5 Cheap Thrills I Used to Be Obsessed With (and 5 I Just Replaced Them With)

Thinking back to the beginning of 2020, my shopping habits were considerably different. I used to spend money on the most random things that honestly barely made sense back then so they sure as hell don't make much sense now. Today, in specific, I'm talking about those random cheap items you buy without thinking twice just because you like having something new in your closet or because you felt like you "needed" a new top to wear that random event. However, just because we are all experiencing a major lifestyle shift this year doesn't mean our retail therapy cravings have diminished—at least mine haven't. 

With that being said, I have come to the realization that the cheap thrills I used to stock up on when I needed a quick shopping fix have drastically shifted. Ahead, I am walking you through the 5 affordable items I used to be obsessed with and the 5 I officially replaced them with this year. Featuring nothing over $50, the wallet-friendly shopping guide ahead is perfect for when you need that little pick-me-up be it sometime before the end of 2020 or beyond. 

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(Image credit: @sofiamcoelho)

Used to Buy: Trendy Tops

Replaced Them With: Sweatshirts

It used to be a regular occurrence that I would pop into an affordable store to pick up a couple of cute and trendy tops just because it felt good to have something new and exciting hanging in my closet. Now, however, I have found that I rarely put on "cute" clothes so instead of throwing my money at things like trendy tops, I have decided that simple crewneck sweatshirts make more sense. I enjoy wearing them with jeans and printed pants, but more importantly, they go with a majority of the sweatpants I wear on a regular basis. 

Used to Buy: Statement Bags

Replaced Them With: Tonal Shoulder Bags

Prior to this year, I was a sucker for funky loud bags, but considering I am not going nearly as many places this year, I have found that instead of those statement bags I used to literally hoard, I have been getting much more use out of neutral-toned shoulder bags. They go with most of my loungewear allowing me to very rarely stress about which bag to grab when I'm heading out the door to run an errand. 

Used to Buy: Rings

Replaced Them With: Necklaces

Prior to this new working from home lifestyle, I used to wear rings on nearly every single finger. It was sort of my thing. Sadly now, I rarely wear any rings. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I have found myself getting more excited by trendy necklaces rather than a handful of rings. 

Used to Buy: Funky Heels

Replaced Them With: Versatile House Shoes

Any affordable shoe that was a bright color and slightly polarizing I used to never be able to resist, but now that I don't wear heels and honestly rarely ever wear shoes, I had to stop that frivolous buying habit. Instead, I have dove full-force into the house shoe lifestyle. Including shearling slides, Birkenstocks, and even rubbery clogs, I have fully leaned into these cozy shoes that I can wear both in and out of the house. 

Used to Buy: Dresses

Replaced Them With: Lounge Sets

Last but not least, let's talk about lounge sets. My life used to be filled with random but cute printed dresses that I would style the crap out of, but my dressy life feels pretty over at this point. Now when I want to feel pulled-together but still comfortable, I reach for a loungewear set. Matching sets are really where it's at and luckily, you don't have to spend a lot to get what you want.

Editorial Director

Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director ofBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New YorkBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and managesBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.