10 Ways to Save Money Shopping for Clothes

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Love shopping for clothes, but hate spending a ton of money? You’re not alone! Few things are more satisfying than getting a package in the mail full of pretty clothes, but the cost of staying in style can add up quickly. As a fashion blogger, I shop online frequently, but I don’t have a ton of expendable income, so that’s where my money saving tips come in handy. Keep reading for my top 10 tips to save money shopping for clothes!

1) Rakuten

If you haven’t heard of Rakuten yet, you’re about to have a whole new reason to shop online! Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, is a shopping rewards website that gives you cash back when you purchase through their online shopping portal. Retailers offer between 1% to 20% cash back on your purchase! I always go through Rakuten when I shop online and the cash back builds up really quickly. Sign up for Rakuten here and get something back every time you shop!

2) One Email Dedicated to Store Memberships/Loyalty Programs

Getting 15% off your purchase for simply entering your email always sounds like a good idea until you’re getting 20 emails a day from brands that you shopped with once. Don’t clog up your regular email with store coupons and sale alerts. Use a separate email for all of your loyalty programs, store memberships, and online purchases so you’re not distracted by alerts on your phone and tempted to shop when you don’t really need anything. When you’re ready to shop, you’ll have all your store coupons, promo codes, and sale alerts in one place!

3) Make Sure Your Purchase is Versatile

When you shop for clothes and accessories, whether it’s online or in person, try to think of 3 different outfits you can make with the piece you want to purchase. If you can’t think of 3 or more ways to style your item, it’s probably not worth buying unless it’s for a special occasion. The more versatile an item is, the more you get for your money!

4) Wait for Holiday Deals

This one is my favorite shopping strategies, especially during the winter holidays when there are a ton of sales going on. The only catch is popular items tend to sell out fast, so you have to be quick to jump on sales. It helps to know exactly what you want and to sign up for “back in stock” and sale alerts on high price items. I also like to fill up my cart a day or two before a holiday sale so all I have to do is check out! If you’re planning on making use of this tip, I highly suggest finding out what timezone the store you want to purchase from is in, so you can be sure to be online when a sale opens or a coupon code is activated! Most stores will indicate their timezone on their customer service page.

5) Shop Designers at TJMaxx

TJMaxx can be a treasure trove of incredible designer finds! Stock varies between stores, but generally I find it to be well worth the look. Lots of items are from the previous season, but with a good eye, it’s totally possible to find some highly coveted designer pieces at a fraction of their regular price. Just keep in mind that if you find an amazing deal on an item in one store, you likely won’t find it in another or even in the same store next week, so act fast!

6) Shop a Season Behind for Next Year

One of the best times to shop for winter gear isn’t on Black Friday or Christmas Eve, but the day/week after New Years when most stores are turning over their holiday layout for Valentines day and cruise season. You’ll find incredible deals on quality winter jackets, snow boots, and so much more. The only downside is that there’s usually a limited quantity of popular items and certain sizes might not be available. As the summer season begins to wind down, try it out for yourself! You’ll probably find that some of your most coveted summer sandals are on major sale around August, and if you snap them up, you’ll be ready for next year!

7) Shop Kids Sizes

One of the perks of being petite! I typically wear a size 4.5 in shoes, and I can sometimes get away with a 5 if the shoe is cut just right, but most of the time shoes are too big. On the flip side though, lots of companies make casual shoes and sneakers in kids sizes that are IDENTICAL to the adult versions! I get 95% of my sneakers in kids sizes and not only do I get a better fit, but the price is usually 20%-30% less than the adult sizes. If you pair that with sales and coupon codes, that’s a ton of money saved! My favorite companies to shop kid-size sneakers are Converse and Nike!

This can also work for clothes too! I’ve browsed the boys section in Forever21 for a cropped denim jacket that fits both my shoulders and my arms without tailoring. Get creative and think outside the box next time you’re shopping!

8) Closet Swap with Friends

You’ve probably heard this one a million times already, but there’s a good reason for it! Some of my favorite pieces are items my friends no longer fit or want. This works great if you have a friend who wears a similar size and has a similar style. It’s the perfect opportunity to clear out clutter and refresh each other’s closets without having to spend a dime! Try it out and let me know what you think!

9) Shop at Poshmark

I love Poshmark for finding sold out items that I missed from my favorite retailers. Poshmark is a gold mine for on-trend fashion from a variety of brands that’s either lightly worn or new with tags. I would recommend passing on fast-fashion brands like Forever21 because the quality isn’t likely worthy of buying second-hand, but for brands that are a bit more expensive, Poshmark is definitely a great place to find your favorite fashion pieces at a solid discount!

10) Compare Prices

Never pay the listed price! Okay, maybe that’s a little too unrealistic, but there is some truth to it. Check department stores and overstock sites before committing to your purchase of a popular brand item. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found high end shoes and bags on Nordstrom or Zappos for less than the brand’s website was advertising. It’s worth the 60 second google to save some money.

Bonus! Check out Honey!

Honey is a browser extension that helps you find the best prices and deals while shopping online. It can find price-matched items and automatically applies coupons to your order. All you have to do is sign up and download the browser extension. When you shop, Honey will automatically look for the best deal and alert you when a retailer has coupons you can use!

There you have it! 10 of my best tips to save money shopping for clothes! Style is about creativity, not how much money you spend. You don’t need a ton of clothes to have a great closet or a defined personal style! With a little know-how and a lot of creativity, you can have the closet of your dreams without spending a fortune!

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