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You've got your wishlist in hand, budget amount in your head, and you are ready to shop. It can be a bit overwhelming, and really easy to get off track. Here's how to make the most of your time and  money.


Shopping for me is all about the visual. There is temptation everywhere, due to strategic product placement and pretty displays. Instead of wandering through the mall, being enticed by every pretty thing you see, start by going to your favorite stores, or the stores you normally have the most luck at. If you tend to spend more money when physically going into stores, stick to online shopping where you can shop by category or color instead of being able to browse through every item at the mall. If you are familiar with the fit of a particular store and are know their return policy, you may be more successful at sticking to your wishlist and your budget.


Don't get too caught up in labels. Tons of celebrities and bloggers alike have said the key to their style is mixing both high and low end pieces. Don't shy away from Forever 21, Old Navy, or Target because of their low price points. You can find some real gems in there! Its more important to buy something that you love and will wear than what brand is on the label.


Look for the items on your wishlist first. Its easy to get side tracked by all the other pretty things in the store, but if you stick to the pieces you have already decided you need/want and know you will wear, you will feel better about the purchases you make.


Try things on. I know it can be annoying, takes too long, whatever, but this will ensure that you won't go home with anything that looked better on the rack than it did on your body. This is especially important if you are the type of person who doesn't like the hassle of returning things.

These are the questions you should ask yourself in the dressing room:

1. Do you love it?
If you don't love it, don't buy it. You will find something better.

2. Does it fit?
If yes, great! If the answer is no, don't put it back on the rack just yet. If its an item that can be easily tailored, like a new hem in a pair of pants or skirt, it may be worth it. But if its something that will take a lot of work and could potentially be expensive, you may want to reconsider. Check out this post for the story of my $35 sale dress that ended up costing $135 after tailoring. If I had realized it would cost that much to get the proper fit, I probably would not have bought it in the first place.

3. How often will you wear it?
You can probably bet that a black pencil skirt will get a lot more wear than a pair of hot pink stiletto sandals will. Fashion magazines support the "cost-per-wear ratio", and while I think there is some value to it, I don't think you need to break out your calculator in the dressing room. Nor do I think that just because you will wear that black pencil skirt once a week for the next year, you should make it a splurge purchase. You can buy a really nice pencil skirt for $60 at The Limited that will do you just as much good as the $150 J.Crew version.

I think the real answer to this question is if the item will be a practical part of your wardrobe. Maybe you love those hot pink stiletto sandals, but you know you will only wear them once. In that case, you may want to settle for a more practical pair of heels, something you can wear to work and out on the weekends.

4. Do you have something to wear it with?
I've read that you should be able to come up with three ways to wear an item of clothing before you buy it, and I really love that theory. I think we've all found ourselves buying something really eccentric just to realize that we don't have anything to wear it with after we bring it home. Just be realistic about items like this, realizing that you may have to purchase more to make a complete outfit.

5. Is the price right?
Just because something is on sale, doesn't mean you should buy it. Would you buy it at full price? If not, you may want to rethink the purchase. If the price is too high, wait for a sale or coupon code, or shop around to find a similar item at a lower price.


After you get your items home, keep your receipts, and don't remove tags until you have worn something. This way you can return the item if it doesn't look as good hanging in your closet as it did in the store.

If any of these tips just don't work for you, don't follow them, or rethink them to make them fit your needs. I've frequently heard the advice, "If you like something so much that you are still thinking about it the next day, go back and buy it." That would give me license to buy everything I see! It's really easy for me to fall in love with something quickly, only to forget about it after I buy it, so I don't follow this bit of advice. For me, it is more practical to wait a longer time period before buying something, like two weeks to a month. By waiting, it helps me to decide whether I really like something and will wear it, and gives me time to find something I may like even better!

For those of you who have followed my recovering shopaholic mini-series, I sincerely hope that some of the tips and tricks I presented are helpful! I will be following my own advice as I get into the habit of shopping smarter, and doing less of it. If any of you needs an accountability buddy, or want to discuss smart shopping habits, feel free to contact me! I'd love to help.

Check out the other posts from my Recovering Shopaholic series!

