Clothes/money issues...

millyvanilli321

I'm nowhere near done on my weight loss, but already I have clothes that are too big. I'm living on a pretty tight budget, so splurging on new clothes every few months as the inches come off isn't an option (waist belts will have to do for now!). I'm thinking ahead to my goal weight, and once I reach that weight what I am going to do about my wardrobe!!

My question is - what is going to be more worth it...spending money that I can't really afford on a whole new wardrobe, or paying a seamstress to alter the clothes I already have (and love!). I am useless at sewing, so wouldn't be able to do it myself without ruining the clothes!

Seajolly

Do you have a friend who is near your size now? Maybe they have some clothes they don't wear anymore or that don't fit anymore that you could have? Or if you have some nicer pieces, you could see if you could sell any on ebay and use the money to buy new ones?

If neither of those is an option for you, I'd personally take the clothes you have now to a seamstress. Then when you are at your goal weight, treat yourself to a new wardrobe.

kikicooks

I've heard there are clothes exchanges but I'm not sure what the website is, maybe someone will chime in because I know it's been talked about on here. Do you have a resale shop or Good Will near you where you can just buy some cheap clothes until you get to your goal size?

kateanne27

when you get where you want to be you don't have to get your whole wardrobe at once, buy some staples: a pair of jeans, a few tops, some black slacks etc, then just buy things once in a while from there, the way you built your current wardrobe, I'm sure, you didnt get it all at once either. check thrift stores and clearance racks, and alter your favorite things.

Dub_D

Get a sugar daddy.

millyvanilli321

Thanks for the tips! I clothes exchange is a great idea! I have some pieces that i absolutely love, so will probably just get those altered, but some could probably go on eBay!

Sarabeth1980

Goodwill. Serioiusly. If you have the time to look through stuff I have found lots of brand new stuff, some even with tags still attached. High end jeans and slacks seem to be in abundance, esp if you go to a GW near a downtown area where people would drop off their clothes on the way to work.

myfitnessnmhoy

Thanks for the tips! I clothes exchange is a great idea! I have some pieces that i absolutely love, so will probably just get those altered, but some could probably go on eBay!

I'd also check with your local Goodwill or other used clothing outlet. If you search around a little, you can usually find some nice clothes in really good shape for next to nothing.

Sarabeth1980

JINX!

Alluring72

I am in the same boat - I actually have a bunch of clothes for when I get to my ideal weight - again - but I got rid of all my "big" clothes so I got a few primary pieces that I will wear ove and over again in differnt combinations as the weight comes back off.....

I tend to hit stores and look at the clearance racks and use % off cupons and get some great deals that way. I have also heard great things about goodwill. Return the clothes to GW after you get to skinny for them.

1shauna1

I would look for thrift stores in your area. Also, clothing exchange is a good idea (if there are some friends who are your current size). If there are a few things you really love in your current wardrobe, I would get those altered so you can wear them longer. It's tough, but also a GOOD problem to have! Congrats!

millyvanilli321

There are quite a few thrift stores in my area, so I will definitely check them out! Donating the clothes back when I reach goal is a great idea too, doing a good deed as well as reaching goal, brilliant! :flowerforyou:

Definitely a good problem to have, i agree thanks for the replies!

htimpaired

I don't know if this is regional or not, but in my city that have Plato's closet, that is a buy/sell gently used name brand clothing, like a Goodwill but just for clothes.

montanadanni

i would like to tell you that i have lost a lot of weight, so i know exactly what you mean.
i do suggest a great belt and also i would suggest online sites like forever21, alloy, the express, delias, ect.
another good thing is shopping in target, maurices, walmart clearance racks GREAT DEALS! do this all the time because you never know what will pop up.

i do most my shopping online, reasons why:
1) sign up via their e-mail offers!! VERY IMPORTANT! you can get special deals or free shipping at any time
2) shop their clearance, amazing deals (but make sure you can return clearance items incase you don't like it)
3) sometimes they offer free shipping but sometimes they offer shipping over a $75dollar order. what i do is order lots and lots of shirts in different colors and basicly everything that is cheap under the sun to get over 75 then its free shipping. when you finally get the order ... half the stuff you won't like or end up returning (which is free) so basicly you only spend a little amount and still got free shipping. ;p
4) these clothes are adorable without making yourself bankrupt
5) also don't forget the sho department, killer steals on some shoes.

goodwill is also a place to check! i have heard good things on clothing exchnges but... i live in a small town and that is not available. GOOD LUCK!

BerryH

Sell your old clothes on eBay. Buy in-between clothes from a charity shop (go to a rich area!). Put an amount of money in a jar for every pound you lose and spend it on news clothes when you reach goal weight!

Iceman1800

This is why I was such a good sugar daddy. She was always able to buy new clothes :-

Troll

If you're just a size or two smaller, have them altered. my suggestion though, is find a resale shop. people donate brand name clothes with tags still on them. a friend of mine got 6pairs of jeans, 4 skirts; a dress, 12 tops, and a nice jacket for less than $80 alltogether. some places give you store credit if you bring in clothes to donate.

H_Factor

Throughout my journey, I bought clothes at thrift and consignment stores....including suits for work. On occasion, I bought a few new items, usually on clearance racks at Kohl's. If you take the time, you can usually find some excellent clothes at thrift and consignment stores.

kls13la

Sign up for your local Freecycle and monitor it regularly. On mine people regularly give away bags of clothes for free.

wolfehound22

Thrift stores for sure. I have one near my house, can pick up a few shirts for $10, and are surprisingly good quality. If your on a budget you can't be picky so these stores work for me most of the time.

magj0y

Take it to a tailor. Slacks are pretty easy to alter in the waist up to a certain size. Alterations are much cheaper than new pants. If you wear skirts, those are easier to alter.

Jmbean84

There are quite a few thrift stores in my area, so I will definitely check them out! Donating the clothes back when I reach goal is a great idea too, doing a good deed as well as reaching goal, brilliant! :flowerforyou:

Definitely a good problem to have, i agree thanks for the replies!

There are tons of GW stores in my area...I also tend to head out to the ones located in the more ritzy areas. Lol there's always tons of new or barely used high end clothes there...also, I'm not sure if it's a st. Louis thing or not...but Platos Closet isa good place to check out. The buy trade and sell gently used clothing shoes and accessories. I only buy a pair of jeans here and there and I buy tops that are a bit snug while I'm losing and within a couple weeks they fit pretty well. Then like others said, just resonate when you are too small to fit in them. I rarely buy new clothes. Even for my kids, when there's so many awesome deals on clothes used and no one has to know I bought them used!