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easy to overspend if you aren't shelling out cash. If you do charge it in order to take advantage of the discounts, set a budget for yourself first and pay off the card in the same month to avoid interest fees. Those can easily offset the discount.

Don't forget about the small retail stores in the malls too. All of these stores have sales worth checking out. Outside of the malls are discount stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, or Marshall's. These are favorites of my bargain-shopping friend. They carry designer names at a discount and have sales racks to boot. They usually have a great selection of purses and handbags too.

Shopping online is also a good place to find bargains. Just remember that when you get your order, if it isn't what you thought, or looks terrible on you, you'll have to spend time and maybe money to send it back. If you want to try out a new style, you would be better off going into a store and trying it on before you buy it.

Wherever you are shopping, it helps to keep your current wardrobe in mind while you are shopping for new pieces. That lovely green blouse does you no good if you don't have anything you can wear it with-unless of course, you are buying a whole new outfit. Even then, before you buy the skirt or slacks to wear with the lovely blouse, think about blouses and jackets you already have and if they can be paired with that skirt or slacks too. This way you are getting two or three outfits or more, for the price of one.

Don't be afraid to mix dressier pieces with casual ones for different looks. A pair of black, flowy crepe pants and a slinky camisole is a great look for going out in the evening, but throw a suit jacket over it and it's a dressy business look by day. You can also wear that slinky camisole with your jeans on the weekend. Using a few pieces to create several different looks is the key to stretching your wardrobe on a budget.

Lastly, accessorize! Wear the same suit to work on Friday as you did on Monday, only add a belt or a scarf and a different top. Accessories can change the whole look of an outfit. That camisole and jeans worn with some bohemian beads and bracelets is casual and fun, but pair it with a sparkly chain and earrings and rhinestone belt and you are ready for a glamorous night out. You can buy inexpensive accessories at any of the above mentioned stores, and even at Target. Claire's is a great place to find trendy, affordable pieces too.

Whatever your style, you can maximize your wardrobe on a budget by being creative, buying new things that can be worn with old ones, shopping sales, and using accessories. I asked my friend recently how she was able to always find the perfect piece to stretch her wardrobe. Her answer? "Keep your eyes and your mind open because you never know where you are going to find it." Good advice from a budget conscious shopper!

Learn more about this author, Laurel Michaels.
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