There are a lot of clothing companies out there, but not all of them are budget-friendly. Not to mention if they do end up being affordable, you may be compromising quality for that price. Here are four resources for how to update your wardrobe on a budget while maintaining your personal style.

Update your wardrobe on a budget at thrift stores

Shopping at thrift stores is convenient, local to you, and very affordable. We are also living in an age of VERY fast fashion. And the only silver lining of fast fashion is how it turns up in thrift stores even faster. That being said, if you don’t mind being a little being the latest trend, thrift store shopping will be your best friend.

Not to mention, shopping at thrift stores is HIGHLY sustainable. By shopping preowned items you are reducing the amount of water it takes to make a new piece of clothing, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and reusing perfectly good items. Talk about eco-friendly!

Thrift store shopping has been my personal number one way to update my wardrobe on a budget. It’s an especially helpful route when trying to update your wardrobe through the seasons.

My favorite thrift store is Valley Thrift Store in Escondido, California. Not only is it massive, but the prices are very reasonable and everything is color coordinated.

This spot has helped me find so many cute things to update my wardrobe on a budget. Plus I have even been able to find a lot of fun Disney items too!

Sell what you don’t need

Poshmark and Mercari bring preowned item shopping online! Now, there are still plenty of thrift stores that you can purchase from online. But these two apps have the added bonus of allowing you to sell your items that you no longer want.

Donating to thrift stores is great, don’t get me wrong. However, some items still retain a high value rate. And what better way to expense your next purchase than by selling some items first to make it happen.

This tip is especially helpful when you are packing for a big move. It gives you the opportunity to get rid of items you haven’t used in a while, sell them, and use those funds to purchase through the apps to update your wardrobe on a budget.

Additionally, the ability to search these apps for the EXACT thing that I need and in the size that I wear is just not something I can do at a thrift store. Plus I also sold lots of items on the app and turned around to use those funds to buy items through the app. Overall a great experience and again, all the same sustainability advantages!

Lastly, think about clearing out your old jewelry too. It may be a great way to grab a little bit of extra income. You might want to sell your diamonds or old necklaces that just aren’t your style anymore. You jewelry box is sure to feel less crowded, and even better, your purse will be heavier too!

Swap clothes with friends to update your wardrobe on a budget

Do you have stylish friends? What about a sibling or two? Or a parent that is looking to get rid of something in their closet? GOOD! Then that means you now have access to calling dibs on items that they may want to give up!

Let your friends and family know that if they plan on giving anything away to let you know first. Tell them that you would love to look through their items to see if there is anything that you would like.

Odds are they will definitely let you riffle through anything they plan on giving away.

But remember to be courteous. Always offer to buy the pieces from them. Don’t assume that they will give it to you for free.

PROTIP: Ask your friend if you can just borrow that piece that you’ve been eyeing! Whether it’s for some cute pictures, a date, or a vacation. This is definitely a unique way to update your wardrobe on a budget. (Even if it’s temporary.)

Reduce your new wardrobe purchases

Now even after trying to incorporate preowned items into your wardrobe, there will still be times of wanting something brand spanking new. And that’s fine! Keeping to a budget does not mean that you can’t ever treat yourself. It simply means that you plan your budget with that purchase in mind.

So if you can’t reuse, then reduce! When you go through making your purchases for new items, try your best to reduce the amount you buy. Especially if it’s fast fashion.

The key here is to buy high quality clothing that’s going to last a long time. For example, you can get a nice jean skirt that will last you for years. Here are some tips for picking out the right jean skirts.

I have used all of these ways listed here to update my wardrobe on a budget. And you can update your wardrobe in a very sustainable way too!