My Biggest Secret - Save $$$ with Used Clothing

The average consumer spends around $100-200 on new pants and shirts each month. That is a sizable chunk of cash! Imagine if you spent just 25% of your usual monthly clothing budget and got the same amount of clothing? Believe it or not, it can be done!

Used items stores have been around for eons, but the stigma attached to them means that most people wouldn't be caught dead in a thrift shop. Just the idea of setting foot in a Salvation Army or Goodwill apart from donating is enough to send most people scurrying for the nearest mall!

There isn't any reason to avoid used clothing stores, though. There are plenty around now that dispel the stereotypical image of a dingy back alley shop with strange smells and racks of scrubby clothes twenty years out of date. Today's thrift stores are hip and bright and clean.

Places such as Value Village, have turned second-hand things into a booming business. Items that are donated are sorted, washed and priced, so that only the best clothing gets put out. And we aren't talking Gramma's bathrobe, either, (although you can find vintage clothing, too!) but rather the latest in trendy blouses and jeans.

Name brands are common in used clothing shops and while they might run a little higher in price than the average no-name brand, you still generally pay around 10-20% of the retail price. Most of the clothing has only been worn a handful of times and if you weren't buying it in a thrift shop, you would never imagine that it wasn't new!

Saving money might not be enough to get you into a thrift shop, but there are other places to get your used clothing. You could set up a clothing swap with friends, where everyone brings all their unused or unwanted clothes and you can pick and choose what you want. At the end of the swap, the remaining clothes are donated to Goodwill.

Another option is shopping online. Ebay and other auction sites are the perfect place to find those Tommy Hilfiger jeans at half price or a new-to-you dress for your sister's upcoming wedding. Online shopping allows for complete anonymity and no one will ever know that you didn't pick your new outfit up at a brand-name store.

Yes, buying second-hand, used clothing is a great way to save money, but there are a couple of things you should know in order to get the best deal. Always inspect the item for tears or stains, especially if is marked down. If there is a button missing on a shirt, look on the inside hem to see if it comes with an extra one that you can sew on. Anything stained isn't worth buying since you can't guarantee that the stain will come out.

It is always a good idea to try the clothes on before buying as well. Most shops have a change room where you can try things on and see how well they fit.

Buying used clothing is nothing to be ashamed of. It simply means you are recycling and saving money at the same time! A very intelligent choice.