A very timely post with the current economy! Even before, being on the student budget, I always have to employ some of these tactics. From the ones you listed, I use 1, and 5-8, although I might start doing 10 too. I find it especially useful to combine 1&5, that is shop in your own closet, and update things with a current accessory.

One more thing that I do and that wasn’t mentioned is to to edit your closet, and sell all the unwanted things still in good condition to a consignment store, and than use the money for clothing purchase.

Some of us do not have Nordstrom Rack in the vicinity, but there might be some other Outlet Centers, that haven for example, Off the Fifth and various factory stores.

Finally, discount retailers like Filene’s basement or TJ Maxx are great too, especially if you have extra coupon off for them ( usually if you sign up for their email lists, they will send them to you). Speaking of that, I have a separate email account that I just use to sign up for those lists so I get coupons all the time.

Great tips! I will definitely be adopting #10 to my strategy! I WISH I had a Nordstrom Rack by me! But maybe it is a good thing that it isn’t around me.

Tanya, those other tips are super.

great ideas! I LOVE bluefly too. B/c of my newspaper column job I have to go around to resale shops alot and have really re-discovered them-and bought fun things!

Thanks for the tips and the permission to be wise and cheap! I had given up on the Nordstrom’s Rack a long time ago because the one I went to at the Super Mall in Auburn was so dirty I wanted to run home and take a shower. Hopefully there are some that are better taken care of.

Nice perk, RSRP!

As always Tanya, your suggestions are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them with us. Your tip on selling your own clothing is one I always forget.

What I really like about The Rack is that the merchandise is SAME SEASON. Often, outlets and discounted places offer goods that are a few seasons old, which is not always ideal. That doesn’t mean you can’t find treasures there, because of course – you can. But this characteristic puts The Rack a cut above the rest.

San, the entire Auburn Super Mall is dirty. You were quite right to want to run. The best Rack is downtown on 2nd Avenue. Give it a bash for sure.

Also, I was utterly in awe of the savings my client incurred yesterday while we shopped. Macys has got Autumn merchandise marked down 60% off the original 50% off! Add a coupon and you’ve scored liked nobody’s business. Also, the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale is extremely good and loads of additional items are on sale an extra 30% until Monday. I have yet to see a retail season as discounted as this one. It’s incredible. Macys ranks top of list so far.

Don’t forget thrifting! I know you don’t talk about it much, Angie, and it definitely depends on where you live (the town where I grew up has terrible thrift stores, but the towns where I went to college and where I live now have fantastic ones), but with a bit of luck and practice you can find great things for very cheap. All of my day dresses except for one come from thrift stores and rummage sales, and I get frequent compliments on them. (The other one is from Target, heh.) I think my best score was a Max Studio dress which still had the tags on, which I bought for $12.99 – what is that, 90% off?

The trick is to look for classic/timeless pieces, and the kinds of items that aren’t going to show as much wear. It’s pretty hard to find shirts in good condition unless someone’s donated something they clearly never wore, and you can forget about finding a leather belt, but the lack of day-dress-wearing you gripe about has worked to my favor .

On another note, I was thinking of heading over to Macy’s for the Veteran’s Day sale on Tuesday. Is this a good idea, or am I just going to get trampled. No, seriously, I realize this sounds like a silly question, but I’m not very good at this strategic shopping thing and usually I just go out whenever I visit my parents…

Glad you’ve found treasures at thrift stores, Mai and nice shopping tips. Actually, I mentioned shopping consignment stores as a savings strategy (#4). I too have the odd second hand treasure.

I’d thoroughly encourage the Veteran’s Day Sale at Macys if you go early and take along a friend to help with running around for sizes. I know that it’s an overwhelming place, but a well stocked Macys is possibly the best kept secret in town if you can muster up the energy. I take virtually all my clients there. Unfortunately their customer service is dire and their online selections are a poor representation of what is available in store. But stopping by is well worth the trampling.

Another place to look for great bargains is the resale shop run by volunteers for the Cancer Society or Hospice or other such groups. It is probably set up like a consignment shop rather than a thrift store, but has prices somewhere between the two and you are benefiting a worthy organization. They also run sales, especially at the end of the season.
I wish we had a Nordstrom Rack, but feel lucky to have a Nordstroms nearby.
Sometimes I’ve “fasted” from shopping for clothing for a period of time. The exercise has really helped me shop in my own closet and hone skills with accessories. This site is a wealth of ideas for wearing clothing in new ways.

