A lot of people make the mistake of believing that being fashionable automatically equates to spending your entire paycheck. However, the truth is, with just a little bit of creativity and planning, you can totally revamp your wardrobe and stay as trendy as ever while still being able to pay your rent! In fact, you can look downright fabulous for free if you play your cards right.
Don’t believe it? Here are some practical and budget-friendly ways to stay fashionable without going broke.
Buy “Faux”
There’s no shame in going “faux” once in a while. Whether it’s buying an imitation version of an expensive brand or choosing faux leather, this can save you a significant amount of money on what you buy. Besides, nowadays, thanks to high-performance polymers, you can hardly tell the difference between natural leather and synthetic leather!
However, you can certainly tell the difference in the price, so it’s something worth considering! Not to mention, no animals were harmed during the process— everybody wins!
Thrift Stores
As they say, “one person’s garbage is another person’s treasure.” Thrift store shopping can be a great place to find unique items of clothing and even designer brands without compromising your financial stability. Whether you check out a local thrift shop or shop online, there are all sorts of different places to buy secondhand clothing these days.
Remember, something is considered “second-hand” the minute it’s purchased, so you could potentially find something brand new that’s never been worn, yet is considered second-hand simply because it’s not fresh off the shelf in the store!
DIY
With a few simple materials, like a glue gun and a needle and thread, you’d be surprised how you can transform your clothing. A few simple upgrades can make it look like you spent a fortune on your clothing when, in reality, it’s something you threw together yourself.
You can add embellishments, distress your denim yourself, or even repurpose accessories in a unique way. DIY is all about personalizing your wardrobe with items no one else has because you made them yourself!
Clothing Swaps
If you have friends who wear similar sizes to you, then you might want to consider hosting a clothing swap. Make an evening out of it while you’re at it! Have everyone bring a bottle of wine, and everyone trades clothes amongst themselves. Not only is it a fun excuse to get together, but you’d be surprised to find how many great outfits you can get for free by simply trading clothes that you don’t want anymore.
Clothing swaps aren’t just budget-friendly, but it’s also a sustainable approach to fashion, which is what the world needs more of—sustainability and earth-friendly practices! Happy shopping!