Shopping is a must. It is the best-loved procrastination tool and the development of online shopping has been lethal to the majority of students and their poor, suffering bank accounts. Unfortunately, with the way society is today, we just have to have new clothes every now and then. Everyone needs rewards – aced an exam? Buy a new dress. Off on the lash with the lads? Need a new shirt. This is just the way life is and there is no avoiding it. So how do we feed our shopping appetites in a smart and savvy way for as little money as possible? Here’s how…
1. Look online beforehand
Look online before you head to the shops. This means you will have already identified some items that you wish to buy and avoids unnecessary wandering and panicking that “I’m supposed to be at pre-drinks in an hour” resulting in impulse purchasing. You can get in and out - find your desired item straight away with minimal loitering and hopefully minimal spending as a consequence. It also helps if you plan a small shopping trip in the middle of a busy day so you can literally pop in and out without any distractions – perfect money saving plan!
2. eBay
Some people are quite snobby about eBay, but you can find some absolutely great bargains on there. A lot of the clothes and shoes are unworn and if you really don’t like the idea of buying someone else’s things, then there’s a huge variety of stores within eBay which only sell previously unworn gear. There are some great bargains on there from people whose clothes or shoes didn’t fit etc…well worth a look!
3. Student Discount
Never forget to ask whether a shop does student discount – they might surprise you! Your student card is your most valuable shopping tool – don’t forget to try and use it everywhere. Sign up to www.unidays.co.uk and get discount off your online purchases too! A fantastic money saving website – everyone should check it out!
4. Charity Shops
You will not believe the absolute bargains you can get in charity shops. Designer clothes with the tag on for a tenner, vintage dresses for a fiver. You need to stop turning your nose up and just have a good root through. The bonus is that hardly any people will have the same clothes you have and you’ll look really unique and stand out on your nights out for all the right reasons! Have a charity shop day with your mates and spend the day trawling through the lot – you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the hidden treasures available!
5. Clothes Parties
This is one of my favourite ways to get a new wardrobe. Get together some of your friends who wear the same sized clothes for a clothes party. You each gather up a bag full of clothes you don’t wear any more or want to chuck and all turn up to someone’s house for a clothes party, where essentially, you swap clothes. You get a brand new wardrobe for free and you can see your old babies going to a good home – great idea, huh? Crack open a few bottles of wine and have a real night of it! Agree that whatever nobody wants you can take to a charity shop.
6. Cash4Clothes
This is an absolutely fantastic organisation which gives you money for your old clothes, CDs, books… the list goes on. Though the money you earn isn’t earth shattering, it’s better than nothing. Besides, this way you know your clothes are going to a great cause too. You can free up space, help someone in need and earn yourself some money in the meantime! Head down to http://www.cash4clothes.co.uk/ and see where you could make money for your junk. This way, you have cash to go out and buy new things!
Enjoy!
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