Do you know how much the average American spends on clothes per year? About $1700. If you’re trying to reign in your spending, there are plenty of ways to save money on clothes shopping. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
- Thrift Stores
Buying from thrift stores is an excellent way to save money. You can often find name brand clothing for a fraction of what it costs to buy new. Scope out the thrift stores in your town and you may be surprised at the bargains you can find. Many stores have weekly sales on a certain day of the week, like an extra 50% off on Thursdays, as an example. Call ahead and see when the sale days are. It’s also fun to take a day trip to a larger city nearby and check out the thrift stores there. They usually have more stores to choose from – with a lot more inventory.
- Buy off season
Most retailers put their out of season inventory on clearance to make room for their new arrivals. If you learn to shop for winter during the summer, and vice versa, you’ll find there are tons of savings to be had. This applies to both brick and mortar retailers, as well as online. I like to check out the online clearance first, as they usually have the biggest selection at the same prices as their stores. Sizes can be limited, so I try to shop for last season’s clothing as soon as I see the new seasonal clothing popping up in stores and being advertised online.
- Buy high-end clothing
I know this sounds contradictory in a list about ways to save money, but stay with me. Spending a little more on high quality clothes is a smart move in most cases. Buying clothes that last means wearing them for many years and not needing to replace them as often. This doesn’t need to be the case for everything you buy, just a few key pieces. A good pair of jeans, a well-made, comfortable pair of shoes, a blazer or jacket. More expensive brands tend to fit a little better and last a lot longer, making them a smart investment. Choose classic styles that always seem to be “in”, not trendy clothes that may only be popular for a season. Basic pieces like tanks, t-shirts, and workout clothes definitely don’t need to be name brand, and can all be bought at cheaper stores. Save your money on these, and splurge on the things you don’t want to replace often.
- Coupons
Who doesn’t love a good discount?! Coupons are fantastic and you can find oodles of them online. If I’m out shopping, I always check my phone before I get to the checkout, to see what store coupons I can find. If I’m shopping online, I make sure to google coupon codes before I push that ‘buy’ button. If you have a clothing brand/store you love, definitely see what codes are available before you shop. This is a great way to save, especially if you’re buying clothes or shoes that cost a bit more (as we talked about above). Shopping for flats? Check out Rothy’s discount codes. Buying a new hat? Check out coupons for Hats.com. A simple Google search during your online shopping endeavors can help you find plenty of discount options.
- Take care of your current clothes
There are things you can do for your clothes that increase their longevity. Not everything needs to be washed every time you wear it. You can wear jeans a few times before they need washing (assuming, of course, you haven’t spilled something on them). The same goes for blazers and jackets. As for the items you need to wash every time you wear them, choose the gentle cycle with cold water when you machine wash them. If you hang dry, clothes tend to not wear out as quickly. For clothes that may shrink or are made of delicate material, hand wash and line dry/lay flat. Taking care of the clothes you have means not having to buy new as often.
So keep some of that clothing budget in your wallet by shopping sales, frequenting your local thrift stores, and finding those coupons and discount codes. You’ll be surprised by how much you can save.
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