My Shopping Rules

Shopping is serious business to me. This is spending money that I've saved for a while and if I don't find a good deal I'm probably going to kick myself when I get home with a bag full of things that are really pointless. Yet, when you're at a mall, boutique, or outlet, you just can't help buying things right then and there because they just appeal to you with their newness. So, to avoid the compulsive shopping that I used to do, I've made rules to follow in order to avoid a disastrous trip.

1. Make sure the item you're going to buy can be worn differently in 2-3 ways. And I mean worn differently while still staying stylish. For example, vee necks are my favorite type of clothing out of my entire closet (I have one for each day of the week). They're comfortable, casual, and versatile. If you wear it with shorts or leggings then it's an everyday outfit that you can wear to school or when you're running errands. If you add a structure jacket and jeans, then it looks more put together. It can be worn girly, edgy, or just plain. I usually buy my vee necks at Forever 21 because they are so inexpensive. Usually it's around 4.50.
2. The price fits the type of clothing and the quality. I am a huge critic when I shop. I keep in mind the store that I'm at, the fabric, the cut, the type of clothing it is before I decide whether the price is reasonable for it. For instance, I would drop at pretty dollar on something at Zara or Nordstrom than I would at Image or XXI. Even though I love Forever, I would feel so uncomfortable spending $20 something on a shirt. If it was a dress, then yes I would purchase it. This is where type of clothing comes into mind. I give myself a limit to the things that I buy.
   Top: $16 max Sweater: $25 max Jacket: $50-70 max Jeans: $45-$50 Dresses: $35 max Pants: $20 max Shorts: $15 max
   Of course there were times when i cave in to the item, but I was able to wear it in at least 4-5 different outfits, so they became a good investment :D
3. Is this going to go out of style? I admit that there were some pieces that did go out of style really quickly like those oversized floral shirts. Occasionally I do wear them, but I'm not a huge fan of them as I was back in spring. So, now I also keep in mind whether or not I'm going to wear this in the future. I can describe most of the pieces that I have in my closet as timeless
4. How much is this going to set me back? Is this really a good deal? Can I find the exact same thing or at least a duplicate somewhere else? Of course money is an important factor since once you bought it and rip off the tag there's really no going back.
5. My last rule is whether or not I love it. You really shouldn't buy anything that you don't love. If you're not a fan of vee necks like I am, then it's just going to be a waste of money if you're not going to wear it often. Instead, just save it for an item that you love and can see wearing over and over again.

I hope these rules will help you out. If this is something you already knew then congrats! You discovered it and probably saved a lot more money than I did. Haha good luck everyone :)