5 Tips That Will Make You Save Money on Clothes

Inside: Here are my 5 secret tips to find massive savings on cute outfits- I only spend $25 a month. Don’t overspend on clothing again!

This post is created in partnership with thredUP. All opinions are mine and not those of thredUP. 

​​​​I'm not a shopper.+

First, I don’t have an innate sense of style. I had to shop with my girlfriend Valerie quite a few times to get a sense of what goes together.+

Two, clothes shopping has been often a luxury over the years when money has been tight. My budget has been $20-25 a month for both my husband and I.+

Cook With a Shoe is an affiliate of thredUP, inc

We have had to be intentional about the clothes we purchase. And if  there’s not enough money for all the bills, clothes gets knocked off the budget first.+

I do enjoy cute clothes, and I have had to be creative to stay in style without a massive expense.+

That’s why when thredUp agreed to collaborate with me on how I afford great style on a budget, I couldn’t help but think of all the ways I’m able to buy nice clothes for both my husband and I on $20-25/month.+

Hit the clearance rack

I beeline to the clearance rack first anytime I do shop and not even look at the regular priced items. If you head to the stores as they switch out seasons, you can find insane deals.+

The score of a new blouse + massive deal can turn a bad day around. And as soon as I get home, I pull out my purchases out of the plastic bag and brag to my husband about how much I saved.+

I never pay full price. +

No one asks how much I paid, although I will blurt out how I only paid $3.48 as a pat on my own back for my thriftiness 🙂+

The thrill of the hunt to find stylish clothes and the mission to pay as little as I can gives me a high.+

Classic pieces

With $25 a month for clothes, I can’t afford to switch out my closet for every season and to be honest, I don’t have the time or desire to shop much!+

Instead, I gravitate towards classic pieces. I know they’ll still look great for several years and I take care of my clothes so they’ll last.+

Must have pieces

Bright, colored cardigans are a great staple and dress up any outfit. I wear cardigans with skirts, over dresses, and with pants.

If clothes don’t fit or I look frumpy, I get rid of them.+

I’d rather wear a few perfect fit items and look amazing, even if people will see me in the same outfit again. If you got a good outfit that gets compliments, why change it?+

New outfits for free

I study outfits like crazy - on people I see and on Pinterest, to come up with new ideas on how to wear the same handful of clothes in my closet without the need to spend any money.+

When I mix and match blouses with dresses, skirts and pants or add a new accessory piece it can transform the outfit and I get compliment ‘you look super cute’ several times a day.  +

Jewelry or a scarf or a cardigan can create a brand new look. I mix colors and prints all the time to come up with different outfits.+

While I don’t have a capsule wardrobe, it’s nice to have less clothes so my hubs can have his half of the closet without my blouses and dresses shoved in so much, his shirts fall on the floor.+

And when your closet is jammed full, it’s impossible to wear all the items anyways as ⅓ are forgotten in the back corner.+

My girlfriends often hand me a plastic trash bag stuffed with clothes they no longer wear. It’s like Christmas and I don’t have to spend any money!+

Name brand hand-me-downs are the best and I don’t need my clothes to be brand new.+

Don’t shop every month

Because I’m not much of a shopper, I’ll save up my allowance for a month or two and alternate between clothes for myself or for my husband.+

Clothes is a line item in my budget every month, and when I don’t spend it all, I put the money into a savings account until I’m ready to shop.+

I’m able to get more items at on one trip and take advantage of the sales.+

Think outside the box

My best secret to buy name brand clothes for a fraction of the cost… hit up thrift or consignment stores. And online stores are even better. +

My favorite online consignment store is thredUP.+

You can find all the major brands in one place and for a reasonable price. Now I don’t have to go store after store to shop. Yay!+

And if I can shop thousands of brands at home or at an appointment, and save lots of money, my heart sings.  +

I can often find clothes with tags on it! Or fabulous deals like a periwinkle Ralph Lauren dress for 18.99 when the original price said $119. Score!

Give thrifting a try

thredUP is hands down my go-to place for cute clothes on a budget. When their polka-dotted box comes with my order folded up in beautiful tissue paper, I am delighted… such a special touch.

I invite you to try thredUP the next time you or your kids need new clothes. You’ll find stylish, name brand clothes for up to 90% off and will be able stretch your money even further. +

And by all means, brag on how little you spent. You know I’m doing it!+

​Shop all of their amazing secondhand fashion items here 

Now it’s your turn, how do you save money on cute outfits?