Clothes from my closet.
I am planning a trip to Ecuador at the end of the month, and so I have been looking for ways to save money in general as well as on Christmas presents. I discovered that I have been either throwing away or giving away a lot of my clothes that are in need of minor repairs such as broken zippers, torn lining, and missing buttons, so, I collected a bag and took it to my tailor. I never realized how much money I could save by fixing clothes that I already own as opposed to going out and buying something new. Definitely a lesson learned!
In keeping with this theme, I have also begun to search through my closet and pick out items that I could mix and match in new ways: pairing a skinny belt to a plain sweater or layering tops and adding a different colored scarf. I made so many new combinations and have been complimented on my “new” styles!
As for Christmas shopping, I have stuck to low and mid-priced gifts for my family and friends. For my 12-year-old-going on 22-year-old niece, I bought her a few basic long-sleeved tops to mix and match with skirts or jeans, and some $2 hair accessories from H&M and Forever 21. Since I recently handed over a huge bag of clothes that no longer fit me, she has a brand new wardrobe to work with. I’m waiting for my too-small wool coat to come out of the cleaners and to give to her.
For everyone else, I am sticking with basics such as body lotions and oils, writing journals and books. And I have been creating pieces of jewelry and putting together sentimental gifts, such as small tokens/reminders of my friendships through framed photographs and old letters tied in bows. I have decided against gift cards as they typically need to have higher amounts in order to be useful.
I hope all of this works!
