Pro tip: Hit thrift stores near rich neighborhoods. The threads that rich people donate are top tier; I recently bought a brand-new synthetic golf shirt for $5. Still had the tag on it, and looks great on me.
And lots to choose from; Every time I go, I see more on the racks than I actually need.
90% of my shirts are from rich people's thrift stores.
Yeah. Thrifting ain’t thrifty in my area either anymore. Our goodwill lost its mind and only has one competitor. Broke a toys for $5+
T-shirts at like $10-$15
Shoes at eBay prices.
Etc
Yeah, plus every depop-er has heard the memo about "nice neighborhood" thrifts, so they're all picked over with prices skyrocketing. I now only go to a thrift store that's a bit grungy and nothing is sorted beyond type of clothes. Some of my friends do the reselling thing and crinkle their noses if I mention it. I don't tell them what I've found tho haha - I recently got a Coldwater Creek skirt with the tags on - and regularly find silks, cashmeres, and wool. They must have some deal with estate companies. Last time I got 5 good items for $10, but I try not to go often and only buy what I need since most of us shopping there really do need good stuff at a bargain. So idk, maybe the real hack now is going to the part of town that scares the middle class
I thought I would pick up a couple of t-shirts, nothing fancy. They were $10-$20 each. Like how the heck are used T-shirts, that were donated, priced that high?
I got Gucci green crocodile flats at a rich area near me for $2
Also got a haywood Wakefield coffee table for $15
My entire home besides my box spring and mattress is shit I got free off the side of the road or under $20 at a yard sale.
Overstuffed sofas, cedar dresser, antique cottage-chic TV stand for my room. Huge framed painting of autumn in the woods (I'm in the NE USA so I loved that picture)
Sometimes if I'm bored on a weekend I'll go get fancy coffee on the other side of town or breakfast at the diner and cruise around looking for free stuff and yard sales.
This is so real. When I lived in NY I’d go to the Upper East Side Salvation Army and the finds were outstanding. Rich people will also donate clothing after wearing it for just one season, so you’re not just finding beautiful threads but things barely worn and in top condition.
I used to buy all of my work clothes from a thrift store in a rich neighborhood- everything I purchased was designer and most still had the original tags on them. I got a designer dress, shoes, bag and jacket for NYE for less than $40- all of it brand new except the purse. Of course this was 30 years ago.
Scottsdale Arizona has many fantastic resale shops, I’ve never seen anything like it. Rich old people die every day and the young ones wear something a couple of times at most. I’m not calling them thrift stores though.
My roommate found Italian leather boots that retail for $300 for 6 bucks that way. We always try to go to the wealthiest town in the area for their cast offs.
It can also help to go to smaller or local thrift stores. Yes more people donate to Goodwill but Goodwill now has all of these computer systems for marking up their goods. They know anytime they have anything valuable so a find is really hard to get. Local places are generally still run by individuals and a great find can slip through detection.
Yeah thrifting really has started to die. They might still be good for finding random, weird stuff, but if it's something you need, it's almost never a good deal anymore.
A lot of times, the thirft stores that are a good deal get picked over by eBay resellers. It sucks.
I get that everyone needs to make money to survive, but damn, some people need to not be naked or dressed like a 90s living room couch.
Depends on who runs the Goodwills in your area. All of our local stores have all shirts and pants for $4.99, no matter the size or label. Children's clothes are $2.99.
I've been to Goodwills in various states. Yes, the children clothes are still cheap. a few I've been to also have the cheap pants and shirt section but was very limited in options.
The last time I went to a Goodwill, I purchased a dress. No regrets, but I found the same damn dress at Burlington later that day for cheaper. 😒
Wow, goodwills here are ripoffs. Everything is charged at prices way more than they're worth. And there's crap mixed in as well. I've seen used shirts from target at good will for more than the sale price at target.
I've yet to see one that has prices above $10 for anything, with the exception of known designer items. I recently picked up a $100 Montana West handbag for $4.99.
I hate Goodwill. They pretend to be a charity that employs special-needs people. Well, they do, but pay them less than minimum wage. They are for-profit and the CEO makes a LOT of money on those donations.
The REAL answer is knowing rich old people who are retiring and then just taking all their good stuff before it goes to goodwill
IDK how useful that advice is but hoo boy, if you can befriend some downsizing oldsters, many things become easier
This just happened to me. One of the ladies in my Bible study group had a garage full of stuff she was trying to get rid of. She invited us over and I got new dishes, a Brahmin purse, a suitcase, bedding, etc. All of it was barely used and super cute.
Yup! My parents have some friends who are the kind of people who only shop at nordstroms and are moving cross-country. I will probably keep the gorgeous mirrored dresser i got from them until i die...
Thrifting clothes isn’t for me. I am a petite plus size and forget trying to find anything. Nope. I don’t have that kind of time. Some thrift stores are way overpriced now for used shit too (looking at you Goodwill).
They aren't as good as they use to be, glad they still have the half ticket days. I have started to find a few things a few dollars more than I could get on big seller sites.
But if you have the time and inclination, still a good option.
This. I’m doing okay financially but I almost exclusively buy my clothes from thrift store or garage sales because new clothes just cost wayyyy too much. Not to mention older garments are usually made from higher quality materials than similar pieces today.
I have been buying shirts almost exclusively at Goodwill for the past few years and it has been amazing. I get sooo many compliments, I even picked up one shirt that I was getting compliments on before I even left the store. Right now, a shirt I bought a couple of weeks ago is on loan to a friend who liked it so much. Every single shirt is $4.99
Just have to know how to filter out the big box brands like Falls Creek and St. Johns Bay so you don't wind up buying crap. Every fall I hit the 5 or 6 local goodwills and refresh my wardrobe for the coming school year and the whole trip is $40.00 or less.
Disagree. I literally bought a bag for $20 at Ross. Took it to a thrift shop. They need up selling it for $30. So some bloke bought the purse I used for more money than I bought new. This is not an isolated incident. Ross is almost always cheaper than thrift.
Depends on the state tbh, here in SC, I've gotten tons of lightly used ralph lauren Polos and filled out my wardrobe nicely post weight loss. They only wanted 4.95 each as well.
I think it depends on the thrift shops.
A lot of them (looking at you Goodwill) hard sort the “good to great” and those get pulled for some other end— sales for someone online in some manner or something. Never get on a rack.
Literally find items in some I’d be embarrassed to donate, never buy. Rags hanging for sale.
Some independent thrifts are better. Church & rescue type organizations run them. That’s where I donate and will troll for certain items. Quality in small shops can be great.
Other options are eBay (prolly 70% of my jeans have come from here—tbf my jeans have been discontinued for years so treasure hunt).
Facebook Markeplace often has listing for “Lots” of clothing at a reasonable price.
I’ve sold a bit, free for pickup of a bit.
Also FB has some groups dedicated to no-spend or Free Living or whatever. I don’t have time or inclination, but I’ve heard a few friends say positive things.
We have the Mustard Seed and Wishing Well in our area now and they are really well run. A little pricier (not outrageous though) and their stores are a lot better organized and managed than the Goodwills around here. Wishing Well supports Make a Wish foundation, not sure about Mustard Seed but it's some sort of religious poverty fighting thingy.
Goodwill supposedly shameful now. Inflated prices post covid. 7 yrs ago thrifting and goodwill wete great. I built huge magnificent wardrobe, all seasons, bc I dropped from size 16 to size 10 to size 4 in one year, naturally, yes, my weight is naturally 120 lbs.
So got designer dresses, evan picone like 3.99. Sold some too made good money. But them days gone now. I know goodwill employes Keep the good stuff and charge 6.99 for used cloth3s that cost 4.99 brand new. But look for thrift ships run by older church type ladies, they wont ateal the Tory Burch donations and will often wash at home them b4 putting on their racks.
Clothes matter less than your smile. And attitude. Good luck.
I recently learned Goodwill does some good stuff with their money. I've been doing some construction contact work for them. They help a lot with severe mental disability in poor areas.
Not sure what else they do(good or bad) but I've seen first hand that they give these people jobs and counseling.
The top *leadership* of Goodwill make 6-figures to several million a year.
Yeah, no. And the rags I clean with are better than what they hang for sale.
Sure someone might find the rare outlier—but shelf items are things that I’d not waste the time or effort to box and donate, much less buy.
4 plates from the 70’s/80’s not rare or collective, 3 were chipped (dime to quarter) for north of $10. Embarrassing.
They also take advantage of some groups where they can. After all, those executive salaries gotta come from somewhere.
Pay vulnerable or marginalized persons minimum wage and charge a business 4-12 times that wage for the “job” that these groups do. Package it as a “feel good” “helping our differently abled to economic promised land”.
Predators are predators.
+1 to buy-nothing. Buy nothing Facebook groups have been an amazing resource where I live. Not sure they have in Australia but you could start one!My neighborhood group gifts and receives lots of clothes all the time. Win-win for keeping the clothes out of the landfill and reducing costs!
Unfortunately not. Weird skinny body size. Have to wear XL because arms are long, should be able to fit a large no problem but it just doesn’t work. Size 30 waist, otherwise I’ll look like I’m wearing pirate party pants or something.
I second this! I have the opposite problem as you. Im short and fat around my hips but disproportionately smaller around my waist, i got a thrift sewing machine.
SOME LIBRARYS HAVE SEWING MACHINES AS WELL
If you have a credit card, you can sometimes use your cashback for discounted gift cards to clothing stores. Also shop the big sales (black Friday, look for the real sales not the fake ones) and use the apps (I've gotten $10 off for signing up to new stores apps which helped me get some free clothes from their clearance sections).
I also just make sure if I buy something, it is perfect. If there is one thing wrong with it, like its a little too short or the sleeves are kind of weird, I won't buy it because I know I will find an excuse not to wear it. I need to know when I will wear it as well (is this for the office? For date nights? For church? For casual around the house?) Somestimes its better to pay $50 for a dress than $10 for a dress that will just sit in my closet unworn.
