Save Money on Maternity

It's no secret, I think maternity clothes are expensive.  I mean, they aren't expensive if you could wear them for longer than 4 months, but the chances of that happening are slim....making them expensive.

I don't think $30 for a dress or $24 for a blouse is expensive until I realize that I will wear it from Sept-January and then pack it away until next time.  Throughout my pregnancy I have saved money on maternity in lots of ways while still feeling like I have a decent, stylish wardrobe and I thought I would share them with you so that you can do the same!

Beg, borrow, and...okay don't steal.  But really, ask your friends that have already had children if you can borrow things from them.  I was so blessed by my friend, Leslie.  She offered to let me borrow everything she had from her pregnancy.  What is really important though is making sure you borrow the things that you may only wear once or twice throughout your pregnancy.

I'm talking about a dress for a wedding you are going to or a pair of dress pants for a church event.  If there are things you don't consistently wear in your normal day-to-day, but find you need them once or twice throughout your pregnancy, ask someone before you go buy something.

Yard Sales (including online): I don't know about your area, but online yard sales (on Facebook or otherwise) have taken our area by storm.  My mom and I have purchased so many of my maternity staples off sites like these.  Most people are willing to let you come look through what they have before committing and you can pretty much purchase items in the same size once you know what your size is.

Most of my jeans and tops have been purchased for $5-$10 off these sites.  I've gotten many items from Motherhood Maternity, Liz Lange Maternity for Target, and a Pea in the Pod for fractions of the original price; prices I wouldn't have been able to afford in store.

Consignment Shops/Sales & Thrift Stores: Ask other mothers you know about consignment shops and sales around your area.  Our area has 3-4 decent consignment sales (where you can sell you own items, too) each season throughout the year.  Many of them have stuff for your babe, but some even carry maternity.

I have purchased several maternity items at thrift stores as well.  In fact, I had pretty much figured I wouldn't find anything decent at the thrift store I frequent most often and, boy was I wrong.  Each item in this thrift store is $2!  I've purchased Old Navy corduroys, a Motherhood pencil skirt, and several sweaters for $2 - you can't beat that with a stick.

Sales and Clearance Racks: I have walked into some stores one time and not returned due to prices, but several of my girlfriends tell me that they run amazing sales.  I know that often Old Navy, GAP, and Destination Maternity give customers an additional 25-30% off even sale prices.  Target has been a great resource for me.  Unfortunately, they mix their maternity clearance in with their regular clearance, but if you have the time and you're willing to dig, you can find great deals in there.  I recently purchased a t-shirt for $4 and I got a black maxi skirt for $13.

Don't judge a store by its cover.  Here in NC we have a store called Burke's Outlet, very similar to TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  I had been told it was a "dump."  I walked in there one day after yoga class just to see what they had for maternity or if they had any at all - it is not a dump!  Maybe to someone who hates the hunt, but to someone who doesn't mind it, it is a treasure trove.  I've purchased several tops from there that are not maternity that I am still wearing and they had an entire rack of maternity clothes. Even Walmart has maternity clothes online now!

Don't be afraid to look outside the maternity section.  Just last weekend we went to the farmer's market and everything I had on was non-maternity that I already had in my closet before getting pregnant.  I've worn outfits to work that did not have a single maternity piece.  The style today for many blouses is loose and flowy which makes them work even with a bump.  My jeggings all have enough stretch in them to still be worn normally and my skinny jeans work just fine with my belly band still.  It's hard not to get excited about having a bump and wearing maternity, but keep in mind you might still have many items in your closet that work for you.  I've been wanting a pair of skinny jeans, but I keep putting it off knowing I can still wear the ones I already own.

Coupons.  I use coupons in my everyday life.  I find them online when I'm shopping and I use them in the grocery store every. single. time.  Just last week I saved $26 on our groceries using them.  Personally, the time it takes to cut them out is worth the money saved to me.  I have been able to use coupons on several items of maternity (as well as items for babe, but that's another post).  If you don't already have the Target app downloaded on your phone, do it NOW!  I save anywhere from $5-$10 per trip using that app.  It constantly has deals like save $5 on a $20 maternity purchase - including clearance items.  I've walked out before with almost $50 worth of maternity clothes for $15.

Zulilly is quite possibly the best site I've found.  It runs great deals on maternity items, things for kids, excursions, etc.  Motherhood and Destination maternity often have sales on there as well as PinkBlush Maternity.  Definitely click on that link and sign up!  You won't regret it.

