How to cut back on your clothes spending

I was shocked this morning when someone told me that apparently the average amount of money women spend on clothes in a lifetime is almost £84,000!

This figure is staggering, I can’t believe I could be frittering so much money away on a load of disposable fashion.

The poll from Sure Women Linen Dry claims that the average women will buy 3,109 items over the years, which includes 271 pairs of shoes, 185 dresses and 145 bags.

This seems a huge amount and after moving house recently I’ve realised that I buy so much clothing that I rarely wear.

To cut back on spending, I’ve come up with a few helpful tips, including:

1. Trying things on twice

This is a rule I try to stick to, especially near the end of the month when money is tight.

Trying an item on once and buying it can lead to impulse buys, often when I’ve not thought properly about whether it suits me or if I even need it.

Going away and coming back again to try that gorgeous dress or pair of trousers on allows me to think whether I should be parting with my money and what would complement it well.

2. Reassessing where I’m buying from

I don’t need designer clothes, but often if I’m just looking for basic items then discount shops will kit me out just as well.

Charity shops are full of great finds if you give them the time and vintage warehouses are a top place to find one-off pieces.

3. Swapping old clothes

Clothes swaps or ‘swishing’ parties are a brilliant opportunity to get rid of unwanted clothes and pick up a few nice things in return.

There are plenty of events organised across the country, but if you can’t find one then maybe have your own with friends and family – just make sure there’s at least one person there who’s your dress size!

4. Upcycling unwanted clothes

If clothes don’t fit or are unflattering, why not take some scissors to them and do some tailoring to help them fit better.

Granted this may take a bit of time and effort, but I love reinventing things with my sewing machine!

How do you save money on clothes?

Posted by Margo Hunter