Top 5 Fashion Blogs

1. Frugal Fashionistas

A healthy mix of post types, the Frugal Fashionista serves up doses of the equivalent of pure online window shopping bliss including retailer spotlights, extensive weekly steals and deals listings and budget-minded celebrity look recreations. Recent celeb style get the looks include Kate Hudson’s sultry leather-skirted red carpet get up and Vanessa Hudgen’s adorable casual outfit from a shopping excursion last month.

2.The Budget Babes

The Budget Babe promises “Fab without a fortune” and it delivers time and time again. Former Oprah.com content producer, The Budget Babe now utilizes her grade A web material skills to bring you a top notch budget fashion blog. The content on The Budget Babe completely runs the gamut: from trend alerts (such as patterned tights), dress by numbers guide to stealing a celebrity’s look, sale alerts and budget fashion news stories.

3.The Budget Fashionista
The Budget Fashionista also known as Kathryn Finney is another superstar in the budget fashion blog arena. Since Finney started the blog in 2003 it has become a national (and international, for that matter!) sensation and has over 26,000 loyal site members. Finney has also penned a hard copy Budget Fashionista book that is so popular that it is currently on its sixth printing. As for the Budget Fashionista website, it is particularly adept at serving up sale tips and coupon codes.

4. The Cheap Chica
Florida-based blogger The Cheap Chica scribes an all-encompassing wallet friendly fashion blog. Recent posts include an affordable knockoff of Michelle Obama’s world famous white ethereal Jason Wu gown, a listing of printable coupons and coupon codes, a round up of great finds under $20 and an absolutely spot on $18.50 doppelganger for the gorgeous $865 Christian Louboutin Armadillo satin d’orsay pump.

5. Style It Less
Sale tip offs, complete and super chic outfits with all components totaling for under $100, great budget friendly fashion pieces spotlights – Style It Less has got it all. Also up right now is an extensive and fun Screen Actors Guild Awards gorgeous gown round up.

Books to consider Reading

1. Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops (Paperback)

2. Amazon’s Top List of Budget Fashion Reading

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 10 Become a Personal Shopper

Tip 10 Become a Personal Shopper

Although its hard to believe, we all know people who hate to shop . These people usually get hives at the thought of entering a mall or we see them wandering aimlessly around the store with no apparent sense of direction. Put these poor souls out of their misery and make money by offering to do their shopping for them. If you know people who work in the medical, legal or banking fields, occupations that have very difficult hours and little flexibility in terms of time, you can offer to do shopping for them , saving them time and making yourself some money in the process.

A personal shopper usually charges either a percentage of the total amount of the items purchased plus expenses, or an hourly rate. As you build your client list, you can also make connections with stores and boutiques that are willing to give you a percentage of the sales you bring to the store.

The key to being a personal shopper is to know your clients and to anticipate what trends or styles will work for them. Remember, you are shopping for them, not for you, so it is important to focus on their style. You will need to know more than just where to shop, I suggest taking classes in image consulting, such as a course in color theory that will help you select the best colours for your clients. For more information on classes near you, visit the association of Image Consultants International online at www.aici.org

Useful Tools for Becoming a Personal Shopper
• a directory of stores in your area
• a separate banking account or credit card
• a class in wardrobe planning or image development
• clients

Things to Consider
1. You’re Shopping for a client , not for yourself – Focus on the client’s needs
2. Establish a separate Bank Account so that you don’t confuse your funds with your client’s funds
3. Invest in the Training . It will help you grow your business as a well as help you network with others in the field.
4. Never ,ever purchase items for a client without receiving payment for the items first. You don’t want to be stuck with an item if the client decides not to purchase it.

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 9 Mystery Shopping

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 9 Mystery Shopping – (Not Applicable for Trinidadians )

Mystery Shopping is a Budget Fashionista’s Ultimate Dream !
As a Mystery Shopper or secret shopper you get Paid to shop- conducting anonymous assessments of the services and products of a variety of institutions ranging from retail stores to banks. Not only is being a Mystery shopper a smart way to make money, but it is also a great way to get free movie tickets, free food at restaurants and even a free haircut. Called “shops,” mystery shopping jobs pay between $10 – $150 (depending on the extent and time involved in conducting the assignment) and they include reimbursement for items purchased.
The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers contacts to local mystery shopping companies. MSPA also offers certification and advance training for shoppers who want to qualify for higher paying jobs. For more Information on becoming a mystery shopper, visit MSPA’s website at www.mysteryshop.org

Useful Tools for Becoming a Mystery Shopper
• Notebook to record observations eg. Cleanliness, promptness etc.
• Internet access to file reports and contact agencies
• Microsoft Word and Excel to complete the reports
• Good writing and Observational Skills.

