The Budget Diet

Can you believe it’s January already? All the holiday hype and planning and POOF, it’s over! This time of year, admittedly, is not the best. Between frigged temps, weeks with no sun, and no end to winter in sight, the months from January to April can drag by (unless you’re a lucky bum who lives in Hawaii).

But one solace among all the cloudy days is the after-holiday sales. This is the time of year when stores (both online and offline) cut prices to make room for the new year’s stock. ( I saw bathing suits out at Target the other week — NOT ready for that yet!) This is a good time of year to stock up on winter clothes, coats, and boots because stores just want them out the door. I’m going to share some of the best deals and steals around the web!

[plaid scarf] [pleated skirt] [black dress] [parka] [sweater] [watch] [cropped jeans]

• Online store Affordable Scarves has a 20% off sitewide sale going on, plus up to 50% off winter scarves holiday clearance. They’ve got some really cute scarves for cheap, including the pink plaid scarf above. Also loving this leopard scarf for just $10.36. With so much winter left, it won’t hurt to get yourself a couple new scarves!
• Kohls always seems to have a sale going on, but their 60 – 80% off clearance takes the cake. The white sweater above is really trendy, and at only $18, you can afford to get a couple sweaters to get you through winter.
• I really like Gap jeans, but they’re kind of pricey compared to other stores. When I can find a good pair on sale that fits well, I snatch them up! Right now Gap has a holiday sale, which includes many styles of their pants at discounted prices. The cropped jeans above are on sale for really cheap (because of limited sizing) — they’d be a cute pair to hold on to for spring!
• New York & Company, a great place to shop for basics and professional attire, is offering up to 80% off everything! From casuals to semi-formal dresses, you can get great deals on most anything for your wardrobe. The black dress above is a great price at just $35 — you can get a ton of mileage out of a classy black dress!
• You can always count on Dressbarn for good deals on cute clothes. Right now they have an end of season sale, which is up to 60% off merchandise. Pleated skirts are a big trend right now, and you won’t find a pleated skirt like the one above for much cheaper anywhere else. You could wear it with tights and an oversized sweater for a super-stylish look.
• Asos is one of my favorite online stores because they offer really trendy clothes that range from totally affordable to out of my price range (they’ve got it all). Right now they’ve got a final sale of up to 70% off merchandise, and the sale applies to everything from clothes to shoes to cosmetics to jewelry and maternity. I thought the rhinestone watch above is really cute and a good price at$19. But I’m also loving this faux fur stole, which is one sale for $55 (originally $136).
• Another online favorite is Zappos. They already offer brand name goods at discount prices, so when they’ve got an additional sale going on, you’d better check it out! Their end of season clearance includes discount prices, plus free shipping. Like I said earlier, this is the best time of year to buy coats because stores just want to get the bulky things out of the way for new spring merchandise. The parka coat above is a good price, and you could even save it for next year with its timeless style.

Have you been shopping end-of-season sales? Find any deals or steals?

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Written by: Sarah Heckle

Author bio: Sarah Heckle is a writer and Indianapolis blogger. She loves to spend time with her husband, shop, and work on DIY craft projects.

The onset of November brings two contradicting emotions for me. The first is dismay that there are about 5 months of cold weather in front of me. The second is glee that scarf season is here! To prepare for the season, I worked on a resource that is totally dedicated to all the awesome things people are doing online with scarves. Savvy Scarves was a labor of love for me, and I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy as well!

Savvy Scarves is chock full of scarf inspiration. From beautiful fashion scarf photos to ingenious ways to use scarves around your house, scarves are definitely the most versatile accessory. Here’s a little sneak peak of what’s included…

Inspiration for how to include scarves in your wedding, plus many more photos that highlight gorgeous ways to wear scarves.

Scarf DIY projects to help you get crafty — any of these DIY scarf projects would make excellent Christmas gifts for people on your list!

Instructions on how to wear a scarves, as well as unique ways to wear the accessory.

Ingenious ways to use scarves around your home. I think the scarf bunting above is darling!

…And much more! New inspiration will be added to Savvy Scarves when it’s found, so be sure to check back in every once in a while.

Are you a scarf person? What’s inspiring you on Savvy Scarves?

