Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel

This is part of an ongoing series about how to trim the budget of the average American. As this series focuses on such broad-based tips, some will work for you and some will not. You’re invited to mention in the comments the tips that you found to be the most useful for inclusion in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of this series.

Apparel and Services – $1,881

Clothes make up the largest part of this category, in which the average American family drops $150 a month (on average). On clothing? It seemed a bit surprising to me, but then I realized that clothing is perhaps one of the areas of my life where I’m the most frugal. I already naturally do almost everything on this list.

However, if you’re finding that clothes constantly eats up a notable part of your budget, here are some simple tactics to try that might reduce your expenses.

Start your clothes shopping at the Goodwill Store. The first place to stop on any clothes shopping trip is the Goodwill Store. Many people immediately turn up their nose at this advice, but here’s why it works. Let’s say you go through the entire store and find only one thing that you’d wear. However, that one thing is a $75 item that’s marked for $2. That half an hour spent at the Goodwill Store paid off tremendously. Yes, the vast majority of the stuff you find at Goodwill isn’t stuff that you would wear. However, I’m constantly finding great stuff there – barely-worn stuff from surprisingly high-end manufacturers.

Move up the ladder as you shop, not down. Many people have a tendency to shop at the expensive store first, then if they don’t find what they want, “settle” for another store that’s slightly lower in quality. I’ve witnessed many people say things like, “Well… they didn’t have what I wanted…. I guess I could check Old Navy.” My perspective is the opposite. I start at the least expensive stores first and try to fill out my wardrobe needs there. Much of my apparel – white t-shirts, underwear, socks – is bought as inexpensively as I can find them, and most of my casual shirts are the same. I only go higher end for the clothes I’ll need for higher-end situations, like nice social events.

Don’t turn shopping for clothes into a social event. If you invite friends along, you’re adding social pressure and the “need” to “keep up appearances” to your clothes shopping. That usually means you’ll spend more – and often, a lot more. It’s okay to browse a bit with friends, but when you’re actually updating your wardrobe significantly, do it alone. This allows you to focus on your true needs without having to filter it through the eyes of those around you.

Buy clothes that are made from durable material and will last for a long while. When I buy my most presentable clothes, I make absolutely sure that the items are made from durable materials that will hold up over a long period – and I’m willing to pay more for that, if need be. If I’m buying a new sweater for winter social occasions, for example, and I’ve looked at some of the low-cost used stores and not found anything I’m looking for, I’m quite willing to pay more at that point to get a sweater that will last. If I can pay 75% more to get a sweater that will last three times as long, that’s actually saving money over the long haul.

Become handy with a needle and thread. If a button falls off of a shirt, it shouldn’t be disaster and it definitely shouldn’t hit the trash can. Instead, you’re greatly served by the ability to simply sew the button back on the item. You don’t have to have a sewing machine and be able to repair or replace anything and everything, but every bit of skill you have with a needle and thread will help you out at some point.

Buy clothes that accessorize well and match with many other items in your wardrobe. Along with durable, I usually buy clothes that go together well. I stick with basic, solid colors (most of the time) and don’t look for patterns that stand out in most of the clothing I own. This allows me to easily pull pretty much anything out of my closet and make it work. The end result? I don’t have to own as many clothes, since they all just work together.

Don’t wash an item of clothing every time you wear it, but only when it actually needs washing. Yes, wash your undergarments every time. But if you’ve worn a pair of pants or a shirt and it still looks and smells completely fine, don’t worry about washing it. One of my friends has a system where he has a separator in his closet. Everything on the left side of the separator is newly washed. Everything on the right side has been worn once. Then, when he undresses at night, he looks for where the empty hanger is from this morning and it tells him what to do with the item – put a left side item on the right and put a right side item in the wash.

Follow the instructions on the tag. It’s easy when you’re in a rush to overlook the special cleaning needs of particular items. Don’t. Instead, have a separate laundry basket for items that need special attention when washing and deal with them separately. Of course, the best choice of all is to minimize the number of “special care” items in your wardrobe.

I want your help! In the comments, please let me know which of the tips you find most useful for trimming shelter costs. I’ll include the top choices in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of the series.

Continue reading Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel …

From The Simple Dollar.

Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel

This is part of an ongoing series about how to trim the budget of the average American. As this series focuses on such broad-based tips, some will work for you and some will not. You’re invited to mention in the comments the tips that you found to be the most useful for inclusion in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of this series.

Apparel and Services – $1,881

Clothes make up the largest part of this category, in which the average American family drops $150 a month (on average). On clothing? It seemed a bit surprising to me, but then I realized that clothing is perhaps one of the areas of my life where I’m the most frugal. I already naturally do almost everything on this list.

However, if you’re finding that clothes constantly eats up a notable part of your budget, here are some simple tactics to try that might reduce your expenses.

Start your clothes shopping at the Goodwill Store. The first place to stop on any clothes shopping trip is the Goodwill Store. Many people immediately turn up their nose at this advice, but here’s why it works. Let’s say you go through the entire store and find only one thing that you’d wear. However, that one thing is a $75 item that’s marked for $2. That half an hour spent at the Goodwill Store paid off tremendously. Yes, the vast majority of the stuff you find at Goodwill isn’t stuff that you would wear. However, I’m constantly finding great stuff there – barely-worn stuff from surprisingly high-end manufacturers.

