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Save or Splurge: how to save money on clothes

Save or Splurge Fall 2016 how to save money on clothes

Building and maintaining a wardrobe is expensive. I’ve always considered it an investment myself, but this doesn’t mean every item needs to cost a fortune! On the contrary, through years of shopping mistakes and successes, I learned what items are most effective to save money on. I created a simple, two-part guideline for myself. Part 1:  Save money on items that won’t visually impact my outfit. Part 2:  Spend less on items I wear less frequently and have a shorter closet lifespan. Here are my top 5 picks to spend less on…

Camisoles
Camisoles are a closet essential, but you don’t have to spend more than a few dollars on these. A beautiful and expensive camisole likely isn’t going to look any different under that slightly sheer blouse than a Forever 21 cami. I even like to wear camisoles under opaque button-up blouses just in case a button, or two or three, accidentally slips. (Side note—I learned that lesson the hard way.) I almost exclusively purchase the Classic Cotton-Blend Cami for $1.90 from Forever 21, of which I own at least ten. Especially if you’re $7 from that free shipping minimum, it never hurts to buy a few extra!

Very Trendy Items
Some trends stick around for a while, but those that are probably going out in a season or two don’t need your extra money. This is when you start thinking about closet lifespan, meaning how long you will use the item. Costume jewelry often falls in this category. Remember those Dior tribal earrings everyone had to have for a season? You don’t see them so much anymore. Conversely, I would argue that over-the-knee boots are a trend with staying power, so I’m okay spending more on them.

Colors You Wear Infrequently
I think almost everyone has a color palette they wear more frequently. For me, I most heavily wear white, black, camel, red, blush and blues. To optimize your spending, I recommend purchasing your less frequently worn colors at lower price points. So if I see a cute but pricey yellow sweater by Helmut Lang, I will instead select a less expensive option from a retailer like Topshop or Asos.

Socks
95% of the time no one is going to see your socks. Personally, I am almost never wearing matching socks and no one knows the difference. In every day life it doesn’t matter what is hiding deep inside your boots. I’m currently loving the Kate Spade socks that say, “baby its cold outside,” not to mention the matching sweater, but its $10 per pair. And prices on name brand designer socks just go up from there. Instead I can get my cute sock fix at Forever 21 for as low as $1 a pair. I’ve currently got my eye on fuzzy cat socks for my next order!

Holiday Specific Items
That cute Halloween t-shirt or festively-ugly Christmas sweater won’t get pulled out of your closet very often. My cousin was just showing me a Christmas-themed beanie she wants. As cute as they are, I know from experience that I’m usually lucky to get more than a wear or two out of a holiday specific item. So I am all for getting in the spirit of each and every holiday opportunity, but I will be doing it on the cheap.

Do you have any tips on how to save money on clothes? Share any of your thoughts below!

Love you, Mandy

 

45 Comments

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45 Comments

  1. Jen November 1, 2016

    Such a helpful post! Thank you for this!

  2. Anna November 1, 2016

    I never spend a ton of money on holiday clothing either! And the trendy items this is so true.

  3. Jessica M. November 1, 2016

    Love this! <3 thank you for the tips it's all very true & yes to over the kneeboots!? My tip would be to shop online only bc you can get sales & discounts. lol Also maybe make a list of things you actually need & you want so you can cross some off & not buy it. ?

  4. Normy November 1, 2016

    Wow! Thanks for all these tips, they ate very essential! Definitely agree with the holiday specific items… Those items could be really expensive at times yet not all of them can be used in most of the occations.. I guess when it comes to those items we better think twice or even thrice before buying them. Btw, much love Mandy ?

  5. Ruth Aguirre November 1, 2016

    I love your blog posts!! I want some fuzzy cat socks too! ??? little aspens on your feet lol

  6. Rebecca November 1, 2016

    This is such a helpful post!! Thanks for sharing!

  7. Tamsyn Louw November 1, 2016

    Thank you for the tips Mandy! This is totally justifying my shopping obsession if I’m being cost conscious while I do it ? love you! ❤️

  8. Tamsyn Louw November 1, 2016

    A really fun way to save money but gain new items to your closet, is swapping clothes that you both don’t wear anymore with your best friends! Often tastes change and you end up with something sitting in your closet that could look amazing on someone else! That’s my advice! Love you ??????????

  9. Lecky November 1, 2016

    Omg thank u so much for ur tips I love u and u r so beautiful????????❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  10. Jemaimah November 1, 2016

    Great tips!! Thanks Mandy!! ❤️

    I’m not sure if they have this there but over here we have pretty reasonably priced tailors so I have just bought cheap yet nice material and had tops made from them. I’ve also gotten some cheaper clothes back at uni as the shops there sold cheaper items. Majority of my clothes are unrecognised labels but they are just as good.

    I do think if you find shoes that you are going to be using everyday it’s best to buy a more expensive brand cause they will last longer. Or I get 2 of the same, cheaper pair so once I’ve worn it out, I still have the other one ?

  11. Ariana Lopes November 1, 2016

    This will help me a lot ?????????!!! Love your blog posts ? This are very good advices ? Thanks ?? Regards from Honduras ??

  12. Gothai November 1, 2016

    Hey Mandy, I loved the information on this blog.

  13. Erika November 1, 2016

    My tip for saving money is to take a little amount of money every month and saving it for a special day when you can buy something you like. 😉

  14. Janelle November 1, 2016

    Great post Mandy! Great recommendation for an expensive camas all’s are the Kirkland brand from Costco you get two for 9.99, are super soft modal blend and they can go through a gazillion washes and still look the same!

