Buying new clothes is one of the biggest expenses for any household, especially if you have young children who are constantly outgrowing them. Even if you don’t have children in the house, keeping up a current wardrobe is an expensive proposition for anyone. Fortunately, you can save a lot of money on clothing with a few smart ideas.
1Best Time To Buy Discount Clothes
The best time of the year to get bargain clothes is to visit the stores at the end of the season, and buy for next year. All of the summer clothes go on clearance in the fall, while winter clothes go on clearance in early spring. Stocking up for the next season is a smart way to get brand new clothes at a fraction of the price they sold for only a few short months prior. Choose items that are classic styles, and not trendy items that might be out of style by the time the season rolls around again. This is a great way to get your wardrobe basics for every coming season.
2Participate in a Clothing Swap
For another smart way to save a lot of money on clothing, consider a clothing swap. Whether you set one up yourself with friends, or visit an online swap site such as www.swapstyle.com, this is a great way to clean out your closet and get your hands on some new clothes. That dress you bought but never wore? Those jeans that looked great in the store but when you got them home you didn't like them after all, but never bothered to return them? You probably aren't the only one with clothing you have hardly worn, or haven't worn at all. Hook up with other people in the same predicament so that those clothes will go to someone who can make use of them, and you can find some new things to wear as well.
If you don't know where to start to create or join a local clothing swap, try a social site such as meetup.com where you can search for groups already existing, or start your own and find like-minded people who also want to find bargain clothes for their wardrobe. It is helpful to try to choose people with similar taste and who wear a similar size in order to ensure you can get the most out of your clothing swap.
Getting online to swap clothes gives you access to a lot more selection and more choices in your size. And an online clothing swap isn’t the only way to get discount clothing on the internet! Check out eBay to find all kinds of bargain clothing, often with the tags still on. You can make back the money you spend on clothes there by selling your own unwanted items through the auction site.
3Shop at Consignment Stores for Discounted Clothes
Local consignment shops and sales are an excellent place to get access to a large selection of cheap womens clothes and mens discount clothes in great condition. Consignment stores are cautious about what they accept, so you know you will be looking at excellent pieces at incredible prices well below retail. Large consignment sales, often held yearly in warehouses or convention centers, offer an even larger selection of great clothing. Children's clothing especially can be found on consignment for great prices, and often in incredible condition since many kids outgrow their clothes before they actually wear them out. Maternity clothing is another niche where the clothes are often in good condition – having only been worn a few months, and then sold on consignment.
4
Sew Your Own Clothes
If you have a sewing machine and enjoy using it, why not consider making your own clothes? You can select from a wide variety of patterns, and purchase fabric in colors that best suit your tastes. You will wind up with clothing that is not only affordable, but also unique and tailored specifically to your personal measurements. Sewing is another great way to make discount clothes fit better. If you find something you love, but it doesn’t fit quite right, you can adjust it to fit by hemming pant legs, tucking in or letting out the waist, and adjusting sleeve length. Sewing can also help you save clothing you would otherwise have to discard by fixing small tears or other issues.
5
Brand-New Discount Clothes
If you are looking for other ways to get your hands on bargain clothes that are brand new, shopping outlets malls for clothing discounts is a great way to go. You might have to drive out of your way to get to one, but you will save plenty of money over the local mall. You will find discount designer clothes at great prices, and get far more for your dollar.
6Shopping for Discounts Clothes Online
Shopping for discount clothes online is also often a lot cheaper than buying locally. Many discount sites such as overstock.com offer big names at discount prices, and even have really low cost shipping on all of your purchases. The downside to shopping online is you can't try the clothes on ahead of time, so sometimes it's a good idea to order more than one size and return the one that doesn't fit, especially if the shipping is flat rate no matter how much you order.
Before you check out when online shopping, be sure to check out coupon code websites such as retailmenot.com for coupons that can save you even more money on your purchase. Coupon codes for discounts, free shipping and more are often available if you take the time to look for them.
Whether you find brand-new discount clothes through smart shopping, or try a clothing swap or consignment store to get your hands on gently used clothing, you can save a lot on your wardrobe with careful shopping. And even if sewing your entire wardrobe isn't in your skill set, making alterations and repairs is another huge money saver to consider. Your clothing budget doesn’t have to take away from other areas of spending. Just shop smart, and find the best ways to avoid paying full price for any of your clothing, new or used.

