How to Remain Fabulous on a Budget

I am the ultimate girly girl. I love all things makeup, jewelry, clothes, hair and any excuse to get dressy. At one point in my life I spent a ridiculous amount of my income on all of these things. Not like I had tons of money I was just financially irresponsible. I would go and blow hundreds of dollars on a sequins birthday dress I only planned on wearing once smh. Well babies, daycare expenses, and a mortgage changed that real quick, ha! I was forced to be make smarter decisions with my money. The good news is I didn’t have to compromise my style, I just had to learn how to shop on a budget. Now I actually enjoy getting good deals on pieces for my wardrobe. It’s like a sport to me to find amazing deals on super cute outfits and accessories.

I work in healthcare marketing where I’m in hospitals meeting with doctors all day so I have to get presentable every day but even if it wasn’t required for my day job I actually take pleasure in getting dolled when having to go somewhere. As a dancer who took ballet for 13years, they taught us at a young age that a woman should never leave the house without at the very least a little bit of lipgloss lol. It’s true though! Physical appearance isn’t everything but it’s definitely something. The way we dress affects the way we carry ourselves and ultimately how we can feel about ourselves. There’s studies that show your style affects your mood, health, and overall confidence. Just think about it, simply getting your hair done or a fresh manicure can boost your mood and confidence. As women, especially wives and mothers, we tend to neglect ourselves while tending to everyone else. It can be very easy to “let yourself go” when you have tiny babies and consistently feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions. Who has time to do a full face of makeup when just showering and brushing your teeth is an accomplishment when you have babies, right? But we must make it a point to give ourselves a little TLC every now and then.

As a mother to two daughters I want to them to see that no matter what I at least get up, get dressed, and never give up each day. As a wife I want to be sure to never “let myself go.” My husband loves me “hair tied, chillin with no makeup on” but also LOVES to see me all dolled up. Let’s just be honest, men are very visual and physical beings and I want to always look good for my man. Hey, maybe that’s just me.

But there is a way to stay fly and not have to spends hundreds or even thousands on your wardrobe monthly. Here are a few tips on how to exude fabulous style and elegance on a tight budget with very little time involved:

1. Shop Smart!

Make Old Navy, JC Penny, Target, and Zara (When they are having a big sale) your best friend. These are my go to places to shop for simple statement pieces that are affordable. Now a lot of well known, more high-priced designers have affordable lines at places like Target as well. Don’t get too caught up in name brands and learn how to make designer dupes work just as well as the over-priced designer item. Be sure to sign up for stores email alerts also so that way you’ll be the first to know when they are having a huge sale.

2. Become Good at Online Shopping

Ya’ll, I used to live in the malls, that is, until I started having to take crying babies, bottles, diaper bag, strollers, and Lord knows what else with me to shop. If you find yourself not having the time to bargain shop in person learn how to effectively online shop. That way you can snag great deals from the comfort of your couch and cut back on the time it would’ve taken to go to the department store. Once you get great at online shopping just be sure to only do it in moderation because it can become addicting!

3. Shop out of Season

Winter staples like your heavy pea coats and sweaters tend to be the most pricey because once you make the investment they literally last years. Catch these items once the season is just ending. That’s when you find your 50-75% off sales. I use this methods for trends that go in and out of style as well, for example, gladiator sandals. You never want to spend a lot of money on the hottest trends that may or may not be in style in a year or two.

4. Accessorize! Accessorize! Did I mention, ACCESSORIZE?!

Statement jewelry, cute shoes, or a fab handbag can make any simple outfit runway ready. If you’ve been following me for some time it’s clear that I LOVE me a tassel earring. My ultimate go to place for affordable statement jewelry is Sam Moon. It’s a huge show room full of costume jewelry, trendy handbags, and so much more. You’ll find the same exact statement jewelry trends, such as the tassel earrings, that are sold in boutiques and department stores for half the price. I don’t spend ridiculous amounts of money on accessories because it’s something I interchange with every outfit.

5. A Little Effort Goes A Long Way

Don’t underestimate the power of pop of color on the lip or a set of false lashes. If you don’t have time to do a full beat face my go to routine is brows, mascara, and lips. It helps with not looking like you rolled out of bed and left the house. If you just devote an extra 5-10minutes to getting presentable before leaving the house it can make a world of difference. Hey, they do say first impressions are everything, you never know who you may run into.

As we are raising kids, tending to our husbands, working, all while running a household let’s not neglect ourselves ladies. If you’ve find that you can’t remember the last time you felt cute that needs to change NOW. Put on a little makeup, do your hair, get dressed up and go out with hubby kids free or call up your girlfriends and have a night out on the town. Watch how great you feel. You won’t regret it. I hope these simple steps make that possible or at least a little bit easier.

As always I love you all,

Courtney N. Williams