    • Janelle November 1, 2016

      Haha wish you could edit comments, that was supposed to say camisoles, not camas alls!!!! Lolol

  15. Xochit Cruz November 1, 2016

    This is so great, thank you ?

  16. Megan November 1, 2016

    This is great because I know I sometimes don’t tend to think like that when I shop I just go out and get items then I regret some down the road. Love you.

  17. Mikah Mendoza November 1, 2016

    I hardly spend money on makeup so when I do I totally just splurge ??

  18. Cherish Madlang-awa November 1, 2016

    Before buying anything, I guess you have to save money first. Like 20% of your total monthly wage or monthly earnings to fund your future or emergency savings. Then pay the necessary bills, give 10% to the church if that’s applicable to your belief, then spend the rest to your daily needs and shopping needs. Keep in mind that trends come around and go around, you have to really pick what would you think will last longer or you can wear for longer period of time. ? You don’t have to deprive yourself from the money you have worked for, but you also don’t have to take for granted your future.

  19. Lisa Saliba November 1, 2016

    HEY MANDY?Loved the post and the ideas are so helpful. Such a good way to save money and be happy☺️Thank u so much xx

  20. Saadia Iqbal November 1, 2016

    This is such a helpful post! Thanks for sharing ???

  21. Aida November 1, 2016

    Omg this was really helpful! I definitely need to save money on clothing so thanks for these helpful tips ❤️ Xx

  22. Lucy Sherratt November 1, 2016

    I love that you’ve posted a blog regarding this issue, I have so much trouble trying to find cheap clothes even in stores like Kmart and I honestly don’t want to shop there because of how low the quality is of the fabric, I’ll definitely be purchasing a few of those camisoles from forever 21 though! Thank you so much for everything you do Mandy you’re a life (and money) saver haha xx

  23. Sara November 1, 2016

    Great post!! I love the way you write and give examples. So fun to read and the tips are great!! I agree with all of them. Another thing I love are coupon codes for online shopping ? Tbh I rately shop at stores anymore hahaha

  24. HelHena Tong November 1, 2016

    This is a great post and very true! Thanks for sharing- def go to stores try on what you know you will buy, then try to shop online thru ebates for extra cash back!

  25. Glenda Martinez November 1, 2016

    Hi Mandy such a great post thank youreally helpful thank you for sharing your tips. I enjoy your snaps Aspen is so cute! ?

  26. Michelle Diaz November 1, 2016

    Hey Mandy! Thanks for the tips! Everything is so helpful. ❤️

  27. Vanessa November 1, 2016

    Great tips! I usually spend more money on like work out shoes but not a lot on expensive workout clothes. Forever 21 has reasonable prices for work out clothes. Also Ross has lots of nice workout leggings and sports shirts. 🙂

    • mandy November 2, 2016

      You are the giveaway winner! Please email me with the email address you used to leave this comment! XO

  28. Vanessa Sparrow November 1, 2016

    I like that you gave options for cheap socks because there are so many companies that sell very expensive socks and I think its so unnecessary.

  29. Avery November 1, 2016

    Hey Mandy it’s Avery from sc and I love you so much and legit watch all your YouTube videos but my YouTube is not working rn so I think I’m going to make a new one tomorrow so I really want to win one of your giveaways ❤️

  30. Avery November 1, 2016

    These are so helpful love you ?

  31. Crystal Page November 1, 2016

    Loved this blog entry! Thanks for sharing Mandy!! ??#snapchatfam

  32. Valeria Ponce Figueroa November 1, 2016

    Some of this tips I’ve known but some were new to me… Sometimes I buy things just because they’re trending or I like them on someone else, but I always realize after some ~little~ time that I didn’t wore it more than, let’s say, 5 times max. I really think I must organize my shopping more efficiently but I always end up buying stuff I don’t need!! Please give us some tips on how to restrain yourself from buying things you’ll probably regret!
    Thanks for the amazing blog posts!
    Love you! Xo

  33. Regina November 2, 2016

    So so true! Trends come and go, so indeed to great to invest on CLASSIC items instead! x also love what you said about the socks, although cute socks are my guilty pleasure

  34. Carmen Ng November 2, 2016

    HI Mandy, thanks for the useful advice and I definitely need this because I love to shop haha. Your blog post is always so unique and great with the content. I will love to win the giveaway. Thank you so much, it is so kind of you for giving this sort of opportuniy!!

  35. Yesenia guzman November 2, 2016

    I’m going to use your tip on colors you wear infrequently because that’s a good way to add something different to your wardrobe especially when they’re on sale

  36. Tashia Clifford November 2, 2016

    You are such a lovely young lady xoxo

  37. ImaneBenss November 12, 2016

    All tips are really helpful, a lot of times i regret buying an expensive item that its color not my favorite.

  38. Lizbeth November 12, 2016

    Very good picks

  39. Vivian Bedoya December 12, 2016

    mandy you are amazing love your videos and now also your blog thank you!

  40. Zoé lla December 13, 2016

    Thank uu for sharing
    Good luck mandy
    Love uu <3

  41. Vivian Bedoya December 13, 2016

    omg you have a really good tips thanks mandy you are awesome!!!

  42. Vivian Bedoya December 15, 2016

    mandy love you relly good tips here

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