How To Budget For Clothes + The Best Places to Shop For Your Budget

Today I’m sharing HOW and WHERE to shop for amazing clothes on a budget! I get asked all the time how I can afford so many clothes and my answer is simple- I budget! I shared a few weeks ago that when I first started fashion blogging I’m sharing with you beautiful ladies the exact steps I use so you can also learn:

• What you can actually spend on clothes.
• How to stay within budget
• How to save to buy that big purchase you’ve always dreamed of
• Learn how to build your dream wardrobe

Does this all sound amazing to you?! If it does keep reading to find out all my tips!

HOW TO BUDGET FOR CLOTHES

If you are a huge fashion lover or just started to develop your personal style it is so important to allot some of your income towards a clothing budget. The reason for this is because budgeting helps give a realistic and attainable amount of money so you don’t overspend, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, gives you the opportunity to spend money on clothes you didn’t think was in your budget. Wherever you are on this spectrum budgeting is a always a GOOD thing.

But HOW do you do it?!

START WITH YOUR MONTHLY INCOME

Looking at your finances is not the most fun thing in the world (this is a total understatement), involves doing some math, and is sometimes downright depressing. Girl, I feel you- but anything for fashion, right?!

If you follow these steps below you’ll always have a guilt free shopping trip every time because you know the exact amount of money you can spend on clothes! I also want to point out that if you use these steps below your fashion budget may fluctuate depending on other expenses and that is TOTALLY fine.

Take a look at your monthly income and write down the total amount you make in one month. Then, you’ll want to start subtracting expenses until you finally get to an allotted amount of money you can spend on clothes!

1.) Pay Yourself First. Pick an amount of money from your monthly income you want to save each month. This is so important because you want to pay yourself first in order to have money for future vacations, emergencies, and retirement. This money is untouchable for the rest of the month and should go into a separate account to help elevate any temptations you may have to use it. Subtract this amount from your monthly income.

2.) Write Down All Your Monthly Expenses. These expenses are what your income must go towards such as groceries, cell phone, car insurance, utilities, cable and internet, rent, etc. This is all the adulting expenses we totally don’t want to pay for because they aren’t fun but we have to anyways.

Add up all the total of all these expenses and subtract this from your monthly income.

3.) Plan For Unique Expenses For The Month. The next step is to figure out what type of expenses are going to occur in this particular month. This could include buying a birthday gift, needing new makeup because you’re running out, getting your hair highlighted, ect. Anything that you plan on doing in this month account for on your sheet! This will help give you a realistic budget for fashion (I promise we are getting to the fun part next!).

4.) Make Room For Unaccounted For Expenses. It’s super important to save a little wiggle room just in case you didn’t account for everything in your calculations. This doesn’t have to be a large amount of money, but just enough to ensure you don’t totally blow your budget should something come up during the month you didn’t plan for.

5.) Fashion Budget– Last, but certainly not least, is your fashion budget! The money you have left over after all your other expenses are taken into account is what you can spend on clothes for the month. If you have a smaller budget then expected, or a larger budget than anticipated both situations are great because you’re going to be saving money, staying within budget, and managing your finances like a total #girlboss.

Now that you know HOW to budget for clothes I’m sharing ALL the best stores to shop on a budget so you can get the most bang for your buck and build your dream wardrobe no matter how big or small your budget is! Sound good?!

THE BEST STORES TO BUILD YOUR DREAM WARDROBE ON A BUDGET

I know Blush Babes work hard for their money so I’m sharing the best stores to shop where you will get the most bang for your buck and start to build your dream wardrobe. It doesn’t matter if your budget is $50-$500. These stores are guaranteed to help you achieve enviable wardrobe status. I promise:).

This isn’t an all encompassing list, but helps give some ideas for where you can shop!

IF YOUR BUDGET IS $25-$125/month

Old Navy

What type of clothes: A mixture of classic and trendy pieces

Lowest priced item: as low as $5

Highest Priced item: around $35-$40

Why you should shop there: Old Navy is an amazing store to start building your wardrobe and adding classic items and incorporating trendier pieces. The quality of clothes at Old Navy is absolutely amazing so each item you buy will last you season after season. Old Navy also has amazing sales going on almost all the time so I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter to get updates on when those sales are and exclusive discount codes. I typically don’t sign up for clothing site newsletters, but Old Navy’s are super informative and are guaranteed to save you money!

Forever 21

What type of clothes: Trendy items

Lowest Priced Item: as low as $5

Highest Priced Item: Around $50

Why you should shop there: Forever 21 is notorious for having ultra trendy pieces at amazing price points. This is the store I always go to if I want to purchase a trendy item I know is only going to last one season. Forever 21 has an amazing accessory selection where I purchase almost all my jewelry, hats, and scarves! The only downside to this store is the quality isn’t the best so typically an item you buy will only last you one season.

Francesca’s

What type of clothes: Bohemian and feminine

Lowest Priced item: as low as $15

Highest Priced Item: around $65

Why you should shop there: Francesca’s dress selection is truly phenomenal and they always have the most amazing silhouettes and prints. This store is also perfect to purchase layering pieces such as vests, coats, and sweater since there is a ton of variety and Francesca’s organizes their racks by color so it’s really simple to shop for what you want! Their clothes are great quality and will last season after season.

SheInside

What type of clothes: Everything you can think of (not kidding!)

Lowest Priced Item: as low as $5

Highest Priced Item: around $60

Why you should shop there: SheInside is a great website for buying clothes and totally staying within your means! I purchased this skirt featured in this post here and I LOVE it! SheInside has everything you can think of from bohemian, classic wardrobe staples, to fringe! You name it, this site has it! The only downside is these clothes are not the best quality so they may not last you season after season.

If Your Budget is $150-400/month

Ann Taylor

What type of clothes: Classic wardrobe staples

Lowest Priced Item: Final Sale items are as low as $34

Highest Priced Item: around $189

Why you should shop there: Ann Taylor is perfect for adding classic wardrobe staples to your closet. The items will last you season after season and the quality is AMAZING. The price you pay for the quality you get is totally worth it! Plus, Ann Taylor has the best sales with tons of items on sale for 40% at any given time! #fashionwin!

Banana Republic

What type of clothes: Classic wardrobe staples with a few trendy pieces

Lowest Priced Item: some final sale items are as low as $14

Highest Priced Item: Their leather jackets go for over $500 but the average high prices averages around $90

Why you should shop there: Banana Republic is a great store for buying classic wardrobe staples that will last you season after season (just like Ann Taylor!). Banana Republic is owned by the same company that owns Old Navy and Gap so if find an item that is too expensive for your budget, chances are Gap and Old Navy will have a VERY similar item for less money. I use this trick ALL the time when online shopping!

Revolve

What Type Of Clothes: Trendy an bohemian pieces

Lowest Priced Item: Final Sale as low as $20

Highest Priced Item: For Designer pieces as high as $500, but their average price is around $150

Why you should shop there: Revolve is wildly popular among fashion bloggers and for good reason! Their clothes are adorable and always on point with trends!

What did you think of today’s post?! Do you budget for your clothes?! Would you ever shop at these places?! I would love to talk with you in the comments below!

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Thank you SO much for being apart of the Blush Babe community and stopping by the blog!

xx Julianna

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