I’m a fashionista on a budget, my tips will save you hundreds on clothes – I’ve bagged Air Force trainers for £12
TRYING to spark some outfit inspiration when looking through your wardrobe can be a daunting task.
With the ongoing rise in living costs, spending on clothes may brighten up your look but could darken your personal finances.
However, there are some savvy ways to cut costs if you know how.
Little-Loans.com has partnered up with ‘Instagram Mum’, Emma Stretton, who has shared her tips and tricks on how to save money on the cost of clothes.
“Fashion is one of my favourite things, but my clothes shopping habits meant I got into a lot of debt when I was younger. Now I try to be much savvier and make the most of the clothes I already have and spend as little as possible when I buy anything new.”
Emma Stretton is a mum-of-two and savvy saver living in Manchester.
By following Emma’s tips and making small, simple adjustments to your clothes shopping habits, you could save some extra cash.
1. Pre-Loved Finds
“I’m obsessed with Vinted. I also like a charity shop trip but it’s hard to find the time with two young boys who don’t like being dragged around the shops. To find the best stuff, I generally have a look at online shops, see what is on trend or what I like, and then I’ll search for it on Vinted.
“For example, I was going to a charity ball and saw a pink dress online I absolutely loved. I kept searching for ‘pink dress’ on Vinted until one was listed. It would have cost £80 if I’d bought it brand new but I got it for £25. Buying secondhand can not only save you loads but you can find things that not everybody else has.”
2. Kids’ Clothes
“For the kids, I’ll generally do a winter and a summer shop. I’ll do an audit of everything they currently have to see what fits and what doesn’t. My eldest son’s clothes then go in a basket on top of the wardrobe until they fit my youngest son. Once I’ve done that, I can figure out what – if anything – they need.
“Then, I’ll look on secondhand websites, like Vinted or eBay, and stock up on whatever it is they need. I got my eldest son some Nike Air Force 1s for £12 that were as good as new.
“Kids grow out of clothes and shoes fast that secondhand clothes and shoes can often be as good as new.”
3. Debobbler
“A debobbler, or fabric shaver, is a must-have for saving worn jumpers.
“They’re super-easy to use and cost about £15. It’s really satisfying seeing the bobbles come off and your favourite clothes be restored. You can save a fortune on buying new jumpers by just taking ten minutes to debobble the ones you already have.”
4. Fabric Scissors
“I’m 5’1” so most of the clothes I buy are a bit too long. I bought a pair of fabric scissors from eBay and regularly use them to cut jeans and t-shirts. I could get them taken up, but it costs about £12 depending on the item.
“I cut both my favourite pairs of jeans to make them shorter and have about ten t-shirts that I’ve chopped the bottom off to make into a cropped style. If you don’t mind a frayed hem then it saves so much money, not just on alterations but on having to buy more expensive petite styles.”
5. Hemming Tape
“Hemming tape is amazing – I’ve even taken up a sequin dress with just a roll of it. Nearly all my skirts and trousers have been altered with hemming tape.
“It’s basically a roll of webbed tape that you place on the hem of a garment and then iron to hold in place. Again, it saves loads of money on alterations. If you make a mistake, you just wet a piece of damp cloth and iron over the area where the web is, and it comes off really easily.”
6. Wish Lists
“If I do want something brand new, like a bikini for a holiday, then I make use of the wish list functions on shopping websites.
“I’ll save the things I like and then wait for either a sale or a discount code. You run the risk of the item going out of stock, but I don’t mind that so much because there’s always something else I’ll like.”