Things to Consider
1. Although its great to get paid to shop, remember that you are there to observe the service and/or the product. Don’t spend time holiday shopping or unless instructed , chatting with store employees
2. Calculate the amount of time required for each project , including travel and report writing. Make sure the amount you’re being paid for the job is worth your effort
3. Check with Better Business Bureau to make sure the mystery shopping firm is reputable

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 8 Do it yourself Sell Craft Projects

Tip 8 Do it yourself Sell Craft Projects

If you have talent, why not turn your favorite hobby into a money making venture? Join the do it yourself (DIY)movement and sell handcrafted items like scarves and hats to infuse some $$$ into your shopping bank account.
DIY is a movement of aspiring designers who use their crafting skills to make unique one of a kind fashions. Most DIYers Build Web Stores to sell their products. All you need to build a DIY website is a good Web Design Program like Macromedia Dreamweaver, a Pay Pal Account to process payments and your crafty talent

Superstars like Julia Roberts have made knitting the hottest hobby since chia pets. While Knitting is a trendy activity, there are many other types of DIY projects that can be undertaken to make extra money, like Jewellery making ( buy jewels online at www.firemountaingems.com ), and Scrapbooking. Many people would pay you to organize their cute little books of their memories, some even paying more than $ 200USD for a personalized scrapbook. If you’re Jewellery designs are nice you can sell to your friends or even high end boutiques.

Useful Tools to Create and Sell Your crafts
• Talent (if you don’t have this skip to Tip # 9)
• Digital camera , To take pictures of your work
• Paypal Account
• Web Designer or web design program, Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Marketing Plan

Things to Consider
1. You’ll Need to Market your crafts in order to sell them. Start out by Marketing them to friends and family members
2. Think of a cool name for your store. DIY Sites like Crafty Ass Chicks and Austin Craft Mafia have Memorable Names that help Brand their products
3. Join a DIY network such as Craftser.org for inspiration

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe – Tip 7 Donate Your Old Clothes to Get a Tax Break

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 7 Donate Your Old Clothes to Get a Tax Break – USA Citizens only (not valid for Trinidad & Tobago)

If you don’t have time to sell your old clothes online or get a 2nd job, then donate your clothes to thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. These stores depend on donations for their stock. Besides getting a nice tax write- off, you’ll be helping to provide jobs to physically or economically challenged members of your community.
Remember you local Salvation Army is NOT your Garbage can. Just because thrift stores readily accept your closet castaways doesn’t mean they want garbage. Don’t give Dirty, Smelly, Ripped or unrepairable clothing to your local Thrift Store.

Useful Tools For Donating to a thrift Store
• Large Plastic Bags (lawn or garbage bags work best)
• Old clothing
• Optional : car or transportation
• A list of donated clothes

Things to Consider
1. Many Thrift Stores have pickup services for heavier items like furniture and electronics. Call ahead or check online for more information
2. Some stores accept donations only during certain designated hours. Call ahead for donation hours
3. Make sure you get a receipt for the items donated for your tax records

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 6 Selling Items at a Flea Market

Tip 6 Selling Items at a Flea Market

Nowhere is the statement “ One Person’s Junk is another person’s Treasure” more true than at Flea Market . Flea Markets are usually held outdoors in the parking lots of schools, churches or race tracks or in other open spaces. Some Markets charge a small fee and require pre registration for a space, but most do not.
The ones in Trinidad & Tobago do make you pay for a spot up to 4 months in advance.

Useful Tools For Selling at a Flea Market
• Items to sell
• A portable table ( card tables works well)
• Cash ( including lots of $ 5 to $20 bills and change)
• A box to use as a cash register
• Market registration ( if applicable)
• A boom box to draw customers to your table (although some markets don’t allow them)
Things to consider
1. Be prepared to negotiate. In order to run a flea market table, you must be flexible on the prices of your items.
2. If the market is outside, bring sunblock and a big beach umbrella to protect you and your items from the elements. Walking with a tent may prove useful also.
3. Visit www.fleamarket.com for more information on flea markets in USA.

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 5 Get a Part Time Job at a Clothing Store

Tip 5 Get a Part Time Job at a Clothing Store
The Best time to find a position is during the summer and holiday seasons.
The Great Part about working retail is that the hours are pretty flexible; you can work part- time on the weekends or weekdays after your main job. In addition , retail jobs , especially at big department stores are open to all age groups from high school students to retirees looking for a supplemental income
Useful Tools for Getting a Job at a Retail Store
• 3 Business References
• Resume with most recent retail experience
• Positive Attitude
• Neat, Fashionable Appearance

Things to consider
1. Head to the store on a Monday or Tuesday. Stores usually aren’t as busy early in the week, and the manager may be able to interview you on the spot
2. Dress for the interview in a style that reflects the style of the store. If it’s the Gap, wear clothing from the Gap to the Interview. This will demonstrate that you understand and wear the product
3. Make sure your part- time work doesn’t conflict with your primary job. Some companies have “ No Moonlighting” clauses in their employee contracts

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe – Tip 4 Sell Your Clothes in an Online Auction

Online Auctions are a great way to make money by selling Hard to find items like rare collectibles, high end designer fashion pieces and antique furniture. You can sell anything on online auction sites. McDonald’s once raised $75,100 for charity on Yahoo Auctions by selling a prop french fry that “resembled” Abraham Lincoln (calling it the “Lincoln Fry”). I wouldn’t suggest trying to find a food likeness of a former president to sell, but sites like ebay, yahoo auctions and Overstock Auctions do offer simpler ways to reach a larger audience than a garage sale or a local consignment shop. Even the nonprofit thrift store chain goodwill has an online auction site.