How to Shop Your Closet

How to Shop on a Budget

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If you are anything like me, it is very easy to go overboard while shopping. Having some checks and balances in place will really help you stay on track,  while still being able to have some fun with your wardrobe. A couple weeks ago, I talked about how I want to get my spending in check in the clothing department, and these are my rules of the road to make that happen.


My first tip to shopping on a budget is, well, make a budget!  I want to give you a little insight into what I did before I had a specific clothing budget, and why I think it is so important to have one. I've always had a budget, but not having "shopping" listed in it left me trying to grab from other categories to purchase clothing. For example, I would think, "oh, I'll just not eat out as much, so I can buy this skirt." But towards the end of the month (I get paid monthly), I had depleted my entertainment budget with one week left until payday. Not good.

To create a budget, its as simple as taking your monthly/bi-weekly/quarterly income (however you want to look at it) and subtracting all your expenses. This means rent/mortgage, bills, groceries, entertainment/eating out, transportation; basically any money that is going out over the course of your budget time frame. I also subtracted the amount I want to save each month before coming up with a realistic figure that I can spend on clothing.

Once you have subtracted all your expenses, whatever you have left is what you can work with for a clothing budget. I separate this amount into a clothing category and an "extras" category for any pesky unexpected expenses, that way I'm not using all my leftover cash for shopping. And voila! You have a reasonable amount to spend on clothes without going overboard. This is what's going to save you from racking up credit card debt.

For more budget resources, see here and here.


Now that you know what you have to spend, make a list  of what pieces you are looking to purchase. This can include items from your list of completer pieces you compiled after a "shop my closet" session (see last week's post), and maybe a few trendy items you have been eyeing. Having an idea of what I am looking for stops me from doing the afternoon Forever 21.com browse, resulting in numerous frivolous items in my cart (which if I'm having a particularly bad day, I may just purchase). Blew my budget right there.

If I know that in the month of November, I want to purchase a plaid button-up, faux-leather pencil skirt, and a new coat, my shopping will be much more focused. I can shop for those items first, and then use any leftover budget for something that caught my eye during the month. Or, you can roll that money over to spend next month.


Find a system that works for you. Do it on paper if you like. If you have a smartphone, I find that a budgeting app is really convenient. I use Spending Tracker. I enter in my total budget amount, then track each expense  as it comes in and categorize it. I can also view graphs that show me how much I have spent in each category. Having to manually enter each expense keeps me accountable, and I can quickly and easily see how much I have spent that month.

You can also use Mint.com if you don't want to manually track each purchase. Link your bank account and credit card(s) to your account, and your purchases will be categorized in Mint based on what store/site the charge came from. You can track your spending over time with various graphs. I found this site to be less helpful for  me because I wasn't having to record each purchase myself, and would go weeks without checking my account to see how I was doing.


This is very important! The more coupons you can get your hands on, the further you can stretch your budget. I never purchase anything online without first checking RetailMeNot.com for a coupon code.  You can also sign up for a store's email list and get a coupon for your first purchase. Email lists are also great to stay in the know about the latest and greatest sales and promos, but don't use them as an excuse to shop each time one with a 30% off subject line enters your inbox.

Get familiar with the sales and promotions run by your favorite stores. If you are eyeing something at J.Crew Factory, I can guarantee you that if you wait a week or two, you will see a 30-40% off promo going on. Same goes for stores like Express, Limited, Loft, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Gap. These stores all run frequent promotions, so wait a few days for that sale notification email before you buy. It also helps to know the return policies of the stores you shop at. Some stores have a certain window where you can get money back on an item you purchased if it goes on sale after you bought it.

Another way you can save money is by setting up sale alerts on Shopstyle.com. Find an item you like and click the Sale Alert button to enter an email address where you would like to be alerted of a price markdown. I really love Shopstyle as an all-around great shopping resource. So many great retailers are a part of their network, so it makes it really easy to search for a specific item and find tons of options. I always sort my searches from lowest to highest price to get the best deal.


If you don't think you can stick to a budget on your own, recruit your husband, best friend, sister, whoever you can count on, to help you out. In order for this budget thing to work, you have to be responsible about spending your money. Be honest with yourself  and your accountability buddy. Don't beat yourself up if you spend a little over your budget, just subtract that amount from next month's budget. It's going to take a little while to get used to, especially if you are just starting out like I am.


