Who doesn’t want to turn heads and look their best? Many are fashion victims yet don’t want to fall prey to over spending when it comes to buying clothes and accessories. It’s possible to have a sense of fashion without being oblivious to how to save and keep money in your pocket. Consider the following cost-cutting tips regarding shoes, clothing, and accessories.
Buy and Sacrifice
Make it a rule: each time you buy something new you have to trash or donate an item from your closet. That way, you’ll be able to identify what you don’t wear, what you don’t really like, and what you can’t do without. Moreover, if you can’t sacrifice an item in order to buy another, it will make you think twice about the thought of “needing” anything new.
Seek and Find at Goodwill
You’d be surprised what you can find at a secondhand shop. If you can bear to wear clothes owned by another, you will enjoy the incredible savings on some tremendous duds. However, you’ll have to invest time in the pursuit of saving; unlike department stores, Goodwill shops and those like them won’t spend time arranging clothes and accessories by style, manufacturer, etc. You’ll have to meticulously go through items while you double check to ensure there are no tears, stains, or worn areas.
Be a Brand Advocate
Rather than buy clothes and accessories from a lot of different stores, consider being an advocate of a handful. Use store-issued credit cards, get on mailing lists, and ask workers about upcoming sales (At times, you’ll get the sale price even before the event if they recognize you as a “regular” customer.) Of course, it will limit your variety of manufacturers, yet if you’re more selective, you won’t have to worry about limiting your style. Personally, I am a huge fan of Gap for this reason. I wait till they are having a 40% or more off sale and buy everything for my family online. I can save oodles buy using my Gapcard, earning points, saving extra with coupons, earning cashback with Ebates and get it all shipped to me for free.
Use Search Engines
At times, finding a sale is as simple as putting the particular sought item followed by the word “sale” in quotations. Use a search engine to find ongoing or upcoming online sales or brick-and-mortar discounts in your area (add your location to the online search). Of course, you can use search engines to find secondhand shops, flea markets, and garage sales going on in your area too. Also, use your computer to browse Snapdeal coupons and other varieties of online discounts. Don’t forget to shop through Ebates whenever possible too!
Don’t Pay Full Price
It’s easier said than done, but those who can resist impulses and wait for sales never pay full price. There may be exceptions – you need an item right away for work or for an upcoming party, but most of the time, you can execute patience and wait for items to go on sale. Another angle is shopping out of season, meaning buying winter clothes in the summer and vice versa. Stores bank on the assumption that most want the “new season’s” wardrobe and price items appropriately, which is always at the advantage of stores and not buyers.
Work Part-time
Another way to save on clothes and accessories is to work part-time for your favorite brand. In addition to getting an employee discount, you’ll be making added income. Also, more time working means less idle time to spend money needlessly. As you probably know, at times, people spend money as a form of entertainment, even when they don’t really “need” bought items.
