Smart shopping � seasonal clothing

Correspondent | Monday August 18, 2014 11:58

“75% off – Winter Sale!”

The question is, is this the best time to buy? 

If you can buy your winter items for next year, now, then this is a very good time to buy because all of the shops are selling off their winter items at low and sometimes below cost.  Why does this phenomenon happen you may wonder?  It costs shops a lot to keep items for 8 months, firstly in transport and also storage.  Their main reason though, is they know the fashions will have changed, and those items won’t interest anyone next season.

So take a page from their book, be wise with your shopping decisions when buying a year in advance.

Plan carefully; give yourself self some well thought out strict guidelines that you can depend on so that you don’t get carried away on a wave excitement and huge red discount signs.

 

Shopping Tips:

Know exactly what you need to buy.

Have a list of the clothing you and your family need for next winter. 

For Example:

Husband:            Winter jacket (dark hues)

Jumper (preferably to go with brown tones)

Winter work slacks (black and beige pairs)

Wife (Me):

Stockings (black and beige)

Winter Boots (black)

Scarves (red toned one and blue toned one)

Formal work blouses (neutral)

Follow this guideline for each member of the family you are buying for.  This way you won’t be tempted to buy 5 blouses in bright colours that you are not sure are really work appropriate, because they are selling for such a bargain price.

Don’t buy high fashion items.

In this day and age, our fashions change seasonally. You may buy something now that you absolutely love and have to have, and in horror when airing it 8 months later, you realise you will never wear it. What a waste of money.  Fashions change so fast, it is unwise to purchase high fashion items at the end of a season. Think about how many of you have items in your cupboard you have never worn?

Don’t get seduced by the price

Just because something is on sale, does not mean you should convince yourself that you will wear it.

We have all fallen victim to this thought process. “I think I would wear that, and look at the price, it is such a bargain, and it’s my size! I can never usually afford that brand. Perhaps I should get it in each colour?”

You may be able to convince yourself today, but will you still be able to in 8 months time?

 

Buy it in your current size.

Many of us have high hopes that our behaviour will change as soon as summer arrives. “I will get up early every day and go to gym; I will lose this extra weight this year.”  Alas, many of us fall short of our targets. Always buy your clothes, if you are an adult, in the size you are today.  Buying clothes for a future thinner you, may often waste your money.

 

Shopping for your kids

Shopping for your children takes a little more thought.  Consider how fast your children have grown in the last year, and try and project that forward to guess their size this time next year.  If you are not sure, and don’t want to waste your money, focus more on the essentials like socks, vests, and even pyjamas.  We know how expensive they can be.

Buy the essentials

Stockings, hats, gloves, thermal underwear are all items that also go on sale, that won’t go out of fashion.  This is an ideal time to buy these items and store them safely away for next winter.  You will notice that buying these items at the beginning of winter is much more costly. These bare essentials are often marked up at the beginning of the Winter season.

 

What do you need

for your house?

Winter shopping should not be limited to your wardrobes. All shops that sell anything to do with winter, are all offering sales. Blankets, hot water bottles, winter bedding and heaters are all half price.  Budget in advance so that you can make your house that bit warmer next winter.

Happy winter sale shopping everyone, follow these tips and rest assured your purchases will be appreciated in May 2015.

Author: Lechedzani Pitso – Financial Wellness Trainer with S.C.I. Training (Pty) Ltd. © S.C.I. Training run financial wellness and debt counselling programmes in Botswana. For help and information contact them on 3180243 or 72309718 or leche@wellness.co.bw

* Names in this article have been changed.