How to Spend Less on Buying Clothes

10-Feb-2010

Clothes and shoes fall into that tricky space somewhere between 'necessities' and 'luxury items', meaning that many of us are guilty of spending more on our wardrobes than we can actually afford.  Here are some Dos and Don'ts to help you manage your clothing budget and avoid spending more than necessary.

DO go shopping with cash

Handing over a wad of cash makes that impulse buy seem a lot less appealing.  It's less fun perhaps, but shopping with cash forces you to think about the amount you are spending and helps you keep to your budget.  You also avoid that moment of panic at the end of the month when the money is actually debited from your card three days after your purchase and takes you over your overdraft limit.  

DO shop at sample sales and outlet stores

If you are a designer label addict, there are still ways of saving yourself a bit of cash.  Most designer brands will hold sample sales several times a year, to get rid of excess merchandise before the new collections come in.  Sample sales are not usually announced with much notice, but you will usually be able to find out where and when they are happening by keeping an eye out in the local papers and signing up to your favourite brands' newsletters.  Check out Secret Sales, Designer Sales and Secret Sample Sales for some sample sale listings.  

Some of the popular online shops have discount stores where they sell stock that is reaching the end of the season.  Check out Asos Red and The OutNet for designer clothes with large reductions.  If you'd prefer real-life shopping to virtual bargain-hunting, check out the Shopping Villages website for a list of the UK's shopping outlets.  Even better if you can set yourself a budget and only take cash, as this will prevent any overspending!

DON'T use store cards

An extra 15% off at the counter 'just' for signing up for a store card might seem like a no-brainer, but it then takes a herculean effort of will to avoid using it again and again, especially if it happens to be for one of your favourite shops.  The interest rate that is charged on these store cards is extremely high - up to twice the average credit card rate - and therefore unless you are prepared to pay off the entire balance each and every month, you will end up negating that initial 15% discount pretty quickly.

DO accessorise to update your look

If you like to change your look each season but can't afford the constant wardrobe updates, invest in a few key accessories each season such as belts or eye-catching jewellery.   By keeping your wardrobe classic and buying accompanying pieces that will stand out, you can get away with buying fewer clothes and still keep up with the trends.  After all, you know that those harem pants and massive shoulder pads will never see the light of day again once their moment in the limelight has passed.

DO keep yourself 'clothing-neutral'

It's a simple concept, balance out your spending by selling old clothes on eBay.  You can shop guilt-free and you get to pass on clothes that you never wear to someone who will make good use of them.  Another take on 'feel-good' spending is the online charity shop, such as Oxfam's.  You can search for cheap, second-hand clothes and know that your money is going to a good cause.  Alternatively, do it the old-fashioned way - go into a real charity shop and hunt for treasures!

DON'T use offers for the sake of it

You need to be a smart voucher shopper, otherwise you are playing straight into the hands of the retailers.  The discount vouchers that do the rounds are only a good deal if you already wanted/needed something from that shop.  Resist the urge 'just to have a look', because you'll end up feeling compelled to buy something before the offer runs out.