It’s time to go clothes shopping, but you’re short on cash — who isn’t in this economy? You may know which stores have the best prices, but do you know how to stay on budget? Even more importantly, do you know how to stretch your budget to get the most for your money?
Buying new clothes isn’t something you do on a whim. You don’t have a lot of extra cash, so you need to find the best quality at the best price. Sounds simple, but there’s a bunch of common mistakes people make everyday.
Learn to avoid these mistakes and you will stay on budget.
Mistake #1: Shopping without a Plan
People who go into a store, try on random clothes, and buy whatever they think they can afford end up in serious debt. Likewise, the clothing they buy tends to be trendy and out of season within a year. Furthermore, they buy items they already own, which is a wasted investment.
Solutions:
1. Never step foot in a store without examining your wardrobe:
- Go through your clothes and make a list of what you already own. Include colors, patterns, and brief style descriptions in your list.
- Take items out of your closet that you no longer wear. Keep these in a separate pile. Anything that is beyond repair should be thrown away. Other items that have been gently worn can be donated to consignment stores for store credit.
- Make a shopping list of items you need that you don’t already own. Prioritize this list based on what you need and what you want the most.
2. Finding extra cash:
- The biggest part of budget shopping is staying within your means. Go through your bank statements and figure out how much of your income goes to pay your regular bills. Then figure out how much extra money you have left over.
- Don’t spend all of your extra money on clothes. Anything can happen during the month, so make sure your clothing budget doesn’t leave you without cash for emergencies.
3. Price shop before you buy:
- Think of it as window shopping with a purpose. Before you commit to buying anything, go to multiple stores and find out which stores have the clothes you need at the best price.
- Don’t forget about going online to find a great deal. Remember to add in the shipping price when looking for deals online.
Mistake #2: Shopping Harder Not Smarter
When you’re on a budget you have to do some extra planning before you spend any money. Some people tire themselves out by endlessly window shopping and price checking. Individuals get stuck in the mindset that they alone must save themselves money, and therefore they never ask for help.
Solutions:
1. Ask for help:
- If you regularly shop at certain stores it’s a good idea to make nice with the sales associates.
- Well-trained staff members know all the information about upcoming sales and many of them have access to coupons that are kept behind the counter.
- Make these individuals into your allies and you could save some serious cash.
2. Use technology:
- Everyone’s online these days, and clothing retailers are no different. Get onto their mailing lists to find out about upcoming sales.
- Instead of hitting the pavement and physically going from store to store, price shop online during your spare time. It’s way faster than doing it in person and saves you money on gas.
- Many sites offer exclusive online promotional offers and coupons. Find these deals and take advantage of them as much as possible.
3. Start a Budget Support Group (BSG)
- Chances are if you’re on a budget, so are your friends. Help yourself by helping each other find the best deals.
- Having a support group is useful to keep your stress levels low. Your BSG can provide the encouragement you need to keep on track with your budget. Likewise, it gives you perfect shopping partners.
Mistake #3: Buying Trendy Clothing
You see an outfit that you love and buy it instantly. It’s the newest fashion, totally trendy and chic, and everyone envies you when you wear it. Sure — it was way pricier than you could afford, but it’s the newest thing! After a couple of months, however, the trend has passed, and you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing that outfit. The money you spent for the newest fashion has just been wasted.
Solutions:
1. Keep it classic:
- Avoid buying bright colors, strange patterns, or unique clothing designs.
- Buy neutral, plain colors. Neutral colors are easy to mix-and-match.
- Choose simplistic clothing designs, such as traditional jeans without a lot of embellishments, regular tees, button-up blouses, and basic trousers or slacks.
2. New accessories instead of new outfits:
- Classic outfits can be a little dull, but adding a dash of color or design with a simple accessory is far cheaper than buying trendy outfits.
- Scarves, gloves, hats, belts, and jewelry can change the entire look of an outfit.
- It’s easier to find better deals on accessories because retailers make most of their money off of clothes. Therefore they’re far more willing to sell you three belts for $10 than three designer tops.
3. Buy designer outfits through bargain retailers:
- Never pay full price for designer outfits. You don’t have the money in the first place, and there are far cheaper places to go.
- Good-quality secondhand consignment stores are a great resource for designer outfits. More metropolitan areas have better selection, but you do have to shop early to get the best choices.
- Many designers have sample sales, which is a way for retailers to move last season’s merchandise. These sales offer 50-75% off the regular price, but they’re difficult to find. Look online or ask sales associates for news about any local sample sales going on.
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