A RULE I CREATED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH MY PURCHASES TO HELP STRETCH MY SHOPPING BUDGET TO IT’S MAXIMUM CAPACITY
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
If you need more help building your wardrobe my e-book,Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget is a great tool. The 12 steps I take when planning and shopping for my wardrobes each season is covered in detail with examples for you.These are the steps I take to ensure each purchase is intentional, it’s also the strategy I used to budget to purchase my first Louis Vuitton handbag. In fact, The Rule of 5 is one of the 12 steps in the e-book.
One of the best items I purchased this year is the denim slouchy jeans, I wore them a few days a week so I knew purchasing this black pair would be a good idea and I was right. I thought the black would flow into my Fall Winter wardrobe.
The reason I love the slouchy jeans so much is because they’re low key sweatpants that look a little more polished. They’re also perfect to pair with bodysuits and crop tops, the high waist and fullness of the pants give the illusion of a slimmer waist.
In addition to be comfortable and flattering they’re also pretty affordable. Denim is an investment item for me but when trying a trend I’ll usually try out a more affordable option. These are in the $60 range and proper denim quality, for the price point the quality is really good.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
I’m all about the bodysuits these days, seamless are my favorites and this Everlane style is perfect. The elbow length sleeves make it perfect for Fall transitional weather. Runs TTS.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
You’ve probably seen the 1995, 1996 year range necklaces trending. I think they’re super cool with a little edge so I added a version to my shop. I was decided to be bold and YOLO it with my birth year. You can get 1-4 digits, it doesn’t have to be a year or 4 digit number.
This was a complete impulse purchase and I regret nothing! Nothing at all! On trend, classic, chic and comfortable at the same time. I sized up for an oversized fit, def could have gone two sizes up but this works too.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
A good classic sneaker. I bought these last season as my staple shoe and they’re still in rotation this year. Runs TTS. Puma is a shoe you have to break in with a wear or two.
All the 90’s vibes with this cuban link name necklace. This is hands down my favorite necklace of the moment. It’s available in 18kt gold or sterling silver.
One of my favorite affordable purchases of this Summer is the crop halter neck tank. I have it in both white and black. My exact style is sold out so I linked a very similar option. Runs TTS.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
It took me a Summer or two to finally get these Zara slides as I don’t normally wear slides. Now that I have them I know I should have gotten them sooner. These are my most worn sandals this Summer, hands down!
Some people say to size up but my TTS fits perfect. They are leather so they will stretch out a bit.
A long time favorite and best seller from my shop is the Carrie Name Necklace. It’s such a staple item, I’ve had mine 6+ years in the 18kt Gold Dipped shown here on a 14″ chain. I just purchased the 14kt Solid Gold on a 16″ chain.
Carrie is available in sterling silver, rose gold dipped and solid white gold as well.
The shouder pad trend is everywhere this year and when I saw this crop cinched version for $12 I jumped on it. Comes in 3 colors, runs TTS. Go up a size if you want some length.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
This are hands down my favorite sandals, they are an investment item but 100% worth it if you love a good sandal. Go up a half size from your normal size.
Have you hopped on the bum bag trend? At the beginning of Spring I bought a cute inexpensive one from Target, I wore it so much I gave myself permission to invest in this MCM version.
This is the small. It fits about the same amount of items as my LV Alma bb.
The sizing on these are kind of tough as they are only made in every other size. I tried one size up in the regular length and one size up in the petite as my size (29) isn’t made. The regular length was HUGE while the petite fit perfect. I have to guess going a size down will be a safe bet if your size isn’t available.
DO YOU SAVE HUNDREDS OF OUTFIT IMAGES ON PINTEREST AND THINK “I WISH”?
IS YOUR CLOSET FULL OF CLOTHES THAT YOU’VE ONLY WORN ONCE, SOME EVEN HAVE TAGS STILL ON THEM?
DO YOU THINK YOU NEED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE YOUR DREAM WARDROBE?
If you answered yes to any of those questions you have met your saving grace, That’s ME, in case you were wondering. I’m the Queen of Ballin’ on a Budget. Every single purchase I bring into my home is intentional and serves a purpose. I curate my dream wardrobe each season without over spending, and every single item in my wardrobe has been worn more times than I can count.
HUMBLE BEGGININGS
My ballin’ on a budget started at a very early age, growing up my Mom didn’t have a lot of money to take me shopping or buy me new clothes other than back to school (which was always a few weeks after school started) and a few new items for Summer. I learned VERY early on if I wanted my wardrobe to be fresh to death I was going to have to get creative.
Some of my most memorable shopping moments that turned into life lessons are still burnt in my memory like it was yesterday. These moments molded me into the woman (and amazing shopper) I am today.
AGE 9: While most kids my age feigned for a new toy, I wanted new clothes even if that meant I only got to look at them. One of my fondest childhood memories was going to the mall with my Mom and window shopping all the trendy clothing stores. I would make a wishlist and put outfits together in the store, I’d add the prices of the outfits up to determine how much money I needed to come back and buy it. It was rare I was ever able to buy something, but to curb my shopping appetite my Mom would take me to the $1 store for a surprise bag after all of our window shopping. It was literally a brown paper bag marked “boy” or “girl” filled with 5-6 items the store likely couldn’t sell all for the grand price of one whole dollar!
