No matter how you slice it, clothes are an important part of our life. Not only is it a necessity, without which you simply won’t be able to go down the street, it is also a way to express your style and temperament. The problem is, building a proper wardrobe that would fit your style and personality can be rather expensive! According to the results of the research conducted by folks at Statisticbrain.com, people spend around 120 bucks a month on clothes. Whether your spending is less or more than that, we’d like to offer you a few practical tips that will help you spend less on clothes, while also getting the most out of each piece that lands in your closet.
Buy basics
If you’re not sure which pieces and styles will work for you, the best way to get started is by getting a consultation from a professional online stylist who can not only help to choose the clothing items that will be right for you but also provide tips on how to mix and match them with other stuff that you have in your closet to create fresh new looks. Furthermore, they can aid in organizing your wardrobe by sorting out similar things and making sure there’s nothing sitting there and collecting dust. Another surefire way to start building a wardrobe is by sticking to essentials. This is especially true of someone who loves wearing layering items that cannot be seen under other clothes. If you’re looking to buy something like a tee or tank top, there’s really no reason to pay through the nose for brand names that no one is going to see. Opt for practical plain things made in solid colors.
Buy Things Out of Season
Buying things in anticipation of the upcoming season is exciting, there’s no doubt about it. However, be ready that you’ll be paying the maximum price, which, at other times, could be twice less. So, if you really want to reduce your spending and pay a better price for brand clothing items, don’t bother buying clothes pre-season. Of course, purchasing a hoodie on the hottest days of summer might feel odd at first, but you’ll soon see that this approach will let you save a lot of cash!
Avoid the Urge of Impulse Wants
Buying clothes on the urge of impulse wants is a practice familiar for many people, but it rarely feels good, especially considering that most often than not, these clothes end up sitting in a closet unused. Things can get even worse if you paid for these clothes more than you could actually pay for them at the moment of purchase, the main reason that evokes a feeling of remorse. Sounds familiar? Then this solution might be right for you. To avoid the urge of impulse spending, give yourself some time to wait before buying stuff. This means next time you decide to buy something, rather than sending this item straight to a shopping cart, force yourself to wait a certain amount of time. Depending on a purchase, this time can stretch from a week up to six months or even a year. Set your own term. You’ll be surprised at how many purchases you will be able to simply cross off the list at the end of this “waiting period”.
Put Accessories to Good Use
If you have a basic wardrobe without many expensive things, you can make it feel much more exciting by sprucing it up with accessories. Anything you keep on your shelf – necklaces, belts, bracelets, scarves and glasses can be mixed with your outfits and breathe a new life into what you already own. Even something plain and strict like business casual items can feel totally different if you accessorize your look a bit. Don’t be afraid to experiment and you’ll be able to get away from spending money on new clothes.
Use Coupons
Today, you can find an app for just about everything, and clothes are not an exception. Almost any store that sells clothes now allows for paying a discounted price if you use a coupon app. Many of these apps can be set up to send notifications, letting you track upcoming sales and deals. That way, you’ll be able to compare special offers and pay a better price.
Take Care of Your Clothes
This might seem obvious but as it turns out, a lot of clothes get ruined quicker than expected due to poor maintenance. Taking decent care of your favorite pieces will allow you to not only extend their service life but also keep spending low. Make a rule to always neatly fold your tees, tank tops, sweaters and jeans rather than stuffing them in drawers. If you have a lot of “hanging” clothes, it makes sense to throw cheap plastic stuff and get proper fluffy hangers. Though a bit more expensive, they will pay you off in a short while, letting you keep the shoulders of all your tops in perfect condition.
If you follow these easy tips, you’ll be able to considerably reduce spending and get the most out of what you’ve already got in your closet!