12 Cool tricks on how to save money on clothes

#1 Take inventory in your closet

Most people don’t even know which clothes they own. Many items of clothing never see the light of day. To avoid this, it might be a good idea to take inventory of your closet and try out the clothes that you own.

This can be a time-consuming activity but it will help you get a better picture of the clothes you have. You can also make separate lists of different types of clothing you have. This way, you will know which clothing items you may need to buy and which you have more than you need or wear.

It could be a good idea to take inventory of your closet in spring and autumn. These are the seasons when we tend to buy more clothes since we expect the weather to change. When you compile the inventory of the clothes you have, chances are that you will buy only the clothes that you actually need.

#2 Seek your fashionable friend’s help

Do you tend to wear the same clothes over and over again? All the other clothes are sitting there, gathering dust. Before you decide to go shopping out of sheer boredom or frustration, try asking for your more fashionable friend’s help.

Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to take a look at your clothes and see the clothes in all their glory. Ask your more fashionable friend to put several outfits together for you. The hidden potential of your clothes might surprise you.

Even if you don’t have a stylish friend you can unleash the power of your clothes by using apps. Some of these apps take even weather reports into consideration before suggesting outfits to you. Stylebook, for example, helps you get the most out of clothes that you own. It also lets you shop for new items that will integrate well into your wardrobe.

#3 Create your personal palette

Sticking to your personal color scheme is liberating. Plus, it saves you money. Try to choose those colors that flatter your natural coloring, meaning your skin tone, eyes, and hair color. Choosing the wrong color can drain all the vitality from your looks.

Keep in mind that clothes tend to look different under the store’s lights. This is part of the reason why we often end up choosing a color we won’t typically choose. Try to stick to colors that you know look good on you. Besides that, when you choose an item, make sure that it combines well with the clothes you have. Especially, in terms of color.

Obsessed with colors? You might be interested to read what the best paint color for a home office is.

#4 Rent clothes for special occasions

Spending money on some designer dress for a very special occasion might briefly seem like a good idea. However, when will you ever wear that dress again? Buying expensive clothes for a one-off occasion is wasteful, to say the least.

Luckily, you can avoid wasting money and having such clothes spend the rest of their lives in your wardrobe. There are many clothes rental companies and apps that allow you to rent out unique and stylish pieces of clothing. You can rent such clothes just for the day or evening. The price of renting is fairly affordable and it often includes dry cleaning, as well.

#5 Wash your clothes less often

Washing clothes too often can cause them to shrink, or fade and will definitely increase wear and tear. We of course don’t advise you to wear smelly or stained clothes. However, try to wear certain items of clothing more than once before you toss them into the hamper.

You can wear jeans, sweaters, and hoodies several times before washing them. A bonus tip is to cut back on dryers, as well, as they tend to destroy clothes’ elastic. Hang out your clothes to dry whenever possible.

#6 Learn how to repair your clothes

Learning basic sewing techniques can significantly increase the lifespan of your clothes. Even if you take extra care of your clothes, you are likely to eventually face tears, missing buttons, or loose threads. Why pay for a professional to repair your clothes, or worse yet, throw them out, when you can do it yourself?

If you have a sewing machine, you can learn how to hem your clothes, too. Don’t buy a new pair of smart shoes, before you try to fix your old pair at the cobbler. Sweaters covered in pill balls are frustrating, but you can fix that too by using sweater shavers. You are a senior who is already quite handy with sewing? However, you might want to read about our 10 money-saving tips for seniors.

#7 Beware ”dry clean only” clothing tags

When you buy clothes with ”dry clean only” clothing tags, you should immediately calculate the expense of dry cleaning into the price. Buying one blouse with special cleaning instructions won’t kill your wallet, but having a wardrobe full of such clothes might.

Try to do some DIY dry cleaning at home, before taking your clothes to a professional cleaner. Steaming certain clothes on high heat and spot cleaning them will save you money on both washing and dry cleaning.

#8 Shop out of season

The law of supply and demand affects the cost of clothing too. That is why you should strive to shop for clothes out of season when the demand is low. The demand can drastically drive up the price of certain clothes.

Be smart about shopping for clothes. Buying a winter coat in May, or a lightweight sundress in September can save you tons of money. Sometimes, you can even buy three items for the price of one. Never buy clothes in anticipation of the season to come, because that way you will pay for the maximum retail price.

#9 Buy second-hand clothes

Hit the second-hand shops or thrift shops and they might surprise you with amazing clothes. Oftentimes, the money you spend goes to different charities. That way, you won’t only save money, but you will also support good causes. Be patient and search long and hard and you may find brand-new clothes with the tags still on. You can also buy second-hand clothes from these places:

Car boot sales
Charity shops
eBay
Facebook Marketplace
Depop app

#10 Recycle your clothes

If you don’t know what to do with your old clothes, think about recycling them. It will save you money and it’s an eco-friendly practice. Brands such as H&M and Marks and Spencer reward you with vouchers for recycling your old clothes.

#11 Buy quality clothes

Buying higher-quality clothes pays off in the long run. However, keep in mind that not all expensive clothes are quality clothes. Always take a good look at the fabrics and consider whether you can wear clothes you buy more than one way. If you purchase a quality pair of jeans or any item that is versatile, you can wear them on numerous occasions. This will definitely save you money.

#12 Don’t fall for fast fashion

Some fashion trends are all the rage one moment and sitting in your closet the next. Try not to fall victim to fast fashion, especially if you think you already spend too much money every day. Always make sure that you buy clothes that fit your style. Invest money in staple pieces that you will wear many times, such as a little black dress. What you can also do is check whether an item you buy goes well with at least three pieces of clothing you already own.

Conclusion

We hope that this article will help you spend your money wisely and teach you how to save money on clothes. You can have a fashionable wardrobe without spending a small fortune. It all comes down to planning your shopping and setting the budget. Here you can find more tips on how to budget your money wisely.

Don’t buy your clothes just to boost your self-esteem. Always try to buy sensible clothes that fit your lifestyle. Buying expensive designer suits and dresses doesn’t make much sense if your work attire is PJs, since you mainly work from home. Read more tips on how to set savings goals in 2022 and spend money on what really matters.