Looking good doesn’t come without a price. Trying to keep up with all the latest styles and fashions, especially during the high school and college years, can put a serious dent in the pocketbook. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy clothes and accessories that look like a million bucks. Use the following tips from shopping experts and find out how you and your kids can enjoy a killer wardrobe without having to spend a fortune.
Money Tips for Teens Who Shop
If you allow a teenager to run loose in a shopping mall with your credit card, you pretty much deserve whatever happens as a result. Before you even allow your son or daughter to set foot in a store, it is important to teach them the value of a dollar.
- Explain the family finances. Helping your child understand where are all money goes each month will help them put their own purchases into better perspective.
- Have them present when you balance the checkbook and pay the bills. See reasoning above. The more exposure the teen has to the finances, the more responsible they will be in their own future.
- Give them an allowance or help them get a part time job. Kids enjoy the satisfaction of earning the money that funds their clothing and entertainment purchases.
Finding the Best Deals on the Latest Clothes for Teens
Now that the financial education is underway, you can explore the numerous ways available to save money on designer clothes. The key thing to remember is that buying hot clothes right off the rack on day one is NOT the way to save money. In order to do that a little patience, and effort is required.
Consider:
- Shopping online. The Internet may be the best thing to happen to finding bargains since the invention of the garage sale. But the clothing you’ll find online are not used hand-me-downs. We’re talking about top designers and the best stores all putting last season’s items up for sale at tremendous discounts.
- Sample sales. If you live in or near a decent-sized city, there are probably designers there who have their own boutique. When these shops need to make room for new inventory, they put recent lines up for sale at a discount. The sample sales usually only last for a single day or weekend. Online searches for sample sales in the area usually get the best results since most are not heavily advertised in newspapers or on TV.
- Outlet malls. What was once a long drive out into the country is now something almost everyone in the country can experience with relative ease. Outlet malls are big business – and why not? They offer a chance to buy from the best stores and hippest designers at a fraction of the cost of retail shops. Just be sure what you’re getting is actually a good deal – some chains are now creating lower end clothing specifically for outlet mall sales. The mark down and quality of these items should also be closely examined.
