This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Adelphi chapter.

5 Tips for College Students Who Want to Save Money on Clothes

Being a college student is hard already, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress to the nines! Shopping can be overwhelming because let’s face it. Most clothing is not very cheap. I love to constantly update my closet, but I have never paid full price for a single item in it. Buying affordable clothing is only one way you can save money while shopping.

Shopping can always be done on a budget while still looking super cute! These are just a few tips to get you started down the path of becoming a money-conscious clothing-shopper. There are so many great ways to save money when it comes to buying clothing and other accessories, but these are the tips I use myself. Many people aren’t this conscious when shopping, and many of them lose more money than they gain back. I challenge you to follow these tips and see just how much money you can get back into your wallet- all while still looking your very best!

Shop the Sales

I know this sounds very obvious, however, many people don’t do it. When you go to an online retailer’s website to look for clothes, the first thing you should do is click on the sale tab. Don’t start looking at the full-priced clothes immediately because if you’re like me, you’ll start putting things into your cart and getting attached. If you start in the sale section, you’ll do the same thing, but these clothing items are already at a reduced price. In addition to this, sign up for emails. I can’t stress this enough, I know it might be annoying to constantly receive emails from brands and stores you love, but my solution for this is to make a separate email account for shopping. I get so many emails a day that it can be hard to keep track of them but, this is how I know when there’s a sale or when item prices have been reduced further. Shopping sales is the most important tip for shopping on a college budget.

Use Rakuten

Many people do not know what this website is, nor do they use it. This website is completely free to sign up for and gives you free cash back on so many different websites. You can earn as much as 10% cash-back on some purchases when using this extension on your web browser. If you don’t feel like installing an extension, you can simply go to their website and search for the store you’re shopping at. The website will tell you how much cash-back you can get on your purchase. I’ve used Rakuten to shop on websites such as Zara, ASOS, Nike, and many more. On your profile, you can see what stores you have recently purchased from and how much cash you’re getting back from those purchases. About every three months or so, Rakuten will send you a big fat check with the money you have earned since your previous check was sent in the mail. Rakuten is such a great service and an easy way to get money back on purchases.

Sign Up for Student Discounts

There are so many benefits to being a college student, but being eligible for student discounts is probably my favorite. Aside from getting discounts at some restaurants for being a student, we also get discounts on clothing! There are so many stores that offer discounts to students, and many times, all you have to do is ask and show your I.D. Some stores that offer student discounts are ASOS, Levi’s, and Kate Spade.

Sell the Pieces You Aren’t Wearing

I’ve bought so many things over the years that just sit in my closet after only one wear. It was only recently that I decided to download Poshmark and start selling all of the clothes that I was not using. There are many other platforms that can be used to sell clothing as well, such as Depop, Mercari, and eBay. This is another great way to get money back on the clothes that you bought but never wear.

Buy Basics

This may sound blatantly obvious, but you can never have enough basics in your closet. Most basics are affordable but will last in your wardrobe for years to come. Basics can be used for so many different outfits- whether they be for lounging or for going on that first interview. The first basic is a simple white tee; everyone should own this because it goes with everything. High-waisted black leggings are also another closet staple because whether you’re going on to Zoom University or going out for some coffee, these black leggings will never go out of style. For the fall, I’d recommend a blazer as another closet necessity. You can throw a blazer on almost any outfit, whether it be over a tank top with some jeans, or a crew neck and leggings. My two favorite stores for basics are H&M and Zara. Although some items may seem a bit more expensive, remember to always check the sale section!

5 Tips for College Students Who Want to Save Money on Clothes

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