Thursday, December 27, 2018

How to Save an Average of 75% on Clothing!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7q5hd1rm4wfmmx7/2019%20Clothing%20Seasonal%20Savings%20Guide-2.pdf?dl=0


Purchasing clothing can be challenging while living under the median.  That's why I recommend creating and maintaining a separate area where you store clothing and shoes for future use.

 I have stacked Rubbermaid bins in my garage with the sizes clearly marked on the side. When the seasons change, we always have the next size up ready to unpack from the appropriate bin. I have a separate bin for shoes.

 Although much of what my children wear is in the form of hand-me-downs or thrift store purchases, occasionally I have to supplement with brand new items. If you plan to buy any clothing at retail, you need to practice thinking down the road about twelve months, shopping only after major holidays and seasons have passed.





  So, how do we avoid spending an arm and a leg? 

It's actually pretty easy and I'm going to show you exactly how to do it!
  •  We'll take a look at 2019 and I'll give you exact dates of when to begin searching local stores for rock bottom clearance prices. 
  • I give you tips on when and how to shop.
I have created an absolutely free downloadable 2019 Seasonal Clothing Shopping E-book! It's yours for free as my way of saying "Thank you" for being an Under the Median reader and fan! It's yours for FREE when you sign up to follow Under the Median by e-mail.



Let's Get Started!

Truly thrifty people understand that the power of your dollar goes up exponentially after a season or holiday has passed. That's right! Put your hard-earned dollar on that checkout lane when Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine's or any other major holiday is in your rear view mirror.

Here's how its done!

  Shop End-of-the-Season Sales



This is a really important concept to understand.  You should always be purchasing clothing for the season which has just passed. It's called shopping off-season. Buy summer clothing in September. Buy those new gloves and boots at the end of January. I recommend waiting about a week after the clearance sales have started to get the absolute best prices. In other words, don't head for the stores on December 26th, unless you want to save just 50%. Rather, wait about another 5 to 7 days. That's when you begin to see those glorious 75-90% off signs!


General Tips: 

These tips will make shopping easier and (hopefully) eliminate phone calls home to have your spouse or older children check your inventory of items. 

 Before you shop:

  • Create a list, which includes your children's current shirt, pant, and shoe sizes. Your cell phone is a great place to keep this handy and with you at all times. 
  • Create an inventory of your children's current clothing needs. For instance, if I have inventoried the boots and there is no size 7, I will write that down. 
  • Check your children's closets and take note of any items which are nearly worn out and will need to be replaced.  This is also a great way to find "gaps". If you have multiple children it is not uncommon to find that child #3 suddenly only has one or two pairs of pants, because the first two children wore holes in the knees long before they could be handed down.   

While Shopping: 

  • Don't buy items that you don't need. Decide ahead of time how many pairs of pants, shirts, and shoes each child needs and then stick to it! 
  • Be sure the items you are looking at are actually a discounted price. Some retailers are known to actually mark items up and then put sale tags on them (which actually represent the regular or just a slightly discounted price.) 
  • Create a special fund of money each year for clothing, gifts, and household items. We budget for these categories on January 1st and then deplete the money throughout the year.
  • It's a great idea to use cash. Statistically, you spend nearly 20% less when you plop down hard cash rather than swiping a debit card. 
  • Track every penny you spend, using either a paper or on-line budget tracker. That way you'll always know how much you have available to spend. 

 Seasonal Shopping in a nutshell:

Remember to download my free 2019 Clothing Seasonal Shopping e-book!  It's filled with easy-to-follow tips, a calendar of suggested shopping days, and more! It's my free gift to you when you sign up to follow Under the Median by e-mail!

Winter 


 As soon as the Christmas clearance items have left the shelves, retailers begin discounting heavy cold weather clothing.  I have found the deepest discounts from mid to late January, although you'll find decent sale prices up to two weeks before that.  

Look for:

  • Boots
  • Hats
  • Mittens
  • Scarves
  • Heavy winter coats
  • Thermal underwear
  • Slippers
  • Sweaters
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Flannel items  
  • Christmas and New Year's formal wear 
  • Christmas themed clothing items
Special days to remember: 

  • January 1, 2019: New Year's Day
  • February 14, 2019: Valentine's Day
  • March 17, 2019: Saint Patrick's Da

Spring 



The official start of the spring clearance generally comes right after Easter. In 2019, that date is April 21st.  So, by the end of April or first week of May, you will see the season's deepest discounts.  Here are some items to think about when shopping for the following spring. Always buy at least one size up with purchasing items for children. 

Look for:
  • Rain boots
  • Spring jackets
  • Easter outfits for the following year
  • Easter suits and accessories to wear to weddings and other special occasions in 2019
  • Short-sleeved shirts to pair with sweaters for extra wear into the cool autumn days
  • Spring sandals and colorful shoes 
  • Easter themed clothing 
Special Days to Remember:  
  •  April 21, 2019: Easter
  • May 12, 2019: Mother's Day

Summer 



Back-to-school rules summer clearance prices. As soon as mid-August hits, retailers begin to swing into autumn and winter holiday mode.

Look for:

  • Swimsuits
  • Sandals
  • Sleeveless blouses and dresses
  • Shorts
  • Capris
  • Summer pajamas and sleepwear 
  • Prom formal wear
  • Bow ties and regular ties from Prom sales season
  • School uniform items
Special Days to Remember:  

  • June 16, 2019: Father's Day
  • July 4, 2019: Independence Day

Fall

 

 Mid to late October signals the "fall" of prices.  Yes, a pun - I couldn't resist!  Seriously though, retailers want that Christmas stuff on the shelves before Halloween is even on the horizon.  They are ditching the fall merchandise and clearing the way for winter.  

Look for: 
 
  • Autumn themed shirts and pants
  • Medium Weight Jackets
  • Sweatshirts
  • Homecoming formal wear
  • Bow ties and regular ties from homecoming season
  • Jeans (the new season inventory arrives in early October).
Special Day to Remember:

  • October 31, 2019: Halloween
  • November 28, 2019: Thanksgiving
  • December 25, 2019: Christmas Day  
Don't forget! Get your free copy of my 2019 Seasonal Clothing Shopping Guide when you sign up to follow Under the Median by e-mail. 
What did I miss?  Let me know in the comments section below.

I'd love some feedback on the e-book too! Did you enjoy it? Find it helpful? Would you like to see more Under the Median e-books?


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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope


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