Ten Tips for Being Fashionable on a Budget

Fashionable and Budget - Can those two words be used in the same sentence? Why, of course they can! There are plenty of ways for moms to stay fashionable without emptying your bank account and still saving money for the kiddos college fund. Thanks to TwitterMoms, you can find out how other moms just like you manage it. Here are a few of my ideas.

1. Retailmenot. If you are shopping online, be sure to check out coupon sites like retailmenot. They offer coupon codes for almost any online store to save you money on your purchases.
   
2. Cashback. Another tip if you're shopping online is to use a cashback site. Bing and ebates are my favorites, but there are several others as well. If you would rather get cashback for your kiddos you can use a site like upromise to save for their education.
3. Sign up for newsletters. I know that they can really clutter your inbox, but retail stores reward people with cluttered inboxes. I get printable and online coupons in my email every day from some great stores. (GapOutlet and TwitterMoms are even offering you some coupons here.)
   
4. Shop off season. While it is great to be at the peak of the fashion trend, it is much more affordable to be in the mainstream. Buy clothes at the end of the season for the following year to save LOADS of money. Just this past year I bought jeans for the girls for Old Navy for about $2 a pair!
5. Clothes Swap. If you're fashionable, you probably have fashionable friends. Just think of a clothing swap as a chance to double your wardrobe. You might be tired of some of your most fashionable articles, but your friends out. Let them wear it for a while as you wear theirs.
6. Outlets. Outlet stores have great clothes at great prices year round. Sometimes the clothing is "irregular", sometimes it is from last season, but it is almost always a great deal. Personally, I can't tell an "irregular" pair of jeans from the full-priced ones.
7. Ebay. Maybe you live in a small town or work during prime shopping hours. If you can't get to the stores when they're having their best sales, you can bet someone else is. More often than not, at least one of those people will sell you some of their great finds at a profit for them and a deal for you.
8. Consignment shops. Many cities now have "high end" consignment shops that only accept clothing from specific brands. Check them out. You never know what you might find.
9. Check out area fashion design schools. Sometimes a local school will offer courses in fashion design, sewing, etc. Ask the teachers who the top students are and hire them to create a great look for a great price. They are happy for the experience and some extra spending money.
10. Accessorize. If you can't afford all the greatest fashion items, then buy simple and accessorize. With the right accessories you can make the same white shirt into 5 or more great outfits.
    

Disclaimer:
I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to win a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

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