The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

6 Cheap (or Free!) Ways to Boost Your Style



Far from being macabre, black nail polish is an instant mood booster for the chic fashionista. ($2.80 at Forever21.com)

Tough economic times call for creativity and resourcefulness when it comes to looking and feeling your best - because that's what style is all about. It's never been about the labels or high-pricetags for us budget babes. It's been about smart shopping and having fun with fashion and self-expression. So here are some tips to help you continue to look fabulous without a fortune.

1. Reheel and polish old shoes. Getting shoes reheeled averages $5 at my neighborhood cobbler which is way less than buying a new pair of boots. Now's also a good time to get out that shoe polish (I love Kiwi brand), an old rag, and polish and shine those shoes to like-new perfection. You'll be amazed at the results.

2. Tweeze your eyebrows to a perfect arch. If you don't already do this, you will discover that it is quite possibly the quickest, cheapest way to instantly open your eyes and make you look more beautiful. Just don't over-pluck. And here's a great tip: Whereas it can cost $20 to get your brows waxed at a normal salon, you can get your eyebrows threaded for just $5 at a traditional Indian or Middle Eastern salon. In Chicago, any number of salons on and around Devon Avenue provide this amazing service.

3. Lengthen your pants. Nothing looks worse than a gal who's floodin'. This is a fashion crime I see perpetrated all the time, by women of all ages. Learn how to take out the hem of your pants, or see a tailor. Again, cheaper than buying new pants and your legs will look longer, you'll look taller and just better overall.

4. Try parting your hair to the side. If you always wear your hair up, or parted down the middle, or tucked behind your ears, you will look radically better if you leave it down, and blow-dry with a chic, side-swept part. With your hairdryer pointed downwards to minimize frizz, comb hair forwards rather than backwards as you blow-dry, then sweep it to the side.

5. Use less shampoo. I'm not going to tell you to skip out on a new tube of red lipstick or bottle of black nailpolish—those are both cheap pick-me-ups that anyone can afford, even when money's tight. What I will suggest is that you can probably save money by using less of the products you currently have to stretch each bottle further. Use a quarter size amount of shampoo, wash hair every other day or try a dry shampoo to save on daily shampooing.

6. Take a walk, get some sleep. Going for a brisk walk and getting some quality Z's will go a long way in helping you look and feel refreshed. No amount of concealer can make you look good if your health is compromised. Take care of yourself, and you will see the results.

How do you stay recession-chic?
Comments
I love your blog! I just saw the part about your eyebrows, where have you seen threading for $5? In Raleigh, NC it seems to be the opposite, $8 for waxing and $20 for threading (I'm allergic to waxing). But I just do it once a month, touching up myself in between. I'll def have to keep my eye out for a lower price! Keep up with the great tips and check out my blog!
http://onmyown-20somethings.blogspot.com/
#1 Ryann Warlick (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 08:37 (Reply)
great tips! I would add:keep hydrated-with hand and face creams and by drinking water (at least it helps me in the winter when everything feels so dry)!
#2 Real Style Real people (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 09:59 (Reply)
Thank you for these tips! I am going to try black nail polish today. I drink a lot of water, just like Real Style Real people (above). I will try to incorporate a few of these pointers into my routine.
#3 ShoeHunting (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 11:22 (Reply)
Awesome, as always. Especially love this roundup of tips as it includes personal grooming AND clothing care ideas. Rock on, BB.
#4 Sal (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 12:10 (Reply)
Hmmmm...I pay $11 for eyebrow threading in Chicago. If you are a fellow Chicagoan, fill me in on where I can go for $5, wow, talk about saving money for me! though i do get tons of compliments on my eyebrows and i love how amazing my lady makes them look!
#5 Amanda (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 12:36 (Reply)
I've gotten my brows threaded for less than $8 on Devon Avenue. I heard Dilshad's the place to go, but there are other salons along the street that offers wicked affordable threading. PS: I LOVE black nail polish! Just a word of caution: Rimmel's Black Satin has an obvious blue tint!
#5.1 Jade on 2009-01-20 15:40 (Reply)
During the winter I always fill a dish with water and put it on my radiator every night to ensure my skin doesn't get too dry overnight while sleeping- its like the cheapest version of a humidifier ever!
#6 Peaches on 2009-01-19 13:37 (Reply)
Great tips!

For professional waxing/threading/etc. that won't break the bank, ask any woman of South Asian (India/Pakistan/Bangaladesh/Sri Lanka/etc.) ancestry whom you know or work with. There are quite a few ladies from this region who run waxing/threading salons from their homes. They're experts at it because everyone gets these services done in those countries, and many women train in these skills to earn extra money on the side.

In the U.S., these home-based businesses don't advertise, but are based on word-of-mouth recommendations. Their prices are lot lower than regular salons, and they do just as good a job, if not better! :o)
#7 Anusha (Homepage) on 2009-01-19 14:32 (Reply)
I buy Online clothes with discount codes found online

I just purchased at express.com 6 blouses for 5.99 each!!! Check for coupons online for more discounts!!
#8 giselita on 2009-01-20 01:15 (Reply)
Remember ladies to put on a clear base coat before applying that black polish, otherwise you could stain your nails.
#9 MizzJ (Homepage) on 2009-01-20 01:54 (Reply)
Fantastic tips!!! keep them coming please
#10 The Style Diaries (Homepage) on 2009-01-20 05:49 (Reply)
Great tips - thanks! As someone already mentioned; another tip is to always search out discounts/coupon codes/free shipping codes when shopping online. There are lots of them out there and every bit helps. Also - re: tailoring - go even further with getting your clothes tailored to fit you better so you can do less shopping - make due with what you have but get it restyled or refitted by a tailor to FIT you. Thanks for all your great ideas; love your blog!
#11 Beth B. on 2009-01-20 08:47 (Reply)
For those in Chicago, Dipti's is a no- frills but great place to get your eyebrows threaded. It's $7 (and $3 to get your mustache waxed), and I've been going for the past 10 years!
#12 Hannah on 2009-01-27 02:27 (Reply)
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