Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

[djaco]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

I buy most of my clothes at the local Goodwill store. I never shopped there until the last year or so, and I'm always amazed at the "like new" name brand clothing you can get for only a few dollars. I like to go in Spring and Fall, when people are cleaning out their closets and you get the best selection! Another way I save on name brand clothing is buying on EBay. I can usually buy "like new" Lauren clothing (which I love) for less than $10. This is a great way to spend a little and look like a million bucks!

[nennikers]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

Our Goodwill and Salvation Army stores have specials each day, depending on the color of an item's tag. These items are either 50% off (at Salvation Army) or 99 cents (at Goodwill). Goodwill also hands out a calender the first few days of the month ('til they're gone) detailing each day's deal for the month as well as offering coupons for percentages off your total purchase.

I save a TON at these stores, and everybody thinks I spend a fortune on my kids' clothes because they're all name brands. I've purchased almost everything for less than a dollar an item, including Gap jeans, khakis, sweaters, and shirts, Lauren jeans for myself, Abercrombie shirts for hubbie, even cashmere sweaters! We all look great, and I spent about $500 on clothes last year for all four of us. When I tell people my secret, they act disgusted! Oh, well, more for me! Plus, I get the added benefit of helping the people that these organizations support. It's a good deal all around.

I have to give props to Sears, too. Land's End makes some VERY durable clothes, and I shop in the off season for kids' coats and such that can be a bit pricey. I snagged an $80 parka for my son for $20 last spring, a size or two bigger than his current size (that way it lasts for at least two years!). Their Canyon River Blues brand is EXCELLENT for pants . . . they wear like iron, and they're pretty inexpensive when on sale. Plus, you can exchange them if your child ever wears a hole in them, which has never happened to us!

I'm amazed at what people with far less discretionary income than me are willing to throw away on clothes just to keep up with the Joneses. I'm not entirely above keeping up with them, but I would NEVER pay retail! And I'm glad to see so many here that understand!

[cercis]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

I can't bring myself to pay retail either.

I'm so disappointed, there's no goodwill here and apparently the salvation army had problems with shoplifting so there's no dressing room. Well, they're there, but they have no doors. A friend of mine goes with her daughter and they take turns holding up a sheet, but I don't have anyone to go shopping with.

Last time I went, I had a huge armload of slacks to try on. I desperately need some slacks, but I'm not going to settle for "probably fits". I want only "fits and looks good". Well, without trying them on, I can't know that. That's when I found out about the no doors. I abandoned the whole armload with the helper. I felt bad, but I'd already wasted an hour of my time trying to find slacks in my size(s) and the thought of trying to put them back where they belonged (because they came from about 5 different racks) was too much.

I've made it a point to tell them that I would buy from them if they'd have dressing rooms.

One person had the audacity to tell me, "well, they're only a buck, if they don't fit just donate them back". Okay, whatever.

[andimorony]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

I *LIVE* for our consignment shoppes in town. They have children's sizes to 10 at one and womens sizes (all of them) at the one next door. It is so awesome. They will only take clothes that are less than three years old and I reap the rewards. When my smaller kids grow out of something, I simply consign those and use the credits from previous items sold and buy "new". Most of my friends think I am extragant with my three year old.

Here is an example: my fil bought Lili a genuine Rothschild coat (red wool with black velvet trim). He had the smarts to buy it large so she's been wearing *that* to church and other special occasions for two years now.

This year I went into "Babies In Bloom" and found another (NOT Rothschild) red wool coat with velveteen trim for $20.00 and that comes with an absolutely adorable hat. So she wears that to school and for everything but playing outside.

I went in the following week for snow togs and guess what I found? A Rothschild ski jacket and snow pants! Cost? $20.00 and she's covered for at least the year with QUALITY coats!

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

if it dont say clearance, that dont have my name on it.lol i also like stage stores. i love thier 40% off ticket price signs. with tommy jeans for my boys being 34.59 regular price, its good to see that 40% off.lol. i can usually walk into stage and walk out with an outfit for three kids for 100-120 which is a steal these days for brand new. from head to toe full outfit. a hat or scarf or something of that nature, a shirt, jeans, socks, and the shirts usually have a video game or something with it also. all i need is batterys, dollar store here i come. nail polish set for chelsey and a wallet or smellys for the boys. i love it, mom can i get a new smelly today? lol.