Move up the ladder as you shop, not down. Many people have a tendency to shop at the expensive store first, then if they don’t find what they want, “settle” for another store that’s slightly lower in quality. I’ve witnessed many people say things like, “Well… they didn’t have what I wanted…. I guess I could check Old Navy.” My perspective is the opposite. I start at the least expensive stores first and try to fill out my wardrobe needs there. Much of my apparel – white t-shirts, underwear, socks – is bought as inexpensively as I can find them, and most of my casual shirts are the same. I only go higher end for the clothes I’ll need for higher-end situations, like nice social events.

Don’t turn shopping for clothes into a social event. If you invite friends along, you’re adding social pressure and the “need” to “keep up appearances” to your clothes shopping. That usually means you’ll spend more – and often, a lot more. It’s okay to browse a bit with friends, but when you’re actually updating your wardrobe significantly, do it alone. This allows you to focus on your true needs without having to filter it through the eyes of those around you.

Buy clothes that are made from durable material and will last for a long while. When I buy my most presentable clothes, I make absolutely sure that the items are made from durable materials that will hold up over a long period – and I’m willing to pay more for that, if need be. If I’m buying a new sweater for winter social occasions, for example, and I’ve looked at some of the low-cost used stores and not found anything I’m looking for, I’m quite willing to pay more at that point to get a sweater that will last. If I can pay 75% more to get a sweater that will last three times as long, that’s actually saving money over the long haul.

Become handy with a needle and thread. If a button falls off of a shirt, it shouldn’t be disaster and it definitely shouldn’t hit the trash can. Instead, you’re greatly served by the ability to simply sew the button back on the item. You don’t have to have a sewing machine and be able to repair or replace anything and everything, but every bit of skill you have with a needle and thread will help you out at some point.

Buy clothes that accessorize well and match with many other items in your wardrobe. Along with durable, I usually buy clothes that go together well. I stick with basic, solid colors (most of the time) and don’t look for patterns that stand out in most of the clothing I own. This allows me to easily pull pretty much anything out of my closet and make it work. The end result? I don’t have to own as many clothes, since they all just work together.

Don’t wash an item of clothing every time you wear it, but only when it actually needs washing. Yes, wash your undergarments every time. But if you’ve worn a pair of pants or a shirt and it still looks and smells completely fine, don’t worry about washing it. One of my friends has a system where he has a separator in his closet. Everything on the left side of the separator is newly washed. Everything on the right side has been worn once. Then, when he undresses at night, he looks for where the empty hanger is from this morning and it tells him what to do with the item – put a left side item on the right and put a right side item in the wash.

Follow the instructions on the tag. It’s easy when you’re in a rush to overlook the special cleaning needs of particular items. Don’t. Instead, have a separate laundry basket for items that need special attention when washing and deal with them separately. Of course, the best choice of all is to minimize the number of “special care” items in your wardrobe.

I want your help! In the comments, please let me know which of the tips you find most useful for trimming shelter costs. I’ll include the top choices in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of the series.

Continue reading Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel …

From The Simple Dollar.

Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel

This is part of an ongoing series about how to trim the budget of the average American. As this series focuses on such broad-based tips, some will work for you and some will not. You’re invited to mention in the comments the tips that you found to be the most useful for inclusion in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of this series.

Apparel and Services – $1,881

Clothes make up the largest part of this category, in which the average American family drops $150 a month (on average). On clothing? It seemed a bit surprising to me, but then I realized that clothing is perhaps one of the areas of my life where I’m the most frugal. I already naturally do almost everything on this list.

However, if you’re finding that clothes constantly eats up a notable part of your budget, here are some simple tactics to try that might reduce your expenses.

Start your clothes shopping at the Goodwill Store. The first place to stop on any clothes shopping trip is the Goodwill Store. Many people immediately turn up their nose at this advice, but here’s why it works. Let’s say you go through the entire store and find only one thing that you’d wear. However, that one thing is a $75 item that’s marked for $2. That half an hour spent at the Goodwill Store paid off tremendously. Yes, the vast majority of the stuff you find at Goodwill isn’t stuff that you would wear. However, I’m constantly finding great stuff there – barely-worn stuff from surprisingly high-end manufacturers.

Move up the ladder as you shop, not down. Many people have a tendency to shop at the expensive store first, then if they don’t find what they want, “settle” for another store that’s slightly lower in quality. I’ve witnessed many people say things like, “Well… they didn’t have what I wanted…. I guess I could check Old Navy.” My perspective is the opposite. I start at the least expensive stores first and try to fill out my wardrobe needs there. Much of my apparel – white t-shirts, underwear, socks – is bought as inexpensively as I can find them, and most of my casual shirts are the same. I only go higher end for the clothes I’ll need for higher-end situations, like nice social events.

