Fall is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. One of them is my love for sweaters, jeans… just as many clothes as I can pile on. I love wrapping up. Trouble is, as a SAHM, there’s not a ton of room in the budget for new clothes. Especially when the babes are growing like weeds and always needing new threads. They get to have all the fun and don’t even care!!
Luckily, moms don’t need to forsake style just cause they’re on a budget. Obviously, we don’t have the big bucks to spend on high-end fashion, but considering fashion trends change from one day to the next, it’s silly to spend too much anyways. Still, if you’re sick of opening your wardrobe and finding nothing to wear, I’ve got a few ideas to share.
Get rid of anything you are not going to wear.
If you know you’re not going to wear something again, then get rid of it! But don’t just give them to the Goodwill where someone else will turn a profit on them. There are any number of sites you can use to sell your clothes online. Check out this article on Well Kept Wallet (https://wellkeptwallet.com/sell-clothes-online/) for a list of places you can sell online. Not only will you be paring your closet down to just the things you love, but you can use the cash you earn to get yourself something new.
Related: My Winter Capsule Wardrobe
Supplement your income.
Speaking of being on a budget, have you thought about starting a side hustle? Since I started blogging, I have a little extra income on the side. Typically I lump it in with the rest of our income to cover our expenses, but on occasion I dip into it to get myself a little something. And I don’t have to feel guilty! Check out my post for ideas on how to make a side income as a SAHM.
Shop around online.
You probably shop around for everything else in your life, right? You might have become a master of the market because you can actually research and compare prices before you buy. Do the same for your clothes! If you see an item you like at Nordstrom or online, but realize it’s too expensive, do a Google search and see if you can find the item (or a similar item) elsewhere online. There are also discounted fashion stores online, such as this one, 5 Dollar Fashions (https://5dollarfashions.com), so if you look around, you will be able to pick up something that looks similar but cheaper.
Accessorize your current outfits.
Any outfit can look good with a few accessories, even your most basic pieces. Check out the advice given in this article on Glamour (https://www.glamour.com/update-boring-outfits) and your once tired look will be invigorated almost immediately. You can literally change the entire vibe of an outfit just based on accessories, hair and makeup.
For instance, my SAHM uniform tends to be a basic tee and skinny jeans. If I wore it with the same shoes and sweatshirt ALL the time, of course it’s going to lack pizzazz. So what I started doing is taking those basic ingredients (tee and jeans) and changing the feel of it with the rest of the outfit. Some days I wear my converse, green anorak, and braid my hair and it feels a little more street style. Other days I wear nude flats, my gold Kate Spade watch, and bold red lips–instantly classic.
Buy one statement piece.
When you’re looking to accessorize, you don’t have to go crazy with lots of options. Start saving money so you can focus on buying that one statement item, and then spend any spare money on less expensive items. One way to make a statement is with a signature piece of jewelry. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend after all. Check out this review of Ritani (http://yourdiamondguru.com/reviews/ritani-review/) and see if you can convince your husband to buy you some new bling for your next anniversary. *Wink* A girl can dream, right?
Other statement piece ideas: a designer handbag, an Hermes scarf, a versatile pair of flats, a sturdy but stylish coat… something that you can wear over and over that will hold up for years to come. Just make sure your signature piece says “you.” Some of my statement pieces include an Yves Saint Laurent bag my parents bought me for graduation, my blue druzzie earrings, and a plaid scarf I wear the heck out of in the winter time.
Treasure hunt in thrift stores.
Don’t turn up your nose at thrift stores. Before I moved away from my home town, I used to shop at our Goodwill ALL the time. It was seriously the best one I’ve ever been to. It’s been years and I still have some nice pieces I wear regularly that I thrifted from there. Of course there will be items you wouldn’t be caught dead in, but if you don’t look, you may miss out on a hidden gem. I learned the art of the search from my best friend. There secret is to just look. at. every. thing. Literally one piece at a time. And here’s another tip: go to the thrift stores in the more affluent areas of your town and city, (telling you from personal experience) and rummage through the castoffs of the posh.
You don’t have to settle for a closet you aren’t happy with. Heck, if nothing else, I’ve noticed Walmart has really stepped up their game in the fashion department! I can’t be the only one who’s noticed this?!
What are your tricks for keeping your wardrobe fresh on a SAHM budget?