by Bridget Webber

Created on: March 09, 2009   Last Updated: December 20, 2011

If you have a limited amount of money, or simply desire shopping activities to be cost effective, you will need to learn how to save money on clothes for your family. The following is a guide to help you with your endeavours.

Recycling

There are many ways to recycle clothing, and the best place to begin is at home. If you have a large family you’ll probably find that as one person grows out of clothing it becomes the perfect size for another. Make it a habit to place all clothing which is no-longer any use to its original owner into a recycling basket at home. This way each family member can add to it or dip into it as needed.

It’s possible to expand this idea by getting other families involved. Once they have finished with their own recycling basket each month, and you have done likewise with yours, swap baskets for a day. This way most clothing will be claimed by someone who is able to wear it.

Another way of benefiting from recycling is to shop for clothes in goodwill stores, yard sales and second hand clothing shops. This way you can bag a bargain and make money go further.

Sales

During sales great offers are to be found. Closing down sales can be useful as proprietors need to sell all their stock, even if they have to reduce it to an extremely low price. January sales and end of season sales can be helpful when it comes to saving money on clothes too. You can expect to find items reduced by as much as ninety per cent if you are lucky.

Bargain baskets

Many clothing stores have bargain baskets where items which have been hanging around for too long without being sold end up. Clothing is often there because it didn’t sell in an appropriate season, or happen to be in style when placed on rails.

Manufacturer’s outlet

Factories where clothing is made often have their own shops in the same vicinity. These are great to buy clothing in as there is no middle man, and they can be sold at discount prices compared to when they hit high street stores. The reason many consumers don’t shop in them is because they don‘t know the shops exist, or outlet stores are not close to where they live. If you intend to shop in such a store its worth sharing petrol costs with friends who want to shop too.

Discount shops

Clothing in discount shops is often left over from discontinued lines. This doesn't mean it isn’t good, just that it no longer resembles what fashion stores desire to sell at that moment. Quite often clothing will be in a style that becomes fashionable the following year, or which is neutral in style and so wearable anyway.

Retro clothing

Retro fashion is a style in itself. People from all walks of life enjoy clothing made for previous generations. By joining in with this trend you can find a bargain and have fun. Sale rails can be especially enjoyable to peruse, providing styles you wouldn't have thought of putting together which are effective.

Making clothes

If you have a sewing machine and are handy with a needle and thread, you can treat your family to hand made designer wear. Material from discontinued lines and sales can provide you with most of what you need to get started.

Bargain basements

A good bargain basement can be like a goldmine if you want to save cash. Into the basements go discontinued lines, accessories which haven't sold, clothing in need of the tiniest of repairs and garments which are slightly unusual in design.

In basements you may discover clothing which just needs a slight alteration to make it a wonderful garment. You may also find items which don’t look like they should have been there in the first place as they have nothing wrong with them.

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