While I may be an expert on personal styling, there's one thing that no matter how hard I try, I just can't refrain from - and that's spending money. Let me loose in a shop; furniture, clothing, cake, books, you name it and I am a dangerous financial blizzard that's bound to come out so broke that I'll be forced into going on a tap water and buttered bread cleanse for the next two weeks.

So knowing how to have style and play around with fashion on a budget is important to me for obvious reasons.

Before my full time styling days, I worked on a much lower rate, got paid fortnightly and had other priorities to pay for like bills and all those other things that come along with being an adult. And I know that keeping up appearances seems like a difficult journey when you've got a lack of money to spend on clothing - but as always, I'm here to blow the b.s. right out of the water and claim that your ability to look fabulous and the amount of money you earn doesn't necessarily correlate and you can make a few tweaks to your wardrobe today without spending much dosh at all.

Fashion On A Budget 101:

Tweak The Basics: A sewing kit, or a mum who sews, is an absolute treasure to your wardrobe and sense of style. Hem those pants, taper them in and turn those wide leg jeans into a slim straight pair of pants that ooze 'tailored' and 'sophisticated' and let you say 'oh, these old things'.

By getting into doing most of your basic alterations your self, you can easily update something that's ho-hum into something that feels brand new - but without the price tag. Don't forget about the other areas of clothing like updating buttons or altering sleeve length, even adding a set of darts into the back of a cotton shirt can do wonders for your wardrobe.

Lift Your Look With Accessories: I love accessories because you can pick them up quite cheap, borrow them off your friends or revisit some pieces you already own. We often forget about accessories when it comes to upgrading our look but they're the most inexpensive way to change things up and, if you get sick of them in a year or two's time, it's not a huge outlay on your budget.

Don't forget to utilise your best shoes, wrap a belt around that draped cardi and add things like scarves and brooches to your outfits, you'd be surprised what a few good accessories will do to your outfits.

Rework What You Haven't Worn In A While: You know those items sitting at the back of your wardrobe gathering dust? Get them out and either sell them, donate them or try to make some new outfits with them. If it means some of the items need altering, make the effort, it will pay off and you'll find you'll have a new appreciation for them when you wear them!

Host A Clothes Swap Party: Dressing well and investing in fashion on a budget has never been easier now with the help of Facebook, host a clothes swap party and invite your friends over to trade clothes you no longer wear! Your next great outfit could be a hand-me-down from your best friend and you get to pass on those pieces you're not wearing any more to a new home where they'll be worn and loved!

If you loved this post and can totally relate, or know someone who is dying for some 'me time' but is also low on funds, share this post with them!