As students, there seems to be no in between when it comes to spending the sacred loan; you either spend £100 in a few days or you make £20 last a whole month. The temptation to splurge can come in many forms – whether it’s a new game you’ve been waiting on for a while, or a new pair of shoes you’ve been drooling over for the past few days.The harsh reality is that, when it comes to university, it can be quite difficult to get a handle on a budget, and with no one to tell us ‘no’, sometimes we can all go a little overboard.Special occasions that pop up throughout the duration of your university degree definitely prove to be an issue too. Sometimes it seems like there’s a birthday, wedding, family meal or night out every weekend, and it’s hard to keep up.

So, from one student to another, here are some helpful tips on how you can save money in the fashion department for those special occasions that just never seem to end.

Shop at Thrift Stores

There are some absolute steals which can be found in thrift stores; both for casual outings and for the events which require something a little more formal or dressy. The trick with thrifting is that you really need to go in with an open mind, because you’ll be putting outfits together left, right and centre. Something which looks really ugly on the rail can look amazing on, so you just have to be patient and open your heart and your mind up to things that may look like your grandmother’s curtains at first. You just never know; granny’s curtains may just make the most unique and beautiful statement piece.

Don’t be afraid of Clothing Departments in Grocery Stores

Some people seem to look down on Tesco’s F & F brand and Sainsbury’s Tu brand, but there’s no reason to! Okay, the clothes may not be cheaper, but the stores hold some gems inside. It’s sometimes just a case of going in and having a look. There’s also a good chance that there’ll be a discounted section; there always seems to be. Instead of browsing Topshop for something which could potentially cost £50, visit your local food store’s clothing section and get happy with browsing. Being nifty is all about being creative and thinking outside the box.

Something Old, Something New

Maybe you have an old favourite clothing item just hanging in your wardrobe that you just don’t know what to do with. If so, do some research on how to transform clothes into something different. Maybe you have an old shirt that’s way too big and just doesn’t look good when it’s styled with anything. How about grabbing a belt and some scissors and cutting a cute pattern on the back? You could even buy some lace to make a cute detail on the back, or even buy some patches to make it really stand out. There’s your unique statement piece. If it’s really too big you could wear it as a dress or tuck it into a pair of jeans for a stand out look.

Check Online Store Outlets

Online Stores like ASOS and Boohoo have outlets and sales where you can buy clothes which are in clearance. This means you can get an amazing discount on beautiful pieces without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Boohoo is great for Next Day Delivery too, usually offering cheap or even free delivery with a code.

The truth is, we all want to feel and look good and it’s sometimes easy to think the most expensive piece is going to look the best. However, there is no need to break the bank because the best things come to those who wait (or look in this case).

So, next time you have a birthday or a fancy meal to go to, look on the sale rail or in a nearby thrift shop, and always filter your online shopping to ‘low – high’, because you never know what you might find.