Happy May! May gives me all the warm fuzzies because BB was due in May (although she decided to stick around a couple extra weeks). May will forever and always be a month filled with anticipation. Flowers are in bloom, the weather is perfect, and Chicago starts to come to life again.

In May, my bank account usually takes a turn for the worse. Patio season is in full swing, so we eat out WAY too much. And Spring fashion is just too hard to resist. This May, I decided to set a crazy low $200 shopping budget (crazy low for me) and challenge myself to stick to it. If you were hoping to find a fitness challenge, sorry. Maybe next month, but probably not.

So, for the month of May, I am going to round up the best sales from around the web every week and bring them to BFK. I am also going to share my picks and how I pull old pieces to complete some fun outfits. This top I wore in Arizona is a SUPER old Leith crop top that was intended to be worn more formal with a matching midi pant. With cut-offs and bare feet, it is a fun, casual outfit. And it’s leopard, even better.

To start the month off right, here are my tips for sticking to a budget:

You can go broke saving money – It’s 50% off. It’s only $20. It’s buy one, get one free. $2oo is $200 no matter how you spend it. If I spend $200 on cheap clothes I am going to wear once and then discard forever, that is not money well spent. Which leads me to tip number 2.

When on a budget, quality over quantity – $200 can last you much longer if you buy something that will survive your end of season purge season after season. If I rounded up all the $20 cheap nothings I have bought in the past, they would add up to a pretty hefty purchase. Not to mention how long it will actually last. That $10 top from Forever21 might look great the first time you wear it, but will it shrink to child size after one wash?

Don’t tempt yourself – One of my favorite places to hunt for a good budget find is ASOS. But, there are also a lot of pricier items on ASOS. Trick, I filter the $ dial on the left side of the screen to $70 and under. I don’t even want to see the options that are outside budget, because then they mysteriously end up in my shopping cart.

Say no to cheap shoes – You will not wear them and if you do, they will give you blisters. There is the rare, high-quality budget shoe, but I am talking white rhino rare.

Avoid impulse purchases – Again, guilty. I have been trying to plan what I need before I start shopping. If I have an intention, I am less likely to be distracted by said cheap pair of shoes.

To trend or not to trend – Trendy items are risky. If you are on a budget, think twice. Trendy pieces will not be around season after season. This season, I broke my rule and got a very trendy expensive pair of shoes, the Gucci mules. I have worn them to death and they are absolutely worth the price. If I figure price per wear, these are winners and getting much deserved miles. A classic pump might last season after season, but I will wear them less frequently.

Plan ahead – You might be feeling the crop tops, sandals and sunnies now, but come winter, you will be really happy you bought that faux fur 50% off. If you know you need something for next winter, now is the time to get it.

You need a shopping budget – In sum, simply having a shopping budget forces you to think about all of the above. It helps you plan for that wedding you need to buy a dress for, or save for the splurge you are dying to slip into. It eliminates impulse buys and helps you realize the money you have wasted on cheap nothings. So set a budget and give it a try this May! I am going to…

My favorite finds under $75 are linked below! Wish me luck. Blake is very excited about this project ;).