Saving Money on Your Spring Wardrobe

By Krystal Swanson on March 9, 2013

As spring break slowly creeps upon us, those of us who aren’t going on a nice vacation out of this winter snow might want to take this opportunity to update our wardrobe into spring. HOWEVER, those of us who are not leaving the snow probably aren’t leaving the snow because we’re short on cash. Updating your wardrobe does not have to cost a lot of money. Here are a few ideas to keep your new wardrobe within budget:

Avoid the malls…unless you’re shopping clearance rack. There is no point in paying an extremely high price for something you can buy at another store for so much less. Stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Burlington Coat Factory occasionally carry these “mall brands” in their store for a lower price.

Make a list beforehand, while leaving just a little room for “impulse buys.” Decide on what would make your new wardrobe awesome beforehand. If you don’t, you might find yourself covering the length of your arms in hangers and clothing. Making a shopping list can help you prevent buying something you don’t need or actually want.

Take inventory of what you have. You do not need forty plaid, roll-up-the-sleeve shirts. Since you’ve probably been really attached to your winter wardrobe, it would be a good idea to refresh your memory as to what you have in your spring clothes. Repeats of what you love aren’t a bad idea, but if you have a defined budget, it can allow you to buy something you don’t already have.

Ask someone who knows you well before making a “trendy” purchase. I have fallen into the trap of buying what’s “trendy.” When you go shopping it’s best (and fun) to bring a friend who knows you very well. They have an idea of what you would actually wear as opposed to what you think you would wear, but in reality you wouldn’t. Listen to their opinion and take what they have to say into consideration.

Don’t be “too cool” to use coupons. This is an obvious one. Look online for coupons. Use your rewards card for the store. Look through ads to see when and where the sales are. Anyway you can save money means more awesome clothes for you.

TRY THINGS ON. I can’t say this enough. Although I am a culprit of breaking this rule, it is very important in saving money and time in the long run. Unfortunately, sizes are NOT universal. Size 8 jeans in one store might not fit like size 8 in another. It is important to try things on to see if they fit and if you like the way you look in that article of clothing.

As college students, we do not have a lot of money just to throw away. Buying clothes, sadly, is no exception. Buy things that you like and that you can wear often by mixing with a lot of things you already have. Remember “quality not quantity” when buying a new wardrobe, also. Happy shopping!

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