Have you recently landed a new job or internship with a swanky dress code? If you are working on debt management but need to upgrade your professional wardrobe, there are a few smart shopping tricks that can get you there.
Avoid credit card debt with these professional wardrobe tips.
How to Save Money on a Professional Wardrobe
Building a professional wardrobe takes time and money. With a little creativity and patience, you can achieve a polished look without paying top dollar for it. This is especially important if you want to eliminate debt rather than increase it. Let’s take a look at some money saving shopping tricks along with how to finance a professional wardrobe.
Money Saving Tips for Clothes Shopping
There are so many ways to save money clothes shopping. No matter what your style or shopping preferences, there is a way to not pay full retail to stay within a small budget.
- Use store apps to find deals
- Purchase basic pieces in neutral colors you can mix and match
- Use accessories to make your outfits feel different
- Skip dry clean only items
- Shop thrift stores- inspect items carefully for quality
- Use annual sale times- holidays, back to school, season changes
- Sell old clothing- use credits or profits to purchase new items
- Shop at factory outlet stores that offer discounted items from high end designers
- Buy clothes you can layer and wear year-round
How to Finance a Professional Wardrobe
The most important thing to do is to know how much money you have to use on your professional wardrobe. To start, use your current clothes budget. Be sure to avoid credit card debt by keeping track of all you spend.
Another way to get some more cash for clothes is to skip some fun for a month. If you need more money to purchase your wardrobe, look no further than your entertainment categories. I’m sure your friends will take you out to celebrate the new job. After that, it’s dinner at home while watching your favorite movie for the 100th time.
Borrowing from your emergency fund or savings is another option. This should be a very small amount that you know your new salary will cover immediately. Make sure that there is plenty left in there to cover that true emergency so you don’t find yourself trying to get out of debt.
It’s helpful to start with just a few new outfits and work your way up over time. Think about 5-7 new outfits for the first month or until you save enough money for more purchases. Eventually, you will have plenty of quality options to show off at the office without having any credit card debt!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
