Fashion on a Budget (not fast fashion)

Do you want to switch up your style, while maintaining a comfortable budget? Here are some of the ways you can freshen up your looks without going completely broke.

The Difference Between Cheap Fashion and Fast Fashion

Before beginning with this blog post, I want to clarify the difference between "cheap" and "fast" fashion. Cheap fashion refers to the life hacks and sales that can save you money when buying clothing either online or in person. Fast fashion is a term used to refer to the inexpensive, mass production of clothing often as a reaction to growing trends. Cheap fashion is a great way to save money and can also be a form of recycling that can have extremely beneficial impacts on the planet. Fast Fashion however is very detrimental to the planet, as there is an excess of waste associated with the production and sale of these products.

Tip #1: Thrift It

Now that I've gotten the serious bit out of the way, lets discuss some of the ways you can redo your style on a budget. One of my favorite options: thrifting. While you may not be able to find some of the name brand designers you are looking for, thrift stores offer a wide array of options sold at a below average price.

Thrifting is a great way to recycle old items, again working to limit the amount of waste you use in your daily life. Its not only a great activity for you and your friends, but can also become a new hobby, if you want to experiment with "Up-thrifting" or adding your own personal spin on the items.

Tip #2: Sales and Coupons

Whatever you do, don't forget about sales. You may never know what hidden gems you can find at a sale. Businesses are trying to entice you with these promotions and will target you with products they know you want or are looking for. If you pay attention you may discover exactly what you are looking for.

Coupons are also underrated. Once you have purchased an item, companies want to give you a reason to return. One of the best ways they do that is through coupons. The longer you stay with a company, the more likely you are to receive decent discounts. Be sure to check your email to stay updated on your current saving opportunities.

Emails are also a great way to save money. Most businesses now-a-days offer email subscription discounts. These savings can eventually benefit your shopping totals, 30% quickly turns to 50% and so on...

Tip #3: See Which Stores Are Worth The Money

There are two types of stores to discuss in this tip: Expensive and Inexpensive stores.

Expensive Stores are the high quality items that you feel are worth your money. Maybe they are quality products that you won't have to buy as often. Or maybe they are a "treat" product that you have been saving for for quite sometime. Either way, these stores can take up a good chuck of your budget but will be worth it in the long run. If I can't decide if its better to buy expensive or inexpensive I use this rule of thumb: Inexpensive items usually wear down twice as fast as expensive items, so if you double the cost of the inexpensive item and its lower than stick to that, if not you can buy the expense item guilt free.

Inexpensive stores are the stores that you can feel free to buy the bulk of your clothing from. These stores offer a cheaper clothing option that won't make you go broke, and can be bought much more often. If you can't find any cheap fashion outlets try searching for stores that sell a variety of clothes because its more likely that they are attempting to gain a variety of clients rather than create a perfect item.