Shopping Vouchers

The Frugal Fashionista: How to look stylish on a budget

by Craig, 20th June 2012

Got little cash because you spend too much in store? Remember these handy hints and tips and within no time you can be spending less, saving more and look more stylish as ever – naturally.

 1.       Leave the plastic at home. We’ve all been there – in that moment where you spot the perfect outfit, the one that costs a little too much – but you buy it anyway. For a vast majority of things, fashion included, credit and store cards can quickly turn from friend to foe. Rarely are the long term savings worth it but by shopping with cash, and more importantly setting yourself a limit before you leave the hosue, you’ll know that once it’s gone, it really has gone. One of our favourite ways not to overspend.

 2.       Buy Online. Looking for designer high street fashion at the best possible prices? Then maybe the actual high street isn’t the best place to head for. Try online shopping instead. Asos in particular often has fantastic sales, and what’s better is, there are always further savings to be had on our Asos brand page. If you haven’t discovered Asos yet, there’s no better time than now to begin browsing.

 3.       Learn how to sew. Nobody  is saying you need to learn how to make your own clothes from scratch, but swotting up on needlework can save you plenty of money. By simply learning how to replace a button or hem, or figuring out how to patch up that unsightly gaping hole in your jeans, you not only save money, but in a way become to the master of your own style. Thereafter, you can look to accessorise jumpers or jackets, craft shorts from jeans or any manner of fun things. It really is easier than it looks; all it takes is a little patience.   

 4.        Shop out of season. Those in the know never head in store as soon as a new line hits rails. Instead, they shop for spring and summer items in the Autumn and shop for Winter when spring rolls around. If this doesn’t work for all your items, we guarantee you it will work for most. That pair red bikini or pair of shorts won’t change colour with the seasons, but if you buy them just before a new line comes in the price is dramatically lower. This is what is known as shopping smart.

 5.       Stay aware of sample sales. Often used by brands to get rid of excess stock, or sometimes introduce new items to small scale buyers, these sales are the daddy when it comes to eye watering discounts. The problem used to be that it was difficult to attain information on when and where these sales took place. Not any more though thanks to Samplesaleslondon.co.uk, an amazing little site that keeps you up to date with every single one. Sadly the site only covers sample sales in the Capital, but if you’re lucky enough to live there, then be sure to sign up ASAP. Perfectly good stock at a fraction of the usual retail price? Yes please.

 If you think we’ve missed anything out or have further tips, please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter (@ShoppingVoucher). We look forward to hearing your thoughts.