Before posting your items on sites like ebay, overstock and Yahoo! Auctions, take a seller’s tutorial. It will give you a solid foundation on how to sell online, the mechanics of an auction , and any fees associated with listing your auction. it is important to understand how each auction system works so that you can maximize your profits.

One way to maximize your profits is to make sure u take several clear pictures of the item(s) you’re selling. Think of yourself as an Online Retail Store and present the item you’re selling in the best possible way. Invest in a good digital camera- a 3 to 8 megapixel camera will do to give the buyer a clear picture of the appearance and quality of the item.

Useful Tools for an Online Auction
Digital Camera
Computer with internet access ( broadband is best)
Ebay, Yahoo or Overstock Auction ID

Things to consider
1. Research your product. Search for the product you are selling on the online auction site. Focus on auctions that have the highest bidders , observing how these sellers set up their auctions , the quality of their pictures, the way they describe their product and starting price of their auctions
2. Be honest . When describing your items , accurately describe any defects, blemishes etc. Being honest will help build your representation as a seller.
3. Get a paypal account. Paypal is the online money exchange system owned by ebay. It allows for quick, easy and safe transactions between buyers and sellers. note PayPal does charge a small fee for processing transactions but it makes selling online very easy.
4. Check your email. Once your auction has started , You will Start to get questions from prospective bidders. Always answer their questions promptly to ensure you get the maximum bid.
5. Ship quickly. Once Payment is received and processed, ship quickly to avoid a negative seller rating.

You can also make money by selling items online for others by setting up your very own ” consignment” shop on ebay. Visit ebay.com to find out how you can start and develop your own shop.

Ten Ways to Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 3 Sell Designer Clothes to a Consignment Shop

3.Sell Designer Clothes to a Consignment Shop ( this is valid for North Americans only since there are no consignment shops i know of in Trinidad & Tobago)

A consignment shop is a retail store that sells goods on behalf of the individual or group for a percentage of the purchase price. With the rise in popularity of vintage fashion , selling your clothes at a consignment shop can yield big bucks for your shopping coffers without the time or effort of a garage sale.

Each consignment ship sets its own guidelines for the types of designers, styles, sizes and quality they prefer. You and the consignment shop enter into an agreement by which the shop sells your goods for a selling fee , a percentage of the price. This fee usually runs between 40 and 70 %. As with everything this can be negotiated depending on the quality and the designer. Eg. If you have a high end Gucci Bag you would like to sell, you could probably negotiate a lower consignment fee. Once your item is sold, the consignment shop deducts its fee and sends you a check for the balance.
Before consigning any items make sure u receive a contract that spells out how much of the sale you will recieve and the length of the contract ( 30, 60, or 90 days). If you are leaving your items with the store, ask for the option to pick up any unsold items. Consignment boutiques often donate leftover items to local thrift stores. Always opt to pick up the item so that u get the tax benefit o the donation.

Useful Tools to Consign your items
1. rolling bag to carry items
2. an iron to prep the clothing

Things to consider
1. check clothing for stains , rips or other damage and fix them prior to bringing the clothing to a shop. If an item is too damaged or stained to consign , throw it away.
2. Make sure you want to sell the item , or else you might find yourself purchasing the item from the store.
3. Negotiate with the store for lower consigning fees if you are selling a high-end designer item.
4. Try to consign only designer items or items that can be resold

Consignment Shops USA

Ten Ways To Fund a New Wardrobe- Tip 2 Garage Sale

Useful Tools for a Garage Sale
Round Stickers from an Office Supply Store
Fine Tip Markers
Ad in Local Paper,
Tables
3 workers – 1 cashier, 1 runner, and 1 overseer
patience

Have your Garage Sale in the Dry Months or Have Tents in case it Rains. Place Garage Sales on the weekend.
Put your Best Items out Front , near the curb to entice shoppers to your sale.
Don’t Overprice , If Buyers see that items are overpriced they will be turned off and leave before giving you a 2nd chance.
Once items have been priced , sort out in categories eg clothing, electronics, shoes and kids

A week or more before the sale , advertise in the Newspaper and prepare several signs to be posted along the route to your garage sale .
If you think you do not have enough items to sell , hook up with several friends and family,

Things to consider
1. Create a Spreadsheet of all the items you are selling including price, item number,type of item and it there are multiple sellers, the owner’s name. List Item number along with the price on each item. This will make it easier to divide the proceeds once you’re finished.
2. Place smaller items in bins according to price
3. Be Flexible and willing to negotiate
4. Remember your are competing with the local thrift store and ebay, check the price of similar items and price accordingly.