Living on a college student’s budget is hard! It might be easier in some little Podunk college town, but here in the middle of the booming metropolis of Dallas, we have no choice but to succumb to the city lifestyle that surrounds us.

Due to many requests, this week’s column is about dressing like a million dollars, even if your checking account is in the red.

Some of these tips are meant for the higher end of the fashion world, but most can be applied to any type of clothing-related purchase.

It’s blatantly obvious that one should shop the sales before paying full retail price for anything, but something most people don’t realize is that you have a better chance ordering from the online stores.

For example, Neiman Marcus has its “Last Call” sale twice a year, but online they have a whole page dedicated 24/7 to sale merchandise.

And for those of us who are smaller or larger than most of the population, this is the one time we have the leg up.

Odd sizes usually don’t sell like the average sizes, so sometimes it is best to wait; chances are, if you are a guy and your waist is between a 27 and a 29, it’s probable that no one will buy that pair of jeans you were looking at (and you can just wait for the sale price).

For those who like to shop the vintage stores in hopes of finding some great piece of Dolce, there are a few things you should do before walking though the threshold of that second-hand store.

First, it is always best to familiarize yourself with the genuine product: Look at retailers and see what kinds of details and security features the genuine garments have. That way you don’t end up with a Louis Wuittion.

Second, don’t assume anything about size because most labels in vintage stores are incorrect, and with many of the imported clothes, the sizes don’t translate well to American sizes.

Finally, know how old the item is and what the original retail was; as a rule of thumb, take of at least 50 percent for season-old garments, and 20 percent for each season after.

Know the difference between the classics and short-lived trends. I would gladly pay full price for a great pair of classic, modestly cut slacks, but for those funky things, it is not worth the effort to buy the most expensive and newest fad.

In general, things that are classic come in basic colors like black, charcoal or white.

A great example of this can be seen with the Juicy warm-up suits. In the fall you can buy a black one for the same price as a forest green one, but come sale time, the green one will be half-off and the black one will be full price (classics retain their value better).

When buying trendy clothes and accessories, check out moderately priced boutiques and stores like Target. Last fall, Chip and Pepper came out with a t-shirt series of “vintage college shirts” which retailed for $68 each, while Target sold the same style of graphic t-shirts for about $12.

It’s obvious where to get those little things that you’ll wear for only one season. Also, there is a reason so many great designers (like Isaac Mizrahi and Proenza Schouler) are flocking to the “people’s stores;” it’s because the American public is finally ready to catch the fashion wave.

Although not widely available in this city, sample sales are a great way to get the newest trends for the absolute cheapest price.

Whether they’re in a new designer’s studio or through a local sales representative, samples are the best way to get new clothes for cheap.

Be forewarned: many samples are not sewn perfectly, might be sized incorrectly and almost always have some sort of mark (or cut) indicating that it is a sample.

My last tip is to check out the outlet malls, but use caution. While there are wonderful deals on last season’s clothes and accessories, many companies have separate lines that are sold only at their outlets.

The differences may be subtle, like fabrics, or they may be extreme, like a different country of origin than that of the label’s other products (i.e., more cheaply made).

Another thing to consider is that there is a reason a garment is at the outlet to begin with – it may be that it didn’t fit the way it should or that there was something wrong with the construction.

Lastly, know if you are getting a high-end piece from an outlet that most outlets mark the things sold there (NM Last Call puts a red dot on the label or slashes it in half), so don’t try to lie and tell your friends you got it for full retail price. Be proud of your great deals!

Last week, I brought up the prospect of traveling abroad to my mother, with the hopes that she would allow me to go. When she asked how I was going to afford it, I told her that I was going to “live on a shoestring.” She responded by saying “…a Prada shoestring,” and I said, “I know, right?”

The moral is, you can live on a budget in college while still dressing well. You just have to know the tricks of the trade.