Saturday was spent shopping for professional clothes for my new job. Since I’ve spent the last three years working out of my house, I have very few items in my closet that qualify as work appropriate. In fact, many of my clothes fall under the “I have completely let myself go because I work from home” category. There was a time when I would spend the entire week in the same pair of sweatpants. Like, a couple of weeks ago.
I’m looking for key pieces – slacks, pencil skirts, blazers, and cardigans – that I can mix and match with each other and with things I already have. I’m also on the lookout for a good suit, which is proving to be hard to find when your inseam is 3 feet and your arms are so long you have no need for a remote control. I’m also on a tight budget, which is an even bigger challenge because nice clothes tend to be, well, EXPENSIVE.
Somehow, against the odds, I managed to score three dresses, a pencil skirt, a blazer, a button down shirt, two pairs of pants, and a top, all for about $120. When I announced that Saturday evening on Twitter, I got a few replies asking how I managed to get so much for my money. I thought I’d let y’all in on some of my secrets. Get your notepads. I am highly skilled in Saving Money. It’s the result of years of training (thanks, Mom) and working to make a little look like a lot. I don’t play sports, my friends, but I do play Saving Money, and I play it well. Here are 5 tips that are guaranteed to make your budgets and closets simultaneously happy (which is no small feat!).
1. Make a list. Whether it’s on paper or you just have a really good idea in your head, make sure you know what you’re shopping for. Knowing I was looking for only professional staples made it easier to put other things down, like a retro-looking kitchen clock. I kept repeating to myself: “If you can’t wear it to work, you can’t buy it.” I knew what I needed, which made it easier to resist that $10 red satin dress that would have been SO pretty at next year’s Christmas party. That $10 can be better utilized elsewhere, for now.
2. Have a budget in mind. It doesn’t have to be iron-clad, but you do need to give yourself a number and try to stay close to it. Remembering that you have $100 or so to spend makes it easier to resist things that don’t fit quite right or the urge to buy a bunch of things “because they’re on sale,” because you know that you have to make every dollar stretch.
3. Head straight for the sales rack. I know, the stuff in the front of the store is so cute. And they know how to pair everything on the mannequins with the cutest jewelry. I know! But I promise you that in a couple of weeks, all that stuff will be on the sales rack too. Don’t waste your money on full price items. It’s not in good Saving Money Form.
4. Carry a big coupon. Before you go shopping, think about all the stores you want to/might visit, then google the crap outta some coupons. If you’re going to your favorite stores and have signed up for their mailing lists, you probably already have some in your inbox. Most stores have coupons all the time. Don’t go into a store without at least checking. It’s like throwing money away! And we don’t want that.
5. Messy stores are your friends. Some of my best deals are ones I have found at thrift stores and stores like Ross and T.J.Maxx. Are those stores visually appealing and well organized? No. Are the clothes color-coordinated? No. Are you going to have salespeople who could pass for models waiting on you hand and foot? Absolutely not. But all of those things come with a price tag. If you’re on a budget, be willing to get your hands a little bit dirty. And don’t forget to Purell when you leave.
I bought my 9 items from 3 different stores. From Ross, I bought my 3 dresses and 1 skirt, and paid $14.99, $12.99, $12.99, and $7.49, respectively, for a total of $52.46. From the Gap, I bought a tuxedo blazer for $21.97 (which is currently on the website on SALE for $59.99!) and a button down shirt for $12.99, which equaled around $22.70 with my 30% off coupon (total saved: $13.99, more if you count original prices of items). From New York & Company, I bought 2 pairs of pants for $42.95 each and a frilly top that will look great under a blazer for $36.94; however the pants were buy one get one half off, the top was 70% off, and I had a $30 off $75 coupon, which brought my total to $49.25 (total saved: $77.34!).
The moral of this blog post? You, too, can have a fabulous wardrobe for pennies on the dollar! And no one has to know. Although I do like to brag about my purchases when people compliment me. It’s an illness. “You love my shirt? It was originally $79 and I paid $8! RAHHHHHH!” Hmm. Maybe I should take it down a notch.
Comments on Lft… on a budget (& going professional)!
From E.P.:
Awesome work, lady! Not only does this post make me want to go clothes shopping (because it is ALWAYS fun!), but it makes me want to look up coupons to save on my next shopping trip!
