If your money is tight because of high gas prices and food costs, you'll need to save money when purchasing clothes to go back to school. This article will show you how to choose your back to school wardrobe on a budget. Here are ten ways to save money on back to school clothes.
1. Choose comfortable clothes. How will this save money? Because you won't end up having to make a trip back to the store to return half of your clothing items when you realize your pants are too tight to move in. You also won't have to buy more clothes in two months when you decide you can't stand your shoes hurting every time you walk. To make sure shoes are comfortable, walk around the store for a few minutes. If you slip and slide, or if your feet feel crammed, choose another style or size. For comfortable clothes, test them by sitting, walking, and bending. You want to make sure you will be comfortable sitting for hours at a time in the outfit.
2. Make sure your clothes fit perfectly. I have done this many times where I buy an item thinking I'll take it somewhere to get the pants hemmed or take in the waist. Chances are, you'll never get around to doing it. Even if it's the coolest jacket you've ever seen in your life, if it doesn't fit, don't make the purchase. The item will sit in your closet and rot. Then, you'll have to buy another item later to replace it.
3. Don't purchase something extravagant. We all get the urge to buy that hot pink leather mini skirt, thinking that we'll wear it one day just to astonish our friends. But, in reality, you're going to chicken out every time and not wear it. This then just wastes the money spent buying it, which certainly doesn't save you money on your back to school clothing costs.
4. Coordinate outfits. Come up with a few themes. You could choose the army green colors and buy some items in different shades of green that will all go together. Then, your second color scheme could be muted pastels, which give a fall feel. This would be colors like rose, gray-blue and gray-green. Choosing a set of items that have the same brightness makes them work together better. If you can mix and match items, you won't have to purchase as many items because you can come up with more outfits with less pieces of actual clothing. This will help you save money on your back to school clothing purchases.
5. Develop a plan of what you need. You need three pair of jeans, two skirts, four sweaters, and so on. Make the list, and buy only what is on it at the stores. This way, you won't end up buying ten pairs of jeans and ending up with no shirts. You'll then have to spend more money by making another trip to the mall to purchase the other back to school clothes you need.
6. Shop locally. Instead of driving to Washington, DC or that mall 100 miles away, get clothes in your own town. If you have a Marshall's store nearby, you can still get clothes that are like ones you would find in the fashion stores near large cities. This will help the back to school budget because you won't have to spend so much money on gas getting to the stores. And, if you have to return something, you won't have as far to go to take it back.
7. Use cash to make your purchases. If you use a credit card, you have a tendency to buy more. This is because you don't have to come up with the money upfront. Using a credit card is a sure way of going over your budget and not saving money on your back to school clothing purchases.
8. Try the "please hold this and I'll be back" idea. I often find that I will buy less if I have the stores hold my potential items, and then I go to lunch or dinner and think about it. I write down what I put on hold, and sit and think about it over dinner. Do I really need this pair of jeans? What will this shirt go with? Can I afford all of these items? Do I like this jacket enough to wear it at least once a week? If you give yourself a chance to think, you may realize that you don't want all of the items. You also won't make as many impulse purchases. This will help you keep your back to school clothing budget in line.
9. Come up with a set amount you can spend and don't go over it. If you can afford only $300, spend only $300. No matter what, don't go over this amount. If you find something you want after you've spent the money, take something back first and then purchase the item.
10. Take advantage of any savings and coupons that you can. Often, there will be coupons in the newspaper or in the mail for the stores you love. If you sign up online at a store's website, you can get valuable coupons sent to your email address. You'll also be notified of sales. Whenever you visit a store, ask if there are any specials that day. If so, ask if they have any extra coupons you can use so you can take advantage of the special. Sometimes, the cashier will have extra coupons sitting at the register for customers to use, but they won't tell you if you don't ask.
These ideas should help you when you choose your back to school wardrobe on a budget. You should be able to save money on your back to school clothing purchases!
References:
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Buy what you need for the first day of school but don’t buy too much for the rest of the year. Some items, such as pencils and pens, might be useful to stock up on if there is a great sale. But since many stores overstock on items, you may actually be able to find some bargains by scanning for sales after the back to school rush is over.