Don’t turn shopping for clothes into a social event. If you invite friends along, you’re adding social pressure and the “need” to “keep up appearances” to your clothes shopping. That usually means you’ll spend more – and often, a lot more. It’s okay to browse a bit with friends, but when you’re actually updating your wardrobe significantly, do it alone. This allows you to focus on your true needs without having to filter it through the eyes of those around you.

Buy clothes that are made from durable material and will last for a long while. When I buy my most presentable clothes, I make absolutely sure that the items are made from durable materials that will hold up over a long period – and I’m willing to pay more for that, if need be. If I’m buying a new sweater for winter social occasions, for example, and I’ve looked at some of the low-cost used stores and not found anything I’m looking for, I’m quite willing to pay more at that point to get a sweater that will last. If I can pay 75% more to get a sweater that will last three times as long, that’s actually saving money over the long haul.

Become handy with a needle and thread. If a button falls off of a shirt, it shouldn’t be disaster and it definitely shouldn’t hit the trash can. Instead, you’re greatly served by the ability to simply sew the button back on the item. You don’t have to have a sewing machine and be able to repair or replace anything and everything, but every bit of skill you have with a needle and thread will help you out at some point.

Buy clothes that accessorize well and match with many other items in your wardrobe. Along with durable, I usually buy clothes that go together well. I stick with basic, solid colors (most of the time) and don’t look for patterns that stand out in most of the clothing I own. This allows me to easily pull pretty much anything out of my closet and make it work. The end result? I don’t have to own as many clothes, since they all just work together.

Don’t wash an item of clothing every time you wear it, but only when it actually needs washing. Yes, wash your undergarments every time. But if you’ve worn a pair of pants or a shirt and it still looks and smells completely fine, don’t worry about washing it. One of my friends has a system where he has a separator in his closet. Everything on the left side of the separator is newly washed. Everything on the right side has been worn once. Then, when he undresses at night, he looks for where the empty hanger is from this morning and it tells him what to do with the item – put a left side item on the right and put a right side item in the wash.

Follow the instructions on the tag. It’s easy when you’re in a rush to overlook the special cleaning needs of particular items. Don’t. Instead, have a separate laundry basket for items that need special attention when washing and deal with them separately. Of course, the best choice of all is to minimize the number of “special care” items in your wardrobe.

I want your help! In the comments, please let me know which of the tips you find most useful for trimming shelter costs. I’ll include the top choices in a comprehensive budget trimming guide at the conclusion of the series.

Continue reading Trimming the Average Budget: Apparel …

From The Simple Dollar.

Shop Goodwill On The Internet – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday

Does it make you happy when you shop at thrift stores and find really great bargains?  Do you especially feel good when money spent on those bargains help provide services for people in need?

Charity and non-profit organizations like Goodwill Industries do just that.  When you shop at a Goodwill store, your money goes directly into programs like job training and job placement for folks who need help finding work due to disabilities or other barriers to employment.

I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a vital service, one which benefits everyone in a way.  Working folks are happier, healthier, and feel a sense of purpose and connection with their neighbors.  Our communities thrive when the population is productively employed.

This all sounds great, but what if you don’t have a Goodwill thrift store in your town?  How can you shop and contribute?

Here’s how… Goodwill Industries has their very own auction-type website.  It’s called ShopGoodwill.com and is operated by Goodwill of Orange County, California.  Participating Goodwill stores from all over offer a wide variety of items for auction; items from antiques to housewares to clothing.  New and nearly new items are pulled from their inventories of donated goods and placed on the auction site to sell.  Because Goodwill is so large, the resources for these items is enormous.

This is not a small charity or a small auction site.  Goodwill’s presence extends to five continents, and in 2005 alone, Goodwill Industries International and its affiliates served over 846,000 individuals.

Just like shopping at a Goodwill store, the money you spend at ShopGoodwill.com supports programs designed to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment who are otherwise left out of society – programs like education, training and job placement.

How does the ShopGoodwill.com auction website work?  Similar to eBay, but your money is going to charity.

Start by scrolling around the items you are most interested in just to whet your appetite.  I guarantee you’ll see something that appeals to you.  For me, it was the wonderful cast iron Dutch ovens, griddles, and skillets.  There were even a few enameled cast iron casserole dishes.  Once I was sufficiently impressed, I just clicked on the “Sign-in” button, clicked on “I’m a New User”, and followed the simple instructions to register.

Of course, you’ll see some expensive antiques, art work, and jewelry, but you’ll also find things like a $10 Sunbeam Mixmaster, a $9 Pampered Chef baking dish, and even a vintage wedding gown for under $20!

The shipping should be factored in as you know, but seems to be what you would expect to pay.  But, it may be worth the cost to ship if you find something that you haven’t been able to find locally; maybe a missing piece from a set of dishes that you would like to complete.

Take a break from your busy day, click on ShopGoodwill.com, and start with a little window shopping.  When you see something that interests you, go ahead and register.  It will only take a minute or two and you’ll feel good the rest of the day, knowing the purchases you make are doing more than supporting a business… your purchases are supporting a community.

p.s. If you’ve gotten the urge to visit your local thrift shops now, before you start click here to read a few tips about when to shop and what to look for when you go.

Continue reading Shop Goodwill On The Internet – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.