How to Stop Spending Money on Buying Clothes [2025]

Spending too much money on buying clothes can be an expensive and stressful habit. As someone who has struggled with shopping addiction, I know just how easy it is to get carried away and spend more than you plan when you see a great sale or some cute new shoes. But you can break the habit, become a conscious consumer while living minimally and spending more mindfully. The best part is that once you learn how to stop buying clothes, you'll begin to allocate more money to travel or other money goals.

My post on shopping addiction is just that, a post about my experience and how I stopped my addictive behavior. This post is more about becoming a conscious consumer, how to lower your clothing costs, and overall just buying less.

How do you know if you are spending too much on buying clothes?

To get an accurate picture of how much money you are spending, keep a record of everything you buy. This will help you get an idea of how often you indulge in clothes shopping and how much you’re spending each month. (I love to use a tool like Rocket Money for something like this.)

The average person spends around $161 per month on clothes. When looking at the average household's budget, clothing expenses make up 2.3% of the total annual spending. However, in the Credit Donkey report, there is a significant difference in the amount spent by men versus women, with women spending 40% more on clothing than men do.

Most financial experts (including myself!) say to keep clothing spend to around 5% of your budget.  So, take whatever your monthly take-home pay is and multiply it by .05. That 5% is for the entirety of the people in the household, not just you! 

If you are spending over that 5%, here are 13 ways to lower the amount you spend on buying clothes for you and your family.

Buying Clothes: How to Stop 

1. Create a shopping list (and stick to it!)

Creating a shopping list can be an effective way to limit your spending on clothes. It is important to only include items that you need and to avoid purchasing anything just because it is “on sale” or “looks nice.” 

To create your list, take a look at your wardrobe and identify any items that you need to replace or add. Make sure you include staples such as underwear, socks, or black trousers. Now that I'm older and my size is pretty much the same year-to-year, I can strategically invest in basics I'll pull outfits around year after year.

Next, set a budget and before you start shopping, research different stores, their regular prices, and any upcoming sales. This will help you find the best times to go shopping.

On your list, include the price range you are willing to pay. This will help you stay focused when you are shopping and not overspend on one item.

Once you are at the store, stick to the items on your list. This is the hardest part. Even if you see an amazing sale or a stunning (but outside of your budget) blazer, you need to stay strong and stick to your budget.

2. Re-use and re-purpose old clothes

Re-using and re-purposing old clothes is a great way to save money and reduce your environmental footprint. It might sound intimidating, but it's actually quite easy. 

Start by taking inventory of what you already have. Look at each item and decide whether you want to keep it or not. If you haven’t worn it in the past year, it’s probably time to let it go. Take an afternoon to try on different items, mix and match pieces, and create new looks without spending a penny.

Take damaged items to a tailor or alteration service to make them look like new or learn how to do simple repairs and alterations yourself.

Turn old items into something new with a little creativity. For example, turn an old pair of jeans into a skirt or dye a shirt you never really liked a new color. Also, how many TikToks are available now with people hacking their clothing items with belts, straps, hair-ties, etc. Inspiration is everything.

Or invite friends over and have a clothing swap. I've done this before and it is a fun way to feel like you're getting something new without spending a dime. Trade items with each other and you'll all walk away with something new. (P.S. This works best if you have a group with similar clothing sizes.)

3. Find free or low-priced clothes

There are plenty of ways to find free or low-priced clothing, including thrift stores, Facebook groups, and online resale sites like eBay and Poshmark.

Thrift stores are a great place to start. Many thrift stores rely on donations from local residents and offer clothing items at low prices. You have to dig, but many hidden gems exist in thrift stores.

Search Facebook for a Buy Nothing group in your area. These groups allow members to post anything they’d like to give away, lend, or share. You can create posts asking for specific items, or just watch posts for clothing you’d like to receive.

eBay and Poshmark are two popular online resale sites that offer used clothing items at discounted prices. Both sites have a wide selection of items and you can usually find clothes for a fraction of the retail price.

You can also search for specific items and narrow down your search by size, brand, or color.

4. Buying clothes that are better quality

When it comes to shopping for clothes, it is all too easy to get caught up in the latest trends and forget about the quality of the items we are buying. It can be tempting to buy cheaper pieces that don’t last as long, but this can actually end up costing you more money in the long run. To avoid this, it’s important to invest in clothing that will last and stay in style for years to come.

