Fall Into a New Wardrobe With These 6 Money Saving Tips
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1. Layer up
Don’t pack away your summer clothing just yet! The temperatures may be dropping, but you can still find many uses for those tank tops and summer dresses, like using them for layering up in colder weather. You can stick a long-sleeved T-shirt under a dress and add leggings and boots to feel warmer. If you’re a genuine fashion guru and will wear any trend, you can even wear shorts in the winter and stick a pair of leggings or warm tights underneath.
2. Take inventory
You check your pantry before heading to the supermarket; shouldn’t you also take stock of your closets before hitting the mall? This is especially important when shopping for a new season. It’s easy to forget pieces you’ve got hidden in the back of your closet or buried deep in a drawer from last winter. Take a careful inventory of what each family member has and what he or she still needs and write it down. This way, you won’t come home to find that you already have what you’ve purchased.
3. Shop the sales
Fall has a few observed holidays that bring awesome sales, so take advantage! There’s Columbus Day, Veterans Day and then the markdown day of the year, Black Friday. There’s also Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday. It’s worth waiting for the next holiday to buy what you need. You’ll save a lot just by being patient!
4. Shop online – without paying shipping
Online shopping can be significantly cheaper than retail stores, until those hefty shipping fees are tacked on.
Beat the system by looking for free shipping or by taking advantage of the free in-store pickup available at many retailers. Many stores also offer coupons to first-time online shoppers. If you’ve already shopped a store online, you can sign in using another email address and still snag the deal.
Even if you prefer live shopping and like to try on your clothing before you buy, it pays to check out a store’s online inventory before going to the brick-and-mortar shop. This way, you’ll know what they have and what you like instead of wasting time browsing racks and finding the perfect top with the perfect price several hours later.
5. Time it right
There’s a season for every purchase. If you wait until a specific item goes on sale, you’ll save big. For example, jeans get marked down in October and last winter’s boots will show up on the sales racks at the end of September. It’s worth it to wait until these times to buy these items.
Also, winter coats hit the sales racks as soon as Christmas is over. Depending on the climate in your area, you may be able to hold off on buying a coat until after the holidays to await a super deal. Alternatively, if your old coat is in good condition but you’d like a more updated look, consider making do with last year’s coat for now and buying a new one when they go on sale.
6. Shop the overstock
Stores that specialize in deeply discounted merchandise, like Ross, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls, can be a terrific source for name brand clothing at generic prices. You may have to sift through racks until you land a real bargain, but it’ll be well worth your time. These stores are especially beneficial for stocking up on basics.
On a similar note, be sure to check out secondhand stores and sites like Overstock.com for incredible deals on stuff you need.
Don’t break the budget when preparing for cooler weather. With a bit of planning and strategic shopping, you can bundle up your family without spending a bundle.