With summer coming to a close, the temptation is all around to spend money on new clothes — from back-to-school sales to Halloween ads and beyond.
But there are some simple ways to update your wardrobe without shelling out a bunch of cash this season.
To prepare for fall fashion, try these 15 simple hacks to avoid wasting money on new clothes.
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1. Do a closet clear-out
Believe it or not, taking some time to clear out your closet can actually help you find new outfits to wear.
Many of us have clothes we completely forget about because they’re buried in the back of the closet or the bottom of the dresser.
When you take stock of all you do have, you might find you don’t need anything new.
Own a car? Here's 7 warning signs you're paying too much for car insurance. 2. Get rid of temptation
It’s hard to remove all temptation to shop these days. After all, we’re all online.
But you can take proactive steps to remove temptation by unsubscribing from store and shopping emails, unfollowing influencers known for peddling shiny new outfits, and removing shopping apps.
3. Repurpose summer looks
Don’t pack away all the summer clothes just yet — as many can be repurposed as fall outfits.
For example, a summer dress can be spruced up with a sweater and some tights to keep you toasty in the fall months — and a vintage T can look great under a chunky cardigan.
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4. Give your clothes some TLC
Your wardrobe may not need to be expanded; it may just need some tender love and care. Outfit ideas might abound when your garments are steamed/ironed, hung up, and tended to.
For clothes that look a little worse for wear, look for a YouTube tutorial on removing a stain or fixing a simple tear.
5. Note gaps in your wardrobe
The closet clear-out can also help identify any gaps in your wardrobe. Knowing what you really do need can help you avoid unnecessary purchases.
For example, you may think you need new jeans for the fall, but the clear-out might unearth a few old pairs and a real lack of a different wardrobe staple.
6. Swap clothes with friends
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a “clothes swap” friend group, but there are other ways to borrow instead of buy.
For example, if you need to go to a wedding but don’t feel like shelling out cash for a new dress, see if you can borrow one from a friend for the night.
Make Money: 8 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially 7. Join a ‘Buy Nothing’ group
“Buy Nothing” groups are community-based, and members can list items — ranging from furniture to clothes to food — online free of charge.
Join your local Buy Nothing group, which you can likely find on Facebook, and see what treasures your neighbors may be trying to trash.
8. Try secondhand first
If you must buy, consider going the more sustainable (and often, significantly cheaper) route.
Check out a secondhand shop like Goodwill or consider using an app where people sell their clothes like Poshmark.
9. Look for multi-season garments
As previously mentioned, your “summer” clothes might just have more potential than you think.
While clearing out your closet, look for items that can be worn in multiple seasons or year-round — like a tank top that can be worn alone or paired with a cardigan or blazer.
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The end-of-summer closet clear-out is also a great time to think about your fashion “needs.” Your lifestyle and what you actually wear day-to-day should be taken into consideration.
It may be fun to buy those sparkly cowboy boots, but reserving purchases for things you will wear regularly can help you avoid overspending on your wardrobe.
11. Use a rental app
If your closet is bursting at the seams but you’d still like to spruce up your fall wardrobe, consider using a rental app like Rent the Runway to try out some new outfits without having to buy anything.
However, you will need to pay a monthly fee for the service.
12. See what can be repurposed
Can you make some choice cuts to an old T-shirt and turn it into a fashionable off-shoulder look? Can a pair of old jeans be resized, repaired, or turned into denim shorts?
Before throwing out a haul of clothing and starting anew, see if anything can be repaired or revamped.
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13. Layer up
As summer turns to fall, you can’t go wrong with layering — especially if autumn afternoons tend to have very different temperatures than mornings where you live.
Instead of packing away your summer wardrobe and focusing on buying fall/winter items, see what you can layer together for a whole new look.
14. Shop the summer sales
If you must shop, keep in mind that the in-season clothing is always the priciest.
Once the sunny peak is behind us, you can find some excellent bargains by shopping in the summer section. These finds can be layered, styled, and added to your fall wardrobe.
15. Consider a buying break
Sadly, sometimes, cold turkey is the best answer. This time of year, there is a lot of temptation to shop and revamp your wardrobe — so it might be the perfect time to attempt a “buying break.”
Challenge yourself to stop purchasing unnecessary items for a month or two. Bonus points if you can keep track of how much you save.
Bottom line
If you’ve built something like back-to-school shopping into your budget, by all means, shop the fall fashion offerings guilt-free.
If not, this might be the ideal time to practice resistance , take stock of what you already have, and think about building outfits rather than splurging on anything shiny and new.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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