Being a Fashionista on a College Student Budget

I am well-known among my friends for what has been deemed my "endless wardrobe."

This is not only because shopping for deals is my idea of an Olympic sport, but also because the way I dress and how I look for the day is an expression of how I feel and what I am projecting onto the world around me. I am a firm believer that an outfit can completely transform a person: physically, mentally, and spiritually. More importantly, changes in wardrobe are essential in helping me feel renewed, especially after a breakup or another major life event.

So, as a current college student, where am I finding the money to put into my "endless wardrobe?"

I work while I am at school, and I try to set a budget for myself. Things that need to be paid like bills get what money I have first, and then I see what I need around the dorm, like snacks or the little necessities like toothpaste. After that, I take out $20 in cash and save the rest in my account. This $20 is my "extra" money. It's for those items, like clothes, that I want, but do not necessarily need. If I know that I will be going out shopping soon with a friend, I try to save as much of my "extra" money as possible; it is important that I remind myself that the cash is the only money I will be spending on the outing.

We've all seen those Instagram promotions where companies are looking to get their brands out in the world by having people like me and you modeling their clothes on our profiles. But, in order to get the best bang for your buck, caution should be exercised. As someone who cannot resist a deal, I have totally blown my budget before and have gotten items that I would never wear. So how do I combat this?

1.) Do your research on the brand before you apply.

• What are the reviews like?
• Where is the company based?
• Are the services reliable?
• Is it a scam?

2.) Make sure the brand is offering you items that you actually will use.

• Check out the products that the company sells and make sure you are actually willing to commit and post about the items they will be sending you.

3.) Check out the ambassador rules carefully before purchasing.

• Some brands will offer you free items, as long as you cover the shipping and handling fee yourself. Unfortunately, many of the brands are international and the shipping may end up costing just as much as the item would have been anyway.
• Other brands offer a discount price to you but will only allow you to use one promo code at a time. Even though your "modeling discount" is 30% off, they often have other sales going on at the time that are way better in the end for saving money.
• Don't expect to be making money through commissions unless you are a legitimate Instagram influencer. Follow the guidelines for posting your code for commissions, and absolutely send it your friend's way, but actually making money by doing this is nearly impossible for the average Instagram user. It's more about getting what you want at a better price that you can't find in stores.

Being a brand ambassador is definitely a cool and worthwhile experience as long as it is done with keeping in mind that the goal is to save money on clothes instead of spending it. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Never, ever buy anything that is at full price if you don't absolutely need that particular item of clothing. If you're like me, you always head straight for the clearance. It's about shopping ahead of the seasons. Buy the cute summer tops in winter and the fall tops in summer. Shopping at the mall can definitely get really expensive really fast, which is why shopping at a Ross or even GoodWill can be the most effective way to get the quality clothes that you want to upgrade your wardrobe without breaking the bank. However, stores like H&M, Kohls, JC Penny, and Macy's can still offer you good deals. These stores always have a ton of clearance, especially at the end of summer, and it's pretty common that I can leave a store with a whole new outfit for $10 or less. H&M, in particular, has a lovely program where you can recycle old clothing and receive a coupon for 15% off your entire purchase—including clearance items. This hack is possibly the best hack I could ever bestow on a fashion lover on a budget.

And there you have it. This is how I personally save money while still keeping up with my love of fashion and I hope this article helps save a few other wallets out there as well.