Knowing what looks good on you will help you determine which pieces you should invest in and which ones you should pass on. If you’ll never wear a white button-down, don’t invest in one! (I will say in my mid-thirties, I just started grasping what looks best on my body, so don't beat yourself up if it takes a minute to get it down.)

Once you know your style, focus on quality instead of quantity.

Don’t just buy the cheapest items you can find – look for items that are made from durable materials and have well-constructed seams. These pieces may cost more upfront, but they will last much longer than their cheaper counterparts, especially after washing.

When you’re shopping for clothes, take the time to try on the items you’re considering. This will help ensure that you purchase pieces that fit you perfectly and are comfortable to wear. It also prevents you from a purchase that doesn’t fit yet hangs in your closet for months waiting for you to return it.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the fabric or construction of a particular item or for specific measurements if you are shopping online.

5. 24 hours in the cart

It can be hard to resist the temptation of buying something new and trendy. But if you're trying to save money, it's important to take a step back and think before making any purchases. 

Start by asking yourself whether you really need the item. Do you already have something similar or can you make do with what you already have? If the answer is yes, then there's no point in buying it.

Next, consider whether the item is worth the cost. Is it made of quality materials that will last for years or is it cheaply made? Is the item a one-time use item or will you be able to wear it often? 

Try calculating the item’s value in time. Ask yourself if the item is worth the amount of time it took you to earn the money. If the cost of the item is more than you're willing to pay, then it's best to move on and look for something else.

Finally, take into account any upcoming events or occasions that may require you to buy clothes. If you know you'll need something specific soon, it's best to plan ahead so that you can make a wise purchase instead of a last-minute grab.

My favorite rule (especially when online shopping) is to put something in the cart for 24 hours. (As a recovering shopping addict, I live by this rule!) If I'm still thinking about it the next day, I know it'll be a good buy. If it is easily forgotten, I know I can live without it.

6. Limit social media

It is easy to get lost in the world of fashion when you are surrounded by it on social media. And with targeting capabilities being so powerful now, I know I sometimes feel like Instagram knows what I want before I do. It's even easier to spend too much money on clothing when you're constantly tempted by new trends, styles, and hyper-targeted ads. In fact, according to Hubspot, Consumers are 71% more likely to make a purchase based on social media referrals/influencer recommendations.

If you notice that a certain account you follow always has you clicking the buy button, it’s time to unfollow. Search up some accounts that show you how to repurpose your clothes or shop more sustainably. Or accounts run by thrifters who show you how to save instead. 

You can also limit the amount of time you spend on social media in general. (This is something I am working on for 2023!) Set a timer for yourself or limit the number of times you open an app in a day. If you find yourself unable to put down your phone, you can also download apps that help you limit your screen time.

Take a break from social media entirely if you find yourself unable to control your spending habits. This may sound extreme, but sometimes breaking up a routine is necessary to get spending under control. Take a few days off at a time and focus on other activities that do not involve shopping. This will help you reset and give you a chance to better reflect on your spending habits.

7. Don't give your your phone, email address, or address

By not giving out your phone, email, or address you can limit the number of promotional offers and ads that you receive, which can help reduce the temptation to buy more clothes.

Here are some tips to help you stop giving out your contact information:

• Don’t sign up for store loyalty programs. Many stores offer these programs in exchange for your contact information. Don’t be tempted by the discounts they promise; instead, focus on the fact that you’ll be receiving more promotional materials.
• Don’t enter contests or sweepstakes. Companies often use these as a way to collect contact information and then they make money selling that information to others.
• If you’re shopping online, use a prepaid credit card or a dedicated email address. This way, you can limit or even avoid receiving promotional emails from retailers. (another one of my favorite former shopping addict tips!)

It may take some discipline, but it’s worth it if you want to stop spending too much money on clothes.

8. Unsubscribe from marketing emails

If you’ve already shared your phone, email and address, then take the time now to unsubscribe.

Fortunately, it is easy to unsubscribe from marketing emails. Look through your inbox and see which promotional emails you have received from clothing brands. 

Locate the “unsubscribe” link in each email. This should be found at the bottom of the message and is usually written in small print. Click on this link and you will be taken to a page to confirm your subscription cancellation.

Keep an eye on your email account for more marketing emails. It can take a few weeks to a few months to make sure you’ve unsubscribed from them all. 

I also like the FREE service Unroll.me for helping me corral promotional emails and keep them “out of sight, out of mind.”

