Believe it or not, there was a time when I actually believed I needed all of those shoes. Jewelry and handbags were as much a necessity as food and water. I have learned that a lot of that is simply unnecessary, especially when I need to pay a bill and those things aren’t helping me in any way.
I have also learned that just because you’re broke, you don’t have to look like a homeless person. Here are some tips for looking good even when you’re broke.

Cheap Cosmetics and Skin Care Products

Most of the time I’ve found that cheap cosmetics are just as effective as department store brands. As long as it pencils your eyebrow or glosses your lips, cheap makeup can make you feel just as good as fancy makeup. If you’re blessed with natural beauty and don’t use cosmetics, you can even get by on cheap skin care products. Trust me, I’ve tried every wrinkle cream out there. As long as your skin is cleansed and moisturized there’s really very little difference.

Mix and Match Shoes and Clothes

The problem with cheap shoes and clothing is that they usually don’t last long and quality is an issue for most people. The solution is to mix and match, meaning mix cheap pieces with better quality staples, (ie, The Little Black Dress, a great pair of jeans, one or two pairs of quality boots). If you have to choose where to spend the most money, I’d go with shoes/boots. Cheap shoes sometimes cause problems like bad smelling feet and seldom last long enough to be worth it.

Great Hair for Nothing

I have written a few times about my decision to not get my hair cut and colored at the salon anymore. I’ve found that I can get almost the same result by coloring my hair myself and going for a cheap trim of split ends occasionally. Great hair can also be achieved by leaving in olive oil or sesame oil overnight, which of course costs almost nothing. Be careful not to use too much though, or you’ll look like a greasy mess—trust me on this one.

Home Manicures and Pedicures

Nothing will help you feel more put together than a manicure and pedicure but let’s face it, these luxuries aren’t in everyone’s budget right now. I stopped getting manis and pedis a long time ago and this is from someone that got them done weekly. Invest in a couple nail files, buffers, nail polish and clear top coat and you can take care of the fingers and toes yourself. I will post later on giving yourself a manicure, but this is all you really need. Don’t forget lotion which makes a huge difference in how your hands look.

Mix and Match Jewelry and Accessories

I use the mix and match idea with jewelry and accessories as well as clothing and shoes. It just means that it’s easy to get away with cheap jewelry (fake even) and no brand handbags when you mix it in with the real stuff. Silver and white gold are practically interchangeable and I’m all for investing in one—yes, I said one, great handbag. There’s no need for 12 handbags, you can only carry one at a time anyway. If you’re worried about fake jewelry turning quickly, cover it with clear nail polish and it’ll last longer. This is what I call “disposable” jewelry. You can buy some pretty nice dollar pieces at Walmart and no one is going to know the difference. If you’re looking for cheap handbags, stick with faux leathers and stay away from plastic.

With the current state of the economy, it may seem silly to worry about what we look like but it can make a difference in how we feel about and carry ourselves. If you can save some money and feel great, well then it’s worth it, isn’t it?