Cloaths are expressive, entertaining, and costly. If your wardrobe is overflowing but your pocketbook is bare, here are 25 methods to save money on new items while still making the most of what you currently have.
1. Purchase generic fundamentals
If you’re looking for layering pieces that you’ll primarily wear beneath other things, such as tank tops or simple tees, skip the brand name. Nobody will notice it, and it won’t last long — after all, part of an undershirt’s purpose is to keep perspiration off your fine button-down, right? Stick to brands like Hanes and Fruit of the Loom, and reserve the labels for things you’re proud of.
2. Out-of-season purchases
We understand how exciting it is to acquire items ahead of the season. Even though it’s freezing outside, that lightweight sundress makes you feel like spring is just around the corner. However, if you buy in expectation of what comes next, you are paying the full retail price. You’ll get a far better deal if you shop for what’s not occurring. Sure, buying a sweater when it’s approaching triple digits outside may seem strange, but it’ll save you some money.
3. Purchase a high-quality swimwear
When you’re getting ready for a vacation, it’s tempting to stock up on colorful, low-cost swimwear. But here’s the thing: all of that inexpensive things will end up costing you more in the long run. You’re not only going to buy more of it, but it’ll also be drooping, straining, or sheer before you know it. Rather, invest in a single high-quality, well-made swimsuit and make it endure.
After wearing it, rinse it with cold tap water to remove moisturizer, sunscreen, and other oils that might harm and fade the fabric. Then, let it air dry. With proper upkeep — and a decent suit — you should be able to get three years out of it. You can’t think of a bikini you’d like to wear for three years? It’s difficult to go wrong with a simple black bikini or maillot from a well-known brand like Land’s End.
4. Avoid the factory outlets
“However, I can save half off retail cost!” you exclaim. Can you, then? Outlet stores are often a combination of products from the previous season that did not sell (generally for a reason, such as an unattractive color, a bad fit, or a short-lived fad) and items produced specifically for the outlet. With the latter, the price that is 50% off the suggested retail price is mostly fictitious – the outlet is the only place it has ever been sold, and the “discount” price is the true price. Items manufactured specifically for outlets are typical of lower quality, so you’re only paying for the name.
5. Take it easy on the trends
Style all have their minutes, regardless of whether it’s ikat-print everything or oxford-style trim ups. When that second’s finished, however, it’s either sitting in your storage room, set out toward good cause, or saying noisily to surrounding you, “Hello, I purchased this in 2021!” Although stores such as F&D and Always 22 attempt to encourage you to buy extremely in-vogue goods since they are so modest, consider this: if you’re continuously buying the most recent designs and wearing them for short periods, you’re going to accumulate a lot of debt., would they claim they’re truly so modest? Rather than succumbing to quick form, just purchase popular things that you like and that fit with your style. Who knows, others’ style second may become one of your closet staples.
6. Accessories can help you expand your options
Make your basic wardrobe feel more interesting by adding affordable accessories like necklaces, bracelets, belts, and scarves that you can mix and match with your existing clothes. A little accessorizing may make your essentials feel exciting and distinctive, especially if your work outfit needs to stay in the business casual doldrums. This isn’t only for the ladies: men may experiment with different patterned or colored socks and ties. In any case, you can build a new outfit for a lot less money.
7. Don’t be frightened of a little do-it-yourself
No, we’re not suggesting you have to sew your clothes – that’s more difficult than it sounds, and it already seems difficult. Instead, master the fundamentals of sewing. Hand-sewing a button is very simple, and you can repair a popped button rather than buying a new garment. Tired of wearing a cardigan? Replace the buttons to give it fresh life. Learn to make a basic hem if you possess or have access to a sewing machine. You can save money by hemming your pants and jeans, and what about those nicely fitted trousers you damaged by walking through a puddle? You may hem them to make a great pair of shorts.
8. To get a better bargain, use coupon apps
There is an application for everything, and subsequently, there are plenty of incredible coupon applications that may help you in setting aside cash. Holy cannoli is free, area-based programming for Android and iOS that permits you to search for limits at close by organizations (the two chains and neighborhood shippers). Coupon Sherpa is another excellent software that allows you to search for coupons for stores, restaurants, and other businesses. You may use it to remember your favorite businesses and notify you when they have special deals.
9. Make a friend of a salesperson
Do you have a favorite shopping location? It is worthwhile to become acquainted with one of the salesmen. Not only will you get better service (which is always a plus), but you’ll also get first dibs on forthcoming specials and bargains. If you like something but the price is too high, you may ask your in-store BFF to hold it for you for a few days and then buy it on sale.
10. Beware of the dry-clean-only tag
Do you know how automobile commercials talk about the cost of ownership rather than just the cost of purchase? The same is true for clothing. If you buy things that need to be dry-cleaned, you’ll continue paying for them long after you’ve left the store. Depending on how frequently they need cleaning, you might be adding $10 to the cost of the garment after a few wears. It quickly adds up. Instead of dry-cleaning solely, search for garments that have a nice appearance and feel yet can be washed. Another alternative is to use home dry-cleaning kits. Do you have something that definitely must be cleaned? Spot cleaning as needed might help to extend the time between visits.
11. Only buy what you can pay for
If you can’t afford it, you must forego it. One method to put yourself on a significant spending diet is to only buy clothing with cash; giving over actual dollars makes the money you’re spending feel much more genuine than swiping plastic, even if the quantity is the same. If you’re going to use a credit card, be sure you can pay off the full sum when it’s due. You’re paying more for your clothing if you pay interest on them.
