Budgeting. It’s not a favorite word for most to hear. As Carrie Bradshaw fabulously put it, “I like my money right where I can see it. Hanging in my closet.”
When it comes to budgeting for your shopping trip, there are two approaches.
One: Save a little money each week for a big ticket item. Print out a few pictures of the item in mind and put it everywhere: in your wallet, purse, car dashboard and on the back of your phone case. This way, every time you go to spend money you have the thing you want staring you in the face. Sure, you can go out and get drinks with friends tonight, but that means the big-ticket item will be put off until a later date. Which would you rather have? The price of the item should determine how much you put away each week. Factor in how soon you want it.
Or, option two: shopping on a whim. This is for all persons who “have nothing to wear.” Many people buy something, love it unconditionally for two months, then it’s as if the piece spread a disease throughout the whole closet, forcing most to hate everything in it.
Before you embark on your shopping journey, take a survey of your closet. See what you have, what you need and what you would like. Flip through the pages of magazines and cut out styles you would like to try. Bring that with you to the store! If you have a pair of shorts or a skirt that is difficult to match, bring it with you to have a better idea of what would match with it. It’s harder to describe a color than you would think. Make a list of what you need- this helps to keep you on track.
Shop the sale section. A lot of times sale sections get a bad rap. They’re usually very disorganized and people think it’s on sale because it’s crap. You’d be surprised what you could find. Take the time to scope the sale section, it’s like looking for buried treasures! Remember: don’t buy it just because it’s on sale. If you wouldn’t buy it full price, don’t buy it on sale!
Stock up on essentials! Tank tops, leggings, denim, flip flops and a comfortable pair of pajamas and slippers are essentials for every closet. Luckily, they are not as difficult to find.
Now that you’re armed with these tips, make smart shopping choices and make the most of your wardrobe budget!