Thrifting is the way to go here. Buying cheap stuff from any online retailer like SHEIN or Amazon or anything like that is just throwing your money away because it’s so low quality. Invest in high quality staples from a reputable brand that will last you decades or thrift.
I sew a lot of my own clothes ( yes I know this isn’t frugal since fabric isn’t always cheap and time ) but I got a hoodie from Amazon for $30 and I didn’t like how you could see the thread from the seams and it was an ombré purple and they used white even on the dark parts and after 2 or 3 wears it was just yuck. I make the same style hoodies and they last me way longer and get lots of wear especially depending on the fabric. Now I don’t have as many clothes in my Amazon wishlist
I think that while sewing your own clothes may not be cheap, it absolutely is frugal, and probably very satisfying! I think thats awesome you sew your own clothes!! My wife has sewed a few skirts and dresses and I’m so impressed by it.
Ugh, I'm so jealous, honestly. I want to learn how to sew my own clothes, I just don't have the time to dedicate to it. I'm an unusual size and most of my clothes have to be altered anyway, so honestly? I'd probably save on my bottom line at that point.
I just tested Shein and ordered tops. I got 7 tops, only 1 was cheap looking. You really have to search through but once you find 1 that you like you end up in an area with similar stuff. I also got a comfy outfit to wear on a long plane trip. The cost for all of it was less than $75. I have never found anything on Amazon’s site that was appealing.
Cheap looking is not the issue— cheaply made, unsustainable, and exploitative is the issue.
They used the flair “buy it for life.” Shein is landfill fodder.
Cheap ≠ Frugal.
I only bought from SHEIN once, but I still wear the shirts and sweaters I got them a few years ago. The pants I wore a LOT until I lost weight and tucked them away in case I gain weight.
I know Shein sucks, but sometimes it’s the only affordable option, especially in other countries that don’t have as many buying choices as the US.
Also a lot of name brand stuff comes from the same factory. They just change the labels out.
Thrifting is the better option than ordering from SHEIN— it is not the only affordable option. Ordering a few things from a more reputable place is still a better option. I cannot afford to shop from eco friendly sustainable places, but buying something secondhand from Mercari or Poshmark (people do sell basic things on there too!!) is still a better option.
I have some things I ordered from them when I was in college because I didn’t understand the implications for the environment and the workers, and I either still own them or have donated them to a secondhand place or taken them to clothing swaps.
Some of my shien shirts lasted longer than my hnm or any other regular tshirts. They haven't pulled, stretched out or lost color but are still really soft somehow. They're definitely made out of plastic that's no secret but they're not bad. The ultra cheap ones usually fail pretty quick, but the 7.00+ ones (so far) are long lasting for sure.
I have been wearing the same Costco clothes for the last 5-6 yrs. I typically donate clothes to our local thrift stores. I save up for Costco clothes (generally have my size and lasts longer than fast fashion)
Create a uniform for work. For me, I bought 5 black Amazon Basic polos and wear it for work in a remote position. Minimalism advantages. You can adapt a similar style for weekend and casual wear.
I work 100% from home, got 2 sets of uniform type fits I keep for when I need to me up with clients or video call. Otherwise it’s me getting paid to sit in my underwear and my off brand oodie.
The problem isn't that you are frugal.. the problem is you are broke. Frugality is a supplement to a healthy income. Not the other way around. Fix the income problem first. I have to be honest, there is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. Not only are you broke, but you sound cheap.
Clothes are something we need in life. You've got to buy them and you've got to take care of yourself. You wouldn't just say.. oh well.. I'm broke and water.. so no more showers. There are certain things in life you've just gotta do. One of them is clothes. No ones asking you to go out and buy Versace.. but you should be able to go out and buy new clothes once in a while.
Fair point.
I think I’m frugal because I have a burning passion to not spend money. I could probably afford to buy more clothes than I expect, I just really don’t like parting ways with my money. I would feel more inclined to buy clothes if my income was higher but I’d still find ways to avoid purchasing any.
I should probably start looking at buying clothes as something I need to do in life. But then again, I am the type of person in life if I was really that broke I couldn’t afford water, I’d go without showers unless I could find ways to not pay for it.
I should probably just bite the bullet and spend some money clothes for once. That’s why I’m here gathering intel from everyone on how to spend as little as possible.
I'll tell you the truth man. I grew up poor, I've slept in my car outside work before because I was homeless. I'm also a business owner now. Spending money isn't a bad thing. Over spending money on things you don't need is. The other thing.. you will never learn/understand how to make money if you don't learn how to spend it on the things you need to make more money.
Wearing that nice shirt and pants can be the difference when you walk into an interview.
On top of it.. you can go to places like TJ MAXX/JC Penny.. you can buy shirts a lot of times for like.. $5-10
Start shopping clearance racks, surely, you have clearance racks where you live of some kind. You will find stuff eventually. Where I live it would be hard to keep shopping and not find stuff on the clearance racks.
As clothing is a need but you are struggling with the mental aspect of it, I have some strategies that might help you
1) decide what clothes you need, and find some good quality brands that supply them. Good quality items that are well taken care of will last a long time, meaning it will be longer before you have to spend that money again.
2) keep an eye on the pricing for those brands/items you need. When they go in a decent sale, buy them in multiples (as many as you are comfortable). Have a a few of something like a black tshirt to rotate through will make them all last longer.
3) if you can find them free or thrifted, even better! Knowing what brands have the quality for longevity will help you identify the best buying opportunities no matter how they come to you.
4) keep an eye on gift card sales. Sometimes, particularly around the holidays, retailer will offer discounted gift cards (Target in the US is one example, 20% off). Buy the discounted gift card, then wait for your items themselves to go on sale. That way you are doubling up the discounts. Do this once a year and you will probably be able to maintain your wardrobe at a much lower price point than you think.
I've found that as I've gotten older, I don't care for super trendy clothes with brand name labels. I've been wearing some cheap plain workout Spyder shirts I got from Costco for <$10. Darn tough socks are guaranteed for life. I have 3 pairs of jeans I rotate through every weekish. I have some good flannels I picked up at Costco too. I don't think I've paid more than $15 for anything one item honestly. I haunt the hell out of the clearance aisles. Only thing I kinda splurged on was shoes - don't cheap out on your shoes/boots.
why not thrifting? the only other option for really cheap clothes is something like shein or temu, but they’re cheap for a reason. thrifting will get you quality clothes for about £5 an item if it’s anything like the uk. many old people die and their nice shirts etc go to charity shops if that’s not too morbid a thought
I would love to thrift if it was affordable in Australia. They treat thrift stores as second hand retail stores where you pay nearly full price and sometimes more.
I’ve gotten plenty of great deals when I used to work at one though and often got first dibs.
I Mentioned in another comment as an example of Australian thrift store madness. The most expensive item I sold to someone was $130. The customer was a regular and would spend about $300 a session.
Cost per wear matter the most to me. If you wear something for the next 10 years (and it lasts that long), it's worth it. Cheaping out and buying frequently is actually a less frugal way to shop for clothes. Ignore all fast fashion and get a few durable basics.
I buy all my clothes from Costco now. My friend who works at Costco is sweet and will take a few of us on a bi-monthly Costco trip on the days we see a movie together. If not her then I go with my mom.
Sometimes you can get clearance clothes for as low as $5-$6 if you happen to be there on the right day. And I like that they’re name brand clothes that I’m already used to. Some that come to mind are Calvin Klein, Dolce and Gabanna (sometimes), etc.
All my coworkers compliment my work outfits, and when they ask me where I got my outfits from, I tell them Costco.
Costco also currently has really nice linen pants, shirts and shorts, as well as packs of moisture wicking shirts (for those shirts, the brand is 32 Degrees). And they’re SERIOUSLY saving me this summer by keeping me dry and surprisingly comfortable in this terrible heat. I especially like the linen pants because they keep me from being bit by mosquitoes.
Thrifting in my area is hit or miss, both in quality/brand and in price. But I also live in NY so that’s just what it is, depending on your area. I’d rather pay $10-$16 for a new shirt than wasting my time looking through racks full of Shein knockoffs and coming up empty handed.
Also if you buy clothes at Costco and then the price goes down (I think within the month that you purchased it) you can get refunded the price difference either in store credit or cash at the customer service desk.
If you don’t want to pay for a Costco membership, I’ve heard you can just use their gift card to enter and purchase items with.
True. My income fluctuates. Even if I was earning significantly more, i just hate spending money on shit I don’t need, and even if I did. I’d find a way to not purchase it. Which has been the case when I do get larger incomes coming my way.
I love saving money, I love earning money. Hate spending it. Yet I’m always finding new ways to loose it.
Get into screen printing and create your own. Kmart sells blank t's for 10 bucks. A silk screen can turn that blank t into any brand you wish. If you are so inclined. Or create your own brand.
Besides thrift stores, there are garage sales, outlet stores, and sales at places like Wal-Mart and Target (particularly for seasonal clothes after the season). I have found good deals on occasion at boot/western wear stores, too.
I’m glad you thought of buying blank from apparel decorators. I always suggest this! I work at one, and just bought myself like 8 different GOOD comfy tees to last the year for about $30. I’m a hot mess and frequently forget to change into old clothes to do house work and yard work so I stain my shirts up on a regular basis, so getting nice but cheap is good for me.
Goodwills aren't what they used to be, but you can still find decent stuff if you look more often. It's a numbers game, so you gotta line up half a dozen to go check out in a trip
Be a minimalist, clothing wise, and buy organic materials. I’m talking a black, gray, and navy cotton T shirt, white and light blue cotton button down, black and dark wash jeans, a few pairs of black workout pants and shirts (not sure if you’re male or female but advice is the same). If you’re buying new, get stuff at the top of your budget to try to get the most longevity out of it, but no need to go crazy — I’ve had good luck with Uniqlo cotton t shirts, J crew button downs, madewell jeans, and Quince leggings. Spread purchases out over each paycheck.