I was hoping for a “shopping during a recession” kind of post. I keep hearing about the Nordstrom rack from you and others but we don’t have one here In fact we don’t even have a Nordstrom here! The closest one is in the swanky Short Hills Mall in NJ, which is near me when I’m at home but not really all that convenient now.

Clothes swap party sounds good but only if you have friends the same size as you.

One of my friends just started working at Anthropologie and gets 40% off their clothes, Free People, and Urban Outfitters. She offered to get me a discount and I think I will have to take advantage.

11. Learn to sew. It takes some time but once you master some techniques, it can be very profitable.

Great ideas, Angie! Many of these ideas are good for the environment too, so even if we weren’t in an economic downturn, it’d be good to save this way.

I’m a big fan of http://www.6pm.com…the savings there are amazing if you don’t mind last season’s shoes. And Bluefly too.

I love how your posts are always so timely!!

The best way I know is to have Angie come prune your closet and give you a shopping list. I have finally (now that I’m working) bought the things on her list and my mix and match options are terrific now. I have fewer items in my closet, but much more to wear. And I feel like I’m saving money by not buying the wrong things.

The only problem is that I’ve lost some weight (that is a good thing but inconvenient for wardrobe)and some things are just too big – I will have to have her back this spring for a size and season update. I also need accessory help – so this is a timely posting!

I love a bargain, and am not afraid to buy things at stores like Marshalls, and Target. If I am thinking of adding something trendy to my closet, I stick to stores like Target–because if the quality isn’t that great–the piece will usually last until it’s out of style.

Maya, you’re comment about your friend working at Anthro made me think of this idea. It may be a bit extreme…but extreme times…. If you have the free time, you could work part time holiday hours at your favorite store if they offer an employee discount. You can put all your earnings back into discounted clothes!

I am always swapping accessories with my family and friends. I usually lend out more than I take in though. But if someone I know has an outfit that would look smashing with one of my necklaces, I’m kind of obnoxious about insisting they wear it.

Great ideas, Angie! Thanks for sharing. I’m definitely trying to come up with new ways to mix and match my existing wardrobe. For the past couple of months we have had no money for a clothing budget at all, and I don’t know when we will be able to afford clothes again. So I’m trying to stay away from anything that has to do with shopping and be happy with what I have. Switching from spring/summer to fall/winter clothes helped though; I felt like I got a whole new wardrobe.

I’m with you Karlene, but sewing is #1 on my list. I get great things to wear, look a little different than everyone else, and save some $$ as well. And you can work with stuff you find thrifting or at resale as well. Fun!

Getting one statement piece a season is definitely something I have been leaning towards lately. And I LOVE bluefly! I’ve been trying to focus on accessories lately as well, because I realize they make such a big difference in an outfit.

Some other ideas for budget shopping is to change your physical appearance. Spend some money on your hair–get highlights, a new color, or a new haircut. That can make a huge difference in how you feel about your wardrobe, because all your clothes will look a little different and feel “new” because you look different in them. And changing your makeup for the season is a good, fairly inexpensive way to make a change without buying new clothing. Invest in one really fantastic lipstick and wear it everyday, or change all your colors–fall/winter is a great time to intensify colors you already wear. Drugstore makeup works just as well as premium makeup for a lot of items.

Don’t forget the wonders of a cheap fix that a tailor can accomplish to either something you already own, or to a quality piece that is on clearance that might not be so great right off the rack BUT with a lift to the hem and a nip and tuck here or there, can make an inexpensive item you might have passed by into something you love that now looks great on you.

For example, I bought a classic, simple black dress originally sold at over $100, for $20 on clearance. It was just okay when I put it on, until I had the hem raised above the knee and the sleeves shortened. Now it’s one of my most worn items. I always get compliments when I wear it.

If a piece is really marked down, of good quality, try it on with an eye to how it can be tailored to flatter you perfectly.

This is a great list. I especially agree that all women need to stay on top of the coupon code sites because you can save so much money and sales are going on everyday. Also, check out http://ebayfashionaddict.wordpress.com to see how you can find amazing deals on ebay, it also includes a list of 63 great ebay fashion stores.

http://ebayfashionaddict.wordpress.com

Not quite sure what you were expecting, Maya. Perhaps you’d like to elaborate. Clothes swap parties can be of an accessory benefit too.

Nice “fasting” tip Joy!

I’m glad the mere seasonal change has refreshed your clothing style, Sarah. I’m also elated to be back in boots. Giving my ballet flats a rest was much needed.

I’m glad you benefitted from our working together, Nancy. Can’t wait to see you again in Spring.

