by “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous,” said Coco Chanel, but with bags bearing her iconic logo coasting over $2,000, the question remains – is it possible to stay on the cutting edge of chic while saving for other life goals? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ By choosing key items to ‘invest in’, relying on technology to ensure you stay within healthy limits, and employing ‘strategic fashion techniques’, you can be the belle of the ball – the one with a healthy bank account. Chanel also said that ‘Fashion has to do with ideas’ – so get your mind working and build a fabulous wardrobe and savings balance all at once.
Go Vintage
If you love visiting vintage and thrift shops, then you must be a big fan of Macklemore and Ryal Lewis’ hit song on the topic. “I’m gonna pop some tags, Only got twenty dollars in my pocket,” he sings. The song is funny and a tad ironic, but also indicative of how good it feels to find a stunning vintage item at a bargain price. Delicately worked laced dresses and tops, fringed Coachella-style bags and jackets, and one-off ethnic jewelry pieces are just a few finds you might make. The key with thrift store shopping is to visit regularly, as designer and unique items are usually snapped up fast.
Work Out A Monthly Fashion Expenses Budget
Apps like Mint, PocketGuard, or Wally are a magnificent way to work out where your money is going. By linking one of these apps up to your bank account, you can conduct an intensive study at the end of the month to identify expenses you could easily avoid the following month. A survey by professional resources site Hloom found that some of the top things Americans waste money on include dining out, bottled water, and alcohol. In addition to cutting back on obvious expenses, you should also work out the state of your creditworthiness, ensuring your credit report is accurate. By removing credit score mistakes and inconsistencies from your report, you could potentially qualify for more attractive credit card interest rates, which will enable you to save more throughout the year. Using a credit card interest calculator can also help you budget your monthly expenses as you can easily find out how much your monthly interest payments could be and get a handle on your debt.
Buy Desired Items At Key Times Of The Year
Marie Claire recently published the names of top designers who decided to offer big discounts in last year’s Black Friday sales. With discounts at around 30% off normal prices, it is easy to see how you can spend hundreds of dollars for a highly coveted item. To take advantage of sales, it is important to start earlier in the year. Make a select list of key items you are interested in, check out if they are on Black Friday (or other big) sales lists, and only invest in a designer item if they were already on your list.
The ultimate key to looking fashionable in a budget, is working out a monthly budget and sticking to it. It is also important to plan for the year ahead, setting aside money you might otherwise have ‘wasted’ on alcohol, dining out, and other products or experiences, to buy even one or two key designer pieces a year. Even if you decide to give haute fashion a pass, you can still look a million bucks by visiting thrift shops and opting for a couple of key items from mid-level stores.
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