Maintaining a Classy Appearance Without Breaking the Bank

I have been in my level-up journey for about a year now and I have already noticed the impact that the changes have had on my life. I don’t know about you, but by improving myself at all levels and making sure it is also reflected on my appearance has made my life easier. Indeed, being classy helps you achieve your goals easier, convinces people to do you favours, make you more noticeable and desirable, increases your confidence and opens up opportunities. They say that ‘being yourself’ is all you need, but I say that being the best version of yourselfs takes you much further.

An integral part of being classy is to maintain an appearance that helps you feel like a high-value individual. Most of us think that this kind of appearance requires high-end brands, a slender body and a very rich sponsor… However, we don’t need all that; all we need is an understanding of our needs and the realization that we deserve to look good. Here I have some advice on how to look classy the frugal way, regardless of your shape, occupation or marital status:

Subscribe to loyalty programmes: Loyalty programmes help save big time. They offer discounts, loyalty points and sometimes even birthday gifts. Every little helps -especially if your means are tight- so you’d better use them. Just make sure that you are subscribing to free loyalty programmes.

Coupons: The same goes with coupons. There are coupons for every good and service nowadays. Coupon programs differ from country to country. There are groups on social media promoting coupons, whereas influencers like myself can have discount codes for great brands. Just remember to make needed purchases, not impulsive ones!

Embrace the quiet-luxury / old-money aesthetic: The old-money aesthetic is considered a controversial trend. But, first and foremost, it is not a trend at all; it is about timeless values that have an impact on someone’s appearance. Unlike the the mob style, the old-money aesthetic calls for no logos and no interest in showing off. Buying high-end brands just for the sake of it is considered a waste of money (money that could be invested and generate income instead). This mindset is perfect if you do not want to spend all your income on big labels.

Take good care of your items: Honestly, I have fast-fashion items in my closet that are fifteen years old and have been worn again and again! I have achieved that through reading the labels and being extra careful with washing and ironing. Given the advancements in technology, there is no need to boil our clothes in the washing machine. On the other hand, there are a few options available for caring for one’s items themselves without wearing them out on the ironing board and in violent washing cycles:

• Dry-cleaning solutions: available at supermarkets. Very convenient for freshening up items that have only been worn once or twice and are not dirty enough for cleaning.
• Polishing solutions for shoes and other accessories: there is a large variety of such products depending the material of the item that you need to use it on. Available at super markets and at your local shoemaker’s.
• Steamer: inexpensive and easy to use, it is a game-changer of one’s get-ready routine, especially if it is portable as well. It is used not only to iron, but also to sterilize garments. Some people have even replaced their regular irons with these beauties and I don’t blame them at all.
• Sewing kit: you need sewing equipment to fix your buttons, but you can also learn to do other tasks as well, such as adjusting the length of your garments.

Learn to look for value-for-money: Train yourself to appreciate high-quality items, which can be found anywhere. In flea markets, fast-fashion stores and outlet stores I have found treasures that have been with me for years! You’ll never know what you can find inside a shop if you don’t take a look inside. Check the labels on the item, feel the texture, try it on, then decide. And remember: just because it’s pricey, it doesn’t necessarily mean its quality reflects that price; and just because something is low-cost, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s low-quality.

Gracefully accept gifts from your loved ones: When I walk into a store with a loved one for their own needs, sometimes that person asks me if I would like to have anything at their own cost. Of course, I always say yes! However, I make sure not to abuse their kindness; I keep my choices to a low number and I place a price cap too. Of course, I make sure to say thanks. Recognizing the limits of one’s kindness and putting a little something to the table from your part keeps your relationship with that person going.

And there you have it: maintaining your appearance classy without breaking the bank!