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The amount you spend on clothes. Do you know how much that is?
One hundred, two hundred, maybe even three hundred a month?
 
It really is not necessary to spend that much money on clothes. By
simply adjusting your spending habits and learning to shop a bit more
conservatively, you can save yourself hundreds, maybe even thousands
of dollars a year.
 
Start At The Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
So where should you start in your quest to save money off clothes?

With your closet of course!
 
Take a moment to inventory the contents of your closet. If possible,
organize ALL your clothes so you know what you have and don't have.
You will then be able to look and say "I only have two nice sweaters,
and winter is coming up!" or "Only four good t-shirts! I'd better buy a few
more."
 
When organizing your clothes, don't forget to look in the nooks and
corners of your room/house. Many times we forget that we packed
away our winter apparel, or stored a box of shirts up in the attic. This
may save you from purchasing an excess of unnecessary clothing.
 
Buying Clothes
~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
If you want to save money off the cost of clothing, stop buying what you
don't need. This can be your number one money saver, especially if you
find yourself often saying, "Why did I buy this?"
 
Why spend $200 on something that you aren't going to wear much? This
is a complete waste of money. If you really want to save money off your
clothing bills, do not buy clothes that you aren't going to wear regularly.
 
A conservative wardrobe is basic. Warm, durable, simple, and neutral in
color to provide many matching combinations. When you are buying
clothes, try and purchase durable products, even if they are a little more
expensive than others. Well made clothes have heavy seams and added
reinforcement at stress points to insure the product survives daily
wear-n-tear conditions.
 
When To Buy
~~~~~~~~~~
 
Timing is a critical factor when purchasing clothes from retail and
department stores. You can find unbelievable bargains on practically
every type of clothing, if you shop at the right times. End-of-season,
out-of-fashion and post-holiday sales give you more than an adequate
chance to save money.
 
Every retail and department store MUST keep up with the ever-changing
fashion world. Merchandise is constantly coming and going. These
stores must provide shoppers with a variety of styles, colors and brands.
 
What is a hot seller this week, may be taken off the shelves the
following month. This is especially true for seasonal and holiday type
clothing. Retailers can't afford to have this merchandise taking up space
in their store during the off months.
 
Think about it. Do you go into a department store in the winter time,
when it is thirty degrees outside, looking to buy a bathing suit? Not many
people do.
 
You can score great deals when you purchase your clothing at the
appropriate times. Buy your winter clothes at the end of winter/beginning
of spring. Buy summer clothing at the end of summer/beginning of fall.
 
Other Places To Look
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
If you like a particular brand of clothing (Nike, Guess, Ralph Lauren,
etc...), you can save up to 50% by shopping at factory outlet stores.
Contact the vendor for the location nearest you.
 
Another resource for clothes are yard sales, flea markets and swap
meets. Browse a few of these bargain outlets one Saturday or Sunday
afternoon. You might be surprised at what deals you can find.
 
Here are a few online resources to get you on your way:
 
* Nationwide Database: http://www.yardsalesearch.com
 
* Flea Markets: http://www.myflea.com & http://www.fleaonline.com
 
 
Clothing For Children
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Children's clothing can be the most frustrating to buy. Why? Because
they seem to grow out of everything before you can blink your eyes.
 
Check with bargain clothing leaders like Ross and Walmart for low priced
clothing. You can often find classified ads within your newspaper or local
"pennysaver" magazine for yard/garage clothing sales.
 
If possible, once your children outgrow their clothes, pack them away
in storage bins. You can then choose to either use them when your
younger children grow into them, or sell them at a garage/yard sale.
 
Another idea is to exchange clothes with cousins and nephews in your
family that are a little older than your children. Ask family members to
save the clothes that their children grow out of, or do not want anymore.
You can then go through the clothes and see what you want to keep.
 
Proper Care Insures A Long Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Beware of what the washer and dryer can do to your clothing. Improper
cleaning can result in damaged or unwearable clothes. That's one expensive
mistake to make.
 
Not only will you have to spend money to replace the ruined clothing, but it
will take time to go out to the mall and shop.
 
When washing, READ THE LABELS! Be aware of what speeds and cycles
your apparel can endure. Also be careful when selecting water temperature
and dryer settings. Nothing's worse than pulling your favorite t-shirt out of the
dryer, only to find it three sizes smaller.
 
You will extend the life of all your clothes by learning how to properly wash
and care for them.
 
Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~
 
Hopefully you are able to take a few of these ideas and apply them to your
clothing budget.
 
It's best to start at the source. Organize your wardrobe so you know
EXACTLY what you have. You will then have a good idea of what you will
need to buy. This will also help prevent you from buying more than is
necessary.
 
In a nutshell: Organize, set your spending limit, explore alternative sources,
and minimize or eliminate unnecessary purchases. Do all of this, and you
are well on your way to accumulating some "extra" spending money!