5 Easy Ways to Cut Costs on Teen Girl Apparel

"Spend less and save more" is our family motto for 2011. Along with trimming costs on groceries, utility bills and other household essentials, we have also pared back clothing costs for our teen daughter.

For families on a budget (and who isn't these days?) shopping for teen clothing can be expensive, especially at those trendy designer shops found at the mall. Here's five easy ways we discovered to cut costs on teen girl apparel; the savings will amaze you.

1. Shop the outlets. Every city with at population of 100,000 or more has an outlet mall somewhere on the outskirts of town. The teen fashions you see at the mall are also available here at 50-75% below retail. For extra savings, sign up for sales notifications by Email. We often get coupons for 20% or more which can make these great bargains even more of a savings.

2. Have a clothing swap with friends. Now that I have a teen in high school, I've discovered that many families trade rather than purchase expensive teen girl apparel such as prom dresses, home coming dresses, ski wear, winter coats, and going-to-church clothes. If you are too shy about asking other families about passing around hand-me-downs, have your teen daughter plan a clothes swap party with a group of her friends instead.

3. Shop the thrifts. I first got started on thrift store shopping years ago when one of my then-tween aged sons needed dress black pants for a school concert. The thrifts have all types of great clothing (including lots of designer clothes) for teens priced at 10% of the original value. The best quality clothes we've discovered turn up at Savers, Goodwill, Junior League, and St. Vincent de Paul. Other places worth checking are church rummage sales. If buying second hand bothers you, remember that once it's dry cleaned, it will be almost as good as new.

4. Shop remaindered stores. Remaindered stores are those that sell overstock goods or sample goods, such as Ross, T Maxx, and Marshalls. The clothing is priced slightly higher than factory outlets, but it's here where you'll find the best bargains on designer clothing for teens, trendy shoes, and accessories.

5. Buy more mix and match. Gone are the days where my daughter picks a clothing item that only matches a particular color or skirt. These days, the rule is that every garment must be able to be accessorized with at least four other items she already owns. Choosing more mix and match styles of clothing means that you can get away with buying less.

For more teen saving ideas, check out these articles as well:
Where to find cheap under $50 prom dresses.
Where to find the best cheap makeup for teens.