Cash advice: How to reinvent your wardrobe for less
Although it might seem impossible, Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief of money.co.uk, says staying on trend – and on budget – is definitely doable
There are ways of achieving your dream wardrobe on a really tight budget – you just have to get a little creative. Rather than heading straight to the high street, think outside the box…
1 DO YOUR BIT FOR CHARITY
Head to the charity shops in your most affluent local areas. This is where wealthier residents will hopefully have donated their last-season designer cast-offs, usually still in great condition. Not only are you likely to find premium labels at a fraction of the original cost, but you’ll also be contributing to good causes in the process. What more could you ask for? This can be a little time-consuming – you’ll have to rummage – but you can bag yourself some genuine bargains.
2 SELL TO BUY
Sites such as eBay and Gumtree are a great way to make money from your unwanted clothes, shoes and handbags, thus generating cash to buy new items. And don’t forget, you can also find some absolute bargain buys on those sites – so don’t forget to use the money you’ve made selling your cast-off goods to restock your wardrobe!
3 CASH IN YOUR VOUCHERS
We’ve all been given gift vouchers for birthdays and Christmases for shops we don’t often go to. Typically, they get shoved in the back of a drawer, only to be forgotten about or lost. But there are ways to get rid of them – and make (most of) your cash back! Zeek.me lets you sell your unwanted gift vouchers and buy others at a discount. You could save up to 10 per cent at your favourite stores while getting rid of vouchers you don’t want to keep.
4 SWAP, DON’T SHOP
Swap-shop parties were once huge but, with the internet boom, there are now lots of websites that let you swap your clothes and accessories, saving you money on new items and recycling your old ones. Visit swishing.co.uk, which offers you virtual money credits for your items. You can then use these to pay for things that other members have sent in.
5 UPGRADE BY UPCYCLING
Upcycling means turning something old and unwanted into something new and funky. If it sounds hard to do, loads of step-by-step YouTube videos show you how to transform your old items. Reinvent your clothes and learn a new skill – win-win!