1. Avoid random "browsing trips" or "emotional shopping." Always have a mission or specific item you are looking for before you leave the house. As far as "emotional shopping" goes, find a less expensive way to treat yourself on a bad day if you are prone to retail damage (your favorite dessert, a new nail polish or lipstick, etc).
2. Set a limit on how much you prefer to spend on each item of clothing (example, maximum $50 on a pair of jeans, $30 on a top, $75 on a bag, etc.). Of course you don't always have to stick to it 100%, but it can help limit "splurge" purchases.
3. To save up for a more expensive item, set aside a certain amount from your clothing budget each month until you have enough to purchase it.
4. If you prefer online shopping, limit your time spent browsing online. The more time you are looking, the more items you will find that you will be tempted to buy.

Like last weeks shop your closet post, the tips I've put together are pretty simple and straightforward.  For those of us who want to be a little wiser about our spending, its all about coming up with plan and sticking to it. Next, I'll be sharing my tips on how to be a smart shopper once you hit the stores, so make sure to check back next Tuesday!

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How cool would it be to wake up every morning and instead of walking into your closet to find something to wear, you walk into your favorite clothing boutique? Well why can't your closet become your favorite boutique!? Having a well organized closet full of pieces you love will make getting dressed so much easier, and a lot more fun. Today I want to focus on the organizational aspect of creating the closet of your dreams. With everything in its place, it will be easy to shop your own closet every morning.


First, you need to get rid of  everything in these categories:
1. Doesn't fit
2. Is uncomfortable
3. You don't like it anymore
4. Poor condition
5. Hasn't been worn in a year+
6. Doesn't match anything else in your closet

Items like these only serve as clutter, making it harder to sift through to find something you really like. One tip I've heard about cleaning out your closet is to hold up an item ask yourself, "Would I buy this again?" If the answer is a definite no, it may be time to throw it out.


Next, get to work organizing  so that you can easily see what you have. I have my closet separated into these categories: tops, skirts, dresses, blazers, trousers, jackets/vests, and coats. Once you have everything hung in categories, you can further organize it by color or style. My shirts and dresses are all color coordinated, but my skirts are separated by style (pencil, mini, etc.). Figure out what works best for you and is the most visually appealing. I find that when my clothes are organized in a pretty way, I am much more inspired; not to mention it makes it easier to find things.


Once everything is nice and neat, do a closet inventory.  You can do this in your head, with pictures taken on your phone, a written list, or by using a closet app like Netrobe (free), or Stylebook ($3.99). This doesn't necessarily mean you need to track every single thing you own; just get a general idea of what you have and remind yourself of pieces you may have forgotten about. The beauty of using a closet organization app is that you have a virtual closet you can look through whenever you like. It can definitely come in handy when shopping to make sure you don't buy something similar to an item you already have.


After you've done your inventory, come up with a list of completer pieces  you would like to purchase to round out your wardrobe. A completer piece is an essential clothing item/accessory that you can wear tons of ways, with lots of pieces you already have in your closet. For example, I can think of a million+ ways I could wear a pair of tan riding boots, so I'll add those to my list. The idea is to find out where your closet might be lacking. You want to be able to walk into your closet and come out with a complete, impeccably styled outfit every time. Completer pieces you might be lacking are items such as a black blazer, pencil skirt, crossbody bag, statement necklace, or nude pumps. Of course, what you and I consider "essential" may be completely different, so do some brainstorming. Other ideas can be found in this fashion essentials article on The Everygirl. We'll talk more about what to do with your list in next week's post about shopping on a budget.


With an organized closet full of pieces that you love, how much easier will it be to shop your closet? But, if you are anything like me, you are a little pressed for time when getting ready in the mornings. This doesn't leave me much time to thoughtfully put together an outfit I really love. There are plenty of times throughout the week when I look down at my outfit and think, "If I had spent 3 more minutes choosing my accessories/shoes/top, I would like this outfit so much more." To combat this, plan outfits  in advance. When you have an extra 30 minutes on the weekend, spend some time poking around your closet, putting together potential outfits as you go. I like doing this while scrolling through my Pinterest fashion board, seeing if I can recreate any looks I pinned.

