Key Ways to Spend Less Money on Clothes
On average, the modern household spends about 2% of their budget on clothing. Although clothes might not be the biggest thing we spend cash on, it’s still something that we can certainly trim back on if we’re looking for ways to save cash.
You might think that the easiest ways to reduce your spend on clothes is to stop buying new clothing altogether. Unfortunately, even the sturdiest of items in your closet can eventually become outdated or worn, and special occasions force us all to invest in our wardrobes. On top of that, gaining or losing weight, or trying to clothe your children when they’re constantly growing can present a range of challenges. Here are just some of the ways that you can reduce the amount you spend on clothing.
1. Buy Better Clothes
It might seem bizarre to suggest spending more on clothes to reduce your clothing budget. However, you’ll get more value for your money with decent clothes that fit you well and are made with good material, than if you were to buy the cheapest items you can find. Of course, you can completely ignore this advice for children, as it’s often better to go cheaper in their circumstances.
2. Buy Clothes at the Right Time
Buying your clothes at the right time can help you to save hundreds on your clothing expenses. For instance, for kids, January and August seem to be the best time to invest. On the other hand, for adults, Thursday is the best day to shop for clothes, and there may even be certain days of the week that are more beneficial for specific types of apparel.
3. Reduce the Amount you Wash your Clothes
Although this sounds like a terrible idea, the truth is that reducing the amount of times you wash your clothes will help them to last longer, and could also save you on the amount of money you spend in utility costs. Think about how often you wash your clothes, and how often they really need to be cleaned. For instance, sturdier clothing like sweaters and jeans can be re-worn a few times before they need to be washed. You don’t have to wash an outfit after you’ve worn it only once.
4. Know When to Buy Clothing
We’re all tempted by specific purchases from time to time. You might see a piece of clothing in a store and be tempted to splurge. However, before you go ahead and make your impulse buy, think about your purchase carefully. Decide whether the new piece you purchase would work as a part of at least three outfits with your existing wardrobe. Also, remember that most of the clothes you own should be essentials that you need on a daily basis, while only a few items should be specifically for when you’re dressing up or trying to make a good impression.
5. Be Creative with your Wardrobe
It’s easy to think that you have nothing to wear if you’re very fashion-focused. However, even with a minimalist wardrobe, it’s possible to shake your look up on almost a daily basis. For instance, a single scarf can be used in 25 different ways, and a tie can be used in more than 100 different ways. Load up a few videos on YouTube or look for inspiration online to help you make the most of the clothing that you already have access to, rather than automatically shopping for something new.
6. Make Clothes to Fit You
Finding clothes that look the best on your body shape and fit you perfectly is great for when it comes to updating your wardrobe. However, even if you find an item is too wide or too long, you can still make sure that you get the most of it. Instead of buying something new, take your chosen item to the tailor, and see about what you can do to make it work for your specific sense of style. Usually, tailoring is much cheaper than buying something new, and it will often make sure that you look better than you would with a standard default size.
7. Choose Clothes that Suit You
Finally, making sure that you only invest in clothes that fit you perfectly and look great will help to save you the most money because you won’t need to buy items to replace the crappy clothing that doesn’t work for you. This may sound like an obvious solution, but with so many different clothing options to choose from, it’s easy to end up accumulating a wardrobe full of items that you never actually wear. One of the best way to keep your clothing spending to a minimum, while ensuring you look great, is to ensure you have a closet full of clothes that match, and take your time trying on outfits before you buy.
