How to Shop For Cheap Clothes

Sarah Jessica Parker says, “It is every woman’s inalienable right to have a pulled-together stylish, confident wardrobe with money left over to live”. She echoes the thoughts of many of us, but the question to solve is how to do just that. Luckily, in today’s world, there are many resources for stylish, savvy shoppers that won’t break your budget. Read on.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Shop thrift stores! Thrift stores, mostly run by non-profit organizations can be a potential gold mine of unique pieces. The advantage of thrift store shopping is that most of these clothes cost only a few dollars each. Beware of limited size selection, though, and be prepared to sift through a lot of items before finding a good one.
2. Look for stores that buy, sell, and trade. These stores are similar to thrift stores except they accept used clothes from people and in exchange offer store credit or cash if these clothes meet their selling standards. This is a great place to find urban, modern, and sometimes even designer clothing at a great bargain. You can also get rid of items in your wardrobe that no longer fit your style and trade them for ones that you prefer. Be ready to lose money in the trade though. Most of these stores will give you 50% of their selling price in trade credit or 30% of their selling price in cash.
3. Buy out of season. Bathing suits reach their peak price just before summer begins, and winter coats are always most expensive toward the end of fall. Anticipating your clothing needs and buying out of season can save you sometimes up to 75% off the original price. If you know you are looking for a new ski jacket, go in August to a sporting goods store and chances are you will find a great deal.
4. Add accessories for less! Several medium-low end department stores have revamped their women’s clothing lines in the last five years to offer great styles for very reasonable prices. These department stores are a great place to find accessories from bags, to jewelry, to sunglasses.
5. Cover your basics! While many wardrobe items can be found on the cheap, there are a few where you just don’t want to skimp. Every girl should have a great fitting pair of jeans and sexy pair of heels. These are two items that I think you really get what you pay for. Once you have a few pair of quality wardrobe basics, almost everything else can be found for less, from funky accessories, jackets, and scarves, to skirts, tanks, and sun dresses.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan ahead! Have items you need in mind ahead of time when bargain shopping.
• Don't go unprepared. Know your sizes! Shop more efficiently by knowing all your current sizes.