Money Saving Mom®

A cardigan that I upcycled from a sweater I didn’t really like

Guest post from Kristen

For me, one of the many sacrifices I’ve made while trying to stay on a budget is not spending as much to purchase clothes for myself. Instead of spending a lot on new clothes, I have been focusing on getting some “new” pieces for my wardrobe by tweaking existing items in my closet.

Here are just a few ways to save money and stretch your wardrobe, with links to projects I’ve done:

Repair, don’t replace.

Are the heels on your work shoes worn down? Did you know that you can get them replaced for about $5-10 by either purchasing new tips online, or going to a shoe repair shop? You can also replace the soles. That may be all you need to bring your shoes back to feeling like new.

If a button falls off a shirt, pick up a needle and thread and sew it back on. Holes in seams can also easily be repaired.

Work around imperfections.

If you get a hole in the elbow of a shirt, cut the sleeves to a shorter length and give them a quick hem. Do you have a skirt that fits in the waist but is just a little too short? Add a wide band of decorative fabric at the bottom. When kids get stains on clothes, or holes in places that can’t be repaired, make a cute appliqué to cover it up.

If you find yourself not wearing a pair of pants because the pockets stick out, or the waist gaps, spend a little bit of money with a tailor to have the item fitted. Many alterations cost around $10, and some you can even do yourself.

Another cardigan that I upcycled from a sweater

Re-purpose items.

Turn a men’s button-up shirt into a woman’s skirt. Sew a tank top and a skirt together to make a dress. Turn a pullover sweater into a cardigan. Shorten an ankle-length skirt to right below the knees for a fresh look.

Dress up a tired sweater or shirt.

Make flowers from fabric or felt to create a fun pin. Add ribbon trim or ruffles to the edge of a sweater. Re-work existing bows or ribbons so they are more flattering. Change the style of a sweater to update it so you’re more likely to wear it.

Pair things together differently.

Do you find yourself always wearing the same pants with the same top? Challenge yourself to mix up your wardrobe. If you need help, have a friend come over to give input. You can brainstorm new ideas together, and your friend might have a vision for a look that you never even considered.

With a little creativity, you can get some “new” items by spending little or no money!

Kristen is a wife to a great husband, and mom to a wonderful two year-old boy, and a six year-old Golden. She works as an event manager, and loves crafting in her spare time.

photo via BigStock

Guest post from Victoria of Snail Pace Transformations

For years I have shopped yard sales alone while my husband watched the kids. Then one year, a little voice said to me, “Mommy, I want to come, too”. I answered, “Not yet. You’re not old enough”.

But soon, I realized she was old enough. My daughter was old enough to count money, old enough to carry a purse, old enough to walk on her own from sale to sale, and old enough to learn how to be an effective yard sale shopper.

I will be honest, at first it was tough for me to adapt. I was used to jumping from sale to sale at my own pace. However, after just a few weekends of slowing down to train my daughter to make wise purchases, I now miss her when she doesn’t tag along!

If you’d like to try taking your children along, here are a few tips that will hopefully help your experience to be a success.

1. Teach them to consider their purchases.

When my daughter first started  yard-saling with me, she wanted to buy everything. Each time she held up an item I would say, “What will you use it for?” “Where will you store it?”  “Do you already own something similar?” If she gave me good answers she could buy it; if not, she couldn’t.

Now I rarely have to speak these questions out loud as she has internalized them and answers them herself.

2. Teach them how to ask for a discount.

I have taught my daughter what the average yard sale prices are for things she is interested in. If the item is higher than average, I have taught her that there is no harm in asking for a lower price.

In the beginning, she was too nervous to do this, but now I hear her say, “Would you take…?” before I even have a chance to tell her I think the price is too high!

3. Teach them to set a budget.

Each Friday morning, before my daughter and I headed out yard sale shopping, I began asking her how much money she had and what her budget was. After just a few times of suggesting perhaps it was not wise to blow all of her money on yard sales, she now brings along just a small portion.

4. Teach them the value of their finds.

My daughter was shocked the first time I showed her the retail value of her yard sale finds on-line. Now she stands in the toy aisle and says, “I could just wait and get that at a yard sale for much less”.

Yard sale shopping with my daughter was a little bit of work at first, but it was worth it because now I have the reward of a great yard sale partner!

Do you shop yard sales with or without your children?

Victoria blogs at Snail Pace Transformations where she shares her adventures in inching forward in all areas in life. When Victoria isn’t blogging, homeschooling or cooking she loves running, biking and swimming.