I’m practically a financial advisor… and by financial advisor I mean financially challenged… and by financially challenged I mean financially illiterate. In other words, when it comes to saving money, I might as well purposely rip holes in my pockets. However, being born saving deficient, I’ve leant a trick or two when it comes to shopping with minimal funds. Just remember, it’s not what you have, but what you know.
Consider you local shopping centre; there are the shops that everyone knows, Sportsgirl, Wanted, General Pants but what about the ones you never thought it look in? Curiosity is particularly beneficial when shopping under a budget as it is these quirky under the radar stores that will often surprise you with their stock. A lot of the time it’s an elimination process, sorting through what you do and don’t want/need in your wardrobe. But every now and then, something will pop up that you’ve seen in a well known store, for a fraction of the price.
Step outside of Westfeilds. We often stick to our comfort zones whilst shopping, environments that we know have variety and more likely possess something we like. However, when we step out of these centres, we’re opened up to a whole new world of retail, better known as, the markets.
You may think they’re more fruit and vegetables than fashion worthy items, but you’d be surprised. With the rise of vintage apparel, flea markets are becoming more and more popular and often supply to well know stores to give them their eclectic edge. Stores such as Sportsgirl and General Pants both purchase products from fringe markets and designers for cheap prices, and then sell them for twice the price in store. Going to the source will not only get you out of crowd infested shopping centres, but allow you to purchase products with a history, a lot of them unique and priceless.
Just think, Glebe markets on a Sunday, coffee in hand, the light chitter chatter of people around you and the smell of roasting almonds (nut suppliers are often present), all whilst you browse through a lifetime hundreds of vintage pieces. Don’t get me wrong, spending in big malls makes me happy, but this welcoming atmosphere is refreshingly free and completely incomparable.