If you have an extra rod in your closet, hang your outfits together to prepare  for the week ahead. I don't have any extra space in my too-small closet, so I keep a running list of outfit pairings on paper. I can easily refer to my list in the morning, grab something cute to wear and run. Anytime inspiration strikes while perusing my closet, reading blogs, or browsing Pinterest, I jot down outfit ideas in a notebook and save them for later.


Establishing a uniform is another great way to pull together outfits in a hurry. You may have a different uniform for each season or occasion. My work uniform is a pencil skirt, button-up, and low heels, and my weekend uniform is skinny jeans, a blousy top or tee, and ankle-strap heels. I've labeled these as my work and play uniforms because they are made up of pieces I'm drawn to, so naturally, my closet is filled with them. When I haven't planned any outfits in advance, or want to stick to what I know, I can quickly grab three pieces and create a great outfit that I love.

These tips are very simple,  but how often do we take time to clean and organize our closets and plan outfits? It does require a little effort, but saving time getting dressed and feeling put together each time you leave the house make it worthwhile. The more you like and wear the things you have, the less temptation there will be to shop til you drop! Stay tuned next week when I'll discuss the advantages of shopping on a budget.

No Shop September

I didn't shop during the month of September.

*GASP*

That's right, aside from two Phillip Lim for Target bags that I planned ahead for, I didn't buy any clothes, shoes, jewelry, or bags. Why did I do it?

     1) I shopped a lot in the month of August
     2) I don't "need" anything new, especially since the weather hasn't cooled off yet
     3) I don't want to be a shopaholic anymore.

There, I said it. I don't want to be a shopaholic anymore. I no longer want to associate myself with that word. I mean, I even use that word to describe myself in my Instagram bio, so how can I keep up the facade that I don't have a problem?

So let's get a little bit personal. This has always been my logic: I don't have debt, so I'm not a shopaholic. Or, my shopping isn't out of control because I don't have debt. What kind of logic is that? Thanks to Mint.com, I am able to see what percentage of my paycheck is being spent on clothes. Scary! I tried to push away those little nagging thoughts and twinges of guilt for buying just one more pair of black boots, or that ever so unique top (the one that looks so similar to three I already have in my closet). But those thoughts popping up.

Then the real guilt set in.

So picture this, I'm lying in bed one night, feeling physically nervous that I won't be able to get my hands on those Phillip Lim bags I'd been craving, and I thought of the lilies of the field, and how they don't care what they wear.

That was the point when I realized, something is really wrong here. What I wear should not bring me anxiety! I already have enough things to worry about.

I'm starting to get a bit literal here, but stick with me. The moment we allow something as unimportant as what we wear control us, to cause us anxiety, or drain our bank accounts, there is something wrong. God does not want us to worry about anything, so in that moment of "Limsanity," I decided I needed to do something about it.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with getting joy out of fashion. For me, it is a hobby, an interest, a passion. It allows me to express my artistic side. It is a successful money-making industry which employs millions of people worldwide. It is an industry which values art, creativity, and beauty. And these are things God also loves.

And is the earth not so beautiful? It doesn't take more than a quick glance around you to know that God created something amazing and awe inspiring for us. In Genesis 1:31, God looked around, and knew that His work was good.

God admires our beauty as well.

So what I am saying, is that as a Christian young woman, I want to be smarter about how I shop, what I buy, and how much I spend. I don't want to stress over it, eat ramen because of it, or have to rearrange my budget for it. I don't want it to be an addiction anymore, but rather, a creative outlet which I can use to express the talents and passions God has given me.

I know (at least I hope), there are more of you ladies out there feeling the same way I am, and that's why I have decided to document my journey as a "recovering shopaholic" as I continue my shopping ban into the month of October. Every Tuesday in October, I will bring you a new post packed with information about how to shop your closet, how to find the best bargain, how to decide what you really need, and how to blog on a budget. I want to share my tips and tricks with you, so we can still be fashionista's without breaking the bank or feeling guilty.