Welcome back Nicola from The Frugal Cottage with another frugal money saving article.
One of the categories that people can spend so much on in their lifetime is clothes. Clothes shopping can suddenly see hundreds of pounds being spent in an afternoon. Often on items of clothing that we don’t need or already have something really similar.
What happens if you really love clothes shopping?
Well, there are certain ways in which you can still have your shopping fix but save money and/or spend less at the same time.
The first idea is to shop your own wardrobe! Instead of going out to the shops on payday, take a step back. Have a look at your own wardrobe. Even better, get everything out and have a massive clear out! I bet there are items of clothing there that you have definitely forgotten about, not worn in a long time or that you no longer fit into.
That being said, once you’ve had that good sort out, then look at all of your wonderful clothes that you have left. There will be lots of outfit combinations that you can put together from the items of clothing you already own. Bonus, you don’t need to spend any money on this one!
Use cheaper clothes shops for items.
Recently, there has been a Next Outlet shop open near me and I love it. I’m not even a clothes person! But, especially for children’s clothes, it has so many great bargains. Next clothes are of great quality and I can buy them for a fraction of the price. This is so handy for children’s clothing as they don’t seem to stay in one size for long.
This outlet shop also has a lot of adult clothing which is heavily reduced. I asked how do they decide which clothes come to the outlet. Often, the are end of the line sales or sizes that didn’t sell well in traditional stores. But, you can find an absolute bargain! Especially if you are someone who likes to rummage through all of the racks to see what’s there.
Anyone who knows me also knows that I love shopping at Primark, H&M and Sainsbury’s for clothes. These are cheaper clothes shops but you can get some wonderful items in there. I have some snuggly pyjamas from Primark that are so cosy on a nighttime. They keep me warm without having to put the heating on.
Use online shopping to your advantage.
Often, if you put something in your basket online and then leave it there, a shop will then email you going ‘Hang on, why haven’t you bought this yet?” And offer you a discount code. Whether it’s for free shipping or a percentage off, it will be something to make it cheaper to spend.
Also online, make sure you are going through TopCashBack if you are buying things online. This is such a good website to use and if you are spending online anyway, it makes no sense at all to skip this step out. Personally, I have got hundreds back by going through TopCashBack first. So little effort but worth it! If you are someone who regularly shops online, definitely check this out as a way to saving money.
Another way of saving money, which seems to be growing in popularity of late is to shop via Vinted. Vinted is a second hand market where you can upload and sell your unwanted goods. I have seen Instagram stories of people getting some serious bargains on there! It also seems to be hit and miss though, so make sure you keep an eye on just what you are buying and from whom. It can be a massive savings point though, if you are ok with buying second hand. Most of them look like new to be honest, so don’t worry about it not being a brand new item.
Learn to love the charity shops!
I know that there is a massive stigma around going to charity shops for items. Personally, I don’t get it! I’ve bought some wonderful things from charity shops. And if you get your mind over the fact that you’re in a charity shop, you might just find something special for yourself. Again, it depends on the area you live in, but some charity shops carry quite high end items, so you might hit lucky.
So, if clothes shopping is something that you enjoy and get a lot of out, but are keep to save money, then have a go at these tips. Clothes can put a serious dent in your budget, especially if you are buying at higher end shops. By having a look at your own spending habits and the places where you go, can save you money. So, you can still go shopping and save money at the same time!
Have you got any tips on how to save money whilst shopping? What’s been your best bargain?
This is a post from Nicola AKA Frugal Cottage. Nicola is an award-winning personal finance blogger who loves talking about budgeting, investing and frugal living. Mum to two young boys, you can find her on her thriving YouTube channel, popular Instagram page, or over on her website, The Frugal Cottage.
Please do go follow her on Instagram as sadly here original hugely successful account was hacked and she has had to start again:-(
For more frugal content from Nicola..here are some articles.
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