Meet, Kristen, AKA The Frugal Girl. She’s a homeschooling mom of 4 and loves all things frugal–espeically in the kitchen. It’s impossible not to like her :).
I first met Kristen when I wrote her asking to review my new clothing ebook, and she readily agreed, replying that she also just wrote a clothing ebook and offered a giveaway to my readers.
I was so excited to read her book, and love her great photography and new ideas. I was also very pleased that our books are TOTALLy different. There’s not much overlap at all and you need BOTH, for real.
Kristen’s book is an idea starter with step by step directions for taking used clothing and making it useful again. The book includes 2o illustrated projects that are sure to inspire you on to your own ideas and projects. Some ideas require sewing–but several do not. You’re going to love it.
This giveaway starts TODAY, October 11th and will run through Thursday, October 20th at 8pm. I’ll announce the winner in my newsletter and here on the blog.
It is super easy to enter this contest–simply leave a comment here or on facebook (on this post–and my facebook plug-in will grab it and attach it here.) I would love it if your comment had your own frugal clothing tip, but if you can’t think of one–you can write a mushy complimentary comment instead, bwa ha ha ha.
P.S. As a special limited time offer, use the coupon code halfoff for a $5 discount when ordering Centsable Style.
Hey, Angela,
Can’t think of any brilliant frugal clothing tips – I think you’ve already covered a lot of the ones that I’ve used – but I got your ebook and thought it was really helpful in adjusting my thinking of how to approach clothing my family. I went through the boys’ clothes a few days later and (geek alert!) put all their currently fitting clothes into a spreadsheet so that I could easily review it and see where the holes were, as well as what fit now but likely wouldn’t for the entire season.
I would love to win. It’s my birthday! 🙂
My tip would be clothing dye! A little dye makes shirts look new again or can cover up stains. I had a white cardigan I LOVED and when I got chocolate milk on it and couldn’t get the stain out I dyed it Chocolate brown! It is still my favorite cardigan. I wear it to church all the time and the best part is that I had been looking for a brown cardigan to match a dress I was given for over a year! Now I have a new outfit as well!
already love frugal grl! would love ths!
I don’t really have frugal clothing tips… my big thing is to not be afraid of changing clothes to make it work for me. Well, mostly my daughter. Kids grow so fast–it can be expensive to cloth them at full retail price!
Don’t have a great tip, but I love Goodwill and kids resale stores. I love getting name brand clothing for cheap for my kids and not caring if they spill juice on it 🙂
Hi Angela! My frugal clothing tip would be to use the internet! Searching online for ideas has helped me turn my boyfriend’s old t-shirts into adorable shrugs and cute tops for myself 🙂 It’s really fun to see what ideas others have come up with and put my own personal touch on them.
Angela, I would LOVE this book…I’m in such need of ways to alter my clothes since none of them fit these days and I don’t want to go out and spend tons of money buying clothes in my new size! I did spend 16$ on an Invisibelt to keep my pants and skirts fitting as long as possible and it’s super adjustable, so no matter what size I am, It should help me keep my pants on my ever-shrinking body!
Angela, I love reading your newsletters and blog. I am new to all this, so all tips are greatly appreciated. I would love this book as I have 7 children and keeping them nicely clothed is always a challenge!!
I usually purchase my kids’ clothes at consignment sales on 50% off days. On those days, I usually spend about $1 to $3 per item of clothing. If I’m lucky, I can find a good-looking used coat for $5 to $8.
I don’t have any earth shattering clothing tips beyond: shop end of season sales, clearance racks, coupon divas retail coupons, ask friends and family for their hand-me-downs that they were probably going to give to Goodwill, and host a clothing/shoe/accessory swap with your girlfriends. I’d love the book. I think I do well with my son’s clothes, but I rarely by myself anything, so maybe this will make it guilt free for me.
tiannamae.blogspot.com
If you have a special occasion coming up, check with Goodwill or a used clothing shop first. My daughter nabbed 2 beautiful flower girl dresses at Goodwill for $20 in May for her sister’s wedding. They were beautiful and she really did not have to worry about them eating and playing in them as it was an outdoor wedding. After the wedding, she had them dry cleaned and donated them back to Goodwill to resell. You can even add your own sew on items to match the wedding theme like flowers or ribbon. Everyone commented on how beautiful the dresses were and we proudly stated where we purchased the dresses!!
I have no good frugal clothing tips, but would love some ideas of what to do with clothes that have holes in them and are beyond patching, but seems wasteful to throw out. Jeans especially.
Angela, Lately, I have been selling the children’s outgrown clothes for credit at the consignment store and then have used that credit to outfit them. Between that and hand-me-downs we have spent less than $100 out of pocket on clothes for the 4 children all year. Please enter me in your contest and thanks for a great blog. Jennie
My only frugal clothing tips are: garage sale, end of season clearance racks, searching coupon codes on the internet and shopping Goodwill. I also consign my kids clothes and use the money I make to shop for their next size : ) Also, never turn down hand-me-downs when others offer!
