Save Money When Shopping for Clothes

It feels awesome when you can save money when shopping for clothes! I will share a few tips on how I save money on clothes. In addition, I’ll share my weaknesses, struggles and successes with my techniques. I saved the best for last!

The first step to saving money on clothes is to have a plan. That plan includes writing a list of the items you need to purchase.  It’s important to do this before heading out to the store.

In the event, you do not want to write a list, be prepared to spend more money. The problem with not having a list/plan is that you will buy more. Here’s a great article on 6 motivational reasons to create a budget for your money.

If you are like me, you will be in the store browsing around and getting excited about all the items that are on sale! Everything is such a good deal!!! Not to mention, all these items would be so nice to have.

Ultimately, you will not be saving money. You will be spending more money.

As a result, you will have to figure out how you are going to pay for all the items you purchased. Thus, creating unneeded stress.

If you like to buy things to make you feel good, you should figure out the “why”. This used to happen to me.

Inevitably, after feeling excited about all my purchases, I would feel frustrated especially when the credit card bill came in the mail a month later.

For more information on how to start saving money while living paycheck to paycheck, check out this article.

Marketing in the stores

It’s important to keep in mind, every store wants to sell you more! When you are trying to save money on clothes, you are doing the exact opposite.

To clarify, stores typically put the new clothes in front of you as you walk in the door. The sale items are usually towards the middle or back of the store.

In addition, the clearance items are usually in the back of the store. Sometimes, off to the side or in a backroom.

Given these points, the stores are trying to sell you their most expensive or newest arrivals. For this reason, they put these items in front of you as soon as you enter their store.

Interested in saving money on groceries? Check out 9 simple ways to money on groceries.

Using Paper Coupons

I still get coupons in the mail for clothes. I never throw them away coupons. I add them to a folder and then go through it periodically and toss out old, expired coupons.

When I am ready to go shopping for clothes, I go through the coupons and bring them with me.

This is a nice way to save some money on clothes, however, I know I can find better deals.

Shopping In Stores

I am noticing that when I walk into a store, sometimes they will have a sale going on that is not advertised.

Keep this in mind while shopping for clothes and see if you are noticing the same thing.

Once online clothes shopping takes off, I think the clothes will become more expensive online due to the convenience.

As people become more comfortable purchasing clothes online, they are going to become more expensive. Certainly, it is very convenient.

This makes shopping in stores with coupons less expensive.

Email

When I get emails with coupons or deals of the day in my inbox, I delete them without opening them. Unless of course, I am trying to get a good deal on a certain product.

Why you ask? The first thing you want to remember is that you are trying to save money.

The Point often overlooked, is that you don’t need anything right now. Clothing stores are trying to get you to buy the newest and latest style.

Once you see something you really like, it takes a lot of will power to decide not to make the purchase.

Surely, this is great for people who have money to spend. However, while you are in saving mode, steer clear. Your time will come 

Clearance

This may sound strange, but I get really excited about clearance shopping! As a matter of fact, if I go into the store without a plan, I spend WAY too much money.

If you are like me, you end up purchasing clothes you don’t even need. With this in mind, you are also wasting your money.

It’s important to have a purpose and a plan to go shopping. For example, your purpose may be that you need a new summer outfit.

Before you head to the store, it’s important to make a plan on how much you will spend. Decide on an amount and stick to it. That’s successful shopping!

Sometimes learning about your habits and who you are is half the battle! Of course, once you figure it out it gets much easier to save money, especially on clothes.

Out of Season

This is my absolute favorite way to shop. As a matter of fact, I use this method most of the time.

I enjoy shopping for clothes at small businesses. My favorite store always has a clearance section that is out of season. I usually get at least 50% off! Sometimes 75% off!

This is the most difficult way to shop. Let’s think about this. Summer is coming. You are dreaming about being outside, wearing a cute summer outfit.

Trust me, the last thing you want to do when living in Minnesota is going shopping for winter clothes when summer is coming.

To emphasize the difficulty, you will need to walk through all the new clothes coming up for summer to get to the clearance section.

However, to save BIG money on winter clothes, shopping out of season is the key to success.

Eventually, winter will come again. In the meantime, I put my new winter clothes in a bin and save them for the next year.

Trust me, this gets easier as time goes on.

Holidays

Some of the biggest sale days of the year are the day after Christmas, Black Friday and in the month of January.

If you can save money throughout the year to shop in January, you can get some amazing deals! Most people don’t have a lot of money because they have to pay off debt in January.

One last thing

Overall, the success to shopping for clothes is with a purpose and a plan. The purpose is determining what clothes will be needed before heading to the store. The plan is how much you are going to spend.

Certainly, this can get complicated with the excitement of finding so many awesome deals!  Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Think with a clear mind.

I used to get so excited when a store would have a “buy more, save more sale”! It’s great marketing for the clothing store. However, not good for your budget.

Keep in mind, buying more clothes is not saving money!!!

I hope you find the best deals when shopping for clothes!

Need a financial friend who will encourage you to save money? I have your back! Get in touch.

Your Financial Friend,

Renee