1. Take Stock of What You’ve Got

You may not actually need as much as you thought to dress for the office. Go through your closet and see what staples you have that’ll work for the office. Look for clothing items such as dress slacks, skirts, cardigans and other tops that would pass for professional wear. Take this opportunity to write down what you do and don’t have so you’ll know what to look for when you shop. You don’t want to end up with duplicates.

2. Shop for Neutral Colors

It’s fine to have some color in your wardrobe. A pop of color is great to have in many of your outfits. But neutral pieces will give you more than your money’s worth. You can mix and match them, too. Most neutral pieces are very interchangeable.

3. Add Color with Accessories

This is one of the best ways to add color. Accessories can usually be purchased cheaply. You can add color with a pretty scarf, purse or jewelry. Accessories can give an outfit an entirely different look. A piece of advice I was once given was to shop for accessories when you can’t afford to shop for clothing. I think there’s a lot of wisdom in that.

4. Sign up for Emails from Your Favorite Stores

If you sign up for emails from your favorite stores, then you’re going to have an edge on savings. You’ll know when the best sales are as well as getting promo codes to use. Most of us have a few favorite stores we shop at. Signing up for their emails is another way you can shop smart. They can help you to get more for your money.

5. Shop End of Season Sales

This is one of the best little secrets there is when it comes to saving money on clothing, for the office or otherwise. Shopping end of season sales will get you rock bottom prices. Stores want to clear out the past season’s clothing to make room for the new season’s lines. While some trendy pieces may not work for the next season, many pieces will. Look for timeless choices in clothing that’ll work for many years to come.

6. Shop Used

Don’t count out used clothing in your quest for office clothing on a budget. It’s not unusual to find high quality brands at yard sales, consignment shops or thrift stores. Of course you only want to purchase items that are in good shape and at the right price. If you could buy it new for the same price then you should pass. But you should typically be able to get at least twice as many items by buying used.

7. Take Care of Your Clothing

The last tip may be the most important one. Taking care of your clothing will greatly extend the life of it. Launder clothes according to the instructions. Change out of your work clothes before you start on any household chores when you get home. You’d be surprised what a difference this makes.

These are 7 ways to help you dress for the office on a budget. What would you add to this list? Share your tips and ideas!