Are you a fan of fashion? Love to dress to impress or dress to express? I know I do. I also know how expensive this habit can be. If you are a fan of fashion too, you know that a real Fashionista is a smart shopper. Purchasing an item that you love means so much more than how much you spend on it. A real Fashionista also like to be different, he/she doesn’t like to wear items that everyone else is wearing. After all, being a Fashionista brings out the artist in you to express who you are in your everyday wear.
So how can you become a smarter shopper and save money while looking good?
Here’s are some hints: TRADE, SELL, BUY
Clean out your closet! Turn those items you barely touch into cash. There are so many stores near by your home as well as websites that allow you to sell and/or trade items that you no longer wear. Some of them even allow you to trade in your items for a different one! Let’s take a look at some of these stores and websites:
1. Buffalo Exchange
This is probably one of my favorite places in the world! This store is a thrift store but it sure isn’t your usual thrift store. Buffalo Exchange is a vintage thrift store that allows you to bring in your former favorites that you just can’t fit into anymore or don’t love anymore to trade for other items in the store or get cash for them. They offer fashionable items from different decade that you can mix and match, for both men and women. These items are hand picked so you can be sure to find many great items you would not be able to find in the mall, AND for a great price. Another cool thing about Buffalo Exchange is the fact that each store has different items and they receive new items on the daily basis, which means you never know what you will stumble upon. Check out Buffalo Exchange’s website to see the nearest store by you.
2. Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet works pretty much like Buffalo Exchange. This is how it works:
a. Bring in your clothes and accessories that are still in good condition (Items that still have tags on it will probably give you the most profits).
b. While you are checking out the latest styles in the store, the buyer will review your items.
c. The buyer will create an offer based on style, condition, brand, and the store’s current stock level
d. Once you accept the offer, you will be on your way out with extra cash or a couple of new items.
Check out Plato’s Closet website.
3. Ebay
Yes, Ebay. And yes, people still use this site. What’s great about selling your items on Ebay is the fact that you have the ability to set your own price and maybe even get more for your item if people are bidding on it. Ebay also has some great tools to help you sell your items. Check out their “Sell” section to see what you can make use of. Of course there are some downfalls, you can’t just walk in, hand someone your items and walk out with cash. But you definitely have a better chance of selling your items on Ebay.
4. Garage Sales
They say someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure. Get together with your friends and family and bring out all of the items you don’t need or want anymore. You might find the inner hustler in you when negotiating your price with your buyers.
5. Goodwill
Ok so you have tried every option I mentioned above and still got some items left? Go to Goodwill and donate your clothes. Why not? You don’t need those items anymore, other people need them more than you plus it is good karma to donate. But if you still would rather make some money, you have an option of writing your donation off on your taxes.
By cleaning out your closet and selling or donating items that you barely touch, you will find yourself feeling refreshed with some extra cash you can use toward new items for your closet. Now you can be fabulous and frugal at the same time! Click here for additional tips on how you can go about selling your clothing items and what small details you should look at before handing those items over.
Have any other great tips for being a frugal fashionista? Share them in the comment section!
