Teacher budgets are tight. We do not have a lot of extra cash each month. All over Instagram, I see teacher fashion influencers. I want all the clothes; however, my teacher’s salary does not allow me to have a lot of teacher fashion pieces. Teachers are professionals; therefore, it is important that we dress professionally. It can be difficult to find stylish and professional-looking clothes on a teacher budget.
Read on for 10 teacher budget tips to help teachers dress for success. This post about dressing well on a teacher budget was also featured on the Teachers Pay Teachers blog.
Teacher Budget Fashion Tips
Outlet Stores
Shop at outlet stores. You can find great prices and stylish pieces for less than they would cost at a regular store.
Reward Cards
Think about what stores most appeal to your style, and see if they have a rewards card. Be loyal to these stores when shopping to get the most points for your money. Also, visit your bank to see if your credit card can be switched to a points card that can be redeemed for rewards at stores where you shop or for a gift card. I recently read a great blog post by Maria and Rob from Crazy Together about exchanging their extra coins at a Coinstar machine for a gift card.
If your friends and family like to ask you what you want for holidays and birthdays, ask for gift cards to the mall or specific stores. Save up those gift cards, and go shopping a few times a year when you need some new pieces.
Consignment Stores
Consignment stores are a great place to find brand-name quality clothing for less than retail. People use consignment stores to sell their gently used pieces. I have found some very good details on nearly new still-in-season clothing pieces. Grab a coffee, bring a friend, and go shopping!
Big Box Discount Stores
Stores like Costco, Walmart, and Target are great for buying wardrobe staples like socks, underwear, boxers, undershirts, pyjamas, etc.
Shop End of Season
Any good shopper knows that the best sales can be found near the end of a season. I always buy expensive seasonal purchases like winter coats at the end of the season. It costs a lot less than it would if I bought it at the start of the season and is perfect for the teacher budget.
Invest Only In Timeless Pieces
When spending your money, make sure you spend more on timeless pieces like a warm outdoor duty coat and boots. A cold and wet teacher = a sick teacher. Teachers also need really comfortable shoes because we don’t sit during the day!
Be Mindful of Trendy Pieces
We have all seen great photos of trendy clothes on social media sites. Before you splurge on that new outfit, ask yourself, “Can I see myself wearing this more than just this season?” When I want to add something very trendy to my wardrobe, I seek out the cheap stores in the mall that are trendy but not very expensive.
Don’t Buy Too Many Non-Work Clothes
As teachers, we spend a lot of time at work. It is important that our money is well spent on buying clothes that work for both the classroom and weekend apparel. As much as I love leggings and jeans, I don’t buy too many pairs because they are not something I can wear to work regularly.
I hope these teacher fashion tips have given you ideas for shopping on a teacher budget. If you are looking for more teacher budget and Money Saving Tips For Teachers, check out the linked blog post.
More Teacher Tips
Related Posts
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing them. 🙂
I definitely agree with Tips 3 & 8! I’ve been able to put together the cutest teacher outfits from combining timeless, quality pieces with things from thrift stores still in good condition. Thanks for sharing these ideas.