FashBlog.com

I have to be honest with you. My mom raised me cheap. I don't mean that she raised me without expending a lot of money; I mean that she taught me how to be cheap. Or you can call me frugal if you prefer that slightly kinder term. But it all boils down to the basic fact that I just can't make myself spend much money on clothing.

So I gravitate to discount department stores. I find no shame in purchasing clothes from Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target. I also follow sale ads closely and head for clearance racks first thing when I enter a store in the mall. Outlet stores and shops that specialize in clearance/slightly irregular name brand clothing (think T.J.Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory) are also good options.

Now I have to admit for all of my cheapness, I'm not a big fan of shopping at thrift stores or yard sales. But this isn't because I turn up my nose at their products. It's really a product of laziness. I have to be in a very particular mood to sift through rack after rack of clothing to find a few things that I need. Add in the time it would take to try on numerous shirts or pants with no range of sizes available, and I just can't do it. I do fully realize that buying secondhand is a great way to and I highly recommend it.

Another thing that I've found handy in helping me buy clothing without spending a lot of money is to ask for clothing or clothing gift certificates for gifts. Do you really want that all-in-one juicer/grater/CD player for Christmas? Don't be embarrassed to ask your family members for what you really want.

But there's a time and a place for being frugal in your clothing purchases. Knowing when to spend the extra money for a quality product is just as important as knowing where all the clearance racks are. For instance, I always buy high quality tennis shoes because I know that I will wear them day in and day out, and I need the comfort and durability that you don't always get from cheaper shoes. At the same time, if I'm attending a dinner party and want a pair of dress shoes that match my new dress, then I'll insist on buying the cheap version of the trendy heels for ten dollars.

But you also need to know when to break your own rules. I had always been told that you needed to buy an expensive suit for job interviews and to consider it an investment. Well, I recently found myself needing a new interview suit, and I decided to give into my frugal impulses and buy the cheap suit. I felt comfortable getting a short-sleeved suit in a fun violet color. If I had been buying an expensive suit as an "investment," then I most likely would have felt compelled to buy something long-sleeved in black or navy so that I could wear it any time. And I felt like a more confident job seeker in the suit that I preferred. If you can't make that much of a plunge, heading for outlet stores and clearance racks can also help you get the best of both worlds. You can have the craftsmanship of an expensive label at a discount store price.