I never try to enter into contest and things because I NEVER win! But i thought I’d try 😀 I check your blog everyday between my college class. My boyfriend and I just bought a house and are starting out but with both of us going to school its hard to have any extra money! He was raise to have everything he wants and Im having trouble convincing him used is just as good or re using! I wont buy any books because he will just laugh but if I got one and showed him then maybe it will help persuade him to my side of the road!
I wish I had a frugal tip that’s new but mine’s the same as others’, buy at rummage sales and goodwill!
Hi Angela. There are a couple of ways that I save when it comes to clothes. I have 3 kids. 2 boys and a girl. My boys are 2 years apart, so most of my older sons clothes, goes to his younger brother. I saved some of their plain blue jeans, just in case we got a boy the 3rd time around, and we got a girl. 😉 Anyhoo, Meijer had a 50% off crafts sale once and I snagged a TON of little girly iron ons. I used the boys’ old jeans and made girly ones for her. I shop at second hand stores, garage sales. I also wait for end of year clearance. I’ve also made my daughter some pillowcase dresses. I too sell the boys’ outgrown clothes to a local childrens rerun store and use what I make to buy what they need. Hope you have a fabulous day!! 🙂
Something my Aunt did for me – she bought cheap tshirts and tanks at Walmart and she sewed extra fabric to the bottom of the shirt to make a dress. She made me 2 when my daughter had casts on her legs and they were cute and comfy and very cheap to make! I personally shop yard sales & Goodwill. This fall/winter was my first time not having to buy anything brand new (other than shoes). Love all the money I’m saving!
Oh I’d love to win!
Hmmm…don’t know if I have any frugal clothing tips…but I was so happy to get my whole outfit for friends wedding at the thrift store, and it was fantastic! I had to cut these big puffy sleeves off of the dress, but that was easy…I even got the jewelry there…everything matched perfectly…and you can’t beat $4 genuine leather pretty pretty shoes! they still had all the fine little treadmarks on the bottom… maybe worn twice before!
My frugal tip: swap clothes with a group of friends! You save money, get rid of things you don’t wear, and might find some “new” things in the trade! A group of four of us have been doing it for a few years now!
Hi Angela (great name 🙂 My frugal clothing tips are much the same as everyone else: thrift stores, yard sales, clearance racks, use retailers coupons and sales…. I did buy a cute velvet dress a few years ago and turned it into a pillow…would love the book, I need some ideas to keep my family looking nice 🙂 Thanks! PS – love your blog, I always learn something new and am encouraged to dig in and get to work!
Love both the FG and Grocery shrink. Would love to win! My favorite way to repurpose clothes is to turn an old t-shirt into a hat! Made some for the whole family! (Check out atsecondstreet.blogspot for the tutorial) I even made one for my Aunt who is going through chemo right now, and it is her favorite hat!
Hi Angela! Love all the tips so far… this one may sound strange but… LOOK at the magazines. Yes it is really important to know what you want. I had a baby in May – almost the same as Mr Grant ;0) – and am down half of the weight I want to be. Yippee but NOTHING fit. too small for maternity too big for prepregnancy. For fall/winter – I surfed for a few hours on and off and then when I was ready to shop I knew what I was looking for. And with a little planning I bought about 15 peices at Goodwill on $1.50 days and a couple of layering cardigans ( still goodwill but not on sale). I now feel like a million bucks and also am more inspired to continue the weight loss.
I save all old work shirts, cut them up and quilt with them.
I have a consignment store that is wonderful. I use my credit to purchase our children’s clothing.
My frugal sewing tip – learn to sew, or find a friend who sews and barter for their services (I have a friend who trades her photography services in exchange for pant hemming and alterations.) Then when you find that great deal on something that is almost perfect, you can make it perfect at no cost. I do this all the time with thrift store finds.
I would like to win this!
The only tips I have are really just thrift stores. That is basically the only way I shop for my kids (and for me :). Sometimes I splurge and hit the clearance racks online, but I rarely ever pay full price for anything.
I have no handy tips to leave as I am just learning more about being more frugal. I love coming to your blog and learning more things all the time. Thanks for sharing and helping my family!
I have a few tips. I make my kid’s shorts from my husband’s old work shirts. I shop at the end of season for their clothes for next year, buying the next size up. I generally try to not spend more than $5.00 on any piece of kids clothing, with the exception of jeans. I shop clearance and sales and garage sales.
Basically, I plan ahead and anticipate what they will need and buy it when it’s cheaper.
My frugal clothing tip is layering. Summer rompers can be worn in the winter with a turtleneck and tights. Short sleeve shirts can be layered with a long sleeve short or worn under a sweater.
