I know it seems like an oxymoron.
A complete condradiction.
It seems like something that only exist in Fairy Tale Land!!!
If you know me, you know I love Fashion.
I love all things Fashion!!!
I love clothes, shoes, purses, scarves, jewelry and all the sparkly accessories that go with it!!!
But when you live on a budget you can not walk into a Department Store or in a Boutique and buy right off the racks.
There is just no way.
So how can a person love Fashion and still afford it?
Here are a few guidelines I set up for myself way back in my college days. These "rules for shopping" have helped me for years!
I hope they can be a blessing to you as well.
1. Never pay full price for an item.
To help myself follow this rule I pass up all of the racks and go straight to the clearance racks.
I know I will fall madly in love with something that is way too expensive. And I can find a way to justify my need for it!!
But no matter how much I may justify, no sweater is worth going broke over.
I know that is not today's philosophy.
But it us mine....
So, for me not to enter temptation, I walk right passed those high dollar racks.
I don't look and I don't peek.
It will simply hurt my feelings.
The best deal I ever found was a $150 dress that was marked down to $49. That price had been marked out and the new price of $29 was written in its place. I noticed it was on a 60% off rack. And that day they were offering an additional 25% off.
Hummmm....85% off $29.00!!
I did the math and liked the number.
When I got to the register I was shocked by the number the lady told me.
She started giggling when I asked her to repeat the total. Just in case I had misunderstood her.
$.99 as in .99 cents! What!!! Not even Goodwill could offer this kind of a deal!!!
I used the dress for our family pictures this year.
2. Shop out of Season.
This is my biggest bargain tool!
You can find the lowest prices this way.
I love shopping out of season.
Finding a $2 sweater or a $5 coat in the middle of Summer may sound funny but to me it's like finding gold.
Right now, winter clothes are being marked down really low because the stores are bringing out their Spring Fashions.
Even I'd a new style is introduced, I wait till it is on sale.
3. Don't be afraid Goodwill!!
A huge percent of my clothes come from Goodwill.
Before there was Pinterest, I would look at Department Store magazines at the latest Fashions, then I would go to Goodwill and try to re-create it the best I could.
Now we have Pinterest, Fashion Blogs and Instagram to help with that.
Goodwill is my Happy Place!
This is the year of the Puffy Vest.
I found this little red beauty at Goodwill.
4. Learn to shop in your own closet!
When we did our family Christmas pictures. I got my inspiration from Pinterest. Then instead of buying anything, I went to my closet. I had to get creative but I think I did pretty good!
I had bought this shirt a few years back. I did not have a white tulle skirt so I used a dress. I folded my shirt up and covered it up with a belt.
My goal was not to buy anything for this photo shoot.
I simply shopped in my own closet and thought outside the box.
5. Pray before you shop!
God promises to supply our needs.
So, if I have a need for a particular item, I pray that God will help me find it and for a good price.
If I don't find it, I know He wants to supply it another way.
He has never failed.
6. Don't spend what you don't have.
It's that simple.
I don't always like it but if I don't have money for clothes even if it's a great deal, I DON'T BUY IT.
I do not own a credit card.
I do not use Department Stores credit cards.
I want to honor God with my finances and my fashion.
But if I drain my account just to dress cute, I will ruin my marriage.
So, budget.
Learn to shop frugal.
And learn when to say no.
I hope this has been a blessing.
Remember, God wants us to enjoy life, and enjoy beauty.
However, we do not have to break the bank to accomplish that!!
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