How To Dress Well For Less - Frugal Clothing 101
When discussing frugal clothing, most people think about how to purchase clothing affordably. Of course, we could talk about shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, or eBay. However, another aspect of frugal clothing is that clothing that is cared for lasts longer. It’s always cheaper to keep something nice and get more use out of it, than to shop for new, right?
How many of us follow the washing instructions on our clothing to the letter? If we did, it could save us money. Clothing lasts longer when it is properly cared for.
To save money, sometimes you have to spend money. Invest in good quality clothing. Items that are well made will cut clothing costs in the long run.
Durable clothes do not have to be purchased from high end stores with large price tags. Consignment shops and thrift stores also sell good quality clothing. You will have to take the time to look for them, but the deals that you find will be well worth it.
Store your clothing properly. Wire hangers are no good for sweaters or fine fabrics. Instead, purchase plastic or satin covered hangers. Wire hangers can rust and leave stains on your clothing that the other hangers will not.
Be careful about storing certain fabrics in cleaning bags. Silk and wool clothing need to breathe. Plastic storage and dry-cleaning bags do not allow for that.
If you need to store your clothing, use garment bags and other storage devices. If your closet is cramped, storage boxes can be used to store sweaters and seasonal clothing when you don’t need them. Shoes can also be stored in shoe boxes or over-the-door shoe hangers to avoid clutter.
If you do get a stain on your clothes, treat it as quickly as you can. This will keep the apparel from being damaged. Wash the items by hand so the stain will not set in and then launder as usual.
Try not to buy too many trendy clothes. They are more expensive, and when the fashion fades, you will be left with items that you won’t want to wear anymore. Purchase outfits that are more practical and not attached to fads.
Frugal shopping can save money on the family clothing bill. The key to making it work is how well you take care of your outfits after you buy them.
[...] be a good thing @ Sense to Save How to protect your child’s credit history @ Gen X Finance How to dress well for less - frugal clothing 101 @ Not Made of Money Mommy are we poor? What to say to children during hard times @ Credit [...]
Thanks very much for these tips. They’re great! I have a few suggestions to add! First of all, mend and repair your clothes as well as shoes. You can, for example, replace a broken or worn down heel, replace in-soles, and polish rough shoes instead of buying a new pair. Also, launder, iron and mend your clothes regularly so that you always have a full closet of clothes to choose from. (You’ll be less inclined to go shopping if you feel like you have lots to wear.) Avoid clothes that require dry cleaning and go for more durable, wash-and-wear fabrics. I enjoy scouring thrift stores too, but you can often find similar deals for brand new clothing if you shop properly. For example, shop at more expensive stores during end-of-season sales, or other lucrative sale times. I have saved hundreds of dollars this way. And when looking for quality, don’t assume that quality is always positively correlated with price. Instead of looking at the price tag to determine whether the item is a good investment, look at the seams, check what kind of fabric it is, and see where it is made. Last but not least, if you buy a peice of clothing and it goes out of shape after the first wash, and you followed the instructions, ask to return it. Most stores will let you do this if you have a legitimate complaint.