Guest Post: Be Fashionably Frugal

If you love fashion and shopping is something you also adore, it’s always a good idea to come up with smart techniques on how not to overspend. It may be tempting to buy everything you think is cute, but lacking self control will only get you in debt. Thankfully there are easier ways to shop without breaking the bank! Think of coupons from JoeShopping.com and other methods that will keep your money in check. So instead of purchasing everything you love, think of creative ways to cut back but still shop in moderation. Here are some tips to get you started.

Look for Gently Worn Clothing – Thrift shopping is both trendy and practical and if you look for consignment or thrift shops in your area chances are you’ll come home with some cute outfits for at least half the price. Even though you’re saving money on brand name clothing, however, this doesn’t mean you should spend all of your money thrifting! Spend your money wisely and look to thrift stores to help you stay fashionably accountable.

Start Your Own Shop – If you desire new clothing but need to sell some of your own clothing from your closet first, before giving it away to good will, try to sell it! Etsy, eBay and Instagram are all great places to start. You never know if a friend or two will want some of your hardly used clothing and then you can use the money to either save it (highly suggested) or buy new clothing for yourself!

Set a Monthly Limit – If you really struggle with keeping the shopping under wraps, how about setting a monthly allowance? If you allow yourself only $100 dollars, for example, per month, then you’ll be forced to really think about what you want to buy. That way you’ll use your money more wisely as well and perhaps you’ll even save the $100 for a rainy day.

Pay with Cash Verses a Credit Card – We all know how much a credit card can get anyone into trouble. So instead of allowing yourself to be tempted, go with a cash only method. This means withdrawing only a certain amount of cash before going shopping and sticking with it. This way you won’t overspend and you’ll also carefully make decisions when shopping. Who knows – you may completely change your mind about spending your money since you will now be seeing it in the form of dollar bills. It may also teach you great self control or at least you’ll continue to learn that shopping is fun, but saving money also has great gain.

Sierra is a freelance writer who loves to shop, but has to reign in her passion for fashion by applying all of these tips.