You had me at “let’s go shopping!” But hold up, wait a minute – before you shop ’til you drop and bust out your budget before you can even say “bankruptcy”, there are a 5 major questions to ask yourself before making that purchase.
K, So Tell Me More…
Shopping as “something fun to do” can lead you down a never-ending-money mess. Sorry to be a buzzkill, but it’s just not worth it. To untangle what you really should buy over just a “fun” purchase there are 5 questions to help keep your wardrobe and budget in check. No pressure, but time to clean out your closet. Take inventory.
Do you already own something just like it?
Do you already own something just like it?Twinning? Just how many black v-neck tees do you need? Know what I mean? Unless you need a replacement for a worn-out item, it’s probs not the smartest budget move to buy more of the same.
What are you shopping for?
What are you shopping for?#Goals. Why you are shopping? Are you looking for a pair of dressy pants because all you own are jeans and every-single-time you go out for “brunch” and want to wear pants you don’t have that sophisticated option? Do you need a chic dress to wear in the spring because you currently only own wool dresses and that’s just not going to work in 90′ weather? Fill in gaps in your wardrobe.
What’s the Cost Per Wear?
What’s the Cost Per Wear?Math (in the real world!) means being totes OK to spend a big-ol-chunk-o-change for something that you will wear a lot. For example, splurging on a pair of classic denim like these makes perfect sense. You will wear them all the time because they won’t stretch all out of shape, they will make you look ahhhhhhhmazing (by how professionally structured the jeans are constructed) and they won’t fade as much (as cheaper denim) over time. Here’s the math: Wearing a $200 pair of jeans just once a week over a year (or more because they will last that long or longer!) will “cost” you approximately $4 per wear. Compare that to a pair of $40 jeans that you wear twice because they stretch out, make your butt look saggy and obvi are NOT flattering will cost you $20 per wear until you donate them to Goodwill.
How’s the fit?
How’s the fit?Clothing MVP Status. If you are tugging on it already in the store’s dressing room this is not going to end well. Once you try it on you should look like the BEST version of yourself. Anything less than that? Don’t buy it. You won’t wear it because it won’t boost your confidence or make you look like the babe you are.
What will you wear it with?
What will you wear it with?Options: the Spice of Life. While debating about a piece of clothing on your long walk from the dressing room to the checkout counter, think about what you would want to wear that item with. If you can name at least 6 different outfit ideas, get it. But – if you are struggling to think of anything except jeans to wear it with, put it back on the rack.
Next time you’re out shopping take me along with you (figuratively, I guess…) to help you shop smarter.
It is just too easy to go overboard when shopping, and end up buying things I never wear. I will definitely be taking these tips along with me next time I shop !
These are great tips to ask yourself and I have been doing that more and more lately. Something else that I do is to get rid of things if I add more to my closet.
Yes to all of these tips! I also ask myself if I absolutely love it. If the answer is not yes, I leave it.
I do try to ask a lot of these. I find I buy too much stuff I don’t really need, and I must stop it. Target is what gets me in trouble most of the time.
Ugh, I am so bad about buying stuff I don’t need or will never ever wear. If it’s cute I have to ask myself these questions before buying.
I amgenerally very frugal when it comes to shopping and usually wait too long before I buy something. These are good questions to ask before you purchase especially expensive clothes.
Karen, these are such great tips, not only for staying on a budget but for sustainability. I’d much rather have unique pieces I will cherish for a lifetime than a bunch of disposable stuff! PS: I always “do the math” with expensive purchases LOL!
These are good guidelines to keep in mind. I like the idea of doing a little math on the potential cost in the long run.
I love your tips, this is a really great way to shop. I have to make sure to use your tips for my next shopping experience.
These are all really great questions to consider before making a purchase. I find that I am really guilty of impulse shopping (especially for shoes) only to wear the item a handful of times before donating it. I need more cost per wear articles in my closet, so I’ll be sure to start asking myself these questions from here on out.
I am usually pretty good about impulse buys but I know I could be better about making sure I really love a product and will use it often. This is a really helpful post to consider when purchasing.
I definitely have been trying to scale back on things I buy. I hate having a closet filled with stuff that I rarely ever want to wear.
I love this post. I am not spending any money unless it is something I have to pay for, like utilities and Starbucks. Ha! No, really, we are doing Financial Peace and I love your strategies when it gets tough.
This is definitely a perfect tip on how you manage your money and to know more about the most important things you really needed. I love this blog very helpful.
You have great tips. Sometimes I go overboard when shopping for new clothes then when I get home will realized I really don’t want some of the stuff I bought. ugh. I will practice this.
Great tips! But I must admit, I am such an impulsive buyer or shopper sometimes. But once I get a new thing, I also make sure to donate an old one. 🙂
I always keep myself in check when it comes to buying cloths for me. It’s when I shop for the kiddos. Then I really have to remember to question what we really need.
Those are really great questions to keep in mind when shopping! I am pretty good when it comes to my shopping for clothes, but I need to use this type of logic at the grocery store.
I try to keep in check it while shopping for me but for my kids I will not check while shopping for my kids. Thanks for sharing these tips.