If you have children, and you’re struggling with the speed they grow and needing to constantly update their closet, check out our tips on clothing your family on a budget.
Who remembers having a wardrobe full of hand me downs as a child? I know I certainly do! I remember wearing clothes that had come from all imaginable places from my older cousins to the neighbour a few doors down the street. In fact I still own – and wear – a cardigan handed down to me from my mum about 20 years ago!
What was once the norm isn’t quite as widespread nowadays, with many of us opting for a wardrobe full to the brim with brand new clothing and, in particular, fast fashion. But, of course, clothing an ever-growing family is an expensive task! So here are a few ideas of how you can keep the costs down and clothe your family on a budget.
1. Pre-loved fashion
Pre-loved fashion is making its way back into the mainstream with the rise in popularity of second hand selling sites. It’s not hard to find a bargain or two on sites such as Vinted and Depop, as well as the more traditional places like eBay or Facebook marketplace. While many of us will be looking to these sites to save ourselves a few pennies, there’s the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly through this act of recycling. In particular, second hand selling sites are great for bundles of kids’ clothing – a great alternative for brand new clothes which you know will soon be outgrown!
2. Shop your wardrobe
Or perhaps you’re like me and have a wardrobe full of clothes but wear the same few trusty outfits on repeat. If so, then maybe it’s time to draw some inspiration from the contents of your closet. Dress up, create new outfits from items that you’ve not worn in a while and reinvent your look without the need to hit the high street. Do this with your kids too, to get more use out of their garments. Your mini fashionistas will love to experiment with new outfits, showing off their creative side.
With summer drawing to a close, you might have been considering a shopping trip to get stocked up on the new autumn/winter fashion trends. But first, think about layering up your summer wardrobe before packing it away for another year.
3. Create a capsule wardrobe
Not only is keeping up with the latest fashion trends expensive, but it requires more time to plan outfits and more space in your house. If it’s not just the cost that you’re looking to keep down then creating a capsule wardrobe for all members of your family may be the answer.
The idea of a capsule wardrobe is to have a relatively small collection of items of clothing and accessories that you can mix and match to create new outfits. Stick to mainly neutral colours and, if you fancy, a couple of more colourful or patterned items that suit your desired look. Adding or subtracting layers should ensure that your capsule wardrobe can be worn year-round. Pick timeless classics that never go out of fashion to really get the most out of your clothing.
With the summer drawing to a close, why not use the change of season as an opportunity to take stock of what you already have hidden away in your closets, before rushing out to buy piles of new clothes for everyone. You’ll be amazed at what you can repurpose for the autumn. If you still find that you’re missing a few essentials, check the pre-loved selling sites before heading out on a shopping spree. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save!
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