How To Save Money On Clothes
Tips For Saving Money On Clothes
Have a look at your wardrobe and see how many clothes you have. Now think about how much money you spent on them.
If clothes are a major expense for you, here are some tips which can help to save you some money.
Don’t Use Your Credit Card
If you love buying clothes avoid doing so with your credit card, as it is very easy to get yourself into debt this way.
Ideally you should use cash or a debit card that does not allow you to get overdrawn.
Only Buy What You Need
It is very tempting to buy things you don’t need when going clothes shopping, especially if you see something on offer. Only get what you need, and then leave.
Accessories
If you want to wear accessories such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, ties, shoes, belts and bags only buy what you need and avoid getting into the habit of collecting them.
Avoid Dry Cleaned Clothes
Try to avoid clothes which need to be dry-cleaned, as this can be very expensive if done regularly.
Ask For A Discount
If you see something you like always ask a salesperson if they can reduce the price.
More often than not they will give you some sort of discount, or may offer to give you a discount if you pay with cash.
As a general rule, when shopping for anything never pay the asking price if you can avoid it.
Borrow Clothes
If you need an item of clothing for a one time event such as a dinner party or a job interview, then rather than buying an expensive suit or dress ask a friend or family member if they have anything you could borrow.
This will help to save you from wasting your money on something you will only wear once or twice.
Buy In Bulk
For small cheap items of clothing such as socks, underwear and vests, look for bulk offers to save money rather than buying them individually.
Charity Shops / Second Hand Shops / Car Boot Sales / eBay
Charity shops can be a great way to get cheap clothes, but just don’t expect to find the latest designer label items there! The best things to look out for in charity shops are jackets, jumpers and jeans.
Another place to get cheap clothes is at your local car boot sale. Here you will be able to find all sorts of clothes, and most of them will be good quality.
If you don’t have a car boot sale in your area, then try eBay. A lot of people sell clothes on eBay and you can get them very cheaply.
If you want designer label clothes, eBay will probably have what you are looking for either new or second hand.
Shopping For Your Kids
Children grow up very quickly, which can make buying clothes for them expensive.
To minimise this cost look for people who are giving clothes away because their children have grown out of them.
Even if you don’t get them for free, you will save yourself a lot of money rather than having to buy them new.
Good places to look for second hand children’s clothes are relatives, friends, car boot sales and eBay.
Note : If you do buy new clothes for your children make sure you wash them several times before they are worn. Most new clothes release toxic odours which are harmful to young children (and adults).
Avoid Designer Label Clothes
There is no doubt about it, buying designer label clothes is a recipe for financial disaster. So if you can avoid it, try getting regular brands instead.
This doesn’t mean you have to go around looking like a tramp, as you can still get very nice clothes even if they aren’t designer label.
If you must get designer label clothes, try and get them second hand on eBay. Usually these people will be selling them to get themselves out of debt!
Check Store Rubbish
Did you know that some clothes shops throw away their clothes in (non rubbish) bins behind the store?
I discovered this little secret by accident one day, and managed to get several bags of brand new clothes (some of which were slightly damaged) completely for free!
Have A Set Of “House Clothes”
If you are not going out, then put on some old clothes which you don’t really care about. There is no point in wearing out your better clothes if no one is going to see them.
Be A Smart Shopper
The best time to buy new clothes is during seasonal sales, such as after Christmas or during the summer for winter clothing.
If any shops are closing down in your area, then get over there quick as you may be able to find some very good deals.
Treat Yourself Then Take It Back
This tip is a bit cheeky, but if you see something you really like and only want to wear it for one night, then buy it and wear it but don’t remove the label.
The next day you can take back what you bought and get a refund. If you do this, make sure you don’t damage the clothes in any way and check that the store has a refund policy.
Sell What You don’t Need
If you have lots of clothes in your wardrobe there is a good chance that you don’t wear some of them anymore. So instead of keeping them, try selling them to a friend or on eBay.
Look For Clearance Sections
Just like supermarkets have a reduced section, most clothing stores will also have a clearance section where you can find reduced clothes.
Sometimes these clothes may be damaged slightly, and if they are you may be able to ask the store to give you a further discount.
Shop Abroad
If you are going on holiday then why not do some clothes shopping while you are at it?
Depending on what country you go to, you should be able to pick up some quality new clothes for a fraction of the price they cost at home.
Your Money Saving Tips
If you have any good money saving tips, please share them in the comments section at the end of this page.