Author bio: Sarah Beckman is a newlywed who loves fashion, DIY, and especially scarves! Also check her out on Tulle and Trinkets!

Fall has finally arrived in Texas, and I’m looking forward to a little clothes shopping!

My secret to instant savings? Start your shopping trip with discounted gift cards to your favorite stores, and you’ll enjoy instant savings. Let’s take a look at the math:

• I buy a $100 JC Penny gift card for $85…instant savings of $15.
• I use that $100 gift card to shop at the 40% off sale.
• Finally, I use the additional 15% off coupon that runs regularly in the newspaper.

 
The secret is out! Buy discounted gift cards and use them during big sales for extra savings! Remember, discounted gift cards take about 1 week to arrive, so order today and shop next weekend.

Take a look at a few of the most popular discounted gift cards for fall clothes shopping…

Buy discounted Victoria’s Secret gift cards at Plastic Jungle!10% off!

Buy discounted gift cards for J. Jill at Plastic Jungle!20% off!

Buy discounted JC Penney gift cards at Plastic Jungle!15% off!

Check out the complete selection of discounted gift cards available, and chances are you’ll find instant savings to your favorite store!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fall is almost here, which means it’s time to put away your summer clothes and get out your fall wardrobe. But what if your fall wardrobe is a little out-of-date? There are a few essentials you can add to what you already have to keep you on trend this season!

1. Scarves are going to be big this fall. Throw a scarf on any outfit for an instant, trendy boost! The fringed circle scarf above is a gorgeous mauve color for fall, but pretty much any infinity scarf will keep you on trend because they’re going to be huge this season.
2. A pair of riding boots can be dressed up or down to go from cozy casual to dressy chic. Riding boots can cost anywhere from thousands of dollars for a pair of nice, leather ones, to under $30 for vinyl boots. Mine are from Old Navy, they look great, and they cost around $25. With that price, you could even consider two pairs of riding boots: One black and one brown, so you can match any outfit!
3. Fur was all over the runway at Fashion Week, so we know it will be a trend this fall. You can throw a fur vest over any plain tee or long-sleeved tee for a versatile, cozy, and warm way to accessorize an outfit. If you’re a critter lover, it’s not hard to find a nice faux-fur vest — plus, faux fur won’t cost you as much!
4. You’ll need a new purse for fall! The satchel handbag above is adorable and it can be worn as a shoulder bag or a cross-body bag. Across-body bags are big for fall — which is a great thing because they’re the best for freeing up your hands for a day out shopping.
5. For those chilly fall days, you’ll need a big, cozy cardigan. The one above reminds me of the tribal print trend, and it would look really great dressed up with a tan belt cinched around the middle.

What trends are you looking forward to wearing this fall? What trends do you wish would stay away?!

Author bio: Sarah Beckman is an editor at Affordable Style. Some of her current projects have included writing about eye health and ways to wear scarves!

Guest post written by Ellen Vincent

It is true that some vintage stores exist that are just filled with really awesome vintage designer pieces. Well, I’ve never been to one though because I can’t afford to buy anything at those places. For people on my budget, there are always the vintage and thrift shops that are packed with racks full of clothes that you just have to go through and find something that you like. But I think that it’s a little more fun to do that and more of an adventure.

I like to use my clearwire wimax 4g to read local vintage and thrifting blogs so I can learn about new great places to go to. It’s really interesting to see some of the posts of outfits that people have completely thrifted too. It definitely gives me a bit of inspiration for my own outfits.

Some of the things that I’m most proud of include this leopard print faux fur coat that I love to wear in the winter with my black skinny jeans and boots. Some people look at me a little strangely in my hometown when I wear it, but I dress for myself and not other people.

Did you know that the average American family spends $400 per child on back to school expenses?

Take a look at these 14 easy ways to save on back to school shopping, and I’m sure you’ll find a way to take a bite out of that $400 per child back to school expense!

1. Resale Shops: When it comes to clothes shopping, consider giving teens a clothing allowance, and let them make the choice of where to shop. They might think twice about buying a brand new pair of $80 jeans when they could buy 4 pairs of trendy jeans at resale shops like Platos Closet or Buffalo Exchange. Consider it a lesson in budgeting for your teen! Learn more about saving moneyat resale or consignment shops.

