The quest to find the perfect purse can be a tedious one, especially when you’re a poor college student like myself. After years of searching for the perfect bags, I have found a few stores where I can find designer bags for half the price or less.

Macy’s: Now you’re probably thinking Macy’s is an expensive store, think again. If you take the time to search and wait for their sales you can get deals beyond your wildest dreams! I just recently bought a new purse from Macy’s. I was able to get a Calvin Klein purse that was originally $185 for $60. That is half the price for a high quality and beautiful purse.

Nordstrom Rack: Nordstrom has a store called Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom’s takes their old inventory or if they ordered too much of an item and sends it to Nordstrom Rack. Everything there has discounted so you can always find what you want for a fraction of the cost. You can find discounted designer bags in all shapes and sizes!

Ross: Ross is not a place I usually would think to go for designer purses, but I have been proven wrong! Ross is actually a great store to go to, to find designer and name brand items. You just have to dig a bit deeper to find them! Their deals are only available in-store not online, so to be able to find your dream purse you have to go into the store.

(https://www.rossstores.com/gallery?source=main-nav#Fashion)

If you’re anything like me, you love all things rings! But cute AND affordable rings can be hard to find. Unless you buy the gum-ball machine rings! Here are where I find the cute and affordable rings.

Etsy: Handmade, unique, and fashionable rings. Everything from sterling silver to gold to opal, you can find it all. By shopping on Etsy you can also support small local businesses and get jewelry that no one else has!

(https://www.etsy.com/listing/745445128/all-sizes-ring-sets-all-different-styles)

Pura Vida: This new up and coming company is everything you’ve ever wanted when it comes to rings! They have the cutest rings. They are being known largely for their wave ring.

(https://www.puravidabracelets.com/collections/rings/products/enamel-wave-ring?variant=31766693707862)

Curling Irons, Flat Irons, Blow dryers, Wavers, etc… all these hair tools can add up! But they don’t have to. Below are hair tools that I have found work best and don’t break the bank!

Flat Irons/Straighteners: Herstyler SuperStyler Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron. $23.99 on Amazon. This is a solid ceramic flat iron that can be used on all hair types. It’s gentle on your hair, yet highly effective! It temperature control helps protect against damage and frizz. I use this flat iron, and it gives my hair a silky smooth feel without damaging it!

Blow Dryers: Revlon Infrared hair dryer . $22.00 on Amazon. This blow dryer is not only inexpensive but it also uses infrared heat. Infrared heat, heats the hair from the inside out, which evenly distributes warmth to minimize heat and frizz damage. I have had this blow dryer for years now and have never had a single problem! I recommend this tool to anyone and everyone!

Curling Irons: One ’n Only Argan Heat 1-1/2 Inch Curling Iron $39.00 at Sally’s Beauty. This curling iron is infused with Moroccan argan oil. When the the heat from the curling iron combines with the Moroccan oil it gives your hair a shiny sleek finish. This is my favorite curling iron because it can give you bouncy curls or loose curls. It’s perfect for any hair style!

Shopping is my favorite hobby. I love to shop when I am bored, stressed, excited, etc. It’s my go to. But it’s not a great hobby for a poor, newlywed college student. So here are my go to places to find affordable and stylish clothing!

Amazon! (https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Clothing/b?ie=UTF8&node=1040660)

• Amazon is my favorite shopping site. Not only for clothing, but also for home decor and household items. I have mentioned Amazon in previous blog posts, but I just can’t express how much I love Amazon! I can find everything such as clothing, swim suits, shoes, jewelry, etc on Amazon! Not only can I find everything, I can also find items at super affordable prices PLUS FREE SHIPPING!

Old Navy (https://oldnavy.gap.com)

• I LOVE OLD NAVY. They are always doing some sort of sale, so I can find whatever I am needing for a discounted price! It’s my favorite place to buy jeans because they are so comfortable and fit great! I also love to shop at Old Navy for swim suits. Since they are so affordable I can mix and match my suits to create cute and stylish combos!

Target (https://www.target.com/)

• Let’s be honest. Who doesn’t love Target? Like most women, I am addicted to target. I can find the most current styles and trends, without breaking my bank. I can find find very similar styles the boutiques have at almost half the price. I also love that if I don’t love what I have bought, there is always a Target close by where I can exchange or return my products!

Jane (https://jane.com/)

• Jane is an online only company. This site allows for other companies to post their products and inventory at a discounted price. This is usually the last seasons clothing or items that they want to get rid of so they can bring in the most current inventory. It’s my favorite place to find boutique clothing for super cheap!

I have tried soooo many brands of mascara ranging from $65 to $5 dollars. The difference I found was…. there isn’t. The cheapest mascara can be just as or even better than the most expensive mascara.

 Many drugstore mascaras have formulas comparable to those of high-end brands. My favorite drugstore mascaras are  Maybelline’s Great Lash and Jordana’s Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara.

Lucious long lashes can be achieved by anyone!

