"I Bet You Can Find It Cheaper..."

So here's the deal. My friend Ellen Opacich were talking over break about how people spend too much money on clothes they can find at much cheaper prices. What it really comes down to knowing when something is really worth the cost. Before you purchase something, ask yourself the question "Can you find it cheaper?" In a lot of cases, "YES, of course you can!" should be the answer.

Here's an interesting comparison Ellen found (thanks for the great pics Ellen!):

The sweater on the right is from Urban Outfitters with a retail value of $50-$80. Ellen's sweater on the left cost under $10 at a thrift store. Scary likeness, right?!

The thing you must really understand is knowing how to achieve the LOOK you want. As much as I want to look like I wear designer clothing all the time, I know that it is simply not an option. So I find pieces that create the feel as designer clothes. 

How You Can Find The Look for Less

1. My suggestion on how to begin to start saving money is to first pretend that you have no budget. Search online or in stores for the clothes you absolutely want, no matter what the cost. Keep a going list of all those items. 

2. Next, give a title to each of those dream pieces. For example, let's say you see a pair of expensive sunglasses you like. Give them a description such as "oversize, round, amber faded sunglasses".

3. Last, find those items based of the description you have. Start by researching online. Type in the description you gave to the item. Search multiple store catalogues online. Or, go straight to the thrift store or stores you can afford. Look specifically for those items you wanted. Most of the time, it will be easy to find something eerily similar to a designer look for a whole lot less money.

Have you ever had some great finds you've found for a whole lot less??? Let me know! Send me a picture! Or tell me a quick story below!