 

2. Tax Free Weekend: Do you know when your state’s tax free shopping weekend is? Check out the complete list of tax free weekend dates by state.

 

3. Needs vs. Wants: Back to school shopping is the perfect time to have a discussion about needs vs. wants with your child. Before shopping, take time to organize your child’s closet and make a list of the items he or she really needs. Then…with list in hand…tackle those needs and avoid the temptation of wants!

 

4. Coupon Codes: If you’re shopping online…don’t leave the coupon code box blank! Take a moment to search for coupon codes at sites like RetailMeNot.com or Dealslip.com. If you’re not familiar with saving money using coupon codes, learn how to find coupon codes.

 

5. Backpacks: Have you ever thought of T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s or Ross for backpacks? Last year, we bought a name brand, $65 backpack for $12.99, it was exactly what my daughter was looking for!

 

6. Textbook Rental: If you have a college student, it’s time to look into renting textbooks and saving big! Save $500 a Year on Textbooks
    

7. Discounted Gift Cards: Do you regularly shop stores like Payless Shoes, Target, Children’s Place or Kohl’s? Take time out today to order discounted gift cards…they’ll arrive in just a few days, and you’ll enjoy instant savings! $100 gift cards for as low as $70 to purchase brand name products at your favorite stores! PlasticJungle -Buy, sell & trade gift cards

 

8. Scout Uniforms: You’ll find huge savings on gently used Scout uniforms on e-bay!

 

9. Haircuts: Oh the ways you can save on haircuts! Try your local beauty school for a haircut at a fraction of the cost. If your son has a basic crew cut, my friend promises it’s easy to do yourself…she said her razor even came with hair cutting instructions! Maybe your child only needs a bang trim…did you know most salons offer complimentary bang trims or bang trims for as little as $5. A quick bang trim is an easy way to extend the time between expensive haircuts!

 

10. School Supplies: The back to school sales have begun, and it’s worth the price of your Sunday paper to check out the massive amount of sale ads and compare prices. You’ll always find the Walmart, Target and Office Depot sale insert in the Sunday paper. How about letting your older children look for the best buys and make the shopping list? Don’t forget to order a discounted gift card to save at Office Depot! Right now you can get a $50 gift card for only $46.50!
    Office Depot – $50.00 gift card

 

11. Musical Instruments: New to the band or orchestra? You might consider renting your child’s musical instrument for the first year to make sure it’s something they plan to stick with!

 

12. Water Bottles: More than 40 billion plastic water bottles are used each year in the U.S., and about 2/3 of those end up in landfills! Kick the plastic water bottle habit this year, and you’ll save about $20 a month. Those cute metal refillable bottles are available for a few bucks at Homegoods, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or Ross.

 

13. School Projects: Each year we buy so many tri-fold display boards and expensive foam core boards for school projects…only to throw them away at the end of the school year. I’ve finally come up with an easy money saving alternative…use ticky-tack to adhere the information to the display board, and when the project is complete, simply remove and reuse! You’ll even be able to reuse those pricey die-cut letters!

 

14. Sports Equipment: Huge savings await you on sports equipment at places like Goodwill, Play It Again Sports & E-Bay. You might also consider trading in your used or outgrown sports equipment at Play It Again Sports.

 

15. Swapping instead of Shopping: Trade in all your kids’ outgrown clothes for $5 boxes of fall gear that fits! Check out ThredUp today!
    

 
 
 
 

How will you save money on your back to school shopping?

Have you check The Budget Diet’s freebies page today?
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Image courtesy of: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A big fashion trend right now is tribal style — and it fits perfect with these hot, summer days we’re having. To rock the trend, stock your wardrobe with bold, bright, and exotic prints, plenty of animal and tribal patterns, and loose, relaxed pieces. You’ll be right on track with celebrities like Jessica Alba, who’s known to wear this playful style. Jessica stepped out with her daughter, Honor, both in true tribal style. Get this mom and daughter duo’s look for less!