AGE 11: One holiday season my Mom took me to that same Mall to exchange some gifts for something(s) better suited. We were in a store that was having a huge store closing sale, everything was 20% – 70% off. On this day, in this store I learned percentages. I learned that 20% was the worst and anything 50% or more off was what I was looking for. I knew that the more I could score at 70% off the further my money would go. I can give you any percentage (especially when it relates to shopping) off the top of my head in less than 2 seconds. When you exclusively shop sales for 20 years you get really good at percentages.
AGE 17: During the Summers in High School I taught swimming lessons. The first Summer I was so excited to have my own money so I could go back to school shopping like I always imagined, no one would be able to tell me no or that we can’t afford it because I knew I could afford it myself. I knew I was going to be able to go back to school shopping before school even started and that I was going to be able to get new outfits because I worked for it, I saved for it and I knew percentages to shop the sales!
I will never forget going to the mall all by myself (my favorite way to shop) with a few hundred dollars and walking into an of the moment trendy store. I walked straight to the sales rack ,picked out my favorite items, immediately did the math to figure out the cost after markdowns, then did some more math to figure out how much money I’d have left over if I bought it and finally how many more pieces I’d be able to purchase. See, I had a goal, I wanted to buy at least 10 new outfits head to toe because it was always a goal of mine to not repeat outfits or any piece of clothing the first two weeks of school, preferably three weeks.
I practiced what I learned at age 9 by window shopping all of the stores first, creating outfits in each store, then doing the math for each look to determine if the items I wanted were the best use of my money. Could I create multiple outfits? Will I be able to hit my 10 outfit minimum goal? Every purchase was thought out and intentional, even at the ripe age of 17 I wasn’t impulsive.
I don’t remember exactly how many outfits I bought but I know I hit my minimum goal, I also know this was my best back to school shopping memory.
2013: I purged 85% of my wardrobe due to life changes and loosing 20lbs. I had a minimal budget but needed something to wear. With only $200 to spend a month and the unwillingness to sacrifice quality I had to get creative, resourceful and knew each purchase had to be made with intention. This is when and how my best shopping rule was created. The Rule of 5 has shaped my life completely, after 7 years of practicing The Rule of 5 I no longer make impulse purchases, not even $10 sunglasses. Every single item brought into my life serves a purpose. Because The Rule of 5 has impacted my life so much in such a positive way I’ve put together a 16 page e-book. You will need it if you purchase Build Your Dream Wardrobe on a Budget as it’s 1 of the 12 steps. No worries, The Rule of 5 is all yours for free!
WHY AM I QUALIFIED TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR DREAM WARDROBE ON A BUDGET?
If a lifetime of creating my dream wardrobe while on a budget isn’t enough experience and commitment to the process I have a strong professional background in Fashion both retail and corporate too. That experience helped me to learn the best times to shop, where to shop and exactly the ins and outs that happens behind the scenes giving me an upper hand when it comes to scoring the best deals.
I’ve worked for/with Nike, Macy’s, Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole NY, Neiman Marcus, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few. I did contract work on the corporate level and was able to work with numerous global brands during that time, I didn’t jump from brand to brand every few months as some people first assume.
ARE YOU READY TO STOP MAKING ONE HIT WONDER PURCHASES?
ARE YOU READY TO STOP SAYING “I WISH” WHEN YOU’RE SCROLLING PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM, AND START SAYING, “I CAN DO THAT?”
BUILD YOUR DREAM WARDROBE ON A BUDGET is 30 pages sharing the 12 steps I take to achieve my best curated wardrobe. Each step has an Action, Action Tips and my personal examples to give you a visual how-to guide. To help you achieve your goals I’ve also included BONUS TIPS to help you make extra cash to go towards your wardrobe.
After 7 years of trial and error, making adjustments each season I have mastered How to Create a Dream Wardrobe while staying within budget and I’m sharing that with you to help you achieve your Dream Wardrobe too!
My 30 page E-Book will be delivered straight to your inbox within seconds, then you can get started STAT creating your Best Wardrobe!
If you’ve had an item for longer than 7 days and have NOT used it, it’s a safe bet it is returnable. This is because … when we have something new that we LOVE we can’t wait to use it. If you haven’t used/worn something within 7 days you either don’t need it or you don’t love it.
If you don’t have anywhere to wear an item. I hear a lot of, “if I go to…” “If” isn’t real life, boo boo. Stop throwing your money away on fantasy events you’ve made up with your imagination.
If it’s clothing and you can NOT Rule of 5 it, RETURN!
If you bring a new item into your home, place it in your closet, on a counter, never take it out your car trunk and you forget you even bought it. Take it back to the store RIGHT NOW!
Essentially, if you don’t immediately wear or use an item (I’m giving you 7 to 14 days) that means it doesn’t serve a purpose in your life. If an item doesn’t serve a purpose there is absolutely no reason to keep it. Your life is way too precious and special to have anything or anyone in it that doesn’t serve a purpose.
Look at it this way, objects and material items that don’t serve a purpose or bring us joy are clutter. Clutter disturbs and disrupts our peace, it clutters not only our physical life but our minds and spirit as well.
You wouldn’t keep a person in your life disrupting your peace, would you?
Why would you keep material objects in your life that clutter your spirit?
Trust me, the amount of material objects in our lives and homes makes a big difference in our mental state.
On the subject of clutter, if you feel you have too much I have a post and video sharing 5 Steps to Purge Your Closet to help you!
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