To see other tips I've shared about extending the life of your maternity wardrobe click below:
accessories, the in-between period, and items you already own

What have you done to save money on your wardrobe?

Focal Zipper

My Mimi and Harry came to visit us on their way to Florida for the winter and she brought me a bag of treats.  The bag consisted of lace, zippers, rick rack, and ribbon that she had left over from past sewing projects.  It is quite the modge podge of goodies, but the thing that caught my eye first was this amazing Aztec inspired zipper.  I thought about making a bag with it, but really wanted it to be the focal point.

I saw this refashion from Cotton & Curls and decided to do something similar with this zipper and a thrifted sweatshirt I got for $2.50.  (I would highly recommend doing this with a dress form.  I'm not sure I could have done it without one.)

It was actually pretty simple to do.  I put the sweatshirt on the adjusted dress form (excuse the mess - in order for me to have a sewing space I must share it with my dogs and our office) and started pinning from there.  I made sure not to let the front pull or bunch in dis-forming ways.  After pinning the zipper, I tried the sweatshirt on before sewing it down.

The zipper was quite a bit longer than I needed so, after sewing it in and cutting off the excess, I took the teeth apart leaving me with two strips of fabric.  I decided to further embellish the sweatshirt by adding either side of the zipper to the shoulder seams of the shirt.

I love it.  It's different.  It's unique.  It's quirky.  And it's from my Mimi.  I had to answer a few questions the first time I wore it school.  Some kids thought I had my shirt on backwards.  I don't care, I'll answer them all day long!  Love my new $2.50 comfy shirt!

A Silver Coin DIY

You will get a kick out of this.  I was driving by one of the thrift stores in my town (on my way to a wedding no less) when I spotted this dress on the rack out front.  I literally turned my car around, parallel parked, grabbed that sucker off the rack and went in stating I wanted it.

Typically the rack out front is the $1 rack, but this day, it was the 25Cent rack!!  Holla!

I brought this bad boy home, washed it up nice and clean and got to work...

I rolled the hem up twice to make it above the knee and stitched that in place.  I then took in each side about half an inch to make it slightly more form fitting, but I wanted to keep it loose so that I could belt it tunic style.  I didn't touch the sleeves because I liked that they have a dolman-style feel to them being a little big for me.

Cardigan: Target, Dress: Thrift, Belt: Belk (old), Leggings: Old Navy, Boots: Madden Girl

This dress is handmade with a zipper in the back.  Quality stuff.  Someone really put some TLC into making it.  I'm grateful for them.

My apologies for the poor lighting of the photos.  If you see me today, you will see me wearing this and it was just too darn cold to ask my hubby to go outside this morning for pictures.

Linking up for:

Frugalista Friday && Giveaway Winner

Today is the first Frugalista Friday ever.  I love fashion and I'm a teacher so I'm on a budget.  There are so many ways that I save money while maintaining my style and I get so excited when I come home with a good find, a sale item, or a coupon code.  My husband says it's like I'm a hunter coming home from a hunt with a big buck. 

A little like the lady in this video...or not so much.

Some ways I save money while shopping:

• coupons
• online codes
• store rewards
• refashioning
• thrifting
• consigning
• eBay/Groupon

Over the summer, I created many items that I was wanting to purchase.  Below are some of my favorite items that I was able to create on my own and their more expensive counterparts:

I bought this fabric for $1 (3yds) at a thrift store. The skirt cost me about 25 cents to make.

I bought this lace shirt and dyed it for 50 cents at a thrift.

This is my favorite: I bought this orange blouse for 50 cents at a thrift and just had to take it in.

 I know what some of you are thinking:
"Oh well, that's great, you know how to sew."  Fact of the matter is, you can find some of these great trendy pieces at a thrift store and little to no altering may be necessary.  So be willing to go on that hunt and look at a non-traditional place for those items you are coveting.  Especially items that may not be in style from season to season or are just fads/trends.

 Now, to announce the winner of My First Giveaway!!

Congrats, Kasey Young!!

I have sent you an email.  Be sure to respond so that I can send you your gift!

Laced Tea

I scored this great cropped lace top at a thrift store for fifty cents the other day, but didn't want to keep it white so I decided to venture into the world of natural dying.

