Saving Money on Clothing
June 8th, 2009 Budgeting
How much clothing do you really need? How many things have been lurking in your closet, still sporting their price tags?
Most of the time, shopping for clothing is about something else besides keeping reasonably warm and decent. It’s about the joy of owning something new, a way of keeping sorrow or frustration at bay, competition with others for the newest and best, or the thrill of the hunt for bargains. These are all fine reasons for shopping for clothing, unless you need to cut back on spending. If you are unemployed or underemployed or deeply in debt, it’s time to develop a new attitude about clothing.
When money is tight, clothing is about flexibility and possibility.
First: anything in your closet that you don’t wear is wasted money. If it is new or near new, sell it on an online auction site and add the money to your clothing fund. Clean your closets of anything that doesn’t fit or that was a mistake. Keeping it in the back of your closet with its price tag still on does not erase the mistake. Selling it reduces the mistake factor and gives you a little money when you most need it.
Now, what is left is what you have to work with. Think about the types of clothing you need: work/interview clothing, dress up clothing, sloppy stuff for chores, and every day clothing.
Work and interviewing clothing is your highest priority. If you don’t have a job, you need at least one nice outfit for that purpose. When you get a job, you can add to that ensemble. See if you can supplement this part of your wardrobe with pieces that will go with what you already own instead of buying whole new outfits. Remember that until about fifty years ago, many women made it through life with an every day dress and a Sunday dress as their entire wardrobe, so it is possible to get by with much less than most of us have.
Don’t buy clothing unless you actually try it on. And if you are on a tight budget, remember this is strictly a utilitarian trip. Make a list of what you need and do not depart from that list. It’s better to buy something that is not on sale but definitely something you will use than something that is a great steal but will join the other problem children in the back of the closet.
When money loosens up, take yourself on a fun clothes shopping trip. But until then, make the best use of what you have and dovetail new things with old ones.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Good advice, thanks. I was prepared to spend up to £30 on a sweater when winter was kicking in here in the UK. However, I remembered a good charity shop and found a great sweater for £3 - it was fully washed and seemed as though no one had ever worn it. Fantastic! Thanks for your informative post!
July 14th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
If you have a lot of clothes, get them all out on the bed and find new ways of combining them. What colours go together and can be layered? Ever tried wearing a t-shirt over a dress? It’s as if you have a new skirt you never knew about. Combining your clothes in different ways can feel like getting a whole new wardrobe - without spending any money!