How to Have A Work Wardrobe on A Budget

 

     The adult working life is far different from the student life. You may feel so relax about budgeting while you're still a student, but it's a completely different thing once you graduate and start working. You feel great because you don't have to worry about assignments and school projects anymore, but then once you started working, a number of things will pop up for you to think about.

     I remember when I was still a student, I rely on my parents for almost all of my expenses including my wardrobe. For instance, if I need to wear something formal for school, I just have to ask my mom for it. When I started working, a sense of financial independence also grew within me although not totally, (cause I still kinda sck lol) but I tried to be financially independent in a number of things like my expenses for transportation, snacks, personal necessities and of course, my work wardrobe.

     You are lucky if you do not have to observe proper clothing attire in your work, but it's definitely a different thing for people like me who are working as a teacher, or for those ladies who are working in the formal business world.

      We do have uniforms for my job before, but when Friday comes and we don't have to wear uniforms, I declare that it was a constant challenge for me to choose what clothes should I wear the day after Thursday. If you have been or in the same boat with me and your budget's really tight, well these simple tips might work for you.

Budgeting is one of the most important skills that any adult must master. If you really need to buy new clothes for your work wardrobe, then you should definitely include it in your monthly budget. For instance, you may set 5% of your monthly income as your clothing budget. It shouldn't be that hard and I bet you can buy one or two pieces of clothing from it. Keep a collection of functional pieces first before you play around with your work wardrobe.

Talking about functional pieces, nothing beats the classics. Start with outfit pieces like white blouses, black midi skirts and slacks, neutral colored bags and shoes, and a well-structured blazer. Invest in that one killer set of corporate outfit that you can always grab anytime. And fyi, I only have one black blazer! lol Keeping it in your wardrobe will also help you in budgeting as you can always consider any of those that I mentioned above as your base for your work outfit.

Quality is always over quantity. Let's say you already have the basics in your wardrobe. But, what if you have to replace for a short period of time just because they no longer serve their purpose? The answer lies in mastering the art of intelligent shopping. You have to figure out whether the material is going to last long. And nope, the price of an item won't determine its quality so you have to be really careful. Check the fabric, the stitch, the material used, etc. Consider everything that can give a clear picture about the durability of the item you are buying.

If you really want to get serious about saving or budgeting, then you might also consider cutting out those extra expenses that you don't really need. For instance, if you have to buy snacks or lunch for work, why not make your own and just bring it? I'm sure you're gonna save some by doing that. As for me, instead of commuting two times going home from work, I cut it into one by finding a route where I can just walk instead of commuting. You can also opt for alternative rides too. If you are going home by taxi or a private vehicle, maybe you can also opt for a cheaper alternative to riding in a public transport. That way, you can use the money that you spare for your work wardrobe.

Are you a bit uncomfortable with wearing the same pieces over and over again? Well, the best solution for that is for you to also master mixing and matching pieces from your wardrobe. You can mix a classic piece with something more trendy. You can also upgrade your look by adding just a tiny pop of color in your outfit. If you can, you can also dig it by playing with your accessories.

I am actually not a pro yet in budgeting and I must admit that I have so much to learn yet. What I  have clearly understood though is that budgeting is of utmost importance in every aspect of our lives, not just in building up our work wardrobe. I learned all those tips above from gathering ideas from different sources and based on my personal experience as a working adult. I do hope you'll find them useful and relevant to your current working situation.

love lots,

Tin