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Whenever you’re evaluating your wardrobe and trying to step up your appearance in the clothes department, it’s easy to get carried away with how much you could spend on different items that you think you need. While it’s true that some expensive brands are cut better and last longer, that doesn’t mean that everything you buy has to come with a high price tag. Here are some guidelines on when it may be a good idea to splurge on quality goods:

Things you’ll wear every day. If you can wear jeans to work and need a pair that looks professional and classic, look at all different types of brands. Some cheaper ones may fit you great and make total sense. However, if a more expensive designer fits you great, it may be ok to pay a premium because “per wear,” you’ll actually end up paying less than you would for a cheaper pair that may fall apart after one or two wears!

Comfortable shoes. I think most women know by now that if you buy a cheap pair of shoes that you can’t stand in, you’ll be walking barefoot at the end of the night wondering why you even bothered to buy a new pair of heels. Especially when you are looking for a classic pair of black pumps, make sure you find a good pair that fits comfortably and know that your feet will thank you later.

Classic Accessories. A beautiful watch or set of pearl earrings will never go out of style and may go a long way towards dressing up your look. If you believe that you’ll get use out of an item for years to come, it’s a better investment to buy one nice version of it than to have to replace it with cheap substitutes every few years.

LincolnParkAnnie is a freelance writer focused on how to live large on a little living. She writes financial savings tips for the short term loans company, QuickQuid, and enjoys finding new ways to have fun on the cheap in her native Chicago.