Save money on clothing
Shopping smarter
- Buy second hand, use charity shops or clothing apps such as Depop or Vinted for some cheaper options.
- Shop the sale. Waiting until clothing items are out of season and reduced in price can save money as the demand for them is low.
- Wait a week before purchasing any non-essential items. Leaving some time before making a purchase ensures you are not making any impulse decisions.
- Search for discounts when shopping online. Check for any discount codes or money off when you subscribe to a newsletter for example. You can always cancel the subscription when you have received the discount.
- Avoid buying trend-based clothes. When you do purchase new clothes, you want to make sure you get the most wear out of them. Buy clothes based on your personal style and what your wardrobe is missing.
- Only buy what you can pay for. Buying clothes on credit only means you are paying more for that item than it is worth.
Making clothes last longer
- Don’t over fill your washing machine. Putting too many clothes in the washing machine will also rub against each other and cause damage and fading. Another tip to prevent fading is to wash on cold.
- Wash dark clothing inside out. This can avoid your dark garments from fading and the same goes for t-shirts, turning them inside out will prevent the print from cracking or fading.
- Turn the temperature down on your washing machine to around 30 degrees or a cold wash. Higher heat can cause the clothes fibres to break down.
- Wash your washing machine. Over time a layer of soap scum can be built on the drum that is just as likely to deposit residue on your clothes as clean them.
- Make sure school uniforms are labelled so that if they become lost at school they can be found and returned to you.
- Get a small sewing kit to repair any small holes or put buttons back onto your clothes.
- Use stain removal products to get rid of marks on clothes.
- Use clothesline or drying rack to dry clothes. A tumble dryer can cause your clothes to shrink or stretch activewear.
Make your clothes work for you
- Sell garments you haven’t worn in over a year unless they’re formal outfits for things such as weddings or job interviews. Any money you make back could go towards your debts or into a savings account.
- Try clothes swapping: If you have a friend who wears a similar size to you, see if they’d like to have a ‘clothes swap’ to refresh your wardrobes.
Need help with school uniform?
LASER Credit Union in Rotherham has a saving scheme for school uniforms:
Save a minimum of £1 per week (£4 per month) in the School Uniform Savings Account for 3 months and receive a bonus of £20 into your savings account.
On top of that, save a minimum of £1 per week (£4 per month) in the School Uniform Savings Account consistently for 12 months and get another bonus of £20 into your savings account.
Claim tax relief for uniform and work clothing
You may be able to claim tax relief on the cost of:
- repairing or replacing small tools you need to do your job (for example, scissors or an electric drill)
- cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a uniform or safety boots)
Claim tax relief for your job expenses: Uniforms, work clothing and tools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)