How do people afford to be trendy?!

[ChilliHeeler1]

How do people (who aren’t already really well off obviously) afford clothes? Treats? I live in the same battered old trainers, jeans and have a selection of a few jumpers I’ve had for years. One coat. My kids are turned out beautifully but I really don’t have the money for nice stuff for me and it’s getting me down! I feel so embarrassed and am always watching other mums on the school run thinking how do they afford to just causally buy new trainers/new boots/new this that and whatever and have social lives etc, I’m so fed up of being just about able to manage the bills and there being sod all left ☹️
does everyone just put it on credit card? Karma? What do people do?!

Klarna that is meant to say!

Second hand is so cheap

I was wearing a new ted baker jumper today, £8 off eBay

Even if it's on credit, they still have to make repayments.

Maybe they shop savvy?
Maybe they earn more?
Maybe their bills are less?
Maybe they have savings?
Maybe they have inheritance?
Maybe they shoplift?
Maybe they get them as gifts?

I buy in the sales, on Vinted, eBay and charity shops. I have bought some beautiful clothes in charity shops. When I was young (many moons ago!), there was a stigma buying from charity shops or jumble sales, now it's common. I don't buy much full price. I look for discount codes online etc too.

Vinted

Maybe they earn more than you? Maybe they prioritise clothes over some expenditure that is important to you and your family (holidays, home decoration, cars)?

Spend a bit less on clothes for the kids and a bit more on yourself. If they are little, they probably won’t notice or care. If they are older, it will teach them to value you and not to think that they are the centre of the universe.

There's loads of Instagram accounts now doing outfits with the seasonal trends bought in Primark etc cheaper. Spend less on the kids' clothes, they're going to grow out of them anyway, invest in some new stuff for you even if it's also from Primark or whatever.

Nearly all my clothes are from vinted!

Adapt to the underconsumption movement. Inst of buying stuff willy nilly be mindful of what you have. I saw a video about doing this in the Sephora sale. The person got their current make up out and checked every item she had in her basket against what she already owned and from around £700 she ended up with under £200.

Off the back of a lorry
fake knock offs
Vinted
Ebay
on catalogue ( is that still a thing?)
cards
save up
prioritise against other things
earning more

You should treat yourself op if you can cut back on the kids (I know it’s hard to balance)

Vinted is the solution to all of my problems 😂.

I’ve got a £150 pair of trainers on - they were £20 last week. Took a £300 bag to work today, paid £25 for it a few months ago.

I only ever buy BNWT or barely used, and honestly don’t think anyone can tell/care that someone else owned it first!

I used to wonder that about people having so many coats; I now have a good range of coats through buying on Vinted.

Same with my summer wardrobe was mainly Vinted

Are there key words I should be using when searching vinted etc? When I’ve briefly looked everything I’ve found looks really jumble sale-ish, do you have to spend ages on it looking for the good stuff?

Nope you can use the filters for price etc

try using search terms like bnwt (brand new with tags)

Or searching brands like next, H&M, fat face then the item you want

Most people I know who are into fashion buy and sell on vinted, so it's not just that it's cheap it's that they're offsetting it by what they sell on (and allows them to change their look regularly)
The presentation on vinted does tend to be very jumblesales-y, i think they key is looking for brands that you know tend to fit you and that you like, so even if the photo looks a bit crap you have an idea of what it will be like on you.

Make a list of all the clothing companies you like and search them on Vinted. All my clothes are from there- I've got a gorgeous long wool coat - £25. An amazing tweed wool dress £30. Should have been £400 for both of them new.

I earn loads so could afford to buy trendy stuff

But can't be arsed to !

Vinted Vinted Vinted!

find some nice brands you like online - instagram or Pinterest etc then search them

Hello OP. I totally understand how you feel. I love dressing up, always have, but live on a budget and have three kids I always prioritize. The truth is, I buy second hand. Here were I live vintage is still more expensive, so I go second hand. For example, I just purchased two blazers, linen jacket, one pair of pants and a sweater for about 30pounds. I also donate our old clothes to this place and I get 20%off coupon every time I make a donation. 😊

The trendiest people I know don't have kids

You'd be amazed how many people buy fakes on holiday. (I don't as I can't afford holidays or labels).