Dress for success - how to save money on your work wardrobe

Is your work wardrobe taking a huge bite out of your budget? Many companies require their employees to dress professionally, which doesn’t often come cheap. Or on the other hand, maybe you’re looking for a new job and you’re having a hard time coming up with the extra money needed in order to dress the part. Either way, here are 3 simple steps to show you how easy it is to dress for success and save money on your work wardrobe!

1. Take inventory of the clothing you already have. Closet spaces can become messy and unorganised overtime. Because of this, you may have brand new or hardly used clothes that you've forgotten about hidden at the back of your wardrobe. If you go through your clothing items, you may realise that you already have a decent amount of work clothing and you don’t have to spend any more money!

2. Host a “clothing exchange” party! Chances are, you have clothing that’s in good shape that you can’t wear anymore due to sizing issues, or maybe something you bought just didn’t look like you thought it would. Now, think of all of your friends in the same situation! Invite a handful over and ask them all to bring a bag of clothing that they don’t wear anymore and then spend an hour exchanging with each other. Not only will this save you money, but its also good fun and gives you extra social time to catch up with friends.

3. Use social media websites! Many communities have Facebook groups set up where you can offer items for sale, or be in search of items that you need. What’s nice about this idea is that you often meet the seller in a public area (for safety reasons of course) and you can inspect the items to make sure you’re getting what you need. Outside of Facebook, you can also browse online 2nd hand sites; explore eBay, or shop at local pre-loved stores. If you’re shopping local, remember that you can always see if the business you’re at buys items as well, which could end up saving you even more money.

When trying to get ahead in the workplace or trying to find a new job, dressing for success is always important, but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Looking for more ways to save money? Check out our blog on how to cut the cost of your weekly shopping bill.