Ballin' On A Budget!!!!

Whoa!  Spending all this money today got me thinking.  Being a single mother is not easy, especially when your little one has medical issues; trust me, I know firsthand.   Among all of the challenges, and obstacles we encounter, is the standing concern of finances, and just making it on a daily basis.  Now, like many of you ladies out there, I love to shop.  I mean LOVE to shop.  I swear, I get a rush when I make a purchase.  I joke, but sometimes, I think I have a real addiction.  Whenever I am going through something, and I can't seem to make myself feel better, I always turn to retail therapy as the solution.  Let me first say, I am definitely not wealthy.  Not in any shape, or form.  I struggle a lot, and I pinch pennies like crazy.  One thing that I always make sure that I can do though, is splurge a little every now and then.  It really helps me out :)   I make sure that I stick to a few simple rules to be sure that I get the most out of each and every shopping experience.  I don't just have myself to think about.  I have a son, and we like to look good.  Looking good is important; it makes you feel good, and I feel even better when I can look good without spending a fortune.

Here they are Ladies, my tips for Ballin' on a Budget........    

                                       Ballin' On A Budget 

     

    1. Stick to the basics

It is so easy to be drawn into all these bold, beautiful prints on some of these fabrics.  This is especially true for women's clothing.  While these designs are nice and everything, they do exactly what they are meant to do, Stand Out!  When you wear something with a design that covers most of your garment, that makes it so much more noticeable when you repeat it.  That means the more "extreme" clothes you have, the more clothes you need, unless you want to look like you wear the same thing everyday.  By keeping it simple, and basic with your bigger items, like jeans, dresses, sweaters, and coats for example, you can wear a certain item frequently, and just change up accent pieces, and accessories.

2.  Buy accent pieces

 This is very important in order to diversify your wardrobe without spending a lot of              

 money.  Accent pieces, like scarves, belts, jewelry, and even some pieces of outerwear,

 breathe new life into any outfit.  A plain black dress can take you from day to night,       

 business to pleasure, or work to play with the right necklace, earrings, scarf sweater, etc.,   it    can be one of these, or a combination.  It's up to you.  The possibilities are completely  endless, and it is sooo much cheaper to buy a new scarf, than a new dress.

3.  Shop off- season/ Sales

I don’t care what anybody say, this is one of the best ways to save money ever!!! I buy winter clothes in the summer and summer clothes in the winter.  Everything is always on clearance heading into the next season.  How could you resist?  I know I can't, and I don't.    I find some of the best pieces when I shop at the end of the season,  and I always get compliments on my clothes.  I mean hey, I'm not a celebrity, I'm not worried about all that craziness.   I just know I buy what I like, and what looks good on me.  Sales are a no brainer.  Everything is better on

sale, and be sure to use extra coupon codes, and discounts whenever available.

4.   Shop online

It is only my personal opinion, but I must say, shopping online is better than in store.  That is when you are shopping for something other than food :)   When you shop online, you get access to things you don't get in-store.   There are always online only deals, and such a broader selection online.  You can find items that aren't available in-store and everything.  Not to mention, if you sign up for Ebates.com, you can earn actual cash back on your purchases.  Earning money for shopping, I'll take it!!


 5.  Be realistic

Now this applies to several areas.  You need to be realistic first and foremost, with your money.  Don't  try to shop  above your means. If you have $100 to spend, it would not be smart to go buy a pair of jeans for $75.  You gotta be realistic with your needs and wants.  Also, please be realistic with your size when clothes shopping.  It might sound silly, but it can save you a lot of money.  I know how hard it is to admit to gaining a couple pounds, for instance.  If you shop for the size you were, or you wish to be, I guarantee, you will not get much wear out of your clothes.  Besides that, when you do wear them, they won't look good on you.   Like I said, looking good, helps you feel good.  So what if you have to size up, wear it with pride, and you will get a whole lot of wear out of each item.


6.  Feel good about your purchase

For me, this is a big one.  I will never make a purchase that is not an absolute need, if I don't feel god about it.  I mean, something that is only  a couple of dollars will get left behind if I don't feel like I am getting a good deal.  I make it a point to not buy anything unless I get excited about it.  A little weird, I know, but I work hard for my money, and I better be happy to let it go, or else I'm holding on to it.

                  Well, there you have it.  Just a few things to help keep your pockets happy :)

                                                             Thanks for reading!!!