Cheap yet fulfilling

I play this game sometimes where I get a set amount of money (say $20) I get to spend it on whatever I want. I've always found a lot of satisfaction in getting a lot of little things with a small amount of money. Every girl loves to bargain shop, after all.

If you have $20, $50 or $100 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to cash in for a hefty amount of items, here are a few suggestions:

Fun hair accessories:

- One of my favorite Ebay sellers, Planet Walrus, has a plethora of adorable hair clips that run for about $2-3 per set.

- Snatch up adorable clips and head bands from Forever 21 for about $2-4 per. I am really digging thisPolka Dot Headwrap ($2.80), perfect to complete a summer outfit with!



Stockings, knee-highs and ankle socks

If you don't think ankle socks can be fashionably worn, then you obviously haven't been reading Agathe's blog Style Bytes, which also happens to be my favorite fashion blog of all time. These little "leg accessories" instantly transform an outfit into something sexier, something flirtier, or something edgier.

- For the sexy and the edgy fashionistas, check out this collection from My Diva's Closet. Items run at about $5 each.

- Stockingirl is the premier online store for all things related to legwear. Their selection is enormous and their prices are very good. I adore these 60's inspired ankles socks for only $8.99.


Shoes


- Pearl River is really one-stop shopping for all sorts of Asian-inspired goods, from journals and paper to lanterns and soaps. I really adore their soft, simple Mary Janes in both brocade and cotton fabrics. Stock up on these for all seasons. Prices run from $5-15.

- Believe it or not, Payless now carries a wide selection of fashionable shoes! They carry flats, espadrilles, wedges and plenty of fashionable sandals.

Basics

Stock up on basics like comfortable, plain t-shirts from American Apparel for about $7.99 at Amazon. Gap also carries a variety of basic t's and camis that are quite affordable.

Jewelry


Ebay is a great resource for jewelry! Shop for trends that are big right now with keywords like:
-sailor
-anchor
-nautical
-horn
-bird
-owl
-vintage
-boho
-charm or charms
-leaf or leaves
-key or keyhole
or in the case that you want jewelry with large natural stones, searching "pawn" (as in pawn shops) brings up good items.


Searching for vintage costume jewelry is also a good way to score unique pieces. Also search for specific designers who carry great jewelry, but with a price that's probably more affordable on ebay like "Vivienne Westwood" and "Kenneth Jay Lane."
Forever21, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Target also carry fashionable jewelry for $50 and under, and in the case of Forever21, rarely is anything over $10.


Also, be sure to scout your area (check the phonebook! it's an oft-ignored valuable resource) for consignment shops, thrift stores and antique stores. It's also good to keep an ear to the ground on what kinds of garage sales and yard sales are happening in your city. A good way to find this out is by reading the alternative newspaper in your area, or in some cases the big metro paper will advertise garage sales in the Classified section. Almost all of my best, most-prized belongings come from second-hand shopping, so it's definitely worth the effort to find the places that sell good second-hand items!


Happy bargain shopping!