Swinburne Student Survival Guide

How can you stay stylish on a budget?

I’m sure everyone is either obsessed with or interested in fashion, even young kids do as well. However, being fashionable could be quite costly sometimes, and with the media, it makes people want more and more because of the trend and fast fashion. So, as students, how can we look good for ourselves while still being stylish and not breaking our banks?

- Thrift shopping

For those who have no idea what thrift shopping is, it’s basically shopping for secondhand goods at stores. In some countries, you could even go thrift shopping online if you don’t have the time to go in person. In my book, it is quite easy to find thrift stores around Melbourne. Sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, you can even find pretty good deals without any catch.

Here’s a list of a few popular thrift stores in Melbourne:

1.Vinnies

2. Salvos

3. Mecwacare

4. Sacred

5. Hunter Gatherer

6. Savers

Thrift stores within walking distance from Swinburne University:

  1. Vinnies - 254 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.
  2. Salvos Stores Hawthorn - 183 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.
  3. Red Cross Shop Hawthorn - 764 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.
  4. mecwacare Hawthorn Opportunity Shop - 111 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.
  5. Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop Hawthorn - Riversdale Rd &, Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.

- Go for versatility

Versatility is important when you're trying to be fashionable while also saving money, because buying something that can be worn in a variety of ways is very impressive and can be kept in your closet for a long time. A good tip from me is to buy clothes in neutral colours. You can save money by going for versatility, and you can even save the environment by not supporting fast fashion.

- Quality over quantity

Choosing quality over quantity will not only save your wallet, but you will be able to wear the clothes for a long time without having to worry about the shape of the clothes changing. You could even sell your clothes at a good price on secondhand markets to make some money.

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Listen to studying abroad on a podcast called Life in General with Vanessa Chim, an international student from Swinburne.

LIFE IN GENERAL WITH VANESSA CHIM - STUDYING ABROAD