I thought some of you might enjoy a tutorial on how to dye your own lace using teabags so here goes:

Step 1: Boil 4 cups of water per yard of fabric.
Step 2: Once water is boiling, remove from heat and put in tea bags to steep for 5 minutes.
(Use approximately 1 tea bag per cup of water)
Step 3: Remove tea bags and put fabric in pot
Step 4: Stir to ensure all fabric gets stained for at least 10 minutes
(You can leave the fabric in longer if you want the color darker. Note that it will dry a shade lighter than what it looks like wet.)
Step 5: Remove the fabric from the tea bath and let line dry.
(You can dry in dryer, but you will need to wipe out the dryer after so that future loads do not get stained.  i.e. Do it the lazy way and let it air dry.)

If  you aren't happy with the color, repeat the process.

Top: me, Belt: Belk, Shorts: AE, Sandals: Belk

50 Cents

50 cents can't get you much.

Not even  candy bar these days.

At the thrift store the other day,

50 cents got me this orange blouse

that was about four sizes too big for me.

I debated getting it.

It was supposed to be $2.50.

It would also take some restructuring to fit.

The lady saw me second guessing,

and blessed me by giving it to me for 50 cents.

Since that day,

I've restructured it,

and worn it three times

receiving tons of compliments.

Shirt: thrifted (refashioned), skirt: me

Shirt: thrifted (refashioned), jeans: Levis, shoes: thrifted

Shirt: thrifted (refashioned), Shorts: American Eagle (old), shoes: Old Navy (old)

On Trend

I'm not one to follow trends.  I can't really define my style; it's not trendy, classic, or bohemian.  It's eclectic I suppose; a mixture of all three.  However, I'm also rather cheap when it comes to clothing, particularly clothing items that are trends.  Reason being, they just don't stick around long enough for me to spend what little fun money my teaching salary allots.

I've had this tie dye maxi dress in my closet for a while now, but the last time I wore it was on my honeymoon (2 years ago) so I've had it in my repurpose basket for some time now.

I've had my eye on those dresses/skirts for a while now that are shorter in the front than they are in the back.  I had considered making the dress into one, but I really don't wear strapless that often so I decided to turn it into a skirt.

First I cut all the elastic out of the dress careful to save it for future projects.

The fabric has so much stretch in it that I didn't think it was necessary to put an elastic waistband in so, I just gave the top a waistband by folding it over twice and sewing.  I, then, cut the skirt to the length I wanted in front and back and folded the hem over twice and stitched.

I'm pretty pleased with the way it came out.  It will definitely be a fun skirt to wear to a concert in this southern heat.

From Mom to Wow

I hate the mall.  I mean, the noise, the cat calls, the lines, the dressing rooms, the fact that I find something I love (that's not in my size)...  Can I make this any more clear?

On the other hand, I love a good thrift store.  What makes a good thrift store you ask?  Oh, I don't know, these qualities tend to make my heart smile:

• cheap prices.  When did it become okay to charge $25 for a "vintage" (aka well worn) Kasper blazer?  Now, vintage is worth it - worn out, not so much.
• variety.  I love when there are three racks of skirts and everything is everywhere.
• organized chaos. Strangely, I hate when thrift stores are overly organized.  I love the hunt!
• clean dressing rooms. Rare. Too rare.

Before school got out, I went to the thrift store to pick up the yellow skirt I contemplated purchasing (for a whopping $2) for three weeks and while there came across this teal gem.

 I got a wild hair and decided to totally reshape the skirt.  After seeing all the beautiful pencil skirts out there, I've been tempted to get one.  I always thought I couldn't wear them because of my bodacious booty, but I'm realizing that if Kim Kardashian looks good in one, this rump is sure to stun in one as well.

The first thing I did to alter the skirt was put it on inside out and pin up the sides.  Then, I pinned the hem where I wanted it.

I sewed along my pin lines and cut off the excess fabric.  When I put the skirt on, it had a slight poof at the top due to the elastic waist so I simply add some darts by putting it on inside out again and pinning where I felt they were necessary.  I'm sure there is a much more technical way of doing such things, but I went with the "wing it" motto.

This is what I came up with:

I'm pleased.  Don't mind the boxy yellow shirt - that's a future post.

Moral of the story: 

When purchasing a $2 skirt, don't be afraid of the price tag or the syle - you can work with a whopping $2 and not even catch sight of the mall.  Amen!