I would love to have more ideas. Lately I’ve been taking my old knit shirts and making scarves out of them.
I love remaking clothing. I enjoy the challenge of it. a recent repurpose idea that I’ve been doing is making baby bibs from t-shirts. I use 3 layers and the inner layer, since it’s not seen, can be made from even stained t-shirts. I’ve also made doll dresses from t-shirts and used the bottom edge for the bottom edge of the doll dress which saves me time. Bonus!
I save money on clothing for my kids by always shopping at thrift and consignment stores first. I get most of my boys’ clothes this way. My boys also pass their clothes down.
I’ve loved the savings I’ve noticed from buying pieces that are 1. easy to wash and dry, and 2. flattering. How earth shattering is that?! I used to buy more stuff that looked just o.k., and had tons of clothes that I didn’t like. When I was finally back to a normal size after having my first son (almost 15 months after), I went shopping at the Limited (not a place I had ever shopped before… Express was looking too teenage-y at the time… or maybe I’m getting old); I spent more than usual on fewer pieces, but I still LOVE them, and I wear them all the time – bright colors, prints, ruffles. The clothes are very “me” and I haven’t even felt tempted to buy more since! Between then and now I have had a second son and since I’ve been back to my normal size I’ve been wearing those clothes again! I would love some ideas for refashioning things I own for when I start to get tired of what I am loving right now!
My clothing tip would be don’t over load the washing machine because if you do… You will only end up with a wet load of dirty laundry… Trust me that is not fun.
This summer I took some of my long denim skirts and cut them off with my serger and hemmed them up to a more summer length. I’d love more ideas to keep from having to purchase new items. : ) Thanks for the opportunity.
I would love to win this ebook. My frugal tip would be to learn basic sewing and mending. I don’t know how many times I have sewed on buttons, mended holes, and rehemmed items. It helps to extend the life of an article of clothing. I also took a pair of light cotton pajama pants and turned them into capri sleep pants. I always got too hot for the long pants anyway. My next project which is not clothing, but bedding; is to take two sheets that I bought at a yard sale and make a dust ruffle for my bed. I think I paid $3 for both. One has eyelet trim and came with pillowcases. So I should have enough to make throw pillows as well.
My clothing tip: I hang dry almost everything I wear. It keeps the clothes from the wear and tear in the dryer and makes them last for a much longer time – especially if they are good quality clothes to begin with – thrifted of course!
I would love to win this ebook. I have three totes of clothes ready to be repurposed. 🙂
I don’t have anything new to add, but want to echo both the thrift stores and the layering recommendations. My daughter actually found her wedding dress at a thrift store, and waited to buy it until all clothing was 50% off, so paid just $25. We had to remake the sleeves, since she didn’t want the puffy ones that were on it (though we used that fabric for the new sleeves), and the train and veil were not cheap, but still … it was a beautiful dress.
As for layering, my sister gave me a long-sleeved shirt with a dark stain on the back. I just layer it under another blouse in the winter. It is nice and warm, and no one ever suspects there might be a stain under there. 🙂
I love to shop the thrift stores for most of my clothing purchases for my entire family. You can find quality items for minimal cost and still keep ahead of growing kids’ needs.
Hi Angela! Thanks for the great giveaway!
My frugal clothing tip would be…..try on what you have already, mix it all up, and try combinations that you think would never work! Do this with your kids too. Try their clothes on, and have them try on eachother’s clothes too. You can find some really cute outfits this way, and you’re using what you already have. Then you can take pictures of the outfits to keep track of them, and if there’s anything you want or need to supplement you can make a short and precise list instead of just winging it at the store.
Can’t think of any tips but I really like your website!!
We are just starting our journey on repurposing clothing and so far we have repurposed a skort into a longer skirt with a pretty ruffle and a dress that was too small into a skirt for an older girl and a summer dress for a younger girl.
I have no tips but love your blog and this ebook looks amazing as we are trying to be more frugal.
I am always on the lookout to save by recycling around the home. Thanks!
Reality show, giveaway,…..how exciting! Can’t wait to hear about both! :o)
I enjoy repurposing clothing. I’ve done this for my kids but am always looking for new ideas. You have a great blog!
Angela, I love your website!! It always gives me something to think about and use. I dont have any frugal tips in regards to clothing….thats why I need this book!
Use it up , Wear it out, Make do, or do without! We have been living by that for a while now, but I would love to learn how to make it new again 🙂
Over the years I’ve done all the frugal tips already mentioned to clothe my family of 5 on a budget. Now that the kids are grown and gone our clothing needs are far less but I still love a bargain… who doesn’t? One way I’ve been saving on accessories (some new jewelry can make an old outfit look new again) is buying old or broken jewelry at flea markets, auctions and yard sales, then re-fashioning it into fabulous, one-of-a-kind pieces. Everyone always asks where I find it, so I’ve started selling it too! It’s a win-win!