Budget shopping

We all recognize the following problem: we would like to score a new outfit but we also have to pay the rent at the end of the month. I am going to give you some tips about how you can do both. The solution: budget shopping!! Of course we all know the shops where you can buy low budget clothing, for example H&M and Primark. But the consequence of shopping there is that you will see your outfit at almost every street corner.

To create a more unique look you need to put in a bit more effort. Online you can find unique bargains. Many brands have online outlets where you can buy last season’s collection.  Another fashion paradise online is markplaats.nl. Here you can find the shirt you fell in love with in the store for a fraction of the original price. You can find clothing that is never been worn, the price tags are still attached! Last year, I found an amazing long summer dress in the store that I fell in love with but my size was sold out. Later on, I found the same dress on marktplaats.nl. The girl who owned it sold the dress to me for 50% of the original price. Talking about killing two birds with one stone!!

Another great tip to find beautiful labels for a great price is a sample sale. When a brand wants to get rid of their old collection they organize a sample sale. Sometimes you will even find sample sales from current collections. Sample sales are usually organized in big locations. So count on some use of elbows and long queues, but you can find great pieces for a fraction from the original price. On the Internet you can find information about the upcoming sample sales. 

In the Netherlands, there are great markets where you can find nice vintage and second hand clothing. In Amsterdam for example, you have Waterlooplein. But women who don’t like second hand clothing can visit one of the many outlet malls in the Netherlands. A few examples are Batavia stad in Lelystad (bataviastad.nl) and Rosada in Rosendaal (rosada.nl).  These outlet malls consist of different brands that all have an own store. The malls look like little villages, you can shop here all day and find great brands with nice discounts. The villages also have great lunchrooms and parking is really good arranged. The only disadvantage is that the stores tend to have really old collections. You have to be lucky and visit when they just got restocked. If you are there at the right moment, you can shop till you drop.

When you want a bargain, look outside the normal shopping street in your own town. Labels become affordable if you look in the right place. Even on a small budget you can score a great outfit and as well have a fun day with your girlfriends. In a few weeks I will post a column about more creative ways to extend your wardrobe.