Clothes require money. And in some cases, nicer clothes require a lot of money. In this day and age, staying fashionable often means spending hard-earned cash on the latest brands and trendiest pieces. The constantly changing trends also mean staying “in” requires buying new clothes every season.
But, of course, this can lead to huge expenses. If you’re not careful, shopping for new clothes constantly can also put you in a lot of credit card debt. So, how do you build a fashionable wardrobe without breaking the bank in the process?
Here are some smart hacks that can help:
1. Make your own clothes
If you have a bit of a crafty side, why not try making your own clothes? There are lots of ways you can do this. You can create your own designs and have a screen printing service print them onto shirts, tote bags, and jackets. If you know how to sew, you can also try making your own pieces out of spare pieces of cloth or old clothes. Whatever method you use, making your own clothes can give you unique outfits that are either free or very low cost–you just need some time and a little elbow grease to do it.
2. Shop at thrift stores
Thrift stores have a lot of hidden gems that can fill up your wardrobe for ridiculously low prices. Browse thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army to look for pieces that you can add to your collection, either as staples or seasonal clothes. Although you may have to spend a lot of time looking for the perfect clothes, the sunken prices are very well worth the hours you spend browsing through racks.
3. Sell your clothes
To produce some extra cash for your new wardrobe, sell the clothes that you no longer need or want. Aside from helping increase your budget, selling some of your clothes will help free up much-needed closet space.
4. Swap with friends
Do you have a pair of ill-fitting pants that you ordered online? Maybe one of your friends wants to swap with you for something from their own wardrobes. If there are some unwanted pieces in your closet, ask your friends if they want to swap first before considering selling or donating them. This can be a fun and cost-free way to change up your wardrobe, and your friends may have lots of great pieces that they want to swap with you.
5. Be careful when shopping online
Shopping online is an extremely convenient way to buy new clothes, and they’re almost always discounts and promos from many different brands. However, the biggest challenge is figuring out if the clothes will fit well when you can’t try them on first. If the clothes arrive and they don’t fit you right, the cost of returns can make online shopping quite expensive.
That said, be careful when shopping online. Try to shop from brands whose sizes are already familiar to you. And when shopping from unfamiliar brands, read the sizing chart carefully and use a measuring tape to ensure that the clothes will fit right on your body.
6. Shop with cash
If you have trouble keeping your plastic out of the reader, it might be time to switch up your shopping habits. Shop with cash instead of credit cards to avoid the temptation of putting the clothes on your card. At present, you may be happy with your purchases, but in the future, you won’t appreciate the debt when the credit card bill arrives.
7. Looking for used clothes online
Browse through eBay, FB Marketplace, and online groups to see what people are selling. There are a lot of people selling used clothes online, and usually for very low prices.
Building a new wardrobe doesn’t have to drain your bank account. With these tips, you can treat your fashionable self to stylish clothes without spending too much money.