12. Store your clothes with care
Take good care of the clothing you have and it will last longer. That includes folding goods like sweaters and shirts, avoiding overstuffing your drawers, and removing those plastic dry-cleaning bags before hanging things up (oh, you have to hang filling up, too!). Invest in those fluffy “huggable” hangers for hanging stuff. It’s more expensive than buying plain plastic hangers, but they won’t distort the shoulders of your clothes.
13. Don’t do flash sales
Don’t do it. Flash sales cause irrational, adrenaline-fueled purchases — you don’t pause to consider if you need those purple python stilettos, you simply think it’s a wonderful price and there are only a few of them and oh my god I just have a few more minutes to lock this in! The sites entice you by claiming great discounts on designer products — and sure, there is a significant price decrease — but in the excitement of a flash sale, you are unlikely to make sensible selections. Plus, just like the designer items in outlet stores, there’s a reason this stuff ended up on a discount site.
14. Be willing to hunt
Stores often place the most expensive products at the center of the sales floor, while discount racks are rarely shown, especially in higher-end boutiques. Walk around the perimeter of the store, looking for bargains. Stores are meticulously designed to entice you to spend money, thus the most heavily discounted products may be the most difficult to locate.
15. Keep your zippers zipped
Before you do your laundry, ensure sure everything with a zipper (such as jeans and sweatshirts) is zipped up. That way, the zipper’s teeth aren’t tumbling about in your washer or dryer, tearing or tugging the other items in there.
16. Swap for special occasions
“All you need is a little black dress, and you’ll be able to wear it anywhere.” Isn’t it true that saying something is simpler than doing it? Especially when you have a lot of weddings to attend, one of which is in the middle of the day in a winery and another involves a beach weekend. If you have a big event coming up and a buddy of a similar size, look through her closet for something fresh to wear. When she has a formal occasion, you may return the favor – and you both receive a higher ROI on your formalwear.
17. Hit the thrift shops
If you’re looking for a fantastic deal, you won’t find it cheaper than at a thrift store – and if it supports a charity, you’re even doing good with your purchase. Thrifting, on the other hand, isn’t necessarily for the faint of heart: you’ll have to do a lot of digging. Some big secondhand stores, such as Goodwill, have begun to separate their designer and major-label items and place them on specific racks, making the search a bit less overwhelming. If an item isn’t in your size, you’re out of luck — but if it is, you won’t find a lower price.
18. Trawl eBay for investment pieces
If you’re a seasoned shopper, you may turn to eBay if there’s a specific designer piece you just must have – if it’s more than a year old, there’s a good chance you’ll locate it, and frequently at a reasonable price.
However, you can’t see or try anything on before purchasing it, and eBay is full of counterfeit and copycat goods that aren’t worth your money (if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is — and remember, you can’t generally return anything or get your money back on eBay).
Don’t be hesitant to ask sellers questions, look at the other products they’re selling (having a big quantity of the same item might be a red signal, but having various items from the same designer can be a positive indication), and read their reviews. Other eBayers will generally tell you if a seller is genuine or not.
19. Remember that cheap isn’t free
Sometimes you’re so pleased to obtain a discount that you feel compelled to purchase the item. You’re such a wise shopper, and think of all the people you’ll tell! But do you require it? Take a minute to consider whether you truly want the item – don’t be swayed by the price.
20. Keep track of major sales
Large department shops (such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s) and certain mall retailers (most notably Victoria’s Secret) hold massive yearly or semi-annual sales when they give their biggest discounts of the year. These often occur during lulls in the shopping calendar — neither before nor immediately after major holidays — so you must keep an eye out for them. Sign up for that store’s emails if you’re serious about not missing one; but, if the emails are causing you to spend too much time exploring their websites, click unsubscribe.
21. Shop for the life you’ve got right now
When you pick up an item of clothing, you should stop giving yourself a tale about how great it would be to wear it if you were at your summer home in Tuscany (well, unless you own a summer house in Tuscany). Shopping for the life you want will quickly become expensive, and you are unlikely to find goods that would work with your existing schedule. The same applies to all types of aspirational purchasing – don’t convince yourself how fantastic those trousers will look when you go on a diet. If you need jeans, get a pair that fits you right now. You can continue to fantasize about tomorrow, but don’t waste your money on it today.
22. Take their surveys
Most big retailers include a lot of information at the bottom of their receipts, and in addition to the return policy and their website, many of them encourage you to fill out a survey about your shopping experience. If you frequently shop there, go ahead and do it! It only takes a few minutes and converts your receipt into a little discount (typically 5-10% off) for your next shopping trip.
23. Repair the clothing you possess
Sure, it may seem easier to get rid of it or donate it to charity and just buy new things. However, if you truly adore an object and have spent a significant amount of money on it, make it last. That clothing that doesn’t quite fit right? Bring it to a tailor. The boots you’ve been wearing so much that the heels are almost gone? Take them to a cobbler. The repairs may not be free, but they will cost less than replacing the goods — and when you receive them back, they will feel like new.
24. Before you buy, count to three
Before you hand over your credit card to buy something – a new pocketbook, a new outfit, whatever — write a short note of three reasons why you should buy it. (It can’t be because I want it, want it and want it some more.) Think of at least three additional pieces in your closet that you can wear with the new piece, or three future occasions when you can wear it. If you’re running low on funds, you probably don’t need it.
25. Apply the one-in, one-out rule
Do you want to cut back on your spending? Follow this basic rule: You must donate one new piece of clothes (or pair of shoes, or accessories) for every new piece you purchase. Yes, to obtain something new, you must first give up something. It’s demanding, but it may mean the difference between perfectly acceptable clothing and a healthy financial balance, or an overflowing closet and a maxed-out credit card. Which one are you going to pick?
