My Shopping Strategy to Buy Less & Buy Better

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What to expect in today’s newsletter (8 min read)

• What it means to Buy Less & Buy Better

• My shopping rules to avoid over-consumption

MONEY
My Shopping Strategy to Buy Less & Buy Better!!!

If you've been following me for a minute, you probably know I am on my buy less and buy better journey - specifically pertaining to my wardrobe but also the theory still applies to other areas of my life, too.

I’ve always struggled with my closet - it is so hard to figure out personal style while still making calculated decisions around clothing purchases without also being ultra-influenced by creators online who get sent a bunch of free clothes (jealous!!!!)

As I’ve gotten a little bit older, I’ve started to realize just how much of a difference having high quality clothes can make in terms of how you present yourself.

And obviously how you look isn’t the most important thing about you, but impressions do matter and it is something that I have really started to take more seriously.

All this to say, my wardrobe is a work-in-progress. But in order to stop myself from shopping hauls and buying clothes that ultimately don’t end up becoming staples in my wardrobe, I’ve implemented a few shopping rules that I am going to share today!

Before we get into it, to clarify what it means to buy less and buy better:

This philosophy is about shopping more intentionally. I don’t want to encourage no-buys or buying nothing (because let’s be realistic.. that’s not gonna happen for me!! lol), but I do want to be more thoughtful about what I choose to bring into my space.

The goal is to curate a wardrobe of clothes I love to wear, that I feel confident in, that fit me properly, and that I wear ALL THE TIME.

Let’s get into it ❤️ and BTW if you’re interested in going deeper, check out my latest youtube video!! (this is my first youtube collab so any support is MUCH APPRECIATED THANK YOU!!!)

Rule #1: Quality > Quantity

I am sooo focused on ensuring the clothes I buy are high-quality. This means I am focused on material composition (which I’ll share more about in a moment) but also how the clothes actually fit me.

There is nothing worse than buying a new item and feeling like it needs to be styled a certain way or worn in a specific manner in order for it look nice. And I also hate when I buy something and after two washes it’s ruined.

So now, I focus on curating 1-2 pieces at a time and I make sure they fit my quality and fit standards!

Rule #2: Material Composition Reigns Supreme

I have become a stickler for material composition over the last year and now any time I make a new clothing purchase, I am focusing on material composition first.

This means that the item needs to be made of natural materials like cotton, wool, linen, cashmere, or silk.

Natural materials wear better and they last longer! Plus, they’re actually worth your money. You’d be surprised if you look at the tag of a lot of your clothes - you will see a LOT of nylon, viscose, and polyester (and you probably overpaid for it 😭)

I’ve fallen victim to this my entire life and I am sick of it!! While small exceptions can be made here or there, generally speaking I am aiming for 95-100% natural materials. You can learn more about this here!

Rule #3: Shopping with a Purpose

Have you ever felt like you had nothing to wear and then gone out and bought a ton of clothes .. only to not really ever wear them?

Yeah. We’ve ALL BEEN THERE!! And it’s the worst because what happens is you end up filling your closet with clothes you don’t wear and it becomes a cycle that is hard to break.

I spent all of January styling the clothes I already had, and this helped me figure out what I reach for the most, what I’m most comfortable in, and what I’m missing.

As a result, I’ve been able to clearly identify the gaps in my wardrobe and ensure that when I DO buy something, it fills a specific gap and I will actually get wear out of it!

Rule #4: Keeping Seasonality in Mind

I’m gonna be honest - this first year in Chicago has been hard because I am experiencing the seasons again! And this poses a specific challenge when it comes to my closet because I literally need different types of clothes all year long.

We have a super cold winter and a super hot summer… so keeping things minimal is tough. To help with this, I’ve been focusing on cross-seasonality with as much as I can.

For example, this means I look for cotton sweaters than I can wear in the summer but layer in the winter. I want to get the most utility from my clothes all year long (which is hard but not impossible!!)

If you are looking to learn more about these rules, how I shop, and some examples, check out my latest youtube video!!

WEEKLY RECOMMENDATION

Similar to last week, I have another rec from one of my favorite Substack writers lately - Hanna Horvath. She wrote a piece about “the price of pretty” and I found it to be so interesting how appearance can impact earnings, yet there is a degree of shame around spending on and caring about how you look. I also think that the average beauty spend is LOW but let me know what you think!

RESOURCES
What’s Happening This Week at Break Your Budget

• This week on Don’t Depend on Daddy: I am answering your burning money and career questions!! In a long overdue Q+A episode, I am sharing more about saving vs. paying down debt, navigating career pivots, and so much more!

• My Shopping Strategy If you enjoyed this newsletter and want more details around my shopping strategy to buy less and buy better, you will love this video! Please let me know what you think and if you have any favorite brands you love to shop!

LOOKING FOR MORE?
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• Read by books, Own Your Money and Own Your Career!

• Take your financial power back with The Personal Finance Dashboard, my comprehensive money management tool!

• Up-level your career and get promoted with the Own Your Career Template!

• Just getting started on your financial journey? Check out the Basic Budgeting Template!

• Learn exactly how to put together a plan for your finances with the 4-Week Financial Plan!