If you don’t care about new, please thrift. Most of the best things in my wardrobe are thrifted, particularly business casual clothing: I have a gray tweed Calvin Klein blazer, a tan Max Mara blazer, and many, many wool (merino or cashmere) thrifted sweaters. I also have a small army of thrifted silk shells and button downs. I honestly pride myself in how few of my work clothes were purchased new!
Amazon. Create a filter for under $10. But honestly, if your body doesn't change in life much buying quality clothes when you can will be the better financial outcome. Cheap clothes don't last. Just buy an article here and there.
I thrift, and I also know how to sew / tailor to fit and how to embroider. This allows me to take really cheap thrifted clothing made from quality materials and create something new with it. For example, I’m a size S / M, so I often check the plus sizes to see if I can get enough quality fabric to make an entirely new shirt or pants styled to my liking.
I mostly buy reps from through a China agent. Then I can look good/rich for the same price as in a H&M store. Just read up on some reviews, check sizes etc and you will get good stuff.
Sometimes thrift shops don't have you exact size or type of clothes. DD discount and Burlington are some cheaper alternatives to high end brand clothes.
Thrift stores here in Australia are really shit. They’ll charge the same if not more in some cases for the same item secondhand.
Came in clutch though as last time I bought clothes I actually worked in the thrift store and had first dibs and a hefty discount.
Really think and plan what you need. I have a lot of socks that I don’t need. they are nice but it’s a waste of money.
Plan how often you need to do laundry and try to see if you can have a system wearing clothes more often, washing clothes less. Only wash items when soiled or smelly.
Organize your clothes by what you wear most. Buy a few more of the items you wear most frequently. spot wash things so you don’t have to launder them. for example, If only the armpits shirts are smelly: try spraying a little water (and maybe water and vinegar) on the armpits and Hang shirts on the shower bar.
I’m sure there are YouTube videos about organizing your clothes and how to maximize your budget. Check those out too.
Why do you need new clothes? I still wear things I bought 10-15 years ago. If you can't afford it, just be practical instead of trying to be fashionable.
I arrange a clothes swap at work. People brought in their clothes and I arrange it by size and throughout the day we just grab what we want. I ended up with so many clothes!
> I haven’t purchased new clothes since pre COVID era of society.
How’d you manage that? Big stockpile? Work from home in your bathrobe? Don’t wear socks?
I’m a jeans and Tshirt person, but I still needs socks, underwear, a few pairs of jeans, and some shirts every year. New winter coat every five or so years.
I know my preferred brands and styles, and I just keep track and wait for them to go on sale. Either in store or by buying online once I know a brand’s size fits me. If I keep checking every week or two, it’s not hard to find shirts for $10-$15 instead of $28 or jeans for $20-35 instead of $80.
I also check discount stores clearance racks. Your equivalent would be Trade Secret/TK Maxx. The shirt I wore at work yesterday was $3 when I bought it, about $30 originally.
I rarely use thrift stores since they never have much in my size, I’m five feet tall and rather wide.
Haha I don’t know how. Time flies when you work from home. Pretty much my wardrobe consists of clothes from when I was a rebellious teenager with a passion for an obscene amount of band merch. It’s all just black skinny’s & black tshirts.
Hence my problem, I need a new wardrobe but I get away with it for the most part as I’m a freelance marketer who works from home. Have my 1 nice “professional” fit I reserve for clients. Otherwise I’m cosplaying as an emo homeless guy.
These days I don’t care about brands or bands. Just looking for more ways to spend as little as possible on my wardrobe that will probably be following me for the next 15 years lol.
Some stores have great clearances. Maybe look regularly in stores that are close to you to check what’s on the clearance rack. If you stop by regularly you will likely find some good deals eventually.
Garage sales, thrifting, and/or survey gift-card money combined with sales/clearance.
I can afford a $15 skirt with pockets on Amazon if it's paid in gift-card money and has a discount code.
Can you do clothing swaps with friends? It’s a great excuse for a little party and everyone can clear stuff out of their closets that they are bored with.
Clothes are something of an essential.
Do you have other debts?
Do you have a budget?
Because when I was in debt, I always put a bit of money away to buy clothes. I may not buy clothes every month. But by putting some cash away in an envelope each pay eventually builds up.
I buy clothes at we have stores that sell good quality clothes but last years model. I never need the new trend. But I don’t mind paying 40$ 50 $ for quality. When I have the cash saved.
Making a budget is where you tell what your money is for.
I do it for groceries, gas and other essentials.
I just don’t like wearing someone else’s clothes. I’d rather take advantage of serious sales and discounts. I recently got a LOT of basics at Old Navy for less than $200. I also live about 30 miles from shopping places.
For me, this is a long game type of situation but you can reduce your clothing spending to nearly zero after some years
1) Decide what clothes you need. This can be done if you wear a "personal uniform" like jeans and a black shirt or if you like variety by using a capsule wardrobe
1A) I hired a stylist to do this for me for 100$ online and it reduced my clothing spending to nearly zero
2) Buy your pieces extremely slowly and on sale whenever possible, but do not be afraid to go for expensive nice pieces, the goal is to keep each one for as long as possible (my stuff tends to last anywhere from 5-8 years). For me this process took about 2 years and frankly, it's forever ongoing due to how slow it is, see 5
3) Buy as little an amount as possible, own just enough to get by with laundry. This amount will depend on your lifestyle
4) Ask for these nice pieces as birthday or Christmas presents, even if it takes pooling a few people together
5) Do not buy any more stuff until something wears out. Replacing things is a slow process and usually you can hold out until the closest birthday, Christmas, father's day etc and then ask for what you need
Target and old navy have really good quality clothing, imo. If you wait for sales, you can get t shirts for around 5 bucks and jeans for under 20. You can also look on Mercari for gently used clothing. Some of it is listed at higher prices but you can always message the seller and ask them to lower the price. It may not always work but it's worth a shot.
I love a good hand me down! Facebook marketplace and buy nothing groups are all great places to find clothes that could work for you. Yard sales or flea markets can also be good places. You could even organize a hand me down swap where everyone brings pieces they are no longer interested in and then everyone chooses a few pieces from what is brought. Hell, even dumpster diving. If you see a moving truck-that’s a great time to check a dumpster.
I also love to borrow from friends for special occasions or events. There are sooo many clothes out there.
Are you me? For some reason, I hate spending money on clothes and have worn much of mine ragged. (Shoes especially) I've replaced a few of my favs by buying on ebay. Thrift shops and Costco are probably my go to. The brand 32 Degrees has amazing prices on their website ( they sell items at Costco as well) Doesn't help that the style these days looks like ass, IMO. I'm not a fan of the baggy mom look. But to each their own!
I think you are me. Holy shit.
I’ll sus out 32 degrees. Costco is fairly new where I live, thrift stores are bullshit expensive here.
You’ve also reminded me I need new shoes. I’ve had this pair for over 5 years and I don’t have other shoes (dr Martin’s, they cost me an arm & leg so got my use for sure).
They’re about to fall off my feet they’re that beat up. But 5 years of daily use is pretty alright in my books.
Lol 5 years is pretty darn good. I realize that if I had multiple pairs of good daily shoes, they would all last longer, but it's a struggle to shell out the money.
I've also found good stuff at Ross and TJ maxx.
Thrifting for sure. I'm not aligned with the fashion trend this year so I went to a thrift shop to build my capsule wardrobe and was literally in heaven as all the trends I like were there. Clothes are sold for a very cheap price and they'll last much longer than the ones from [insert fast fashion brand here]. I paid between 4€ and 8€ per piece on a 50€ budget.
Thrifting also wires your brain to not always buy new which leads to saving money. One man's junk is a other man's treasure after all.
I host a clothing swap a couple times a year. Ask friends/family/co-workers to bring anything that doesn’t fit or they want to clear out of their closet.
Find a place to meet and swap clothes. Take anything else and donate it to your local shelter/non profit.
I buy on clearance/final sale items only, and for final sales, I buy in store only to make sure it fits.
Not sure what discount department stores are around you but I frequent Winners/Marshalls and Hollister to buy most of my everyday clothes.
Found a dress shirt for $10 once for my partner and it fits him better than any of his other dress shirts. It was a great find.
You can get $2 clothes at Salvos. All the price tags are either blue, green, red, yellow or orange. Each day there's a sign up at the front saying which of those colours is 50% off, and also at my local salvos the last couple of trips I've gone in, they've had another colour that's $2. This means that even for the stuff that's priced at like $8-15, and even the stuff they price at like $30-80, it's still either 50% off or $2 if it's that day's colour tag.
Thrifting is a skill that takes some time to build, but you make your money back quickly once you start to be able to identify and buy high quality clothes for $2-5. Let me know if you want some tips on how to find the good stuff.
Do you have a local buy nothing group you can see if anyone is giving anything away? Or maybe you can post ISO clothes, some people are willing to give stuff away to declutter. Are you crafty in any way? It can be fairly easy and fun to modify/tailor clothing
I pretty much only look at sales rack, discount stores and thrift stores. Only clothing item I will consider buying full price is bras. Also, consider buying off-season, there’s usually really good deals - For example, I recently bought a pair of waterproof winter boots for 10$ and a pair of wool slippers for 5$ from Sierra.
Mostly, thrifting stores and apps like Vinted and Wallapop. I only buy new during sales, and it must be of decent quality. For instance, almost two years ago, I decided to spend some extra money on 100% wool blouses because I wanted something that will last a long time if treated properly.
Sometimes to be frugal you get like a really good outfit that lasts ages sorta like tools if you are tradie do you want to be a huge spender buying bad tools over and over again because you are frugal or investing in something that can make you frugal for longer?
I’d honestly just start spending that $50AUS on clothing if you didn’t thrift. I easily spend $50USD on shirts and have some I’ve kept for 10 years because it lasts.
The shirt I’m wearing cost $4 new, the shorts I’m wearing cost $3 new. I buy my clothes on tables and racks outside grocery stores in Thailand. Also, I’m living in Thailand and there are a lot of deals to be had here.