[djaco]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

if it dont say clearance, that dont have my name on it.lol i also like stage stores. i love thier 40% off ticket price signs. with tommy jeans for my boys being 34.59 regular price, its good to see that 40% off.lol. i can usually walk into stage and walk out with an outfit for three kids for 100-120 which is a steal these days for brand new. from head to toe full outfit. a hat or scarf or something of that nature, a shirt, jeans, socks, and the shirts usually have a video game or something with it also. all i need is batterys, dollar store here i come. nail polish set for chelsey and a wallet or smellys for the boys. i love it, mom can i get a new smelly today? lol.

Can you tell me - what is a smelly? I must be getting old.........

Thanks

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

smellys is what my kids call colognes. they especially like those lil single use ones from avon. after rubbing it on they put it back in the packet and keep the packet in thier pocket. its fun for them, its like playing dress up. if you have an avon lady and want to try it, its a cheap venture. ten samples of your choice in a box for .49 cents. thats for thier usuall products tho too, some are seasonal or specials, they dont have the one inch squares, these are a diff price and quanity. but musk for men, nite musk, all thier long timers all have one inch squares ten in a box for .49 cents.

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

oh and stage has lil spritzers too, kits for 5-20 on most stuff. i let them find a 5 dollar kit, and they love it.

[anewshka]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

All good tips...I saved a TON at Wal-Mart this week on clearance clothes. I save even more by using my husbands tips!!! Here they are:

1. Find what you want at ANY store. Find any minute flaw (zipper sticks, snag, small spot, runs smaller/larger than tagged, missing button, etc.) and ask for discount. This works even on clearance items! This is especially great for floor model items and "last one, no box". Sounds cheap, but it works. He's gotten discounts on items just for SIMPLY ASKING!

2. Ask if they price match or take competitor coupons

3. PERSONAL FAVORITE!!! If you do online auctions, purposely MISSPELL the item you are looking for and check out those listings!!! For instance, I was looking for some denim jeans on eBay and typed in (on purpose) "demin". Several listings came up and I won 3 pair of jeans for .05 each because they didn't spell DENIM right!!! People misspell all the time, especially when they do multiple listings...spell check isn't an option. This works on EVERY item! Here are some current misspelled item links on ebay, just so you see how true it is!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Diesel-Demin-Jeans-sz-0-2-Italy-Lk-7-For-All-Mankind_W0QQitemZ5461998310QQcategoryZ11554QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SHOULD BE DENIM

http://cgi.ebay.com/JUNIORS-NO-EXCUSES-DEMIN-JEANS-SZ-5-6_W0QQitemZ5462319105QQcategoryZ3063QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SHOULD BE DENIM

http://cgi.ebay.com/power-imac-compter_W0QQitemZ5855996577QQcategoryZ80031QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SHOULD BE COMPUTER

http://cgi.ebay.com/hollister-co-shrit-one-shloder-strip-wanted-logo_W0QQitemZ6841650821QQcategoryZ3064QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SHOULD BE SHIRT OR SHOULDER

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

my 9 yr old is the hardest to buy for, hes so tall and so very skinny. he wears a 10 slim. i just bought him tho a suit at a consignment shop a bit to big for him, but the big jacket looks gr8 and he wears a belt with the pants, hes soooooo styling in his suit! i got it at a consignment shop for 11 dollars. most of his jeans tho i have to buy new. hes a hard size to find in the shops. hard even at walmart on a good day.lol

[cercis]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

Tish, I'm with you. I guess I need to sew so I can start taking in pants for DS1. But, I've noticed more and more manufacturers are adding elastic bands in the inside - you can tighten them by pulling them out and buttoning them. Others have added a drawstring of sorts (I'm not sure how exactly this is supposed to work, but I improvised by tying a knot where I want it to be so it can't draw back in, and then he lets the ends hang down his legs).

I know I need to sew for me so I can let the hems out of slacks, etc. I'm just too darn long-legged.

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

me too, my inseam is 36". i always make knickers or if they are 34 i can add a nice lace to the bottom.

[cercis]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

I found some great slacks at Penneys. They're just almost long enough, and they have an actual cuff, so I could let them out (if I knew how to sew).

[pyotr]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

Biggest money saver on clothing I've found reliably is used neck ties at thrift stores and yard sales - they are always cheap (25cents to $1.50 at the most) and pick classic patterns in tasteful colors and they'll be useful forever. You stick them in one of the wife's nylon washer baggies, throw them in the washer, then line dry them, iron them, and they're good as new. I don't know why people will spend $20 or more ($100 or more someplaces) for a necktie - who cares who makes them and who looks anyway.

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Buying Clothes - Saving Money Tips

i buy clip ons currently for my lil men. george has em with thier dress shirts, pretty good deal under ten dollars.