8 Ways To Save Money On Clothes
Saving money is always a hot topic; no matter what generation you represent. Especially in the starting of a new year, budgets are looked at, wallets seem a little more empty after the holidays, and credit card bills seem to have more and more numbers in them.
In an earlier post I mentioned that the easiest and most simple way to save money on clothes, is to not even start looking. I suppose you could use that philosophy with any material thing in life. Once you start looking, the ideas start to pop into your head and the wheels start spinning, dreaming of what a new outfit would look like.
Even though not starting to look is the easiest solution to saving money on clothes, the matter of the fact is, clothes still need to be bought at some point. When that times comes, here are a few ideas on how to save some cash and not feel like your wallet is empty every time you step in to the store.
- Buy the basics. Don’t try to keep up with the trends, but keep your clothes basic so you can mix and match, no matter what season it is.
- Spend more on basics. This may seem like the wrong approach when trying to save money, but if you are going to be wearing it multiple times a week, there is value in buying it once, instead of 3 times in a year.
- Buy clothes out of season. After a season is complete, look for the seasonal clothes to go on sale. When summer is almost over, that’s the time to stock up for next year.
- Determine cost per wear. How many times are you going to wear it and is it worth the cost?
- Buy second hand. This may come across as the “cheap” option, but it is amazing what you can find at second hand stores. Or do a clothes swap with a friend – it’s like getting a whole new wardrobe!
- No trends. They only remind you of what you don’t have (even though companies tell you what you need to have). Trends can last only a season, so don’t waste your time or money.
- Shop around. If you have the time, do some comparison shopping. Comparing websites and deals may save you those few extra dollars or even free shipping.
- Sign up for store emails and apps. Be leery of signing up for stores you never shop at, but sometimes stores have “flash” sales that offer that extra percentage off (think retailmenot app)
Finally, let me reiterate again,
…the best way to save money on clothes is just to not even start looking. And if you do, just walk away.
I will never forget the day my husband came home and told me that he had his cart full of ice fishing gear, including a pop up tent (thanks to some Christmas money), but as he was pushing the cart to the checkout lane, he realized he would never use it enough to make it worth it. So he went back through the store and put EVERYTHING back. Not only was that some serious self-control, but it was a question of ‘how much am I actually going to use it?”
Two things to keep in mind:
Do you really NEED it?
What are you going to wear it with and where?
Keeping your wardrobe to the basics (that’s why I created a capsule wardrobe), trend-free, and determining how worth it the item is to your budget and wardrobe.
