Many people notice that times have become more expensive. Increased prices for food, electricity and fuel are some of the expenses that put pressure on the economy. news has therefore created a series of cases where consumers can get advice and tips to “live more cheaply” in these more expensive times: The next category out is clothes and shoes. – It is very different from person to person how much you spend on clothes and shoes. Many people have a lot to save in this area. That’s what “super saver” Lise Vermelid Kristoffersen says. She runs the podcast and the blog “Pengesnakk”. There she gives financial advice and tips for better saving. She has noticed that many people are now starting to think about money and savings for the first time because they see that things are getting tight – even if they haven’t done anything different than before. – Many people become anxious. What I do is ask them to look at the actual numbers. For example: How much do you spend on food, how high is the electricity bill, how much do you have in salary? Then they get some idea of how much things cost, how much they have to deal with and what can be opted out, says Kristoffersen. “Super saver” Lise Vermelid Kristoffersen prefers to have few clothes. Photo: Kristine Elvemo Kjersti Grønseth, known as Forbrukerfrue on Instagram and from the podcast “Forbrukerpodden”, says many of her followers on Instagram answer yes when she asks them if they feel pressured to follow trends in clothing and interior design. – Find your own style rather than always following trends. Everyone is interested in us buying as much as possible from those who produce things. They do their best to convince us that we need things and need to follow trends. Then you can think: Do I have to? Do I need it? Can I see again what I already have, she says. Here is the experts’ advice on how you can save money on clothes and shoes: Have few clothes and roll up the wardrobe Not only is it cheaper to have a smaller wardrobe, it will also be more tidy and clear. – There are many people who may be reluctant and think “I can’t wear the same shirt or dress again”. But it’s just nice to wear the same clothes again, says Lise Vermelid Kristoffersen. If you want to think sustainably too, then it is not positive to have a new outfit all the time. Most of the clothes can be used many times. – When I have few clothes, it also means that I take better care of them. If a garment loses a button, I don’t just put it to the side or throw it away. Then I repair it, says Kristoffersen. To make it a little extra exciting to have few clothes, she rotates her wardrobe at regular intervals. Then she packs away some of the clothes she has lost interest in for a little while – When I find them again, I get a feeling of whether I have finished with them and can sell them – or it becomes a kind of reunion and it becomes a bit like buying a new garment. Buy used It may be obvious advice, but it cannot be ignored that this is where you can save the most money when it comes to clothes and shoes. Kjersti Grønseth, known as Forbrukerfrue on Instagram and from the podcast “Forbrukerpodden”, has gone so far that she has decided to only buy used clothes in 2022. With the exception of underwear and swimwear, of course. – It’s just liberating, she says. It is very easy to be influenced when stores have made it inviting to shop with them. Then you might go in and look even if you don’t want anything, and end up buying something anyway. – Now I can’t do that unless the store doesn’t have used clothes. It’s kind of delicious. Then I spend less energy thinking about what I could have bought, says Grønseth. “Consumer lady” Kjersti Grønseth only buys used clothes. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB Lise Vermelid Kristoffersen also says what she saves the most money on when it comes to clothes is buying used. – When you shop less often, you have time to browse second-hand markets, the internet and apps. It is very accessible now and there is a lot of used clothing out there. The environmental benefit is one thing, but it costs much less than buying new clothes, she says. Swap clothes If you have clothes or shoes in your wardrobe that you are tired of or no longer need, trying to swap clothes can be a practical solution. Not only is it good for you financially, but it is also very environmentally friendly. You can make it a nice gathering if you have friends of the same size, so you can exchange and borrow clothes with each other. – You can meet and give away the clothes you are tired of. You can put your clothes in separate piles and choose new ones, says Kristoffersen. If you are looking for a larger selection, larger public clothes-swapping events are often organized in different local communities. For example, the Nature Conservancy organizes every year “Den store klebyttedagen” which is a measure to reduce the consumption of clothes. This year there were 230 clothes swap markets across the country. – There is a very large selection of clothes out there. Follow the internet, apps and also Facebook groups from the local area where things are bought, sold and exchanged, including clothes and shoes, says Kjersti Grønseth. Wash less often Another measure to save both the environment and the economy is not to wash your clothes unless you absolutely have to. – It is not necessary to wash clothes that are not dirty. Wait until you have a full machine. If there are clothes that have got a stain, then it is possible to wash only the stain by hand, and not put the whole garment in the machine, says Lise Vermelid Kristoffersen. Washing clothes at high temperatures wears out the textiles and shortens the life of the clothes. . Feel free to buy garments that last and in materials that do not need to be washed very often. Other saving tips from the experts (clothes and shoes): Buy out of season – When the shops want to get rid of the previous season’s clothes before a new collection comes in, the prices often drop very much. When there is lower demand for something, the price is lower and vice versa. Think quality before quantity – Buy garments that last and are not made from cheap materials. It may be more expensive then and there, but lasts longer. Wish for clothes and shoes as gifts – If you give gifts to each other, why not be a little more forward with what you want?
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