1. H&M: It is not the most high end jewelry, but it is the best place to find a pieces that are in spunky and affordable. (https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0892427001.html)

2. Madewell: Super trendy and affordable jewelry that lasts for years! This place will have all this seasons trendiest pieces. (https://www.madewell.com/westward-beaded-friendship-bracelet-set-AI146.html?dwvar_)

3. ETSY: not only can you find affordable jewelry, but you can find unique and handmade jewelry! You can find endless pieces that match your personality. (https://www.etsy.com/listing/479687322/dainty-moon-phase-necklaces-simple?)

There is a misconception that you have to spend a fortune on the best hair care products. Most of the time the most expensive hair products are very similar to the cheaper hair products.

Hair Mask:  L’Oréal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm. $6.99. Using this mask once a week is perfect to heal split ends, help with dry brittle hair, and works wonders on color treated hair. This mask can be found at most drugstores such as Target and Walmart, as well as Ulta and Sephora.

Heat Protectant: OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Weightless Healing Dry Oil. $7.99. This product can be used after showering and before using any heat on your hair. It’s weightless and makes your hair smell amazing! The moisturizing formula keeps your hair feeling healthy and strong.

Shampoo & Conditioner:  Dove Anti-Frizz Oil Therapy Conditioner & Shampoo. $6.74. Perfect for keeping hair clean and moisturized for days after use. It’s perfect for color treated hair by enhancing the color making you feel like you just stepped out of the salon. The conditioner makes your hair feel unbelievably soft as well.

Dry Shampoo: Batiste Dry Shampoo. $7.99. This dry shampoo is a lifesaver for those days when you don’t have time to wash your hair. This products gives your hair a fresh new look. It’s perfect for all hair colors, and makes your hair feel completely clean. And it smells amazing!

When it comes to make up does spending more money on makeup really make a difference than cheaper drugstore makeup? This will be the first blog post I do about makeup, but I will definitely be more posts comparing different makeup products.

It’s essential that you choose a foundation that fits your needs.

“High-end foundations do perform better than a lot of drugstore foundations. And the best parts of high-end foundations are the shade variety and cruelty-free factor that lacks in drugstore foundations. But these days, a lot of drugstore brands like NYX, Milani & L.A Girl make bomb foundations too!” – Jovita George, a talented travel and beauty vlogger.

What I have found best when looking for a foundation that works best is to sample. Many beauty stores such as Ulta and Sephora offer free samples. I get a few high end and a few cheaper brands of samples, and then I compare to see what best works for my skin tone and what lasts longest.

If you don’t have a lot of trouble finding your shade just from looking at the color in the bottle, then you can definitely score a cheaper foundation with a sophisticated and flawless finish. However, your skin’s look and condition is your number one concern, it’s worth the splurge to get a healthy, full coverage foundation in your perfect shade, it’s totally worth it! (https://www.hercampus.com/beauty/drugstore-vs-high-end-which-makeup-products-are-worth-extra-dollars)

If you’re anything like me, then you love shoes, all types of shoes. And you’re tripping over all your shoes because you have ran out of space to keep them, and if not, after this blog post you will be!

Forever Young Shoes! This is my go to place to find all the shoe types I want and need! Not only do they have affordable shoes, but they also have amazing sales! Throughout the year they do ‘buy one get one 50% off’ and ‘buy one get one free’. They also do end of the season sales where they discount last seasons shoes. (EX: Forever Young Shoes just did a boot sale where they had their boots on sale for $10. I was able to buy a few pairs to have for the rest of this cold weather, and for when winter starts up again later this year! ) They do this for all seasons.

I love to try new styles for shoes, but I never want to spend a fortune on shoes that could possibly be out of style in the next few years. Forever Young Shoes is my favorite place to find new unique styles in all different types of shoes.

Here are my favorite styles from Forever Young Shoes, compared to high end brands.

1. Booties:

2. Sandals

3. Sneakers

Being stylish doesn’t come cheap… or so they say. In this article I will be showing you 3 ways to stay in style and save a buck.

2. Shop in only the sale sections: For years now I have not paid full price for my clothing. I have always shopped in the sales section and have been able to find cute, yet affordable clothes. Most stores and brands have a sale section in their stores and on their websites. The best sales are when a season is changing. Example: The best time to buy a swim suit is in the fall when swimsuit season is ending, they are usually significantly marked down.

3. Shop Thrift: So many people donate to thrift shops fairly frequently. This is a great place to find gently used and very cheap clothing. There are also so many apps where you can sell and buy clothing. Examples: Poshmark, OfferUp, Letgo, ThredUp.. etc.

3. Shop off brand: One way to save money is to buy off brand with you style. I have worked in the fashion industry, and I have seen first hand how much companies are paying to get their clothing versus how much they are selling it for. The price increase is quite large. Example: The first sweater is from a popular boutique, Piper and Scoot, it is selling for $62.00. I was able to find a very similar sweater on Amazon for half Piper and Scoots price $35.00 with free shipping

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