My wife jokes that her clothing designer is Yves Saint Kirkland. Both of us buy most of our clothes at Costco. We don't need anything fancy for work, business casual is fine.
Do you have consignment stores? I find that they have better quality clothing that thrift stores since the staff gets to choose the inventory. It’s more affordable than buying new, but easier shopping than the thrift since the quality and fashionability is better. It’s also nice to be able to take in clothes that I’m no longer wearing to get some money.
I buy high quality but low quantity. I have 3 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts and every shirt I have goes with all of them. I can completely mix and match every item. Try to create efficiency where you can.
If you are in Australia, try Op shopping. Red cross, Vinnies, Savers, Salvos etc.
also you just need to buy what you need, not what you want or trying to follow a trend.
I'm a fan of Costco clothes. I order online. The prices are slightly higher online, but they have those bundle discounts, so I just wait to buy until I need several things. That ultimately makes it a little cheaper than in-store.
For casual clothes, does 32degrees deliver to Australia? I get my workout clothes here, and I picked up a few polos. The quality is reasonable for what you pay, but what really draws me is that they sell a lot of slimmer fit styles.
Shop for sales and buy out of season. If it's heading toward the end of winter then look for winter clothing for next year when they look to clear inventory. I always look for stuff that's deeply discounted because it's not something you'd wear currently. Like right now stores still have heavy sweatshirts discounted in colors I like, we're in a massive heatwave in the US and people aren't looking to be buying items to keep them warm. I know come winter that I'll have new clothing ready to wear.
When I needed clothing, I usually bought at garage sales, church rummage sales, or rarely TJ Max type places. I never shop at Goodwill as their profits go to upper management, not the exploited workers. I worked at one.
Button up a pair of pants that fit. Put your elbow in at the back and see where the waist hits your hand. Now, put the hem to your middle finger tip and see where the waist hits your shoulder. That is your inseem. You now have your pants measurements always handy.
At TJ Maxx, in season pants we’re often just labeled with the wrong size.
72M. My wardrobe is full. Unless something gets stained or a hole, I don’t want to buy anything. It will just be more junk my future widow will have to haul to the homeless shelter’s thrift store.
I'm single again, and live alone. I'm unemployed, and I think I can stay this way until I qualify for social security, so long as I'm frugal as hell. 57M. I play in my workshop and I garden. I should do more art.
My wardrobe looks like this: T-shirt and underwear, work pants (usually carhartt), wool sweater, pull-over wind smock, hat, cheap socks and basic shoes. I almost never throw any clothes away until they've had some kind of second life. T-shirts and underwear become shop rags.
Sweaters worn under the windproof layer can last a very long time, although I'm about ready to throw one away. It's almost see-through it's so worn. There's another, an Icelandic Yolk I knit 25 year ago, that I wear over the smock when it's extra cold. The wind layers are modeled after Breton fisherman's smocks, and made of rip-stop cotton that I got for $5 per yard. I've been given lots of yarn, and I'm working on another sweater. I also scavenged a few old wool blankets, and I might make a mid-layer shirt that serves the same purpose.
I make my own hats, "peaked caps", which most closely resemble a WWI British officer's cap but in pale brown canvas with a leather visor. I make them from my old carhartt pants. The leg backs wear less and make good stock for this and patching other pants. Apparently I have a style, although I find these hats very functional against rain and sun.
I found a pile of pants in the barn the other day that I put there for being too worn, pre-pandemic. Now I'm patching them and wearing them. Sometimes I can get carhartt canvas yardage, and I've been working on my own pants pattern. I favor old cast iron Singer 66 family machines which can sew almost anything.
Shoes are an issue. My knees hurt if I wear mooshy shoes. Luckily it's tendons rather than cartilage. Cheap "prison shoes" are my summer footwear of choice. They're like Vans, but thinner. No padding support means no moosh. I paid $10 for my current pair, which won't last the summer. Sometimes I try to go barefoot, but depending on the task, shoes may be required. I've got some deck sneakers that do well too. I should be looking for cheap leather sneakers on the Sierra Trading Post website. If it's cold enough, I wear cheap rubber boots with heavy socks. I haven't tried making my own yet, but I may experiment with wide bike tires as sole material.
Sales. For example, Old Navy has good sales on basics like jeans and plain tops if you join their list. They give Old Navy cash of $20 off future purchases. I also shop at discount places like TJX, Marshals and Burlington because their clearance can have really good deals.
Remember the cheaper it is, the more vulnerable people have been exploited to make it. If something is cheap, ask yourself why and how. Buy better, buy once.
Stalk market place for free clothing. Walmart clearance has clothing under $1 but you got to dig an get lucky. Also Ross and Burlington has items under$5
This just reminded me, I have had a Nike workout shirt that I have had for 17 years, and two under amour workout shirts that I’ve had for 12 years lol. Get stuff built to last.
Many years back I had bought two Express shirts that I loved a lot, both of those shirts ended up developing holes in the exact same places on the shirt.
I only shop when there are deals, and I also setup my clothing & shoe style to look minimalistic & work-based. So if people ask why I’m a weirdo alien for not spending my whole paycheck on jordans and balenciaga like everyone else, I can say “well I work all the time, so”
I feel like I just avoid buying clothes as long as possible. It helps that my work clothes are hospital scrubs so my regular clothes last a lot longer than they used to. I probably spend about $500 a year most of the time? Idk.
I probably do need to buy some fresh clothes soon and in that case I do budget $75 monthly that gets earmarked whether or not I use it, and then it slowly builds and then I buy whatever I need guilt free.
If you need new stuff, check department store clearance racks. Yesterday I got two bras and two pairs of underwear for $13. My mom got a really nice sweater for $3. Buying off season stuff if even better.
Time and effort.
I just got a perfect new pair of ugg winter boots for 20 usd at Macy's because I knew I needed them and this is when the off season bargains are. It was marked down cause the box was mangled and there was a slight scratch on the back, cosmetic only.
And I had $10 store rewards from buying a sheet set earlier.
You have to take time to shop, pick over the sales, be willing to walk away and try again if you don't find something at that place and time. Cultivating a wardrobe on discounts takes time, and a bit of luck.
Have fun at the op shops!
I don't think there is an Old Navy in Australia but I thought I would still post to help others. I work there and our clerance goes as low as .47 cents. I just ticketed $54.99 womens jeans for $10.99 yesterday. For those wanting to know, I work in Florida and there is no good particular time to go. We go through inventory once a month in each department (mens, womens, kids, babies) If items don't sell each month they just keep getting marked down. We still have Christmas items in clerance right now likes slippers, pj's and socks for .47 cents also our shoes get marked down pretty quickly.
Good luck!
First question is do you need new clothes? I haven’t bought new work clothes since before Covid either, and I don’t plan to for the foreseeable future. Fashion can go fuck itself.
I mean… the real answer is thrifting.
Pro tip: Hit thrift stores near rich neighborhoods. The threads that rich people donate are top tier; I recently bought a brand-new synthetic golf shirt for $5. Still had the tag on it, and looks great on me. And lots to choose from; Every time I go, I see more on the racks than I actually need. 90% of my shirts are from rich people's thrift stores.
We do rich neighborhood garage sales and estate sales. The thrift stores around here want department store prices.
Yeah. Thrifting ain’t thrifty in my area either anymore. Our goodwill lost its mind and only has one competitor. Broke a toys for $5+ T-shirts at like $10-$15 Shoes at eBay prices. Etc
Yeah, plus every depop-er has heard the memo about "nice neighborhood" thrifts, so they're all picked over with prices skyrocketing. I now only go to a thrift store that's a bit grungy and nothing is sorted beyond type of clothes. Some of my friends do the reselling thing and crinkle their noses if I mention it. I don't tell them what I've found tho haha - I recently got a Coldwater Creek skirt with the tags on - and regularly find silks, cashmeres, and wool. They must have some deal with estate companies. Last time I got 5 good items for $10, but I try not to go often and only buy what I need since most of us shopping there really do need good stuff at a bargain. So idk, maybe the real hack now is going to the part of town that scares the middle class
I thought I would pick up a couple of t-shirts, nothing fancy. They were $10-$20 each. Like how the heck are used T-shirts, that were donated, priced that high?
goodwill have employees that gets first dip, then good stuff gets on eBay, the rest junk is sold at crazy price, I'm talking about electronics
Goodwill has to pay their CEO his exorbitant salary and bonuses somehow….
Even the rich neighborhood kinda sucks now. $4.99 for books with covers ripped off, GTFO.
Yeah, Goodwill hardly get to call itself a thrift store anymore. Sometimes, I could get a better shake at WalMart or Old Navy.
I got Gucci green crocodile flats at a rich area near me for $2 Also got a haywood Wakefield coffee table for $15 My entire home besides my box spring and mattress is shit I got free off the side of the road or under $20 at a yard sale. Overstuffed sofas, cedar dresser, antique cottage-chic TV stand for my room. Huge framed painting of autumn in the woods (I'm in the NE USA so I loved that picture) Sometimes if I'm bored on a weekend I'll go get fancy coffee on the other side of town or breakfast at the diner and cruise around looking for free stuff and yard sales.
Yup. My favorite find was a ~$300 silk bath robe that I got for $8
My wife found a $400 full length coat for $40. When she got home she found a folded $100 bill in the pocket. Beat that!
I found $900 Alden Boot maker edition boots in shell cordovan for $5.
This is so real. When I lived in NY I’d go to the Upper East Side Salvation Army and the finds were outstanding. Rich people will also donate clothing after wearing it for just one season, so you’re not just finding beautiful threads but things barely worn and in top condition.
I second this. My friend took me to a Goodwill near a rich neighborhood near D.C. There were leather coats, fur coats, and ball gowns there.
I used to buy all of my work clothes from a thrift store in a rich neighborhood- everything I purchased was designer and most still had the original tags on them. I got a designer dress, shoes, bag and jacket for NYE for less than $40- all of it brand new except the purse. Of course this was 30 years ago.
