Ballin' on A Budget

Some may say I have a shopping problem but I have no idea where they are getting their information from or what they are talking about. Okay, so I might have a slight issue but what do you expect when you combine shopping, women and credit cards. I enjoy shopping as much as the next girl, however, it is crucial to manage your spending. I used to make unnecessary purchases on clothing that I wore maybe once or twice. However, now when I try on that sparkly dress that may look great but I have nowhere to wear it to, I ask myself “ do I really need this?” The answer is probably, no. A rule of thumb that I live by, which I suggest you follow if you’re trying to avoid debt, is DO NOT SPEND MONEY YOU DO NOT HAVE! Before you are about to swipe your credit card, make sure you have the money to pay it back.

There are times, however, when you want that Gucci belt, Air Pods, David Yurmin bracelet and I commend you to save up for those items. However, on a day-to-day basis, there is no need to spend $250 on a denim jacket that looks the exact same as a $60 one. Here are some tips I have on how to ball on a budget and still get the look you want.

Poshmark

Most people gravitate towards their favorite go-to pieces in their closet. The jeans that make your ass look great, the dress that shows off your curves and the platform shoes that give you the height you crave. There is nothing wrong with that except that you ignore the piles of clothing, accessories and shoes that stay untouched and take up space in your closet. You never know, what you consider to be trash may be another persons treasure. That being said, why not make some money and make closet space…for new clothes. Kidding, save your money kids. Poshmark is a great site that allows you to feature your clothes, price them and sell it to other buyers. Also, you are able to purchase items for less money from others as well.

Vintage/Thrift Stores

The finds at vintage and thrift shops have caught my attention and been so refreshing compared to my usual basic shops. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Zara and Urban Outfitters outfit, but it is very “been there, done that, seen that” type of vibe. Vintage clothes are always in style and on trend, giving you the look you want, at the price you can afford.

What’s Yours Is Mine

Siblings and parents are great for many things such as cooking, being there to hang out with/in times of need and sharing their clothes even if they never officially gave you permission. They are family though, do they really expect me to “ask.” I used to shit on my moms clothes because I thought they were so out of style and weird, but as I matured, I learned to love and appreciate her style. In fact, her clothes from the 80’s are so trendy and conveniently we are the same clothes and shoes size. Meant to be, right? It’s as if she wants me to borrow her wardrobe, thanks mom!

Outlets and Racks

Higher end retail stores, such as Nordstroms and Bloomingdales have resources that are affordable and more realistic for those that do not want to spend the higher retail prices. Nordstroms Rack and Bloomingdale Outlets are great options for owning those high quality products but at an affordable cost.

Amazon

Let’s be honest. Nothing is better than Amazon. Correction, nothing is better than Amazon Prime. I’m sorry but if you don’t have Prime than you are doing something wrong/not living life to its fullest potential. Rather than spending those exuberant prices on items that you may only wear a few times, buy a much cheaper version of it through Amazon AND get it in half the time. Amazon has been such a life saver for me, a relationship that continues to go strong and I can see only progressing.

The RealReal 

If you are all about the labels and designer tags than you need to know about The RealReal. This is a luxury consignment store that sells all things designer, at a cheaper price. They have an online site and two store locations, one in LA and the other in NYC. Rep your labels without breaking your bank.