I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a shopaholic and I love clothes. If you were to look in my room, you would find stacks of the latest issues of Glamour and Vogue. Nothing makes me want to spend money more than the touch of new silk or cotton and the smell of leather on newly displayed bags. When I walk into a store, I feel at home.
I’m sure you are wondering, as a college student, how do I feed my addiction? Well it all started two years ago when I worked for Express as a fashion expert in the fitting rooms. My first employee purchase allowed me to get $150 off a $300 sale, AND if I opened a credit card, I was able to save another 15 percent on top of that. A dream come true, right? Well after I started working a couple of shifts a week, I realized I was not saving any money. Each time I got paid, I spent it on the new merchandise we received, or I would put it on my credit card. As time went on, and the paychecks kept coming in, my roommates began to notice my constant spending and they would yell at me every week. Each time I would promise that there would not be any more purchases, but my shopping addiction became so bad that I would actually hide bags in my car so they wouldn’t notice. Pathetic? Extremely.
I finally realized that there are other ways to afford my clothing habit. College students can maintain great style on a reasonable budget, and maybe even earn money in return.
First things first, do not shop brands, shop styles. Getting to know your body type and what styles suit you can save you more than you realize. I have purchased tops on numerous occasions that I didn’t try on and bought for the heck of it. If I didn’t like the way it looked, it would move to the bottom of my dresser, not to be touched. For some, it’s all about following the latest trends, but as much as we all hate to admit it, not every single thing we buy is going to look good. Stick to what works for you.
Once you have your own look down, the next step is to know where to shop. Say goodbye to the high end brands, and hello to discount stores. Yep, I said it. For some, this can be a hard transition, but there is nothing wrong with spending $10 on a shirt at TJ Maxx that would cost you $39.99 at Express. Other discount stores like Target and Marshall’s have great finds as well.
Thrift stores such as Salvation Army on Market Street and Good Will on Lincoln Highway can also hold hidden treasures. Thrift shopping can be hard and a turn off for some, but with a little research of the store and knowing exactly what you want, it can really pay off and save you lots of money. My only piece of advice when thrift shopping, take your time. Finding a good piece in thrift stores takes time. The key is patience.
I’m a list maker. I would not survive without lists. Before you leave to go shopping, write down or key into your smart phones exactly what you want to buy and set yourself a spending limit. Shopping on impulse is not an option for us broke college students, and by carrying a list you can prevent the unecessary spending.
Another tip, before you leave to go shopping, examine your closet and take a mental note of your inventory. We’re all hoarders to some extent. Give your clothing a time line. If you haven’t worn something in six months, its time to say goodbye.
Did you know that you can actually make money off of your clothes? Items that you have only worn once, or have been sitting in your closet for months, can be sold to consignment shops such as Plato’s Closet. Once I made $70 in a trip to Plato’s, and luckily for West Chester students, there is one located in Exton.
With that in mind, if you are planning on buying a new top, sell another one back.
Shopping on a budget does not have to be stressful. It’s time to get back to basics. Simple and solid or printed shirts with a pair of skinny jeans can easily be accessorized. Stocking up on cheaper promotional accessories from stores such as Forever21, H&M and Charlotte Russe can transform basic tops into multiple stylish looks.
There are many simple ways to help cut back your spending, and no need for the disgruntled feelings towards price tags. Just because we are broke college students, does not mean our fashion has to suffer!
Lauren DiCrecchio is a fifth-year student majoring in liberal studies with minors in journalism and Spanish. She can be reached at LD658004@wcupa.edu.