From Sturgmom:
Great advice!! You scored really big on your shopping spree. I love it when I can do that.
One other thing I’ve learned about being a savvy shopper is to go shopping OFTEN. This might sound counterproductive, especially if you are on a tight budget. However, I’ve found that if I go more often, I’m much more likely to find a great piece on sale rather than waiting until I REALLY NEED something and then end up paying full price.
I’ve recommended this to several friends and they always call to thank me later. You’re welcome. :)
From Tara:
Oh man, I never thought of googling for coupons before I go shopping! You’re a genius! Also, I am a sales rack addict. If I find something I really love at regular price, I check back every few weeks to wait and see if it goes on sale, haha.
From Mary:
Great tips! I’m a huge Marshalls/Ross fan and I also love Kohls because they are ALWAYS running coupons/sales. I’m sure you’re going to look great!
From AshleyD:
Umm, that dress from Ross is ADORABLE.
From brittany:
If you’re still looking for a good suit The Limited and Loft have great size optioins online and you can definitely find good deals. Sign up for their emails and you are sure to get good coupons! I love this post. I’m always bargain shopping! And my favorite store it TMax :)
From Katie:
ooh, I love this post!
The absolute FIRST place I go when shopping for myself is Ross/TJMaxx. I can always find super cute stuff there for mere pennies, which makes me feel better when a kid pukes all over me and it gets ruined! Sure, you have to dig through stuff, but it makes it feel even that cooler when you find the perfect outfit…and it’s cheap!
NY and Company, Charlotte Russe, and Gap/Banana Republic are the first places I usually go to in the mall or when outlet shopping.
:-)
From Janalyn:
Your list is great! Some of my friends won’t go shopping with me anymore because I won’t go into a store if I don’t have a coupon or know they’re having a major sale, like 1/2 off clearance at Old Navy, which gets me every time!
From Melanie:
go team!
and dont forget you paid $6.79 for a sandwhich, cup o’ soup, fruit and an impressive hand twisted cone of frozen yogurt. But really whose counting when you have such awesome company ;) love ya!
From Gooseberried:
Oh man, I was wondering how you pulled that off! Great advice and good for you on your awesome purchases. :)
From Jill:
If your new job doesn’t work out, I would like to sign up for some personal shopping with LfT. Although I hope your job works out, i think you could save me some serious cash, heh ;P
From Becca:
I love Marshall’s! I got an AWESOME pair of Ralph Lauren jeans for $10 a week ago! I wore them to bible study on Wed and everyone was asking me if I lost weight…which means I now only want to wear those jeans ;) I am on a super tight budget but I always want to look good for work. That means, like you, I’m always looking for good deals and new ways to save money. It also means I’m always looking. Keeping up a wardrobe on a tight budget means constantly checking for good buys. I stop by Marshall’s or Ross or resale shops every other week or so to check for new stuff. The trick is to make sure you are getting stuff you actually need and not just getting random pieces…even if it’s a good deal. Thanks for the awesome post!
From steph anne:
Haha, I love finding great deals that saves me a lot of bucks here & there! We’re on a budget too to pay off our credit cards.
From Jill:
yay, i’m so glad you did this! i love coupons and great deals!!!
From Nora:
I very very rarely buy anything if it is full-price, or only if someone else is buying it for me (which is super duper rare). I love sales, coupons and shopping. I definitely have a list and/or a spending budget in mind but sometimes I go a little bit overboard… I think I need lessons on how to shop at TJ Maxx because those stores give me serious trouble. I just can’t handle them!
From brittany:
This might make you happy :) http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/slaves-to-fashion/2011/01/hot-sale-alert-score-an-additi.html It’s 40% already reduced prices. I love JCrew!!
From Grace:
I love finding good deals. My mom and I find the cutest things at thrift stores. I always want to tell people the price too but I was told by a few people not to and since I stopped I realized I felt a lot better just taking the compliment.
From ashleemae:
I love that dress!
I’ve found that Gap sometime has *awesome* sales but I’m mad at them for discontinuing one of my favorite perfumes, Gap Heaven. Haven’t been into one since I made that horrifying discovery.
From Beth:
Haha I just found this post and I seriously feel like I could have written it myself! Especially the last point about being unable to keep yourself from telling anyone who will listen how great the deal you got on your shirt was. I can’t help it!