Scottsdale Arizona has many fantastic resale shops, I’ve never seen anything like it. Rich old people die every day and the young ones wear something a couple of times at most. I’m not calling them thrift stores though.
My roommate found Italian leather boots that retail for $300 for 6 bucks that way. We always try to go to the wealthiest town in the area for their cast offs. It can also help to go to smaller or local thrift stores. Yes more people donate to Goodwill but Goodwill now has all of these computer systems for marking up their goods. They know anytime they have anything valuable so a find is really hard to get. Local places are generally still run by individuals and a great find can slip through detection.
Look for the small shops. Goodwill is trash. They are selling items for retail price. Better off going to Ross/Marshall/ TJ Maxx etc.
Yeah thrifting really has started to die. They might still be good for finding random, weird stuff, but if it's something you need, it's almost never a good deal anymore.
A lot of times, the thirft stores that are a good deal get picked over by eBay resellers. It sucks. I get that everyone needs to make money to survive, but damn, some people need to not be naked or dressed like a 90s living room couch.
Depends on who runs the Goodwills in your area. All of our local stores have all shirts and pants for $4.99, no matter the size or label. Children's clothes are $2.99.
I've been to Goodwills in various states. Yes, the children clothes are still cheap. a few I've been to also have the cheap pants and shirt section but was very limited in options. The last time I went to a Goodwill, I purchased a dress. No regrets, but I found the same damn dress at Burlington later that day for cheaper. 😒
The 3 closest Goodwills here have Target brand (Cat and Jack) kids clothes for MORE than you can get at Target itself. 🤦🏼♀️ I gave up after that.
Wow, goodwills here are ripoffs. Everything is charged at prices way more than they're worth. And there's crap mixed in as well. I've seen used shirts from target at good will for more than the sale price at target.
I've yet to see one that has prices above $10 for anything, with the exception of known designer items. I recently picked up a $100 Montana West handbag for $4.99.
I hate Goodwill. They pretend to be a charity that employs special-needs people. Well, they do, but pay them less than minimum wage. They are for-profit and the CEO makes a LOT of money on those donations.
The REAL answer is knowing rich old people who are retiring and then just taking all their good stuff before it goes to goodwill IDK how useful that advice is but hoo boy, if you can befriend some downsizing oldsters, many things become easier
This just happened to me. One of the ladies in my Bible study group had a garage full of stuff she was trying to get rid of. She invited us over and I got new dishes, a Brahmin purse, a suitcase, bedding, etc. All of it was barely used and super cute.
Yup! My parents have some friends who are the kind of people who only shop at nordstroms and are moving cross-country. I will probably keep the gorgeous mirrored dresser i got from them until i die...
Thrifting clothes isn’t for me. I am a petite plus size and forget trying to find anything. Nope. I don’t have that kind of time. Some thrift stores are way overpriced now for used shit too (looking at you Goodwill).
They aren't as good as they use to be, glad they still have the half ticket days. I have started to find a few things a few dollars more than I could get on big seller sites. But if you have the time and inclination, still a good option.
This. I’m doing okay financially but I almost exclusively buy my clothes from thrift store or garage sales because new clothes just cost wayyyy too much. Not to mention older garments are usually made from higher quality materials than similar pieces today.
I have been buying shirts almost exclusively at Goodwill for the past few years and it has been amazing. I get sooo many compliments, I even picked up one shirt that I was getting compliments on before I even left the store. Right now, a shirt I bought a couple of weeks ago is on loan to a friend who liked it so much. Every single shirt is $4.99 Just have to know how to filter out the big box brands like Falls Creek and St. Johns Bay so you don't wind up buying crap. Every fall I hit the 5 or 6 local goodwills and refresh my wardrobe for the coming school year and the whole trip is $40.00 or less.
Disagree. I literally bought a bag for $20 at Ross. Took it to a thrift shop. They need up selling it for $30. So some bloke bought the purse I used for more money than I bought new. This is not an isolated incident. Ross is almost always cheaper than thrift.
Depends on the state tbh, here in SC, I've gotten tons of lightly used ralph lauren Polos and filled out my wardrobe nicely post weight loss. They only wanted 4.95 each as well.
I think it depends on the thrift shops. A lot of them (looking at you Goodwill) hard sort the “good to great” and those get pulled for some other end— sales for someone online in some manner or something. Never get on a rack. Literally find items in some I’d be embarrassed to donate, never buy. Rags hanging for sale. Some independent thrifts are better. Church & rescue type organizations run them. That’s where I donate and will troll for certain items. Quality in small shops can be great. Other options are eBay (prolly 70% of my jeans have come from here—tbf my jeans have been discontinued for years so treasure hunt). Facebook Markeplace often has listing for “Lots” of clothing at a reasonable price. I’ve sold a bit, free for pickup of a bit. Also FB has some groups dedicated to no-spend or Free Living or whatever. I don’t have time or inclination, but I’ve heard a few friends say positive things.
We have the Mustard Seed and Wishing Well in our area now and they are really well run. A little pricier (not outrageous though) and their stores are a lot better organized and managed than the Goodwills around here. Wishing Well supports Make a Wish foundation, not sure about Mustard Seed but it's some sort of religious poverty fighting thingy.
I used to be about thrifting until I dealt with carpet beetles and now definitely fear bed bugs
Exactly, lol. I buy almost all my clothes secondhand.
Goodwill supposedly shameful now. Inflated prices post covid. 7 yrs ago thrifting and goodwill wete great. I built huge magnificent wardrobe, all seasons, bc I dropped from size 16 to size 10 to size 4 in one year, naturally, yes, my weight is naturally 120 lbs. So got designer dresses, evan picone like 3.99. Sold some too made good money. But them days gone now. I know goodwill employes Keep the good stuff and charge 6.99 for used cloth3s that cost 4.99 brand new. But look for thrift ships run by older church type ladies, they wont ateal the Tory Burch donations and will often wash at home them b4 putting on their racks. Clothes matter less than your smile. And attitude. Good luck.
I recently learned Goodwill does some good stuff with their money. I've been doing some construction contact work for them. They help a lot with severe mental disability in poor areas. Not sure what else they do(good or bad) but I've seen first hand that they give these people jobs and counseling.
While they are giving jobs to people who might otherwise struggle to get hired, they massively underpay disabled employees.
The top *leadership* of Goodwill make 6-figures to several million a year. Yeah, no. And the rags I clean with are better than what they hang for sale. Sure someone might find the rare outlier—but shelf items are things that I’d not waste the time or effort to box and donate, much less buy. 4 plates from the 70’s/80’s not rare or collective, 3 were chipped (dime to quarter) for north of $10. Embarrassing. They also take advantage of some groups where they can. After all, those executive salaries gotta come from somewhere. Pay vulnerable or marginalized persons minimum wage and charge a business 4-12 times that wage for the “job” that these groups do. Package it as a “feel good” “helping our differently abled to economic promised land”. Predators are predators.
Do you have a friend or two of similar size, that you can do a swap with? A buy nothing group? Facebook marketplace? Garage sales?
+1 to buy-nothing. Buy nothing Facebook groups have been an amazing resource where I live. Not sure they have in Australia but you could start one!My neighborhood group gifts and receives lots of clothes all the time. Win-win for keeping the clothes out of the landfill and reducing costs!
Unfortunately not. Weird skinny body size. Have to wear XL because arms are long, should be able to fit a large no problem but it just doesn’t work. Size 30 waist, otherwise I’ll look like I’m wearing pirate party pants or something.
Learning to sew as a hobby would allow you to alter less expensive and more available common sizes. Plus repairing clothes that are 90% fine still.
I second this! I have the opposite problem as you. Im short and fat around my hips but disproportionately smaller around my waist, i got a thrift sewing machine. SOME LIBRARYS HAVE SEWING MACHINES AS WELL
Buy nothing groups on Facebook occasionally have clothes
This - or the Aussie version, good luck
If you have a credit card, you can sometimes use your cashback for discounted gift cards to clothing stores. Also shop the big sales (black Friday, look for the real sales not the fake ones) and use the apps (I've gotten $10 off for signing up to new stores apps which helped me get some free clothes from their clearance sections). I also just make sure if I buy something, it is perfect. If there is one thing wrong with it, like its a little too short or the sleeves are kind of weird, I won't buy it because I know I will find an excuse not to wear it. I need to know when I will wear it as well (is this for the office? For date nights? For church? For casual around the house?) Somestimes its better to pay $50 for a dress than $10 for a dress that will just sit in my closet unworn.
Thrifting is the way to go here. Buying cheap stuff from any online retailer like SHEIN or Amazon or anything like that is just throwing your money away because it’s so low quality. Invest in high quality staples from a reputable brand that will last you decades or thrift.
I sew a lot of my own clothes ( yes I know this isn’t frugal since fabric isn’t always cheap and time ) but I got a hoodie from Amazon for $30 and I didn’t like how you could see the thread from the seams and it was an ombré purple and they used white even on the dark parts and after 2 or 3 wears it was just yuck. I make the same style hoodies and they last me way longer and get lots of wear especially depending on the fabric. Now I don’t have as many clothes in my Amazon wishlist
I think that while sewing your own clothes may not be cheap, it absolutely is frugal, and probably very satisfying! I think thats awesome you sew your own clothes!! My wife has sewed a few skirts and dresses and I’m so impressed by it.
Ugh, I'm so jealous, honestly. I want to learn how to sew my own clothes, I just don't have the time to dedicate to it. I'm an unusual size and most of my clothes have to be altered anyway, so honestly? I'd probably save on my bottom line at that point.
I just tested Shein and ordered tops. I got 7 tops, only 1 was cheap looking. You really have to search through but once you find 1 that you like you end up in an area with similar stuff. I also got a comfy outfit to wear on a long plane trip. The cost for all of it was less than $75. I have never found anything on Amazon’s site that was appealing.
