Big Closet, Small Budget

Don't let the title fool you. I actually have a tiny closet which is rather depressing. So many of the clothes that I actually love and would be thrilled to wear are beyond the capacity of my budget, right now anyway. :) But since I love and want all the pretty things I find ways to get a few of them in my closet even on my limited budget so I thought I'd share some of my shopping 'tips'.

1. Budget
Something I really appreciate is that from a very young age my mom instilled solid saving and spending habits in me. I used to have a piggy bank with three sections: a store, a bank and a church. Any money I earned was split into those 3 categories. And then I took it upon myself to split my spending money into even more specific categories so I'd know just how much I could spend on my scrapbooking knickknacks. :) For me, having that foundation has been essential. Coming up with a monthly plan/budget has been key for me so I can see exactly where my money is going and how much I actually have to spend/save. I'm currently trying out the 50/30/20 budget plan: 50% for essentials, 30% non-essentials and 20% for savings. Setting savings goals for myself and working hard to meet them has been a challenge but last year I finally met my savings goal and I was beyond excited to see that amount in my account! I used this savings plan from Pinterest to help get myself there but if that one doesn't appeal to you, there are so many options you'll be sure to find one that will. The benefit of having your savings built up is that from time to time when I want to splurge and buy myself something nice like my adorable robot purse from Henri Bendel or a sexy fun dress from Alice + Olivia I can purchase it using money from my savings and then I pay myself back. I try to be careful to not do that too many times in a row, otherwise, my deductions start to outweigh my contributions.

2. Cashback

I love cashback, it's one of my favorite things. Discover is my go to credit card, they have great customer service, no annual fee and you guessed it, cashback. I use my credit card for all my purchases during the month to earn cashback which I save till the end of the year and use for Christmas presents. It helps alleviate some of the shopping stress at that time of year and we could all use a little bit of that, am I right? Ebates is another favorite shopping tool. If you do a lot of online shopping, let me introduce you to your new best friend! Type in the name of the store you're looking for, hit shop and you're on your way to cashback! They will show the current percentage of cashback available for each site and sometimes they'll majorly up those amounts for special occasions. When it's time to get paid you have several options: have a check mailed to you, have the money deposited into a Paypal account or have it transferred to a specific store gift card. If you go the gift card route they will actually increase the amount which I love since I usually opt for a Sephora or Ulta gift card and then I can buy my make up guilt free. :) 

3. Credit Card Rewards

Since the money isn't automatically being debited from your account it's easy to get carried away with credit cards. But the interest and potential late payment fees are no joke! I'm careful to never put more on my credit card(s) than I can pay off that month. As I mentioned in my 'Budget' section, I have a set amount for non-essential spending every month. So even though I might have made purchases on 3 different credit cards, those combined amounts aren't higher than the spending amount I've allotted. Find a credit card that doesn't have an annual fee, that has cashback or travel rewards, depending what you're saving for and start getting those rewards! If you frequently shop at the same stores over and over it might be worth looking into getting a store credit card. Just be sure to check the pros and cons and make sure the rewards are actually worth it for you.

4. Rewards Cards

A lot of stores will offer rewards programs so if you're not interested in having another credit card, consider signing up for these instead. Whether you earn points which can be applied to future purchases or receive additional coupons this is a shopping must for me. :) DSW is my favorite place to shop for affordable and stylish shoes. At one point not that long ago I had somehow earned $49 worth of points so I got a free pair of heels! I also earn points with Ulta, Sephora and CVS and probably a few other places that I'm currently forgetting and I definitely make use of all of them!

Wearing my free pair of heels from DSW!

5. Sales/Coupons

Duh, I know. Everyone knows how to shop sales. I tend to buy a lot of my things on sale, who doesn't? Well, Beyonce wouldn't, but since I'm not a vocal powerhouse I'll continue to rummage through the sales racks. :P Even if things aren't on sale most sites will offer a discount if you sign up to receive their promotional emails. I have 2 email accounts, 1 of which I use for just that purpose. Even so I hate having an inbox clogged with multiple emails so I 'cheat' a little bit. I'll sign up for the promotional offer, make my purchase and then I return to my inbox to unsubscribe. Of course a lot of the time what I like isn't on sale so I try to make sure it's something I really love and feel excited about. Actually, I tend to do that even when things are on sale! :P Also, another thing I do is shop around. Just because I see something online that I love doesn't mean I have to pay that price. Most of the time I can find that exact item elsewhere for cheaper which happened with the Alice + Olivia dress I'm wearing in the above photo. :)
*Rabbit trail - A lot of times the appeal of an item will be in the price tag. If it's cheap(er) we're more ready to make do or look past something we may not actually like about the item. So then we have the problem of having closets full of 'bargain' pieces that aren't being worn but are taking up space and we constantly go through the struggle of having 'nothing to wear'. So yes, use sale prices to your advantage and save, but don't let it be the only reason you're purchasing an item.

When I found the above beautiful coat at a high end boutique shop I was still waffling on whether or not I should buy it when the sales clerk told me multiple people had already tried it on but decided it was 'too much of a risk'. I immediately purchased it. :P Well played, sales lady, well played.

6. Thrifting/Selling
Another way I buy a lot of the higher end pieces I own is to shop through sites like eBay or Poshmark and I recently created an account with The RealReal but as of yet, I haven't purchased anything. I'm a seller on the first two sites but I prefer to list items on Poshmark. I've have had quite a bit of luck finding unique, higher end pieces that I love and I only pay a fraction of the cost which is the best part! I have several items that cost a few hundred dollars brand new and I got all of them for $100 or less which is pretty fantastic. And of course with any sales you make on Poshmark you can choose to have those funds sent to you or you can leave them in your account to apply to future purchases which is usually what I choose to do and voila! More great clothes for me and I didn't have to spend 'extra' money.

Wearing some of the pieces I've purchased on Poshmark!

7. Renting
Another option if you like higher end pieces but can't afford to pay for them all out right is to rent them! I signed up for one of Rent the Runway's monthly subscriptions and paid one flat fee for four items. I got to wear designer pieces that I loved but didn't have to spend the big bucks for and every month I could swap them out for more fun items! I'm still drooling over some of these beauties.

Top Left: Amur Top Right: Donna Morgan
Bottom Left: Hunter Bell Bottom Right: C/MEO Collective

You can also try clothes swapping with friends which is something I've done several times. And if you have any great tips for shopping on a budget I'd love to hear about it!

Ciao!