9. Rent instead of buying clothes

Renting clothes is a great way to save money and look stylish without breaking the bank. There are many websites that offer rental services for formal occasions, such as weddings, galas, school dances, and maternity shoots. Renting a dress or gown can be much cheaper than buying one, and it's also a more sustainable option.

But you can also rent just regular clothes: tops, sweaters, coats, jeans. One of the most popular sites for renting designer clothes is Rent the Runway. This site offers designer rentals, including bags, and accessories, with one-time rentals starting at $30 per piece. Customers can browse through hundreds of brands, and they can even upload photos from previous renters to see how the dress fits other people within a specific size/height/body type range. I have a monthly subscription and it substantially cuts down on both my clothing consumption and the cost.

Click here to try Rent the Runway with my special link and get 40% of your trial.

10. Delete shopping apps and turn off notifications.

Deleting all of your shopping apps and turning off notifications might seem like a small change, but it can be incredibly effective in helping you break the habit of compulsive online shopping. Without being constantly bombarded with notifications and tempted by new stock and sales, it's easier to break the habit of buying items you don't need.

Additionally, if you find yourself unable to resist the temptation to shop, you can try disabling your payment methods in the apps. This way, even if you do end up browsing through the apps, you won't be able to purchase anything unless you manually enter the payment details.

11. Only shop in-store

Online shopping can be an easy way to get the things we need and want, but it can also be a source of temptation and overspending.  I know in post-pandemic America it can be hard to envision going back out to stores again, but if you're trying to spend less – making it “harder” for you to spend can really help.

On of the best ways to avoid shopping online is to forget your e-wallet and remove any saved credit cards from your accounts. If you have to get up to make a payment you might just decide it’s not worth moving. If you need something, often having to go in-store to get it can be enough of a deterrent.

12. Reduce emotional spending habits and triggers

In order to reduce our emotional spending habits, we need to first identify what these triggers are.

Common triggers include:

• Stress or anxiety
• Sadness
• Loneliness
• Boredom
• Want a reward 

All of these emotions can cause you to shop in order to improve your mood. But shopping and increasing your debt or decreasing your savings can have the opposit effect in the long run as it can add even more stress to your life.

If you decide that your shopping is an addiction, then take the steps needed to get yourself some help from a mental health professional. 

13. Have a No Spend Month

Finally, having a no spend month is a simple yet effective way to break the cycle of overspending on clothes. A no spend month simply means that you don't buy anything new for a full month. 

The basic rule of the no-spend month is that you must only spend money on things that you need to survive for one month. This means that you should avoid spending money on anything that is not essential, like eating out, shopping, entertainment, and other non-essential items. To have a successful no-spend month, it is important to plan ahead and set realistic goals.

How do I stop thinking about buying clothes?

Now that you have the tricks to stop spending monty on clothes, how do you stop thinking about spending money on clothes?

Fill your time

Honestly, this is still something I'm working on 15 years after I kicked my shopping addiction for good. The biggest thing I can recommend is to find other activities to fill you time. Try a new sport or hobby, volunteer for a non-profit, pick out a new book from the library or fill your social calendar. Sometimes just filling your time with something else can stop the compulsion to purchase new clothes. 

Also, start a new savings account that you add to when you stop yourself from buying new clothes.

You can put in a set amount, like $5 every time you don’t buy something, or the amount equal to what you would have spent. It could be pretty illuminating to see how much you’ve saved at the end of the year.  The Qapital app allows you to do this seamlessly.

My favorite money-saving app is Qapital. While it does cost a monthly subscription (I pay $3/mo), it helps me save extra for travel and special occasions by rounding up when I use my card. I love it so much and it is the only money-saving app I use, year after year. Click here to try.

If you have a large wardrobe of lightly used clothes that you’ll never wear, sell them! (Here's my guide on how to sell your old clothes for the money.) A site like Poshmark or ThreadUp will allow you to post items for sale. Getting the best price for your items can give you the lift that buyings something new usually does. I also throw this money into my Qapital account so when I do need something new, I can spend guilt-free.

Lean on your tribe

If you are having a hard time not focusing on shopping, reach out a talk to someone. You don’t have to talk about your shopping urge, even a good chat about what’s going on in your friend’s life can take your mind off of new clothes. 

Shopping for clothes is a part of life, but it doesn't have to be an expensive or stressful one. By following these 13 tips, you can take control of your spending habits and start saving money. With a little determination and some creative thinking, you can break free from the shopping habit and build better financial patterns.