A Thrifty Guide For College Bound Vegans: Part Two

This week I will be covering fashion for the endlessly busy and broke college chick!  But first I want to add some afterthoughts about last week’s post on eating vegan for cheap, on (and off) campus.

Thrifty Grocery Shopping Addendum

There were some wonderful comments on part one of this article which made me realize I missed a key budget shopping point!  Comparison shopping is probably the best way to save money while grocery shopping.  Check out your weekly circulars or email updates from your favorite stores. You can also only buy produce that is on sale and flex your culinary muscles by developing new recipes with the random items you have bought.  And did you know that there are these magical places called salvage grocery stores? They are kind of like food outlets and you can find some wonderful bargains.  (A special thanks to Miss Molly Horn for these additions. )

Now, on to some fabulous  fashion tips for all of you busy (and broke) collegiate ladies!

Reduce, Re-use, Up-cycle!

Before you toss the clothes you haven’t worn in years, stop and evaluate them closely. Why are you going to get rid of this?  Is it too big for you? Too small? Is there a rip, burn or stain? If there is some aspect of this piece that you still love, be it the fabric, the cut, or the buttons – Save it and turn it into something else. Turn an old pair of jeans into a skirt, a sweater into a tote bag.. use your imagination and learn some crafty skills along the way!

Go to a thrift store and consider what the clothing can become instead of what it is. $30 and a bit of time can give you a whole new season of clothes. Plus you’ll be known as “that cool indie chick”.  Check out this girl who is making totally adorable clothing from $1 thrift dresses that most people would typically turn up their noses.

If you are not the crafty, sew-y type, just learn to embrace the amazing world of vintage shopping. And I’m not talking about buying a tacky 80’s prom dress on Ebay for $200. I’m talking about down and dirty second-hand shopping. The frustrations! The endless searches! The questionable odors!  But working for that perfect (super cheap!) item is worth the feeling of satisfaction you get when you find it.

Adventures In Shopping

Evaluate every purchase –  Every time you go to make a purchase ask your self – “Do I really need this?”  Most of the time you don’t.  An easy way to  squash impulse buying is by doing the 48 hour test. Wait 48 hours after finding something you “have to have” and see if you still want it badly.

Buy off season – A $300 winter coat for $60? Yes, please! At the end of each season, every store has a blowout sale. This is when you should buy your clothes. I have solemnly promised myself to never purchase anything at full price (unless it is from an indie business, but that is a story for another time). If you have the patience to let new items sit in your closet for a few months, you will save loads of money!

Don’t buy trendy nonsense – Don’t buy any trends that you know will only last a season. Sometimes these trends are obvious (trucker hats, ponchos) and sometimes they are not, but just try to use your best judgement. If it is a trend that is popping up in every teen boutique.. it probably wont last too long. The best way to save time and money is to develop your own unique and timeless style. That way you are not heading out to stores every season to stock back up on clothes.

Buy quality staple pieces – You should probably fork over a good amount of cash to purchase staple components of your wardrobe, like blazers, the little black dress, white button up, and jeans. This may seem counter-intuitive, but these timeless pieces should remain just that – timeless. They should be quality items that will last for years to come. The initial investment will be worth avoiding the stress of purchasing these same items over and over.

Budget! – You shouldn’t be buying anything unless you have it budgeted in every month. When I was in college, I had all of my expenses planned out except for clothing purchases. I would then randomly go on shopping excursions and blow my whole budget! Or I would put it on a credit card. Bad news. Don’t ever put anything other than emergencies on a credit card. Ever. You will regret it.

Quick Dress Tips

Did you know Einstein wore the same outfit everyday so he wouldn’t waste his precious mental energy deciding what to wear? You may not be developing the Theory of Relativity but you have a lot going on!  Getting dressed every day should not be stressful or time consuming.

Opt for comfort – Everything you own should be comfortable.  I personally cannot concentrate on anything if I am wearing something that is uncomfortable or restricting. When trying on clothing, be sure to move around a lot – sit down, bend over, do jumping jacks.. whatever. And only buy shoes you can comfortably walk in….even heels, ladies.

Develop a core wardrobe –  Most of your closet should contain items that can easily be worn with each other. This is another post in itself, and thankfully Megan over at Charade has covered this beautifully.

Mis-match – I randomly go through phases where I will throw on random things in my closet without giving it much thought or consideration. Those are the days I get the most comments. Have fun and play!

Plan out your outfits for the week –  Or at least the night before. There is nothing better than getting dressed and going! This is also a great time management tip if you find yourself getting lost in your closet every morning and then getting to class late.

Stay tuned next week for Part Three of A Thrifty guide For College Bound Vegans covering cruelty free  beauty and makeup!

Photo Cred : This stunning lady.