Saving on clothes

With Back-to-School season rapidly approaching, it seems everyone wants to know how they can save money on this rather expensive time of year. I’ve got some great tips on saving on clothes (and believe me, I know how difficult it can be to shop for clothes for teens and tweens — the days of me being able to buy things -for- my daughter are long over as she insists on picking out everything herself!)

Another thing to remember with older children too is to remind them that money saved in one area can be put toward something more fun… like vacations, dinners out, and other entertainment. This has been very effective in our household — my daughter found a Justice dress recently for just $6 that had been marked down from $38 — and that opened a whole discussion on the things we could potentially do with the extra $32 she saved just on this one item alone.

Now… on to the school shopping tips!

Go to the back of the store.
The clothes closest to the door in any clothing store are the most expensive, latest fashions – but the real bargains can be found in the back where the clearance racks are. Because we’re nearing the end of a season, many clearance sales are marking clothes down in the 60-70% off range – and it’s not always just summer clothes they’re marking down. Also, don’t assume there’s a stigma with buying clothes on clearance – the time span between clothing being featured at the front of the store and when it hits the clearance racks can be as short as three weeks. Why pay more than you have to?

Know when your store’s annual and semiannual clearances are.
Most stores clean house once or twice a year and offer everything left from past sales and seasons at rock-bottom prices. Old Navy is famous for theirs, which takes place in January each year. Other stores may be quieter about when theirs take place – don’t be afraid to call or ask a cashier when they’re happening.

Use a coupon for even bigger savings.
Coupons for clothes? You bet. Many stores regularly feature additional 15-20% off coupons in the newspaper (Macy’s does this often.) During their big clearance sales, Meijer will typically offer a 50% off coupon at the door in the final few days of the sale, taking another half off the marked clearance prices.

Buy ahead and out of season.
Once school starts, look for prices on summer gear and swimwear to plummet. If your children are young enough/small enough and you can anticipate their growth for next year, buy next year’s summer clothes now and store them. The same holds true for winter gear next spring, when winter coats, snow pants and boots will all be cheap.

Store closings can be your friend.
While it’s unfortunate when any store goes out of business, the reality is that the store will drop its prices dramatically to reduce inventory, and they’re hoping someone buys it. That someone should be you! Pay attention to stores going out of business, and find out when the last few days of the sale will be. Then, show up and shop! I bought over $2,000 (original sticker price) worth of clothes for my sons at an OshKosh B’Gosh store that was going out of business for under $100, and every item I bought was in the $1-$3 range.

All-one-price stores are a great place to save.
Stores where everything is the same price, like Steve & Barry’s, are a budget-conscious shopper’s friend. Everything in the store is priced at either $8.98 or $10.98 — including shoes, jeans, winter jackets, and other usually-expensive items. And, the clothes is often the same type and quality that others are paying big bucks for at a trendier “name brand” store.

Don’t be afraid to bargain too.
It never hurts to bargain with your cashier – don’t be afraid! My daughter needed a new swimsuit this summer, and the one she liked best had some threads pulling out in the stitching – nothing serious, and something I knew I could easily fix for her – but I never pay the asking price when something’s wrong with an item of clothing. This $24.99 swimsuit was already on sale for $12.99 when she asked if the store could adjust the price for the stitching issue. The cashier immediately did – to $3.24! Now, that was a great buy.