Jessica And Honor’s Look

1. A leopard circle scarf from Affordable Scarves — $18.95. Wrap this exotic leopard print scarf around your neck to dress up a basic tank.
2. A basic white tank from Old Navy — $19.99. You can’t go wrong with a white tank because they’re so easy to dress up with accessories!
3. Some camel colored pumps from White House Black Market — $30.00. Get yourself some beige or camel-colored shoes. If heels aren’t for you, sandals are great for tribal style.
4. Some tortoise cat eye shades from Sunglass Warehouse — $15.95. It doesn’t get any more exotic than cat eye shades!
5. A black tote bag — Jessica’s tote isn’t exactly tribal, but she’s packing for two in her oversized bag. Want something a little more exotic? Check out this wooden frame clutch.
6. Some wide leg jeans from Levis — $45.00. Who else is glad wide jeans are back in and skin-tight pants are on the way out? Jessica’s pants have a very 70s feel — which is another big trend right now.
7. An exotic tank from Gymboree — $7.99. How cute does little Honor look in her tank top? This zebra print top from Gymboree is on sale for dirt cheap. Snatch one up fast!
8. A jean skirt from Children’s Place — $16.95. A basic jean skirt is very versatile and can be dressed up, down, or tribal style!
9. Brown sandals from WalMart — $12.00. Dress your little one head to toe in-trend with these leatherette thong sandals.

Jessica has another little girl on the way, so I predict we’ll be seeing more of her in loose and flowing, exotic print dresses. Tell me, do you have any pieces that are part of the tribal trend?

Author bio: Sarah Beckman is a writer at Affordable Style where she blogs about how to style accessories. She’s a bride-to-be who’s on a budget for her October 1 wedding.

I don’t like to cut corners when it comes to my wardrobe, but with my wedding quickly approaching (and my fiance not understanding the need for a closet full of shoes), I’m putting my clothes budget on a diet. Woe is me!

Fortunately, I’ve discovered the value of inexpensive accessories. Accessorizing on a budget is easy and a great way to expand your wardrobe without breaking the bank. You can transform simple jeans and a black tank top into many different looks by simply adding a scarf to your neck or a belt around your waist. I like to buy simple tees and tanks that are inexpensive because I know I can make them look great with accessories. Learn how to accessorize!

In the photo, I compiled seven accessories that all cost less than $15. All of these accessories can transform the black tank and blue jeans into a new look! Here’s what I found…

1. A pink T-shirt circle scarf from Affordable Scarves — $14.95. Circle scarves are BIG right now, and I’m sure you can see why! Simply loop this precious pink scarf around your neck a couple times, and your black tank top is automatically upgraded.
2. A coral bow belt from Zara — $9.90. You can dress up any plain top with a belt cinched around your waist. Put a skinny belt around the slimmest part of your waist to accentuate your curves!
3. Pink and gold cocktail ring from Forever21 — $4.80. Okay, so I know shopping in Forever21 can be an absolute nightmare and their clothes might be too juvenile, but everyone can wear their jewelry. They have tables of inexpensive and darling costume jewelry that can spice up any look.
4. Daisy flower necklace from Forever21 — $6.80. A gold statement necklace can spice up any plain shirt. This flower necklace is perfect with a black tank top because it fills in the deep neckline.
5. Gold cuff bracelet from Forever21 — $6.80. I love to wear bold cuff bracelets because there’s absolutely no thought involved, and they make simple looks more interesting. This particular bracelet comes in silver and gold.
6. A floral headband from Charlotte Russe — I think of Charlotte Russe as being Forever21′s older sister. It’s a great place to shop for inexpensive accessories. This floral headband will definitely make a pretty statement and keep fly-away hairs out of your face.
7. A leopard print head scarf from Affordable Scarves — Head scarves are trending right now, and I think this silky leopard print scarf would look great tied as a head rosette wrap. Not sure how to tie that? Check out this video on how to tie a rosette wrap.

My fiance always thinks that I’m wearing new clothes, when in reality I’m changing up the same old clothes with inexpensive accessories. Sometimes I have to show him my receipts so he believes me!

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Author bio: Sarah Beckman is a writer and editor for Affordable Style. At work she blogs about fashion and how to get celebrity looks for less. In her spare time, she’s a budget shopper who’s planning her October wedding.