Press Release: How To Save Money on Clothes
The cost-of-living crisis has meant that many of us have had to tighten our belts and curb how much we spend on items such clothes, shoes, and accessories. While we may consider essential items to consist of food, toiletries and medication, clothes are also really important. We can’t do without them!
Alex Kosuth-Phillips, a personal finance expert at thimbl.com, shares five tips on how to save money on clothes.
1. The Petite Feat
“If you’re a petite adult, or you have small feet, you and your savings might just be in luck. An adult’s pair of classic black UGG boots cost £175 at Office, whereas the children’s replicas come out at £125, and go up to adult’s size 3.
The availability of petite clothing can be quite restricted, with many brands opting to sell a limited ‘petite range’ rather than smaller sizes of their entire stock. Highstreet stores such as New Look, Zara and River Island sell children’s clothes, which generally cover sizes up to the age of 16 years. These children’s ranges are often simply smaller versions of the adult variations. If you’re a size 6 or below, it may be worth trying on some of the larger-sized children’s items. They might just offer a better fit, as well as helping you save money on clothes. A pair of adult’s blue skinny jeans at New Look cost £29.99, whereas a very similar pair of age 15 jeans from their children’s section cost £21.99, offering savings of £8.”
2. Hit the sales
“If you sit in the ‘I hate shopping’ camp, you may be tempted to give saving tips dedicated to the dreaded sales a miss, but hang fire!
As well as the influx of traditional Boxing Day deals, many retailers – both online and on the high street – tend to host sales between seasons. For example, you might find that some slash the prices of their summer stock as early as mid-August to make way for the winter stash. Even if the weather is starting to take a turn, there’s no harm in stocking up on discounted items such as flip-flops and ‘tees for next year’s holiday, or cut-price gloves ahead of the impending big freeze.
“If you’re in desperate need of some new clobber, making the most of the sales might be a cost-effective way to shop.”
3. Charity shop chic
“Long gone are the days when charity shop bargains were branded ‘uncool.’ In fact, nowadays, you’re actually considered pretty trendy if you rock a second-hand staple!
Charity shops are Aladdin’s caves when it comes to finding gorgeous garments. While pre-loved apparel is ever-growing in popularity, brand new pieces – with tags still attached – can also be bagged. With such a joyous jumble of unique items to sift through, vintage lovers will delight in a vibrant array of fashions from yesteryear.
The good news? It’s pretty unlikely that you’re going to bump into anybody else out and about wearing exactly the same outfit as you!
The BEST news? The money you spend on your lovely labels is donated to charity, and what’s not to love about that?”
4. Get minted with Vinted
“You don’t even need to take a trip to town to cash-in on the hand-me-down trend - think of second-hand sites such as eBay and Vinted as a giant, virtual thrift shops!”
With new goods added daily, you might just stumble across that pair of 1990’s Levi jeans you’ve been longing for, or a suave, brand-new-with-tags Ted Baker suit.
Did you know that it can take over 200 years for textiles to decompose in landfills? Throughout 2021, eBay saved over 17,771 tonnes of clothing from being sent to landfills. That’s the equivalent weight of 1,404 double decker busses!
Second-hand shopping is a great way to save money and do your bit for the environment. In January 2023, eBay announced that they were ‘coupling up’ with ITV2 hit series, Love Island. The aim of the collaboration was to challenge the way we view and purchase our clothes. eBay provided the Love Island contestants with wardrobe full of cast-off clothes, which increased the lifecycle of the clothes.
You could also sell your unwanted items, earning a bit of money and offering your clothes a second chance to be loved.”
5. Jump on the upcycle bandwagon
“Upcycling: all you need is a pile of old clothes and a little bit of patience. The outcome? New, bespoke outfits and accessories, without spending a penny! The great thing about upcycling is that the possibilities are quite literally endless.
The internet is busting with upcycling inspo’ and it doesn’t just end with clothes, either! We’ve seen chair covers fashioned from old jeans and handbags made out of cosy sweaters.”
thimbl. has shared five handy hints on how to save money on clothes in the UK.
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About thimbl.
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Website: https://www.thimbl.com/
Alex Kosuth-Phillips - Personal Finance Expert at thimbl.
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