The average American spent $1,881 on clothing and related services in 2009. If that seems like a hefty sum, consider the clothes you buy and how you take care of them. Many of us could cut back on our clothing budgets simply by making the clothes we already have last longer.
When you’re shopping, think of your clothes as an investment. Avoid buying things that you’ll just wear once and think about your lifestyle. Do you really need another fancy dress or are you better off buying a new pair of slacks for work?
Here are a few tips for making your clothing purchases last longer:
Wash in cold water. You’ll save money on your energy bills and also many fabrics hold up better. You don’t need to buy the fancy new cold water detergents, though if they are on sale or comparable to the detergent you normally buy, they are supposed to help remove dirt even without the assistance of hot water.
Keep ‘em separated. Follow the instructions on the tag: wash with like colors. One red sock can ruin a whole load of white laundry.
Skip the dryer. Hanging your clothes up to dry can help them last longer. The dryer often makes clothes fade, destroys elastic, and can cause shrinkage. If you don’t have an outdoor area, there are many inexpensive indoor drying racks available that fold up for easy storage.
Don’t follow the trends. Everyone wants to look fashionable, but there’s a difference between jumping on board every new fashion trend and looking like you belong in a different decade. Many classical clothing items, such as t-shirts, buttoned-up dress shirts, jeans, and little black dresses, will stand the test of time better than the latest “in” items. Remember shoulder pads and leg warmers? Not very good investments.
Buy accessories. Sick of wearing the same stuff over and over again? Instead of tossing things and buying all new clothes, consider ways that you can change your look with items like belts, jewelry, and scarves.
Get creative. What about cutting those boring pair of slacks and making them a cute pair of capris for the summer? Or what about using some dye to update the colors? And if you really want to get creative, you can learn to tailor your clothing, so you never need to get rid of things because theyre too big. Head to your local craft store for ideas.
Save it for the younger child. Before you toss something because your son or daughter has grown out of it, consider whether it’s worth throwing into storage instead. Even if it’s a little worn, it may be good for play clothes or just a day spent at home.
Get sewing. Don’t throw out items that just need a quick fix. Instead, put them aside in a designated pile. Once the pile gets big enough, take an hour and fix them all. You’ll feel like you got a whole new wardrobe!
Remove stains. This is another reason that clothes end up in the trash can. Before you toss a favorite item, try a little white vinegar. It’s an inexpensive fix, and it can help with everything from tomato and coffee, to wine and grease stains.
Have special “work” clothes. Save clothes that get stained or worn out to be used when doing chores like working in the yard or painting. And while cooking, wear an apron to protect the clothes you are wearing from possible spills.
Make dog toys. So the t-shirt is too torn and stained to even think about saving it. What now? Give it a second life as a chew toy for your dog. Remove all zippers, sequins, buttons and any other tidbits that aren’t safe for your pup. Then take a piece of the cloth and fold it lengthwise. Sew up three of the sides, so that you have a little pocket. Fill the pocket with old mismatched socks, and sew up the last end. Then give it to your dog to enjoy!
Of course, when it is time for the annual cleaning of the closets, you will find some pieces of clothing that are not worth the space they take up and you’re not in need of any dog toys. You can still benefit from those clothes one more time by giving to a local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Not only are you helping the environment by reducing waste and giving back to low-income families who need it, but the donation is also tax-deductible.
For more tips and tools to help you make the most of your money and the stuff you buy with it visit Quizzle.com. At Quizzle, youll get access to great tools like the Credit Improvement Program that will help you take your credit to the next level and save you money on lifes largest purchases.
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