Karleen and K Lauren, you’re so right about the learning to sew bit. I’ll have to enjoy thrifty creative pieces through you because I am the WORST seamstress. I had my final fashion design show pieces sewn by a seamstress because I was so awful. No hope and no time for me on that one, but a valid tip all the same.

I was going to mention a change in physical appearance Ana, and am glad you brought it up. I’m always for the notion “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. If you’re up to being brave, take on a dramatic hairstyle change. Ana did, and she’s LOVING every second of her refreshed look (and so are we).

Fabulous strategy, Claudia. I’ve done that a few times with dresses and jackets and they made for great cost-effective additions to my wardrobe.

I always use #10 in winter It’s cold here, and I prefer more practical parkas over (more interesting looking) coats, but I buy a great scarf and a great new pair of boots, and I wear them everywhere. Sometimes the boots only last a season or two because of the extensive wear, but it’s worth it.

Oops hit ’submit’ too early.
I meant to add that I like knee high boots, and I usually wear them with snug pants or skinny jeans, so the boots are pretty visible as a statement piece.

Love all the suggestions! Angie, did you have me in mind when you mentioned discount coupons and codes? I am the queen of coupons. I always keep them stashed in my purse and change them out when I get new ones. (The retailers put expiration dates on them to encourage you to use them quickly, but they always send a new one.)

Another suggestion if you shop at the same retailer for most of your purchases, you can get their credit card. They are free and give you extra coupons, discounts or reward cards. Of course whether this is a good option for you depends on your personal financial strategy.

I’m with Eva – get the credit card for retailers you shop frequently (but be sure to pay it all off in full each month). You will be bombarded with coupons, special sale offers via email, and reward cards.

Every time I receive a coupon, reward card or sale notice, I log it into a spreadsheet that is sortable by retailer, start date, and the all-crucial expiration date. I also include a column listing any online code so it’s simple matter of cutting-and-pasting.

I carry the coupons with me in my purse at all times (rubber-banded together – but my GF showed me this really cute zippered coupon holder she carries!) so I’m not stuck without them.

Then I periodically check this spreadsheet. It also has a worksheet set up for “wishlist” items. If a coupon is expiring or a sale is going on, I compare to my wishlist items and instead of buying for sake of using coupon, I buy what I’ve already identified as something needed to fill out my wardrobe.

Recent deals using this system:

1) Ann Taylor $50 off every $100 coupons – went shopping with my GF and we combined our purchases together. She wanted a $150 leather jacket. We walked out with that, plus $150 worth of free stuff for both of us.

2) Used two $10 DSW reward cards, used to buy xmas converses for the teens, combined with Free Shipping offer, and free clutch offer!

3) Banana Republic reward cards plus sale offer plus free shipping with Luxe card (always free for Luxe members) for free scarf for me and free scarf for xmas present for my neice. Also recently used a reward card at the store to get a top that was already steeply discounted for mere pennies.

I do get a ton of Macy’s offers, but have not had as much luck there. And their offers usually contain a very long list of restrictions, such as designer goods. However, if you are really nice – and cozy up to the manager – sometimes they let you use the discounts on restricted items! This is what happened when I bought my Furla bag.

Otherwise, I agree with the consignment idea too! For my DD’s bday present, I recently scored a last-season, plaid hoodie juicy couture coat that was 1/3 off original price *and* still had original tags on it!

Angie – remind me when you are here, I will take you to this consignment shop since it’s near the restaurant…. my MIL is next-door neighbors with the owner, so I have been meaning to meet the woman and see if I can get an “In.” I was told by the store recently that if I’m interested in certain petite items (like a cashmere coat in my size) they will put me on a list to call. Nice!

Oh, Angie, I think you took me the wrong way! I meant to say “Yay, I was hoping for a post like this,” not “Darn, how disappointing.” I know I’m opinionated but I try not to be rude!

Shiny, you are the Goddes of coupons! Amazing organization! Question on the BP rewards card…have you had trouble using them? I was told I couldn’t use it on a sale item when purchasing a 40% off shirt. I didn’t end up using the card but I read the card afterwards and it says you can’t combine it with other promotions (excluding sales items). I will know for next time.

Yes Eva, you sprung to mind as the Seattle coupon queen for sure. But Shiny reigns as coupon goddess. Wow! Impressive ladies.

Thanks for the sweet explanation, Maya. Words on paper sans the tonal phonics can be misconstrued. I am also opinionated and try not to be rude. Let me know if I’ve crossed the line!

shiny puts the rest of us to shame! haha, j/k

great post, i especially like the tip about buying a statement piece and wearing it often. i think wearing a completely new outfit every day from head to toe is impractical and over-rated!

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