for now, it works for both of us.
#2-Never, ever pay full price for anything. I am a die hard bargain shopper to the point where I play the game of waiting to see if items will get marked down further before buying them, which has bit me once or twice when the item sells out before I have a chance to grab it.
On the flip side, I had recently been eyeing a pair of wedges from my favorite brand, Treasure and Bond, but they were initially marked down to $50. Within two weeks, they went down to $40 but in light of my new budget, I held off knowing I may lose the chance to grab them. When they went down to $29 earlier this week, I knew it was meant to be and I pulled the trigger. While buying wedges may not be super practical at the moment, a good pair of wedges is like a good pair of boots to me. I wear them for several seasons to maximize the use out of them. A $29 investment in a closet staple is well worth the hit to my budget this month.
#3-Sell your gently used clothes, shoes or even household items through apps like Poshmark or OfferUp. This always makes me feel better that I am getting some money back from the initial investment in the piece but I use this surplus revenue to help offset any additional new purchases I want to make.
As an example, last year I saved the sales money from my Poshmark account in the app and cashed it out right before Black Friday to give myself some extra spending money without dipping into the budget. Little things like this can make the difference when you are debating an item. I will also add that I have still sold items even during this pandemic so both are still viable resources.
#4-Take advantage of member rewards or benefits programs and even credit cards in some cases. Sometimes earning rewards can be as simple as providing an email address. I know we all hate getting more emails to our inbox but let me tell you, if you only commit to doing this with the retailers you shop the most, it really can add up before you realize it. I don’t recommend opening a bunch of retail credit cards but I have been known to open one for the right discount and then later pay it off and close it out.
The only two credit cards I retain are Gap and Nordstrom. I have had my Gap card forever and while I don’t shop there as often as I used to, I use it for Old Navy finds. There are no annual fees and I earn rewards and spend just enough on it to maintain my silver status with free shipping on all purchases.
Technically, my Nordstrom card is a debit card, but this is a great option to earn Notes with. It keeps my spending in check as I have to have the balance in my account to buy anything but I am still earning rewards like a regular credit card.
#5-When in doubt, ask a friend. One of my favorite parts of our annual Black Friday shopping trip is getting everyone’s opinion on purchases I am debating. Sometimes we all need that person to tell us “Yes, it is totally worth it” or “Pass, it’s not that great of a deal.” Even virtually, I have been known to send a pic of something I’m not sure about to my bestie for a second opinion.
The one thing I always remind myself of and others is that most places have decent return policies (with a few notable exceptions) so if you aren’t sure, buy it and you can always return it. That’s the main reason I have a box full of returns to take once this stay at home order is lifted.
For me, shopping is an escape. It’s a fun hobby trying to find great pieces at affordable prices. Plus, I know I always feel my best when I am put together in a cute outfit. If you like affordable fashion too, come follow me on the LiketoKNOW.it app and see where I share all kinds of sales and bargain finds. Happy Shopping Friends!