Learn How to Stop Spending Money on Clothes You Really Don't Need!
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Is your wardrobe is full to bursting with clothes you don’t wear or don’t really like, but you find yourself buying more? Having too many clothes is stressful, overwhelming and guilt inducing. Reducing your wardrobe is freeing, time saving and can change your life. It’s time to stop the buying cycle and tackle the problem!
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Why do we buy clothes that we don’t need?
We do it because it feels good. You look in your wardrobe and you see the thing you’ve just bought hanging there and you think ‘Wow, I love it, I’m so excited to own it.’ And then as time goes on you think, ‘Why did I buy that? I'm never going to wear it.’
The gold maxi dress that was an absolute steal or the pirate style shirt that looked so cool in the window… we’ve all made mistakes. Things you felt like you just had to have but then they languish in the wardrobe unworn. You let your heart rule your head. Again.
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There are lots of reasons why we impulse buy. Do any of them ring true with you?
Idealism
You’re buying things based on an idealised image of yourself, not the person you actually are. You imagine yourself as the sort of person who goes on cruises, attends black tie events or loves camping. Or you’re a dress size smaller than actually are. Don’t buy for the kind of person you imagine you're going to be - buy for who you are now.
Be honest about when you will wear the item. For example, should you really buy that fab cocktail dress on the off chance you get invited to a last-minute event?
Buying something ‘just in case’ so that’s it’s there when you need it is almost always a mistake. Either the occasion never arises, it feels dated before you’ve had a chance to wear it, or you’ve gone off it and want to buy a different one.
The Lure of a Bargain
If you bought something in the sale that you don’t wear, you justify it by focussing on how much money you saved on the original price, rather than what it actually cost.
You find something in the sale that that appeals to you. But maybe there’s something wrong with it - it’s a bit tight or it’s not quite your colour… but it’s 80 percent off, so you end up buying it anyway. Because it’s not quite right, you don't ever wear it.
It’s a lot easier to make an impulse purchase based on emotion when you’re shopping instore rather than online. Once you’ve touched it, felt it, and it’s in your hand, it’s too tempting to just buy it instead of putting it back and walking away.
My advice to clients who are browsing the sales is to have a good look at the item and decide whether you like it, need it and what you’d wear it with, before you look at the price. It’s too easy to see the discount first and then feel compelled to buy it!
FIXING YOUR PROBLEM wardrobe
Another reason you bought clothes that you don’t wear is because they don’t work well with the rest of your wardrobe.
Before you buy something, ask yourself – ‘Would I wear this today?’ or ‘What do I know I can wear it with?’
You’ll save money and get more mileage from an item that matches with other things in your wardrobe. Try to think of at least three outfits that you can build with it.
It’s okay to buy a risky piece that you instantly fall in love with, every now and then. If you’re always doing it though, you’ll end up feeling like you have a wardrobe full of random clothes but nothing to wear.
Before You Buy, ask yourself -
Does it fit? If not, don’t buy it.
Do you own something similar? If so, then you don’t need it.
Where am I going to wear it in the next four weeks? No idea? Leave it.
YOU weren’t thinking about The Return Policy
Finally, before you hand over payment, can you return it if you change your mind? At some stores or for some clearance items, all sales are final, ie. there’s no refund or return. Ask yourself, do you really want to risk this if you can’t take back? I made this mistake myself recently, taking the chance on something and ordering it online. It was in the sale but I didn’t notice that it was non-returnable, and it didn’t fit. Lesson learned.
Is there a deadline for bringing it back? Does it still need to have the tags on it? If you ordered online, can you take it to the store for a refund or do you need to need to pay for shipping to return it? Keep the receipt safe.
A word of caution - don’t shop online after you’ve had a drink or few. You’ll almost definitely be buying clothing that you really don’t want and it’s just annoying to have to return it!
it’s like one you already have
Be realistic about the clothes you need day to day.
If you now work from home or your office dress policy has become more casual, you won’t need the smart business clothes you used to wear. Your daily go-to outfit might be something like straight leg jeans, a top, a light jacket, and ankle boots so you’ll need more of these pieces.
Keep this in mind when shopping as it will help you to stop buying clothes that you no longer have a need for. You might still need a smart blazer that you can also wear with jeans, but do you really need 4 of them?
BUYING NEW FOR AN EVENT
Is receiving an invite a trigger for you to go out and buy something new? It’s really tempting to buy something new for a one-time event or special occasion, like a friend’s wedding, a birthday party or a Christmas ‘do’.
Whilst it can make you feel happy and confident and it’s nice to go shopping, all too often we often end up wearing the item only once. It’s wasteful and unsustainable approach and doesn’t add value to your life!
Instead, consider buying something pre-loved or look at renting an amazing designer outfit for a one-off occasion.
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remember
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No one is perfect! It takes practice and discipline to curb impulse spending. By following these tips, you can commit to buying fewer clothes and become more decisive about the items you choose to purchase.