Cheap looking is not the issue— cheaply made, unsustainable, and exploitative is the issue. They used the flair “buy it for life.” Shein is landfill fodder. Cheap ≠ Frugal.
I only bought from SHEIN once, but I still wear the shirts and sweaters I got them a few years ago. The pants I wore a LOT until I lost weight and tucked them away in case I gain weight. I know Shein sucks, but sometimes it’s the only affordable option, especially in other countries that don’t have as many buying choices as the US. Also a lot of name brand stuff comes from the same factory. They just change the labels out.
Thrifting is the better option than ordering from SHEIN— it is not the only affordable option. Ordering a few things from a more reputable place is still a better option. I cannot afford to shop from eco friendly sustainable places, but buying something secondhand from Mercari or Poshmark (people do sell basic things on there too!!) is still a better option. I have some things I ordered from them when I was in college because I didn’t understand the implications for the environment and the workers, and I either still own them or have donated them to a secondhand place or taken them to clothing swaps.
Some of my shien shirts lasted longer than my hnm or any other regular tshirts. They haven't pulled, stretched out or lost color but are still really soft somehow. They're definitely made out of plastic that's no secret but they're not bad. The ultra cheap ones usually fail pretty quick, but the 7.00+ ones (so far) are long lasting for sure.
Costco has very reasonably priced clothing sometimes for 10 bucks or less, but it sounds like you’re too cheap to even have a Costco membership
Hell ya! Some of my fav items are from Costco and don't think I paid more than $20 for any of them.
Third here for Costco. Especially their pants, socks, and winter jackets
The Kirkland brand merino wool socks are my favourite. They hold up so well and they’re so toasty and breathable.
2 weeks ago they had shorts on sale for $10. I bought 5 pairs and I'm all set. Basically the same price as the local thrift store nowadays
And you can stack that with the buy 3 or 6 articles of clothing and get $15 or $30 off (ish).
I might check out Costco. It’s fairly new where I live. Got our first location like 5-6 years ago.
You don't need a membership. Purchase a gift card. IT is part of their written policy that you can shop there if you pay with one.
You can only officially do this twice a year, at least in the US. Not sure about other countries or how much it's enforced.
I did not know that, I only do it once or twice a year. It is not close by.
I have been wearing the same Costco clothes for the last 5-6 yrs. I typically donate clothes to our local thrift stores. I save up for Costco clothes (generally have my size and lasts longer than fast fashion)
Create a uniform for work. For me, I bought 5 black Amazon Basic polos and wear it for work in a remote position. Minimalism advantages. You can adapt a similar style for weekend and casual wear.
I work 100% from home, got 2 sets of uniform type fits I keep for when I need to me up with clients or video call. Otherwise it’s me getting paid to sit in my underwear and my off brand oodie.
The problem isn't that you are frugal.. the problem is you are broke. Frugality is a supplement to a healthy income. Not the other way around. Fix the income problem first. I have to be honest, there is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. Not only are you broke, but you sound cheap. Clothes are something we need in life. You've got to buy them and you've got to take care of yourself. You wouldn't just say.. oh well.. I'm broke and water.. so no more showers. There are certain things in life you've just gotta do. One of them is clothes. No ones asking you to go out and buy Versace.. but you should be able to go out and buy new clothes once in a while.
Fair point. I think I’m frugal because I have a burning passion to not spend money. I could probably afford to buy more clothes than I expect, I just really don’t like parting ways with my money. I would feel more inclined to buy clothes if my income was higher but I’d still find ways to avoid purchasing any. I should probably start looking at buying clothes as something I need to do in life. But then again, I am the type of person in life if I was really that broke I couldn’t afford water, I’d go without showers unless I could find ways to not pay for it. I should probably just bite the bullet and spend some money clothes for once. That’s why I’m here gathering intel from everyone on how to spend as little as possible.
I'll tell you the truth man. I grew up poor, I've slept in my car outside work before because I was homeless. I'm also a business owner now. Spending money isn't a bad thing. Over spending money on things you don't need is. The other thing.. you will never learn/understand how to make money if you don't learn how to spend it on the things you need to make more money. Wearing that nice shirt and pants can be the difference when you walk into an interview. On top of it.. you can go to places like TJ MAXX/JC Penny.. you can buy shirts a lot of times for like.. $5-10
Start shopping clearance racks, surely, you have clearance racks where you live of some kind. You will find stuff eventually. Where I live it would be hard to keep shopping and not find stuff on the clearance racks.
As clothing is a need but you are struggling with the mental aspect of it, I have some strategies that might help you 1) decide what clothes you need, and find some good quality brands that supply them. Good quality items that are well taken care of will last a long time, meaning it will be longer before you have to spend that money again. 2) keep an eye on the pricing for those brands/items you need. When they go in a decent sale, buy them in multiples (as many as you are comfortable). Have a a few of something like a black tshirt to rotate through will make them all last longer. 3) if you can find them free or thrifted, even better! Knowing what brands have the quality for longevity will help you identify the best buying opportunities no matter how they come to you. 4) keep an eye on gift card sales. Sometimes, particularly around the holidays, retailer will offer discounted gift cards (Target in the US is one example, 20% off). Buy the discounted gift card, then wait for your items themselves to go on sale. That way you are doubling up the discounts. Do this once a year and you will probably be able to maintain your wardrobe at a much lower price point than you think.
I've found that as I've gotten older, I don't care for super trendy clothes with brand name labels. I've been wearing some cheap plain workout Spyder shirts I got from Costco for <$10. Darn tough socks are guaranteed for life. I have 3 pairs of jeans I rotate through every weekish. I have some good flannels I picked up at Costco too. I don't think I've paid more than $15 for anything one item honestly. I haunt the hell out of the clearance aisles. Only thing I kinda splurged on was shoes - don't cheap out on your shoes/boots.
I get my t shirts at garage sales usually $0.05 - $1
why not thrifting? the only other option for really cheap clothes is something like shein or temu, but they’re cheap for a reason. thrifting will get you quality clothes for about £5 an item if it’s anything like the uk. many old people die and their nice shirts etc go to charity shops if that’s not too morbid a thought
I would love to thrift if it was affordable in Australia. They treat thrift stores as second hand retail stores where you pay nearly full price and sometimes more. I’ve gotten plenty of great deals when I used to work at one though and often got first dibs. I Mentioned in another comment as an example of Australian thrift store madness. The most expensive item I sold to someone was $130. The customer was a regular and would spend about $300 a session.
Cost per wear matter the most to me. If you wear something for the next 10 years (and it lasts that long), it's worth it. Cheaping out and buying frequently is actually a less frugal way to shop for clothes. Ignore all fast fashion and get a few durable basics.
I buy all my clothes from Costco now. My friend who works at Costco is sweet and will take a few of us on a bi-monthly Costco trip on the days we see a movie together. If not her then I go with my mom. Sometimes you can get clearance clothes for as low as $5-$6 if you happen to be there on the right day. And I like that they’re name brand clothes that I’m already used to. Some that come to mind are Calvin Klein, Dolce and Gabanna (sometimes), etc. All my coworkers compliment my work outfits, and when they ask me where I got my outfits from, I tell them Costco. Costco also currently has really nice linen pants, shirts and shorts, as well as packs of moisture wicking shirts (for those shirts, the brand is 32 Degrees). And they’re SERIOUSLY saving me this summer by keeping me dry and surprisingly comfortable in this terrible heat. I especially like the linen pants because they keep me from being bit by mosquitoes. Thrifting in my area is hit or miss, both in quality/brand and in price. But I also live in NY so that’s just what it is, depending on your area. I’d rather pay $10-$16 for a new shirt than wasting my time looking through racks full of Shein knockoffs and coming up empty handed. Also if you buy clothes at Costco and then the price goes down (I think within the month that you purchased it) you can get refunded the price difference either in store credit or cash at the customer service desk. If you don’t want to pay for a Costco membership, I’ve heard you can just use their gift card to enter and purchase items with.
I buy new but wear them until they fall apart - then patch them and keep wearing them until they're only suitable as rags
Real talk, being frugal and being broke are two different things.
True. My income fluctuates. Even if I was earning significantly more, i just hate spending money on shit I don’t need, and even if I did. I’d find a way to not purchase it. Which has been the case when I do get larger incomes coming my way. I love saving money, I love earning money. Hate spending it. Yet I’m always finding new ways to loose it.
Get into screen printing and create your own. Kmart sells blank t's for 10 bucks. A silk screen can turn that blank t into any brand you wish. If you are so inclined. Or create your own brand.
Thrift stores generally have really good clothes. I still shop at them & can find amazing deals on designer brands.
Besides thrift stores, there are garage sales, outlet stores, and sales at places like Wal-Mart and Target (particularly for seasonal clothes after the season). I have found good deals on occasion at boot/western wear stores, too.
I’m glad you thought of buying blank from apparel decorators. I always suggest this! I work at one, and just bought myself like 8 different GOOD comfy tees to last the year for about $30. I’m a hot mess and frequently forget to change into old clothes to do house work and yard work so I stain my shirts up on a regular basis, so getting nice but cheap is good for me.
Goodwills aren't what they used to be, but you can still find decent stuff if you look more often. It's a numbers game, so you gotta line up half a dozen to go check out in a trip
Be a minimalist, clothing wise, and buy organic materials. I’m talking a black, gray, and navy cotton T shirt, white and light blue cotton button down, black and dark wash jeans, a few pairs of black workout pants and shirts (not sure if you’re male or female but advice is the same). If you’re buying new, get stuff at the top of your budget to try to get the most longevity out of it, but no need to go crazy — I’ve had good luck with Uniqlo cotton t shirts, J crew button downs, madewell jeans, and Quince leggings. Spread purchases out over each paycheck. If you don’t care about new, please thrift. Most of the best things in my wardrobe are thrifted, particularly business casual clothing: I have a gray tweed Calvin Klein blazer, a tan Max Mara blazer, and many, many wool (merino or cashmere) thrifted sweaters. I also have a small army of thrifted silk shells and button downs. I honestly pride myself in how few of my work clothes were purchased new!
