Frugal Mania

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Today’s frugal tip is a lesson in appreciating what you already have, especially when you find yourself wanting more. More specifically, this post has to do with your clothing. How well are you really acquainted with the clothes you have right now - I mean all of your clothes, not just the stuff on the top of your drawers and in the front of your closets?

Here’s what I want to suggest as an exercise for each of you:

Set aside an afternoon (or evening, or morning) and take every piece of clothing you own out of your closet, and out of your drawers. Physically touch each and every article and divide the clothes into three categories:

1. Clothes that you need to repair
2. Clothes that you need to get rid of, and
3. Clothes that are fine and need to just be put away.

Clothes that you need to repair
Clothes in need of repair should be set into a pile and (here’s an original idea) repaired! That means you should reattach loose or missing buttons, repair small tears or seams and get those clothes back into commission. It is far too easy to let these small repairs pile up, so make a promise to yourself that you will make those overdue repairs once and for all. I promise you will feel good about it once you’re done.

Clothes that you need to get rid of
You know those clothes that have been hidden away in the back of you closet since your Freshman year of college because you swore you would get back into them eventually? Here’s the deal. If you haven’t been able to fit into those jeans since 1985, you’re not going to get back into them even if you can. Face it and move on with your life. Oh, and bag those clothes up and get thee to your local charity thrift shop - it is donation time, kid.

Clothes that are fine and need to just be put away
Before you put all these beauties back into their rightful places, seriously look at the ones you haven’t worn in a while and think about what other items in your wardrobe that they will complement. Most people have nice clothes they haven’t even thought about because they haven’t seen them in months or even years. I’d bet the same is the case for you.

CREDITS: I owe this tip to the lovely host of Consciously Frugal, who learned it from a reader in New York. If you haven’t checked out this chick’s blog, you really need to get your butts over there. She rocks my frugal world and I bet you’ll <3 her too.