Consumers are definitely having a hard time with money. Prices for groceries, gas, mortgages, and energy bills have all gone up in recent months, forcing many people to find ways to save money. It’s no surprise that this is changing the way we shop and the clothes we buy.
The latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker shows that between may and September, people spent 15% less on clothing and shoes than they did the same time last year. This is because more people are looking for deals when they shop.
The good news is that there are ways to buy clothes for less money without sacrificing style. To help you, we’ve put together a list of our best tips for fixing and reusing clothes, as well as shopping hacks that might help you get more for your money.
Try to think of something new, and look online for ideas
For the price of some basic supplies, like a needle and thread or a pot of dye, you can bring old, worn-out, or damaged clothes back to their former glory or change them to create a whole new look.
Social media is full of ideas for giving old clothes that would otherwise be thrown away a new lease on life. The hashtag #clothinghacks has been seen more than 700 million times on TikTok alone. You can find videos that show you how to do everything from fixing too-big pants by adding hidden waistbands to giving your favorite sneakers a pop of color with a simple dyeing method. You might be surprised at how easy it is to make something old look like something new.
And if you want to make something really unique out of old clothes, why not try painting or tie-dying? For example, if you mix acrylic paint with fabric softener, you can make beautiful designs. If you’re feeling brave, just draw whatever you want. You could also use stencils to get the look you’re going for. In either case, you’ll end up with a piece of clothing that is unique to you. This is also a great way to hide stains that won’t come out no matter how many times you wash the clothes.
If you’re not very good at sewing, now might be a good time to work on it. If you know how to do simple repairs like reattaching buttons and putting on patches, you can make your favourite clothes last longer. There are a lot of tutorials online, and once you’ve done it a few times, it usually only takes a few minutes to do these things yourself. They could also help you save a lot of money.
Use skills while shopping
Fixing things and reusing them is one thing, but it also pays to be frugal when buying new things. When you look for deals, you won’t be the only one. According to the Deloitte Consumer Tracker, 40% of people whose living costs had gone up were looking for ways to spend less on clothes and shoes.
One easy way to save money is to keep an eye out for clearance items and vouchers and discount codes. Besides this, it pays to look for clothes that you can wear a lot of different ways. One good example of this is jeans. For a business meeting or a night out, these pants can be dressed up with heels, a smart top, and a blazer. For a more casual look, they can be worn with a sweater or t-shirt. Chinos are also very versatile. Wear them with a sweater and sneakers for a casual look, or put on a shirt and leather brogues for a dapper look.
In the same way, you can get more use out of your clothes by buying some cheap accessories. Think scarves, belts, bracelets and necklaces. You can overhaul the look of your outfits with these simple additions, giving you more options when you’re deciding what to wear.
How about “swishing”? If not, now’s the time to get clued up. Swapping clothes, accessories, or shoes with other people is just what it means to “swish.” Whether it’s with family, friends, neighbours, or anyone else, this gives you the chance to trade old clothes you don’t want for ones you’ll wear a lot. More and more people are seeing the benefits of this trend, which lets you combine style with saving money and being good to the environment. What’s not to like? You could even throw your own swishing party, which would give you the chance to get free clothes. Also, this is a great reason to hang out with friends.
Pay attention to the fabrics you buy. This is another way to save money. You can make sure the things you buy will last longer if you look for naturally durable materials like cotton. In addition to being good for your budget, this is better for the environment. It means you will need to replace things less often, which will cut down on waste.
