Frugal Clothing For The Smart frugal
Shopper
Finding frugal clothing to buy that won’t break the bank but will
still make you feel like a million dollars is not a pipe dream but a reality
with a little careful planning.
My partner and I are terrible clothes buyers, we always have been.
We wear clothes until they absolutely fall apart and both of us just
aren’t the sorts of people that really enjoy clothes shopping.
This means that we end up with only a few items of clothing left in
good enough condition to wear, meaning that we have to go on one big
frugal clothing shopping trip. However there are benefits of this type
of big shopping trip.
 The
Big Shop
We time our trips to the sales seasons – This is a really
great way to buy all the latest styles but at a fraction of the cost
they were only a few short weeks ago.
The January sales are really good to stock up on winter woollies for
the next cold season. That way you are not forced to go out and buy
warm clothing at their full price as soon as it starts to get chilly
the following autumn.
It helps to coordinate your wardrobe – I used to find when
I didn’t go frugal clothing shopping in my teens that I would buy
a piece of clothing here and there and something else the week after,
and end up with a wardrobe where nothing went together.
This forced me to go out and try and find something else that would
match and make an outfit. (When I remember some of the terrible combinations
I used to wear it makes me shudder).
Budget – It also allows me to have a budget for my frugal
clothing shopping sprees and prevents me from over spending. It is a
good idea to set your self a yearly amount that you consider will come
within your budget for your clothes buying.
It can be all too easy to buy clothes willy nilly but when you have
a budget figure to keep to, it stops you and makes you think twice,
do I really need this item?
What’s in your wardrobe?
Before you embark on your frugal clothing plan, it is essential to
know just what you do have lurking in those wardrobes. Hands up how
many of you have items of clothing in your wardrobe that you haven’t
worn in years.
Yes I thought so, I was just the same. For some reason I was hanging
onto a Boy George tee shirt that I used to wear in my teens. I can’t
really imagine myself wearing it now that I am nearly forty (well only
if I want to embarrass my partner).
 If
we know what we already own we won’t be tempted to buy a similar
item and your clothes budget will stretch and stretch to last the whole
year.
Tips on sorting out wardrobe
- If you haven’t worn something for a long time ask yourself
why not. If the answer is that it doesn’t fit anymore, it’s
not something you feel comfortable wearing now, or simply don’t
like it anymore, then give it to a charity store or sell it on ebay.
- Keep classic items that still fit, like the little black dress,
even if they are old fashioned. It is always possible to accessorise
a classic item to make it appear to be the latest style.
- Thin your selections so that you have a wardrobe of clothing that
will actually get worn. Ask yourself do I really need twelve summer
dresses and eight jackets?
Where to get frugal clothing
Many more of us are now becoming more aware of reducing our waste and
recycling
items. This includes clothing and many more people are either selling
their old clothes or are giving them away to charity shops. This is
great news for our frugal budget
and we now have far more choice on style and quality than we may have
done a few years before. The best places to look for cheap clothing
are:
- Ebay – Great for all sorts of types of clothes, you can even
pick up a designer label here at a fraction of the cost.
- Charity Stores – It’s amazing what fantastic clothes you
can get at these stores. I’m always being asked where I bought
my clothes from, as they are so nice.
- Ex-catalogue shops - Catalogue clothes are so expensive, so it’s
great to be able to buy them at a fraction of their cost in their
returns shops.
- Discount Stores – Primark, Walmart and other similar stores
are great to get your high street fix but at a discounted price.
Things to remember when going frugal clothing shopping
- Always buy easy care clothes – you don’t want the constant
expenses of dry cleaning bills.
- Buy classic clothes – buy clothes that won’t go out of
fashion next season.
- Protect clothes – When you buy clothes made from material that
is delicate like silk, protect them before you wear them by sewing
underarm protectors to prevent sweat stains etc.
 Accessorise
– a few well-chosen accessories can change and adapt many different
outfits.
- Buy the best quality that you can afford – clothing made from
good quality fabrics will last for many years.
Share share alike
One of the things I grew up with was sharing and swapping my clothes
with my family and friends. This is something that can be continued
into adulthood under the guise of coffee mornings and other informal
gatherings.
Why not arrange with your neighbours and friends a swapping clothes
party, keep it fun and informal and everyone will not only go away with
some new item of clothing fro free but a nice time will have been had
by all.
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