Clothing and Credit
A Matter of Interest

Tips for Saving Money on Clothes

• Learn to make minor alterations, e.g. hemming, to get longer wear from an item
• Mend items promptly ~ you will get more wear out of them and you won’t forget you have them (then buy more); this goes for shoes too!
• If you have kids, spruce up a hand-me-down with new buttons or a new patch ~ then the item will look “new” again (works for your own clothes too!)
• Launder items promptly to avoid stains ruining them
• Wash with cold or cool water (fabric lasts longer & saves on hydro costs too!)
• Use the right amount of detergent ~ most people use too much
• At the laundromat, use a warm dryer to decrease drying time (and thus cost)
• If you buy something that needs dry-cleaning, factor the cost of cleaning the item into the price – a lot of dry-cleaners will press items for you that you washed at home ahead of time
• Polish your shoes – they’ll look new again (and you might not need to buy any)
• Buy second hand ~ you never know what treasure you may find!
• Exchange items with friends or family ~ lets you have more for less!
• Update your hair and make-up and keep your look fresh that way
• Buy at a consignment store
• Take items you no longer wear to the consignment store
• Only buy items that fit now and that you really love
• Learn to accessorize ~ that white shirt will look very different with a chunky & coloured necklace rather than with a simple chain
• If you like name brands, buy one or two key pieces each season and then save on what you buy to wear with them
• Don’t buy key items that are too trendy ~ you’ll be able to wear them longer if you keep your basics more traditional
• Learn to coordinate your wardrobe so that you have more choices to mix & match
• Clean and pressed worn with confidence goes a long way, even if it isn’t the newest item that season!
• If you’re in the mood for something new but can’t afford to go shopping, check in the back of your closet or drawers ~ there may be something there you forgot you had
• Shopping with cash helps you stay within your budget
• If you use your credit card to buy something on sale, pay your card off that month (otherwise the cost of the interest can outweigh your savings!)
• If you have teens, set a limit as to what you can afford to spend on their clothes ~ they may need to top up with their own funds to get what they want (and they’ll appreciate it that much more!)