Seven smart ways to save money on clothes

A smart money woman knows how to set her boundaries when it comes to shopping. She doesn’t spend beyond what she can afford and she knows how to use her money wisely. With the tough economy of today, it’s for your own interest to be money conscious. Saving those coins will one day make you realize that that was one of the best financial decisions you’ve ever made.

Even when you have the money to spend, you shouldn’t allow yourself to be duped by desperate sellers. You’ll end up accumulating hundreds of items you don’t need in your wardrobe.

With these steps, you can turn yourself into a smart shopper and stylist on a budget. 

i. Look for sales

Sales will always be there all year round. When one store is done with its sale season, another store starts with its own discount prices. The internet has made it easier to keep up with many stores at once so you get to see updates quickly. So, if you’ve already spent money on things you don’t need, you will miss out on what you actually want when your favorite store announces a sale. Plan a head of time so that you can bulk shop during such times.

ii. Say no to impulse buying 

I’ve caught myself buying the exact same shade of polish on many occasions. There’s something about turquoise that triggers me and I actually realized I’m good at impulse buying. When it comes to clothes, the situation is the same. Women struggle with this and it often leads to poor financial decisions. Think twice before buying something to avoid regrets later on. If you’re next in line at the counter and you’re still 50/50 about purchasing something, return it because you probably don’t need it.

iii. Look for quality items

Make sure that the quality of the items you’re buying matches the price. This doesn’t mean that you should be inconsiderate about the market prices though. It’s just a chance to avoid being duped into buying something that is substandard. Look at the stitching, the color quality and other key areas before buying something because in the long run, mediocre items will cost you more accumulatively.

iv. Go off brand

Don’t get caught up in buying fancy things all the time. Most of the time you’ll even find that those off brand companies are offering you the same or even a higher quality product than those overrated ones. Spoil yourself with trendy brands from time to time but look into shopping from some humble brands to see what they have to offer.

v. Handle your items with care

The way you wash or store your items makes a huge difference. Being careful will increase their life span significantly and you won’t have to spend money replacing items often. If a jacket says dry clean only, do just that. If it’s not meant to be ironed on high heat, don’t. Make a habit of looking at the labels to see what handling instructions are indicated there.

vi. Wait until something is off season

When something is hot on the market the prices are high. Stores are usually aware of what people want at a particular time and they charge according to those standards. For example if the cold season starts, many people will want to look for sweaters and trench coats. Sellers will bank on that season and get their cut easily. But, a smart shopper will buy them when it’s still hot and sunny outside even before the cold season starts. Since no one is looking for them, you could buy them at a much cheaper price.

vii. Go thrift shopping 

Thrifting is the high quality, low pricing jackpot of all time. You can even find designer items at incredibly low prices at thrift stores. You should schedule one afternoon to spend the day thrifting.