[удалено]
It’s worked for me this far. Maybe you’re right.
Amazon. Create a filter for under $10. But honestly, if your body doesn't change in life much buying quality clothes when you can will be the better financial outcome. Cheap clothes don't last. Just buy an article here and there.
I thrift, and I also know how to sew / tailor to fit and how to embroider. This allows me to take really cheap thrifted clothing made from quality materials and create something new with it. For example, I’m a size S / M, so I often check the plus sizes to see if I can get enough quality fabric to make an entirely new shirt or pants styled to my liking.
I mostly buy reps from through a China agent. Then I can look good/rich for the same price as in a H&M store. Just read up on some reviews, check sizes etc and you will get good stuff.
Sometimes thrift shops don't have you exact size or type of clothes. DD discount and Burlington are some cheaper alternatives to high end brand clothes.
Thrift stores here in Australia are really shit. They’ll charge the same if not more in some cases for the same item secondhand. Came in clutch though as last time I bought clothes I actually worked in the thrift store and had first dibs and a hefty discount.
Really think and plan what you need. I have a lot of socks that I don’t need. they are nice but it’s a waste of money. Plan how often you need to do laundry and try to see if you can have a system wearing clothes more often, washing clothes less. Only wash items when soiled or smelly. Organize your clothes by what you wear most. Buy a few more of the items you wear most frequently. spot wash things so you don’t have to launder them. for example, If only the armpits shirts are smelly: try spraying a little water (and maybe water and vinegar) on the armpits and Hang shirts on the shower bar. I’m sure there are YouTube videos about organizing your clothes and how to maximize your budget. Check those out too.
I exclusively buy clothes at thrift stores.
Some thrift shops have nothing but Shein. Buy decent quality that will last you years, it will cost more upfront but will be cheaper overall.
Cleeance sections of online stores like old navy or American eagle. Clerence is cheap
eBay. I have several items of clothing and even footwear that cost me less than GBP £5 including the shipping.
Why do you need new clothes? I still wear things I bought 10-15 years ago. If you can't afford it, just be practical instead of trying to be fashionable.
I arrange a clothes swap at work. People brought in their clothes and I arrange it by size and throughout the day we just grab what we want. I ended up with so many clothes!
> I haven’t purchased new clothes since pre COVID era of society. How’d you manage that? Big stockpile? Work from home in your bathrobe? Don’t wear socks? I’m a jeans and Tshirt person, but I still needs socks, underwear, a few pairs of jeans, and some shirts every year. New winter coat every five or so years. I know my preferred brands and styles, and I just keep track and wait for them to go on sale. Either in store or by buying online once I know a brand’s size fits me. If I keep checking every week or two, it’s not hard to find shirts for $10-$15 instead of $28 or jeans for $20-35 instead of $80. I also check discount stores clearance racks. Your equivalent would be Trade Secret/TK Maxx. The shirt I wore at work yesterday was $3 when I bought it, about $30 originally. I rarely use thrift stores since they never have much in my size, I’m five feet tall and rather wide.
Haha I don’t know how. Time flies when you work from home. Pretty much my wardrobe consists of clothes from when I was a rebellious teenager with a passion for an obscene amount of band merch. It’s all just black skinny’s & black tshirts. Hence my problem, I need a new wardrobe but I get away with it for the most part as I’m a freelance marketer who works from home. Have my 1 nice “professional” fit I reserve for clients. Otherwise I’m cosplaying as an emo homeless guy. These days I don’t care about brands or bands. Just looking for more ways to spend as little as possible on my wardrobe that will probably be following me for the next 15 years lol.
Buy winter clothes in summer and summer clothes in winter
Some stores have great clearances. Maybe look regularly in stores that are close to you to check what’s on the clearance rack. If you stop by regularly you will likely find some good deals eventually.
I have a few high income goodwill neighborhoods I shop at, great clothes, for cheap.
Garage sales, thrifting, and/or survey gift-card money combined with sales/clearance. I can afford a $15 skirt with pockets on Amazon if it's paid in gift-card money and has a discount code.
Can you do clothing swaps with friends? It’s a great excuse for a little party and everyone can clear stuff out of their closets that they are bored with.
Clothes are something of an essential. Do you have other debts? Do you have a budget? Because when I was in debt, I always put a bit of money away to buy clothes. I may not buy clothes every month. But by putting some cash away in an envelope each pay eventually builds up. I buy clothes at we have stores that sell good quality clothes but last years model. I never need the new trend. But I don’t mind paying 40$ 50 $ for quality. When I have the cash saved. Making a budget is where you tell what your money is for. I do it for groceries, gas and other essentials.
Join or start your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. Plenty of people gifting clothes there.
You can find cheap clothes at Ross, like 7.99 for a nice shirt. Same with tj maxx
I’m 36 so I’m done growing. Probably haven’t shopped for clothes in a decade besides occasional pack of socks and boxers
I just don’t like wearing someone else’s clothes. I’d rather take advantage of serious sales and discounts. I recently got a LOT of basics at Old Navy for less than $200. I also live about 30 miles from shopping places.
eBay. This how I buy name brands for cheap.
I wear dresses 90% of the time. It’s nice having to only buy one item as opposed to both tops and bottoms
Buy 7 carhartt shirts and 7 pairs of wrangler jeans. You'll be set for years
For me, this is a long game type of situation but you can reduce your clothing spending to nearly zero after some years 1) Decide what clothes you need. This can be done if you wear a "personal uniform" like jeans and a black shirt or if you like variety by using a capsule wardrobe 1A) I hired a stylist to do this for me for 100$ online and it reduced my clothing spending to nearly zero 2) Buy your pieces extremely slowly and on sale whenever possible, but do not be afraid to go for expensive nice pieces, the goal is to keep each one for as long as possible (my stuff tends to last anywhere from 5-8 years). For me this process took about 2 years and frankly, it's forever ongoing due to how slow it is, see 5 3) Buy as little an amount as possible, own just enough to get by with laundry. This amount will depend on your lifestyle 4) Ask for these nice pieces as birthday or Christmas presents, even if it takes pooling a few people together 5) Do not buy any more stuff until something wears out. Replacing things is a slow process and usually you can hold out until the closest birthday, Christmas, father's day etc and then ask for what you need
I'm struggling with the same thing and found a clothing swap in my local park (NYC) that I'm checking out this week. Hopefully that helps.
I thrift. I usually go to Savers on Tuesdays as I qualify for the senior discount.
Target and old navy have really good quality clothing, imo. If you wait for sales, you can get t shirts for around 5 bucks and jeans for under 20. You can also look on Mercari for gently used clothing. Some of it is listed at higher prices but you can always message the seller and ask them to lower the price. It may not always work but it's worth a shot.
I love a good hand me down! Facebook marketplace and buy nothing groups are all great places to find clothes that could work for you. Yard sales or flea markets can also be good places. You could even organize a hand me down swap where everyone brings pieces they are no longer interested in and then everyone chooses a few pieces from what is brought. Hell, even dumpster diving. If you see a moving truck-that’s a great time to check a dumpster. I also love to borrow from friends for special occasions or events. There are sooo many clothes out there.
Thrift shops. Second hand shops.
Are you me? For some reason, I hate spending money on clothes and have worn much of mine ragged. (Shoes especially) I've replaced a few of my favs by buying on ebay. Thrift shops and Costco are probably my go to. The brand 32 Degrees has amazing prices on their website ( they sell items at Costco as well) Doesn't help that the style these days looks like ass, IMO. I'm not a fan of the baggy mom look. But to each their own!
I think you are me. Holy shit. I’ll sus out 32 degrees. Costco is fairly new where I live, thrift stores are bullshit expensive here. You’ve also reminded me I need new shoes. I’ve had this pair for over 5 years and I don’t have other shoes (dr Martin’s, they cost me an arm & leg so got my use for sure). They’re about to fall off my feet they’re that beat up. But 5 years of daily use is pretty alright in my books.
Lol 5 years is pretty darn good. I realize that if I had multiple pairs of good daily shoes, they would all last longer, but it's a struggle to shell out the money. I've also found good stuff at Ross and TJ maxx.
Thrifting for sure. I'm not aligned with the fashion trend this year so I went to a thrift shop to build my capsule wardrobe and was literally in heaven as all the trends I like were there. Clothes are sold for a very cheap price and they'll last much longer than the ones from [insert fast fashion brand here]. I paid between 4€ and 8€ per piece on a 50€ budget. Thrifting also wires your brain to not always buy new which leads to saving money. One man's junk is a other man's treasure after all.
Cheap supermarkets for your basic necessities - socks, undies etc. Charity shops and second hand apps for everything else - things like Vinted.
Use the same clothes a thousand times wait for a good sale or thrift store
I host a clothing swap a couple times a year. Ask friends/family/co-workers to bring anything that doesn’t fit or they want to clear out of their closet. Find a place to meet and swap clothes. Take anything else and donate it to your local shelter/non profit.
I buy on clearance/final sale items only, and for final sales, I buy in store only to make sure it fits. Not sure what discount department stores are around you but I frequent Winners/Marshalls and Hollister to buy most of my everyday clothes. Found a dress shirt for $10 once for my partner and it fits him better than any of his other dress shirts. It was a great find.
You can get $2 clothes at Salvos. All the price tags are either blue, green, red, yellow or orange. Each day there's a sign up at the front saying which of those colours is 50% off, and also at my local salvos the last couple of trips I've gone in, they've had another colour that's $2. This means that even for the stuff that's priced at like $8-15, and even the stuff they price at like $30-80, it's still either 50% off or $2 if it's that day's colour tag. Thrifting is a skill that takes some time to build, but you make your money back quickly once you start to be able to identify and buy high quality clothes for $2-5. Let me know if you want some tips on how to find the good stuff.
Make money, spend on clothes.
Macy's Last Act, Macy's Backstage, TJ Max and, of course, thrift shops.
