Save Money On Your Wardrobe

Get the most value for your dollar. Here are suggestions you can follow to be well-dressed without dropping a bundle.

1. Organize your closet. By doing this, you'll see what you really need.

2. Buy good-quality clothes & shoes. You don't have to buy expensive designer clothing to dress well. The quality of the garment material is important. I don't care what the label says. I'm only interested in how well it's made. Clothes & shoes that are of a higher quality, last longer.

3. Buy at the end of the season. Timing is critical when shopping for clothes. Wait until the end of the season to shop. Prices are marked down considerably to sell the remainder of a store's inventory.

4. During the year, you can also watch for holiday sales. Items are reduced especially for that day to encourage people to shop when they're not working.

5. Shop once at your favorite stores, but don't make a purchase. At the beginning of the season, I look around to see what I like. When the sales are on, I know what I want & most of the time the item is still available, except at a better price.

6. Buy a few classic pieces of clothing. Black pants & black dress for women & a dark suit & white shirt for men are practical items to have in your closet. Have an unexpected occasion? No need to run out shopping & buy at retail prices.

7. Shop for slightly used clothes. Consignment shops carry high-quality clothing. If an item is outdated or stained, the store will not accept the clothes for resale. You can find clothes that are almost new at very low prices.

8. Factory outlets are another great place to shop. You can save as much as 75% on well-known brands.

9. Try making your own clothing. If you like to sew, You can make original outfits & save tremendously. My friend does this & is always beautifully-dressed.

10. Mix & match. Break up a suit. Wear the pants with another jacket or shirt & vice versa. You'll find that you have more outfits.

11. Return an item quickly. Unless it's marked final sale, most stores will allow you to return or exchange the returned item. We all make mistakes & buy something once in a while that seemed perfect in the dressing room, but not at home. I always try on my new clothes very soon after purchasing so that I can return the article quickly if I realize that I made a mistake. Otherwise, we tend to forget about it & it hangs in the closet until we give it away.

12. Take care of your clothes.

a. When you undress, check for stains & treat immediately so that stain does not set.
b. Do not use harsh detergents when washing clothes. Use soap for fine fabrics.
c. Wash by hand or in delicate cycle in washing machine.
d. Avoid drycleaning, unless absolutely necessary. Strong chemicals are used when drycleaning.
e. Sweater cuffs have stretched. Dip cuffs in hot water & dry with hair blowdryer.
f. Remove clothes from dryer before completely dry. Place on a hanger. It's better for the material & you'll spend less time ironing.
g. Put nail polish on pantyhose or nylon stockings to stop a run from spreading. In that way, you can wear them again.

13. Shop at charity bazaars. You'll not only get good deals, but you'll
donate to a worthy cause.

14. Buy private-label clothing. Many stores manufacture their own line of clothing & the cost is much less than designer brands.

15. Take good care of your footwear.

a. Repair the soles & heels of your footwear & your shoes & boots will last much longer.
b. Use a protector spray to repel the elements & resist stains. Before I wear my new shoes or boots, I spray them to prevent damaging leather from the rain or snow. I do this occasionaly afterwards to keep them in good shape.
c. Clean & shine shoes & boots when needed with a good-quality shoe polish so that they remain in excellent condition.
d. Place your best shoes in a shoe bag to prevent dust from accumulating onto shoes. I have a hanging, inexpensive plastic shoe bag in my closet that holds 10 pairs of shoes.

16. Buy shoes & boots in neutral shades. This way, you'll always be able to match your footwear with your clothes.

17. Lastly, think before you reach for your hard-earned cash. Am I really going to wear this trendy outfit often? Maybe, next year it won't be in fashion any longer. Will it be necessary to buy other pieces of clothing to go with it? You love the brown pants but don't have shoes to match. Consider the additional expense.