I'm a grad school student - do you have any tips on shopping on a budget?

Grad school student or not, it's always a good idea to budget your purchases, even the small ones. It has become more common to plan and budget your groceries for the week, and the same method can be applied when purchasing new clothes.

Here are some of my tips for shopping on a budget:

• Give your current wardrobe an honest chance. A new season always gives me the shopping cravings. I know I'm not alone in wanting to purge my closet of old clothes and fill it with fresh new items for the new season, but that's not always realistic and possible on my budget. Start by editing your current wardrobe to see what you've actually got - before you hit the shops! You might be surprised to find some treasures you forgot that you had.


• Get creative. Altering old items is fun! Sometimes all you need is some thread and beads to make something old feel fresh and exciting. Browse your craft store or second hand shops for inspiration.


• Find new ways of wearing what you've got. Slip a top over a dress and cinch it at the waist with a belt to create a "new" skirt out of an "old" dress. A couple of new accessories can do a lot for an outfit - a scarf, a belt, a headband or a bag can instantly change a look. Again, get creative.


• Make a need and want list. Once you've got a good look at what you've already got and what you can do with that, take the time to write a list of items that you need versus want. Bring the list with you when you go shopping and stick to it. Items on your need-list are what should be prioritized and if you've got some cash leftover once you've got your necessary purchases, then feel free to splurge on something from your want-list.


• Make a budget. A budget is always a useful tool and I find it to be helpful in getting an idea of how much money you are spending. Put your salary in an excel-file and add your expenses as they're made throughout the month. It's a great motivator to try to stretch your salary as far as possible and it'll definitely help you keep yourself in check and think more than twice about your purchases. Remember to always ask for the receipt everywhere you shop, notice how they add up?


• Quality over quantity or vice versa? When it comes to staple items in your wardrobe (i.e garments you will be able to wear for several seasons) you're best going with quality over quantity. However, when purchasing things from your want-list (which is often steered by current trends) I think you're safe going with the opposite. Let me explain what I mean: workwear, simple tops and pants - go with quality. For trend items that you might only wear one season - shop at your high street stores like Forever21 or H&M, they'll have picked up on many of the catwalk trends of the season so you can get your want-items for a reasonable price in relationship to how much you'll be using them.


• Go second hand shopping. It's your inexpensive gateway to all kinds of treasures!


• Take care of your things. Spray your leather boots with protectant and grease them before storing them away to prevent the leather from becoming dry and brittle while in storage. You can use protectant on fabric shoes as well to prevent dirt from sticking to them. Be gentle with your garments so that you can enjoy them for a long time.