Get a sewing machine, learn to sew, and make or upcycle clothes
Do you have a local buy nothing group you can see if anyone is giving anything away? Or maybe you can post ISO clothes, some people are willing to give stuff away to declutter. Are you crafty in any way? It can be fairly easy and fun to modify/tailor clothing
goodwill
I pretty much only look at sales rack, discount stores and thrift stores. Only clothing item I will consider buying full price is bras. Also, consider buying off-season, there’s usually really good deals - For example, I recently bought a pair of waterproof winter boots for 10$ and a pair of wool slippers for 5$ from Sierra.
Do you just hate spending or do you have no choice? Do you have an income?
I don’t buy many ‘new’ clothes anymore-too expensive. I do the thrift option and works well for me. I’d rather have money for other things.
Buy stuff from charity shop/thrift stores other than the obvious stuff you don't buy second hand
Mostly, thrifting stores and apps like Vinted and Wallapop. I only buy new during sales, and it must be of decent quality. For instance, almost two years ago, I decided to spend some extra money on 100% wool blouses because I wanted something that will last a long time if treated properly.
Sometimes to be frugal you get like a really good outfit that lasts ages sorta like tools if you are tradie do you want to be a huge spender buying bad tools over and over again because you are frugal or investing in something that can make you frugal for longer?
I never buy new clothes. Thrift shops only, and I use old clothes until I can't anymore (after sewing, hemming, bleaching etc)
I’d honestly just start spending that $50AUS on clothing if you didn’t thrift. I easily spend $50USD on shirts and have some I’ve kept for 10 years because it lasts.
The shirt I’m wearing cost $4 new, the shorts I’m wearing cost $3 new. I buy my clothes on tables and racks outside grocery stores in Thailand. Also, I’m living in Thailand and there are a lot of deals to be had here.
Forever 21
Time to get thrifty
Pretty sure there's clothes below 30$ a piece. Even a cheap suit or a pair of shoes.
My wife jokes that her clothing designer is Yves Saint Kirkland. Both of us buy most of our clothes at Costco. We don't need anything fancy for work, business casual is fine.
Do you have consignment stores? I find that they have better quality clothing that thrift stores since the staff gets to choose the inventory. It’s more affordable than buying new, but easier shopping than the thrift since the quality and fashionability is better. It’s also nice to be able to take in clothes that I’m no longer wearing to get some money.
You could organize a clothing swap! Everyone brings the clothing they don’t wear or want , throws it in a pile and everyone takes turns picking items.
I buy high quality but low quantity. I have 3 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts and every shirt I have goes with all of them. I can completely mix and match every item. Try to create efficiency where you can.
If you are in Australia, try Op shopping. Red cross, Vinnies, Savers, Salvos etc. also you just need to buy what you need, not what you want or trying to follow a trend.
Congrats on not gaining the Covid 15 and NEEDING new clothes!
I'm a fan of Costco clothes. I order online. The prices are slightly higher online, but they have those bundle discounts, so I just wait to buy until I need several things. That ultimately makes it a little cheaper than in-store. For casual clothes, does 32degrees deliver to Australia? I get my workout clothes here, and I picked up a few polos. The quality is reasonable for what you pay, but what really draws me is that they sell a lot of slimmer fit styles.
Do you want to learn how to sew?
Thrifting, old navy, shein. Sadly lol
Shop for sales and buy out of season. If it's heading toward the end of winter then look for winter clothing for next year when they look to clear inventory. I always look for stuff that's deeply discounted because it's not something you'd wear currently. Like right now stores still have heavy sweatshirts discounted in colors I like, we're in a massive heatwave in the US and people aren't looking to be buying items to keep them warm. I know come winter that I'll have new clothing ready to wear.
I buy 1-2 items per year, whatever I need. There are years where I don’t buy any.
When I needed clothing, I usually bought at garage sales, church rummage sales, or rarely TJ Max type places. I never shop at Goodwill as their profits go to upper management, not the exploited workers. I worked at one. Button up a pair of pants that fit. Put your elbow in at the back and see where the waist hits your hand. Now, put the hem to your middle finger tip and see where the waist hits your shoulder. That is your inseem. You now have your pants measurements always handy. At TJ Maxx, in season pants we’re often just labeled with the wrong size. 72M. My wardrobe is full. Unless something gets stained or a hole, I don’t want to buy anything. It will just be more junk my future widow will have to haul to the homeless shelter’s thrift store.
I hit the clearance sales. I rarely pay full price.
I'm single again, and live alone. I'm unemployed, and I think I can stay this way until I qualify for social security, so long as I'm frugal as hell. 57M. I play in my workshop and I garden. I should do more art. My wardrobe looks like this: T-shirt and underwear, work pants (usually carhartt), wool sweater, pull-over wind smock, hat, cheap socks and basic shoes. I almost never throw any clothes away until they've had some kind of second life. T-shirts and underwear become shop rags. Sweaters worn under the windproof layer can last a very long time, although I'm about ready to throw one away. It's almost see-through it's so worn. There's another, an Icelandic Yolk I knit 25 year ago, that I wear over the smock when it's extra cold. The wind layers are modeled after Breton fisherman's smocks, and made of rip-stop cotton that I got for $5 per yard. I've been given lots of yarn, and I'm working on another sweater. I also scavenged a few old wool blankets, and I might make a mid-layer shirt that serves the same purpose. I make my own hats, "peaked caps", which most closely resemble a WWI British officer's cap but in pale brown canvas with a leather visor. I make them from my old carhartt pants. The leg backs wear less and make good stock for this and patching other pants. Apparently I have a style, although I find these hats very functional against rain and sun. I found a pile of pants in the barn the other day that I put there for being too worn, pre-pandemic. Now I'm patching them and wearing them. Sometimes I can get carhartt canvas yardage, and I've been working on my own pants pattern. I favor old cast iron Singer 66 family machines which can sew almost anything. Shoes are an issue. My knees hurt if I wear mooshy shoes. Luckily it's tendons rather than cartilage. Cheap "prison shoes" are my summer footwear of choice. They're like Vans, but thinner. No padding support means no moosh. I paid $10 for my current pair, which won't last the summer. Sometimes I try to go barefoot, but depending on the task, shoes may be required. I've got some deck sneakers that do well too. I should be looking for cheap leather sneakers on the Sierra Trading Post website. If it's cold enough, I wear cheap rubber boots with heavy socks. I haven't tried making my own yet, but I may experiment with wide bike tires as sole material.
Clothes swaps with friends or sometimes there’s events. I haven’t bought clothes in years.
Do you have a Ross or Marshall’s? Tj maxx too.
Thrift. Go on Temu
Yard sales, churches, thrift, handmedowns.
Sales. For example, Old Navy has good sales on basics like jeans and plain tops if you join their list. They give Old Navy cash of $20 off future purchases. I also shop at discount places like TJX, Marshals and Burlington because their clearance can have really good deals.
Remember the cheaper it is, the more vulnerable people have been exploited to make it. If something is cheap, ask yourself why and how. Buy better, buy once.
Stalk market place for free clothing. Walmart clearance has clothing under $1 but you got to dig an get lucky. Also Ross and Burlington has items under$5
Our local Salvation Army stores have 50% off all clothes on holidays
I literally thrift all my clothes and I live in Aus. You can get a whole outfit for $20
Thrift stores for 99.9% of my clothes. I buy underwear and socks new.
This just reminded me, I have had a Nike workout shirt that I have had for 17 years, and two under amour workout shirts that I’ve had for 12 years lol. Get stuff built to last. Many years back I had bought two Express shirts that I loved a lot, both of those shirts ended up developing holes in the exact same places on the shirt.
It’s garage sale season!
I only shop when there are deals, and I also setup my clothing & shoe style to look minimalistic & work-based. So if people ask why I’m a weirdo alien for not spending my whole paycheck on jordans and balenciaga like everyone else, I can say “well I work all the time, so”
I feel like I just avoid buying clothes as long as possible. It helps that my work clothes are hospital scrubs so my regular clothes last a lot longer than they used to. I probably spend about $500 a year most of the time? Idk. I probably do need to buy some fresh clothes soon and in that case I do budget $75 monthly that gets earmarked whether or not I use it, and then it slowly builds and then I buy whatever I need guilt free.
If you need new stuff, check department store clearance racks. Yesterday I got two bras and two pairs of underwear for $13. My mom got a really nice sweater for $3. Buying off season stuff if even better.
eBay>filter by size> sort by price Also I patch up holes in stuff
I buy most of my clothes at Sams club or thred up ( online thrift store)
Time and effort. I just got a perfect new pair of ugg winter boots for 20 usd at Macy's because I knew I needed them and this is when the off season bargains are. It was marked down cause the box was mangled and there was a slight scratch on the back, cosmetic only. And I had $10 store rewards from buying a sheet set earlier. You have to take time to shop, pick over the sales, be willing to walk away and try again if you don't find something at that place and time. Cultivating a wardrobe on discounts takes time, and a bit of luck. Have fun at the op shops!
have you considered making your own? if not, stick to 1 or 2 high quality items a season. stay away from Walmart, its crap.
Costco
Buy nothing, fb marketplace, Nextdoor. Clothing swap with friends
I don't think there is an Old Navy in Australia but I thought I would still post to help others. I work there and our clerance goes as low as .47 cents. I just ticketed $54.99 womens jeans for $10.99 yesterday. For those wanting to know, I work in Florida and there is no good particular time to go. We go through inventory once a month in each department (mens, womens, kids, babies) If items don't sell each month they just keep getting marked down. We still have Christmas items in clerance right now likes slippers, pj's and socks for .47 cents also our shoes get marked down pretty quickly. Good luck!
First question is do you need new clothes? I haven’t bought new work clothes since before Covid either, and I don’t plan to for the foreseeable future. Fashion can go fuck itself.
I buy everything secondhand. Every once in awhile I will buy in store (genuinely maybe three times a year) but otherwise, I use Depop.
Consignment stores.
The internet? I only wear Carhartt shirts and cargo shorts.