June Challenge�Get Great Threads for Less Bread

When it comes to fashion, I pretty much follow the Gilda Radner model. She said, "I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." But we got better advice from reader Patricia, from Sand Springs, Okla., and a member of Oklahoma Employees Credit Union. She writes:

With budgets tight, and fashion always changing, I have found a way to make things work and stay within my budget. I will select one or two good basic pieces of clothing, preferably on sale, for example a good fitting simple dress or suit, or sometimes something like a good pair of attractive shoes.

So far, sounds like basic common sense. But Patricia takes a smart, added step. She says:

Then I take the item with me to resale, discount, or even thrift stores, for "change up" articles that change the look of the new item. Spending $2 to $6 for a blouse to go with a suit or a jumper allows for more than one blouse; jewelry for 50 cents to $4 means several changes of the "look" for much less than buying accessories at a department store. I get to be fashionably me without spending a large hunk of my budget.

Patricia isn't giving up anything�except the high prices. And her ideas trigger other suggestions about how to save money on your clothing budget:

Buy basics like socks, undies, sleepwear, and shoes�items you always need�on sale or clearance.

Stretch the clothing budget by buying at the end of a season for next year. For example, buy your swimsuit at the end of summer, or your new winter coat in the spring.

Take it back right away if you make a buying mistake. If something just doesn't fit, or doesn't match what you thought it would, don't stall. 'Fess up, how many times have you found things still in store bags or with tags intact because you didn't get around to making that return? Money wasted.

Take care of your clothing�hang it up, brush it off, air it out, sew the hem, fix the buttons.

Thrift store savvy

If you've never shopped for clothing in a thrift or resale store, you're missing a major opportunity. I know three women�Janet, Lois, and Kathryn�who always look fabulous, and all three shop at thrift and resale stores. It takes some time, but they find amazing buys.

What happens is that the shopaholics among us pay top dollar but get bored fast�they constantly churn their closets and make room for new stuff by sending clothing and accessories to resale stores. So, yes, smart people shop at thrift stores, but they may not advertise that fact. Although, the three friends I mentioned are so psyched by their great buys that they happily reveal how little they pay for their wardrobes.

Janet Stevens, Madison, Wis., has a name-dropper collection of jackets that individually would have cost three figures at retail. She says it's important to "know your body; shop for fit, not by size." And she expands on Patricia's advice, too. "Use thrift store clothes shopping as an opportunity to experiment and buy the things you would not buy for retail price. The orange organza blouse. Zebra print shoes. A clunky necklace."

She also points to environmental benefits. "Resale shopping is 'in' because it is 'green.' I recycle by buying used and then donating items to the resale source."

2008 Financial Fitness Challenge

For her practical idea, Patricia wins a $50 Visa card and becomes eligible to win $1,000 at the end of the year for the grand prize. Complete prize rules are here. We'll share another prize-winning idea next month.

ST
Susan Tiffany, CCUFC
[email protected]

Published June 1, 2008