Fashion on a Budget: 11 Hacks to Always Score Discounts on Clothing

How can you score discounts on clothing?

It doesn’t matter if you wear $40 jeans or carry a $300 handbag. If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for ways to spend a little less on clothes and accessories.

Everyone wants a closet packed with high-quality designer clothing labels, but most of us either can’t afford it or simply don’t want to do that. Fortunately, we don’t have to. It’s completely possible to score discounts on clothing, accessories, and shoes from all of your favorite brands.

Whether it’s saving on a suit or cutting costs on a pretty pair of shoes, there are many tricks you can use to ensure you negotiate, haggle, or simply score a better deal every single time you either shop for a product online or step foot into a store.

Keep reading, and get ready to enjoy your new wardrobe!

1. Shop with a paid pal

Personal shoppers generally get a discount from stores as a lure to help bring more clients in-store (it’s typically 10–20% off the retail price). So, in order to score discounts on clothing, the first thing you need to do is find one personal shopper in your town (the Association of Image Consultants International’s listings are quite reliable) and agree in advance that she or he will pass along those discounts directly to you.

You’ll obviously pay for their time, but if you purchase strategically—occasionally and in bulk—you will still save overall.

2. Steer clear of the center of the store

There’s pricey psychology at work when it comes to the spot where you’ll find that sweater displayer in-store. Since it’s human nature to go toward the center once you’re in a shop, that’s where pricier products or ones with higher margins will generally be showcased.

Of course, there are also the so-called dead zones, and that’s where you should go if you want to score discounts on clothing. They are usually immediately to the left of the entrance (it’s about strategy here as well as the fact that 19 out of 20 people are right-handed, so we tend to veer right) and the extreme back of the store (many won’t make it that far).

These are the two spots where promotions will often be located to help ease foot traffic.

3. Buy in bulk

Target your purchases to only a few stores and group them. Pick up a pair of shoes and find a sales associate—tell them you’d like to purchase another pair, but only if there’s a discount available. The trick? They will likely find a way to cut 10% off to close that sale.

4. Cash in on local loyalty

Another hack to score discounts on clothing is to check which big-name brands are headquartered in the area where you live. They will likely have employee-aimed discounts or warehouse sales at nearby locations that will often be opened up to the community as a nice gesture of goodwill.

Find them, and you’re guaranteed to save a good chunk of money.

5. Take advantage of friendly savings

Like a store? Be sure to purchase from only one person at the store, and chances are you’ll be able to score discounts on clothing. Learn their name, ask for them when you’re there to buy something, and make sure to check their schedule (without looking like a creep, of course). After all, the sales associates are on commission in most cases, and a regular buyer is always a reliable income source.

Once you’ve done this, that friendly employee can invite you to the pre-sale period, which is the week before the sale signs go up. This will allow you to shop at discounted prices in secret, and the sales associate can even include you in friends and family promo periods.

Keep reading to discover other ways to score discounts on clothing!

6. Know the best time to buy

Another great way to score discounts on clothing is to know when the best time is to go shopping. Sales are carefully planned. Usually, once a product has lingered in store for six weeks, whatever remains will be marked down on the 43rd day.

So, if you’ve found something you love, keep an eye on it until that window expires.

Another strategy to score discounts on clothing is to buy at the end of the season when things are being cleared out. There’s something of an art to this. Make the purchase too early at a clearance sale, and you’ll end up paying more than you might later. On the other hand, if you wait too long, you could miss out on the product you’re coveting.

After all, when it comes to great deals, you also need a bit of luck to succeed.

7. Stay well adjusted

Many retailers offer price adjustments, which is when you can claim a refund if the item you’ve purchased is marked down within a particular timeframe afterwards. For instance, Banana Republic has a 14-day price adjustment policy, while J. Crew offers a 7-day grace period.

This being said, save your receipt and watch the price of whatever you’ve bought.

8. Use coupons, especially exclusive ones

Another great method to score discounts on clothing is through coupons. It’s so simple and old-school, but lots of people save money every day by using coupons. For example, department stores like Saks, Bloomingdale, and Neiman Marcus will give you 10–15% off your first order when you sign up for their newsletter.

But these deals aren’t limited to just department stores. You can sign up for the email newsletter of your favorite brand and bide your time for their regular sales. Even luxury brands have a biannual sale or offer a Friends & Family coupon.

By the way, Amazon always has some great deals on clothing! Have a look here!

9. Hit the outlet malls

Shopping at outlet malls is a great way to score discounts on clothing, but remember to shop with caution. According to experts, there are two pieces of advice you should keep in mind when doing outlet mall shopping.

The first one would be to know that most items at outlet stores have two prices: a high one and then a reduced one. If the former is flagged anything other than “ORIGINAL PRICE” (common red flags are “RETAIL VALUE” or “COMPARED TO”), you’re probably holding an item made especially for the outlet, so it’s likely a lesser quality good.

And the second piece of advice is to remember to pay cash. This lets you ask the cashier for a discount in exchange for the 3-4% the store pays on card transactions. Voila! Instant savings!

10. Buy directly

Companies that sell directly to consumers rather than stores can cut out the middleman and pass on the savings as a discount. In other words, a nice trick to score discounts on clothing would be to buy directly from these companies. For instance, Everlane, a clothing retailer that makes women’s and men’s tops and accessories, can charge $15 for a T-shirt that would normally cost $60 or more at a conventional shop.

Project Gravitas is built on a similar concept. It sells chic, American-made Victoria Beckham-style sheath dresses with built-in Spanx-like shapewear that could cost $900 or more in a department store for about $350.

11. Give credit

Log into your American Express account online, and you’ll find regular offers tailored to your spending that can be added to your card—$30 off a $150 spend, for instance, at a specific store.

Make sure to check these offers regularly and add them to your card. It’s a great way to score discounts on clothing. Many other credit cards provide similar opt-in promotions or cash back on purchases (for example, Citi Double Cash gives a 2% rebate with no limit).

If you liked our article on ways you can score discounts on clothing, you may also want to read 6 Brilliant Little-Known Credit Card Perks You’re Missing Out.