8 Ways To Have A Killer Wardrobe On A Student Budget

Last updated on : June 28 2021

Student Budgets

Most students live on a ‘student budget’ with little cash to spare and endless expenses. So, how do you afford to equip your wardrobe and look trendy with limited funds to spend?

You don’t have to be rich or have a huge shopping budget to have a killer wardrobe or to dress seductively. If you know where to look, what to buy, and when to do your shopping, you can always look stylish and keep your budget intact.

Going to college will bring on unique challenges in terms of fashion, but with the tips below and a bit of money management, you can adjust your wardrobe to fit your budget.

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1.   Use Your Student Discount

Being a student comes with many challenges, but it has its perks, too. As a student, you’ll get some fantastic deals from a growing number of stores and services. A lot of the students’ discounts and coupons will be from fashion stores where you can equip your wardrobe with cheaper items.

Look around your town to see what types of discounted offers you can get with your student card. Check out online stores to find even more options to buy on a budget.

This time is your only chance to use many discounts. Students get the best bargains these days, and such opportunities won’t often come once you graduate!

2.   Buy Clothing Online

Sites like eBay, Amazon, and AliExpress offer endless options to buyers at a wide range of prices. You can find affordable stores, stores that sell used clothes, and all sorts of discounts if you shop online.

Many companies today make their business exclusively e-commerce. This model aids them in reaching a wider audience but also helps them avoid all sorts of expenses such as rent, bills, and employer payments.

Because of it, e-commerce stores always offer the best discounts.

That’s not even the only reason why many students decide to buy things online instead of the ‘traditional way.’ Shopping on the Internet is a good idea for the following reasons:

• It saves you a lot of time.

Students hardly have enough time to do all the things they want to do. Shopping online is speedy and secure since you don’t have to go from shop to shop, try clothes on, and wait in lines. When you don’t have time to do your academic tasks or want a few hours off, there are two great benefits of technology for students - essay help from pro writers and online clothing stores.

• It is less stressful.

Some people enjoy shopping while others hate it. Regardless, it is tiring and stressful. When you buy your clothes online, you don’t have to stress over which store to visit, what you might forget, or whether or not you’ll bump into another crowd. This stressfree way is especially beneficial in sales seasons. Instead of waiting in lines to get discounted clothes, you can put them in your cart and purchase them instantly.

• Endless choices

A traditional store has a certain number of choices when it comes to clothing. When you buy online, you can find just about anything – in a much wider variety. Not only does online shopping exert more choices in terms of clothing, but it offers you a better price range, also.

3.   Time Your Shopping Activities

How many times has it happened that you purchase an item at a price you could barely afford just to find it at 50% off a week later? If you want to learn to shop on a budget, there’s one thing that matters the most – timing.

Here are a couple of tips that will help you with this:

• Find the right time

Many sales happen before school years begin during August, as well as after school starts in October.

Generally speaking, the best time to shop is during off-peak times when most stores give highly discounted offers.

One excellent idea is to buy for opposite seasons. Purchase your summer clothes at the end of the season, and your winter clothes in April. Stores tend to clear out their inventory when a season ends to make room for the season that follows.

Let’s not forget about the ‘discount’ holidays such as Black Friday when stores sell their items for a minor portion of their original price. If you have the chance, visit the store a day or two before picking your favorite things, just to be prepared to take everything in a rush in those busy, busy days.

• Consider the ‘where.’

There’s also the matter of where. Some cities have big sales during specific weeks. If you have a favorite store, make sure to learn when their birthday is and when they have the most important deals. Mark this in your calendar to remind you.

Yes, styles and fashion changes, so you’ll inevitably have to buy some pieces while they are ‘trending.’ However, for most of the items, you can buy them at much better prices with a bit of planning.

4.   Do a Clothes’ Swap with Friends

You are not the only one trying to buy clothes on a low budget. When you stop to think about it – most of your friends probably struggle with the same thing. So, why not swap some clothes to keep your wardrobe fresh without spending anything.

Students often swap clothes with their best friends to keep their appearance fresh and save some unnecessarily spent cash. Offer your friends access to your wardrobe and request the same – most of them will be happy with this idea!

5.   Buy Things That You Can Mix and Match

Instead of filling your closet with colorful clothes or pieces that match only one or two things, pick something more neutral. Mix it with some accessories, and you get an entirely new look every day!

Neutral clothes and one-colored pieces can be mixed and matched with other items. Make sure that you have such clothes in your wardrobe. This way, you don’t have to have dozens of choices for clothing. Instead of spending a fortune on a dozen pairs of shoes, get some black, white, gray, and other colors to wear with any combination.

Of course, you should make sure that you have all the things you need: a party dress, some high heels that go with your ‘party clothes,’ sneakers, a couple of T-shirts, and clothes for the cold days.

6.   Sell Your Old Clothes

These days it is easy to sell used clothes as long as they are in good condition, primarily online. You can sell your used clothing around campus or place them on eBay or Craigslist. Make sure to write a fair description and upload realistic photos, and you can make some cash to invest in your future shopping.

If you have many pieces of clothing you don’t wear, organize a garage sale. Or, pack them neatly and take them to a resale shop. While you’re there, you might even find something you like yourself. You’d be amazed to learn how many students buy their clothes this way!

7.   Value Quality over Quantity

To have a killer wardrobe does not mean to have hundreds of pieces of clothing or entire closets full of leggings and skinny jeans in all colors. If you have a low budget, you can go two ways: put together a closet full of cheap clothes, or get a few solid pieces that you can often wear and for a long time.

When you buy clothes, try to value quality over quantity. Buying tons of pieces that you’ll only get to wear once or twice, not to mention items that will cause you pain (such as uncomfortable shoes), is never a smart idea.

Of course, quality does not always mean high prices. Don’t look for expensive items when looking for quality. Think about the material, glance at the seams, and check out the feel on your body before you make a purchase. Materials like natural blends and fibers will last you a long time, while polyester and similar synthetics will look cheaper and last very little.

8.   Make Your Clothes

If you are an artistic person, you may want to try your hand at repurposing old clothes. Take the clothes you no longer wear or buy some second-hand clothing and have a day of fun! Repurposing can be a fantastic hobby and a way always to wear trendy outfits.

There’s no reason why you cannot look great and keep your shopping at a budget! Just do some pre-planning, make sure that you know how much you can afford to spare, and use your creativity!

Author’s Bio

Michael Turner is a fashion blogger who contributes written pieces to online magazines and fashion websites. Turner also designs clothing for women and sells them on numerous sites online. With his fashion degree and over two decades of experience in the industry, Turner is quite an insightful expert on fashion trends.

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