Ways to Refresh Your Wardrobe on a Budget

Whether it’s back to school, the season is changing, or you’re livening up your work clothes, here’s how you can be one step closer to building a wardrobe you love!

1. Go through your closet

   Start your shopping trip in your own closet. By going through your closet, you might discover many clothing items you forgot you owned. You might get lucky and find pieces you can start wearing regularly! For the clothes you don’t see yourself wearing again or do not fit you, get rid of them. After you’re finished, you’ll be left with clothes you actually wear and enjoy. Also, consider selling some of the clothes you won’t wear again - it’s an easy way to make some money.
   
   

2. Reorganize your closet

   Reorganizing your closet will make your space feel new and fresh! Take all of your clothing, shoes and accessories out and organize everything in a way you prefer so it is not overwhelming when it comes time to pick out an outfit.
   
   

3. Figure out ways to make extra money

   After you’ve organized your closet, if you have clothes you're willing to part with, sell them to make extra money. There are many online apps such as Poshmark, Depop, and thredUP where you can sell your clothing, or take them to a local resale shop near you. Refreshing your wardrobe, doesn’t mean spending a lot of money on new clothes that you may not have. Another way you can make some extra money is to think about what you can cut out of your current lifestyle? This could be skipping out on the nail salon, cutting back on buying coffee at your favorite coffee shop, or not eating out. Think about how much money you can save by temporarily cutting back on something you frequently spend money on.
   
   

4. Know what you own

   Now that you have some extra money to purchase new clothes, make sure you have a general idea of what types of clothes you own and what you need. This will help you not make impulse purchase decisions when you are shopping. It might be helpful to take notes of the types of clothing that are your favorite, what you don’t feel good in, and colors you are drawn to before you make a purchase decision. For example, if you enjoy wearing comfortable clothing to class but the majority of your closet is fancy tops and jeans, you’ll know to look for basic pieces when you’re shopping.
   
   

5. Create a budget

   After you have cleaned and organized your closet, set a budget for the rest of the clothing items you're willing to add to your wardrobe. This way you won’t overspend, and you are able to make good purchase decisions.
   
   

6. Choose the right store

   There are plenty of ways to get clothing steals for next to nothing. Consider thrifting at a local thrift store or make a visit to Goodwill. When shopping, look for retailers holding sales or that have coupons. You can find deals at stores but chances are, you’ll save most of your money by shopping online. Take advantage of price comparisons, online coupons and free shipping. If you live in a bigger city, or near a town with a college campus, visit the local thrift store or resell-it shops - you might find something good!
   
   

7. Shop out of season

   Shop out of season to save big on your wardrobe. Whether you’re shopping in store or online, end-of-the-season sales are a great time to take advantage of markdowns on items that retailers are trying to get rid of and who knows, maybe you’ll find steals you can wear year-round!