Who says staying fashionable has to cost an arm and a leg? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), American families spent an average of $680 per person on clothes in 2010. While spending habits from year to year, current trends suggest that Americans are spending even more on clothes now. But the good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to stay fashionable. With the right approach, you can deck out your wardrobe in stylish clothes without breaking the bank.
Quality Over Quantity
When shopping for clothes, focus on quality over quantity. In order words, consider buying fewer, “higher-end” clothes as opposed to many low-end clothes. The allure of buying a t-shirt for $5 bucks may sound enticing, but this is once instance where “you get what you pay for” holds true. If you spend a couple bucks more on a premium shirt, however, it will last longer, allowing you to stretch your dollars just a little more. You have to realize that cheap clothes are made with equally cheap materials, so there’s a greater risk of them damaging or even falling apart in the washing machine.
Check Out the Consignment Stores
Another helpful tip to stay fashionable without breaking the bank is to check out some of the consignment stores in your area. Consignment stores make their money by selling pre-owned and gently-used clothes for pennies on the dollar. This means you can often find name-brand clothes for a fraction of their original cost. And best of all, the clothes sold at consignment stores typically look brand new. They have a higher standard than traditional donation charities, meaning they only accept premium clothes that have no visible damage.
Take Care of Your Clothes
If you want your clothes to last, you need to treat them with care. Far too many people neglect their garments, not cleaning spilled drinks or stains in a timely manner. When you spill someone on your clothes, dry it up immediately with a clean paper towel. The longer the liquid sits, the greater the chance for a stain to develop. When a stain does occur, however, you should attempt to clean it using soda water and a washcloth, blotting it up rather than scrubbing. For deeper, set-in stains, you may need to use a stain-removing product, such as those sold by Clorox.
