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Hello ladies! I really love shopping, and I especially love shopping for work, but direct deposit doesn’t hit my bank account as fast as my credit card can swipe. Reality sets in and you remember you have a budget, bills, savings, and other responsibilities. Some of you may not have a budget to do much shopping for yourself as at all. But you’re bored with your wardrobe and want something new without all the spending.

When I moved out of my parent’s house and had more bills to pay, I had to start getting creative with ways to save money on clothing, while getting full use out of what I have. Here are a few tips I put together on How to Update your Wardrobe on a Budget.

Purge, Purge, Purge

The first step to updating your wardrobe is purging all the items of clothing you don’t wear. I can’t tell you how many articles of clothing I’ve had hanging in my closet for years with the tag still on it. Go through your closet and purge any pieces of clothing that you never wear. But don’t get rid of them just yet!

Accessorize well

The next step is learning how to accessorize! Now, go ahead and grab all the clothes you just purged from your closet and start trying them on. Play around with your clothes and accessories and have fun with it before getting rid of anything. Don’t be afraid to be bold, make a statement, and add personality to your style. Do you have a shapeless dress that does absolutely nothing for your figure? Style it with a belt or throw on a cute blazer. Is your closet full of neutral colors that are starting to get boring? Put on a pair of bold colored shoes or handbag. A great statement accessory can bring any outfit to life!

Donate/ Sell

Now that you have eliminated all the clothes that don’t fit into your style or wardrobe, try donating or selling them. I usually tend to donate any clothes I want to get rid of, but if you are looking to make a quick buck so you can buy some more clothes, there are some great apps you can sell your clothes on. Poshmark and ThredUp two of the most popular apps to sell clothes on!

Sales racks

Whenever you decide to treat yourself and go shopping, always run to the sales/ clearance rack first! I’ve found for myself that whenever I go over to the sales rack before shopping around the store, I see a few goods finds that satisfies me enough for one shopping trip. Just the other day I walked into H&M and went straight to the sales rack. I found two long-sleeve buttons up blouses like these for $6.99 each that retail for $24.99 and an adorable plaid skirt, similar to this one, for $16.99 that retailed for $34.99. But don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. This is how you end up with more items in your closet that you never wear!

Avoid shopping sprees

Instead of going on massive shopping sprees, go to the mall or your favorite stores occasionally and pick out a few items that you love. I’ve found that when I plan on going on shopping sprees, I spend way more money. I also find that when I go on shopping sprees, I feel the need to buy something whether I love it or not. That’s when I end up with clothes hanging in my closet for the next year or two with the tags still on it.

Don’t buy it unless you love it

Don’t buy something unless you love it and can picture yourself wearing it. Or unless it’s versatile. When I shop for work, I’m not going to gush over a pair of black slacks or some cardigans, but I know those are simple items I can wear on a day-to-day basis. Also, think about all the clothes you went through in your closet and how many clothes you decided to rid of. Especially the ones that were never worn. This is a good reminder of how wasteful impulsive buying can be!

Find your colors

Do you have a few favorite colors that you can add to your wardrobe? Adding your favorite colors to your wardrobe can ensure that you wear them while also adding some boldness and personality to your style. My favorite color is yellow, for example, and I have an adorable long sleeve yellow blouse that I tuck into a black pencil skirt. Simple and classic but so cute! If you’re not big on bolder or brighter colors, try neutrals other than navy blue or black. My favorites to wear are white, gray, and baby pinks.

I hope this post helped update your wardrobe without spending a pretty penny on a whole new one! Let me know which tip was your favorite and worked best for you!