Photo By Wineblat Eugene – Portraits via Flickr Creative Commons
Shopping on a budget isn’t always easy, especially when you are after hot brand names to look fashionable. However, you don’t have to clean out your bank account and max out your credit card simply to look good. There are several easy ways to shop on a budget that will keep your bank account in the black without you having to sacrifice your style.
Shop at secondhand stores.
You can find amazing bargains on brand name clothing if you shop at stores that sell gently used clothes, jewelry, shoes and accessories. If you use a debit card, bad credit won’t put a stop to your shopping. After all, even women with bad credit deserve to look and feel fabulous and checking account fees shouldn’t stop you from wearing clothes that make you look glamorous.
Don’t underestimate what great makeup can do.
Looking glamorous is more than just choosing great outfits. If you want to look your best, make sure you stock your cosmetics bag with the best makeup you can afford. Good department store makeup can help you hide fine line and wrinkles, camouflage scars or acne, and bring out your best features. Bronzer can give you a healthy glow and the right color eye shadow can really bring out the beauty in your eyes. For a real touch of old school glamour – find a red lipstick that works for you.
Shop the sales.
You can find great sales by checking the Sunday paper’s advertising section. You can find everything from coupons to clearance sales by keeping your eye on the weekend flyers. If you use your debit card, bad credit won’t prevent you from shopping for bargains all week long. Debit cards are great for people who want to make their purchases without carrying a lot of cash. Just be sure you keep enough money in your account to avoid checking account fees. Looking glamorous is important, but it isn’t worth overdrawing your checking account.
Don’t underestimate the power of yard sales.
You might be absolutely shocked to discover that you can find glamorous clothing at yard sales. In fact, if you hit enough yard sales, there is virtually nothing you won’t find eventually. When the weather is good, you will find a yard sale on nearly every street. You can check the newspaper for yard sale ads or just drive around your neighborhood looking for the telltale signs of a yard sale. People often sell clothing at these sales. Sometimes people buy glamorous clothing for a wedding or other special event and never wear it again. That means you can find great deals on these gently used clothing at bargain basement prices. All you need to do is look. Looking glamorous is easier than you think, even on a budget.
Keeping your spending within reason doesn’t mean that you will have to be forced into a wardrobe of nothing but jeans and t-shirts. You can still look great on a budget. You simply have to be more crafty and vigilant.
Nancy Evans is a blogger, freelance writer and recent college graduate. She currently performs market research for an online marketing firm when she is not contributing her own thoughts and observations to the online community.
