I’m a fashionista on a budget, my tips will save you hundreds on clothes – I’ve bagged Air Force trainers for £12
TRYING out outfit inspiration while looking through your wardrobe can be a daunting task.
With the cost of living on the rise, spending on clothes can make your appearance brighter but can darken your personal finances.
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However, there are some wise ways to cut costs if you know how.
Little-Loans.com has partnered with ‘Instagram Mom’, Emma Stretton, who shared her tips and tricks on how to save money on clothes.
“Fashion is one of my favorite things, but my habit of buying clothes left me in a lot of debt when I was younger. Now I try to be more frugal and make the most of the clothes I already have and spend as little as possible when buying anything new.”
Emma Stretton is a mom of two and thrifty living in Manchester.
By following Emma’s tips and making small, simple adjustments to your clothing shopping habits, you can save some extra cash.
1. Search liked first
“I am obsessed with Vinted. I also love a charity shopping trip but it’s hard to find time with two boys who don’t like being dragged around the stores. To find the best, I usually browse online stores, see what’s trending or what I like, then I’ll search for it on Vinted.
“For example, I was going to a charity ball and saw a pink dress online that I absolutely love. I kept searching for ‘pink dress’ on Vinted until one was listed. It would have cost £80 if I had bought it brand new but I bought it for £25. Buying second hand not only saves you a lot, but you can also find things that not everyone has.”
2. Children’s wear
“For the kids, I would usually open a winter and summer store. I’ll check everything they have to see what works and what doesn’t. My oldest son’s clothes are then put in a basket on the closet until they fit my youngest son. Once I did that, I was able to figure out what – if anything – they needed.
“Then I would search secondhand sites, such as Vinted or eBay, and buy whatever they needed. I bought my eldest son some Nike Air Force 1 pairs for $12. Pounds are as good as new.
“Children quickly run out of clothes and shoes so old clothes and shoes can often be as good as new.”
3. Debugger
“A fabric scraper, aka fabric scraper, is a must-have to save worn pullovers.
“They’re super easy to use and cost around £15. It’s really satisfying to see the cotton balls come off and your favorite clothes restored. You can save a lot of money. when buying new overalls by taking just ten minutes to untangle the ones you already have.”
4. Fabric scissors
“I’m 1m50 tall so most of the clothes I buy are a bit long. I bought a pair of fabric scissors from eBay and regularly use them to cut jeans and t-shirts. I can get them, but it costs around £12 depending on the item.
“I cut both of my favorite jeans to make them shorter and there were about ten t-shirts that I cut the bottom to cut into a cropped look. If you don’t mind if the hem is frayed, it’s fine. will save a lot of money, not only in terms of changes but also in terms of having to buy more expensive petite designs.”
5. Edge band
“The hem tape is amazing – I even managed to put on a sequined dress with just one roll of tape. Nearly all of my skirts and pants have been changed with edging tape.
“It’s basically a roll of tape with film that you stick to the hem of your garment and then iron it in place. Again, it saves a lot of money on changing. Just wet a damp cloth and iron it over the cobwebs, and it comes off very easily.”
6. Wishlist
“If I want something completely new, like a holiday bikini, then I use the wish list functionality on shopping sites.
“I’ll save the things I like and then wait for the sale or the discount code. You run the risk of running out of stock, but I don’t mind because there’s always something else I’ll be like.”
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