There is no written-in-stone rule about how often you should update your wardrobe. Some people do it every season, which requires a bigger investment, while others only change their clothes once a year. In general, the time interval depends on each person’s needs.

There are, however, some good excuses to renew your closet. A new job may require you to dress more formally and ditch those old jeans. Some body changes (up or down) also require you to change your current pieces, and sometimes your wardrobe makes you die of boredom – either because it has too few colors or overly outdated trends. Last, there’s the need to replace worn-out, torn, or stained clothes.

Updating your wardrobe doesn’t have to be a sacrifice of time and money. On the contrary, the whole thing can be a lot of fun and even improve the way you relate to others and yourself. But it is important to do this purposefully and stick to a budget. Here are the three golden rules for upgrading your closet affordably.

Do a Wardrobe Inventory

Before you go from store to store, take a minute to figure out your real priorities. If your closet is full, but it still takes you a while to find what to wear, something is wrong. So start by opening all your closet doors and checking everything you find inside.

A quick wardrobe inventory is the best way to identify items that haven’t been worn in the last year or require replacement. Don’t you know where to start? Then follow these steps:

• Keep it simple and assess whether you really need that many units of each garment.
• Take everything out of the closet so you can see what you have.
• Divide the pieces into piles to categorize them (by colors, by styles, by types of clothing).
• Dispose of pieces that no longer serve you or that are damaged beyond repair.
• At the same time, identify gaps in your wardrobe (maybe you only have one pair of “usable” jeans, for example)
• Evaluate out-of-date trends and decide if everything is worth keeping.
• If the clothes no longer reflect your style, don’t think twice about getting rid of them.

Once you have the contents of your closet separated into “clothes to keep” and “clothes I no longer want,” give the letter a quick destination. Otherwise, they’ll go back into the closet for pure convenience. You can sell them, exchange them with friends and family, or donate the clothes to charity.

Get Creative With Accessories

Updating your wardrobe doesn’t mean spending a fortune on new clothes. Accessories cost less and can give outfits a fresh look: you can change your style simply by throwing a silk scarf, hat, or new trendy belt over the same old clothes.

If your outfit is too monochromatic or full of neutral colors, add some color or textures simply by using a shoulder bag. A bad hair day can be easily disguised with a nice hat or beret. And jewelry matching the colors of your clothes can add a special touch to your outfit – or draw attention to your face.

Even those items that you need to wear for personal reasons, such as a pair of Rx or prescription sunglasses, can be used as practical fashion accessories and statements. There’s no need to be boring: the variety of colors, materials, and styles out there, such as oversized frames or geometric glasses, allow you to renew your look from time to time completely.

Invest in Versatile Pieces

It’s fine to take advantage of store sales and promotions to pack your closet, but it’s far from a bargain when you think about the other costs; cheaper pieces are also made with lower quality materials and therefore last less and need to be replaced more quickly.

When updating your wardrobe, try to limit this type of “disposable clothing” and invest in high-quality pieces that can easily be dressed up or down. They will cost a little more, but it is an investment you’ll make less often as these clothes will last for years.

It’s also good to avoid trends when shopping for durable clothing; remember, they will stay with you for a long time, and the style can go out of style quickly. Prioritize pieces made from the most durable fabrics to stand multiple uses. For example, linen clothes will accompany you for years.

An Inexpensive and Functional Wardrobe

The start of a new year is always a great time to open your wardrobe doors and take a good look at what you’ve been storing inside. Identifying what you have and don’t have makes it easier to update your wardrobe.

It also helps you save money the next time you go shopping. Updating your clothes does not have to be stressful or expensive. The three steps above can help you maintain a colorful and functional wardrobe.