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Adventures in Recession-Proof Living
By Nina Newton of mamas*little*treasures
We all wear clothes . . . . well, at least, most of us do, at some time in our lives. Unless we live in special communities, most of us like to be well-dressed when we go out in public. But that’s becoming more and more difficult with the economy in a downturn. Many of us are having enough trouble figuring out how to pay the mortgage and buy the groceries, much less having enough “left-over” cash to buy new clothes. But we still like to! Many families are facing the reality that they will need to adjust their “likes” to the fact of limited income. So, what are we to do? How can we get through this recession joyfully . . . . especially those of us who really, really love beautiful garments, shoes, and accessories. We actually have a few options for how we might choose to handle this situation. Some of us will pretend that it just isn’t happening, and we will go right on spending our limited funds on expensive, brand-new, designer clothing. But the more we put on those credit cards, the harder it becomes to pay them off. And eventually, not only can we no longer pay our credit card bills, but those little pieces of plastic will become worthless when they are maxed out, and we will no longer be able to pretend that this really isn’t happening to ME! So, now what should we do? No more shopping at the mall, and no more new clothes to shove in my closet with all the other brand-new garments that still have the tags on them? But if we just got bored with all those other new things, shouldn’t we be able to just toss them aside, and get more and more and more new STUFF? How boring life would be if we couldn’t go shopping! Another option would be to learn how to make your own new clothes. When I was a young girl, I learned to sew in self-defense. The only way I was going to get anything “new” was to figure out how to make it myself. So I did. And, now, many years later, I can make my own clothing, as well as my children’s clothing if I want to. But I don’t know how to make shoes, so that’s still an issue when it comes to figuring out what to do when our old shoes wear out. Lots of people are learning how to sew and create their own clothing. I’ve been writing more and more eBook patterns to help other moms sew for their children, and now we’re moving on to simple patterns for designs for moms to create for themselves. There are lots of places online where you can learn how to sew, and you can find instructions for a huge variety of garments, craft projects, and home décor ideas. But what if you have a very limited budget, very limited time, and you STILL want to wear beautiful, stylish, and fashionable garments? I think it is about time that we all revisit the idea of thrift shopping. That is something that I’ve been doing for my entire life, and it has worked out quite well in combination with sewing for my family when I have the time. Here are a few ideas for thrift shopping that just might provide lots of frugal fun for your family: 1. Visit your local thrift shop. Of course, you will want to be very selective to find just what you want and need. But, there are so many gorgeous, wonderful, well-constructed garments and shoes in many of the thrift shops, you might surprise yourself by what you will find. I have found many well-known designer labels as I’ve been out scouting around the thrift shops in my town. And it is not uncommon to discover brand-new items with the tags still on them! Just like the stuff you might have in your closet right now . . . . you know, items that you purchased for a specific event and then, for some reason, never actually took out of the closet and put them on. Think about it – all of those garments in the thrift shops came right out of someone’s closet, probably someone very much like you. Someone who loves beautiful clothing and someone who probably takes good care of their clothing and someone who probably takes a shower every day. Just sayin’ . . . . . . 2. Another idea is to check online. There are hundreds of websites where you can find a wide selection of beautiful clothing, shoes, and accessories that have been refurbished, restyled, upcycled, and recycled. Many of these online shopkeepers spend a great deal of time finding the most beautiful items available, and they invest energy and time in cleaning and pressing their garments so that they can offer them to you at prices that are a fraction of the cost of purchasing these same items from the mall or department store. There are so many websites where you can find children’s clothing, women’s and men’s clothing, shoes and accessories that you can find pretty much anything you are looking for. So, if you don’t have the time or the inclination to investigate thrift store treasures for yourself, you can leave it to those entrepreneurs who love the thrill of the hunt, and who will provide you with gorgeous garments and excellent customer service. 3. One other idea that is becoming popular in some communities is a barter or swap shop. These are places where you can bring your garments that you no longer need, and exchange them for other items that someone else has passed along from their closet. That way, we can all sort out and organize our own homes, share what we have with others who might need what we have but no longer want or need, AND we just might find something there that we have been looking for. Whether you are looking for a new outfit or pair of shoes or a new necklace . . . . . bartering or swapping is a fun way to try out something new without investing dollars that you really need for something else right now. This idea has been especially successful for special occasion garments such as prom dresses and shoes, as well as wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses. 4. Consignment shops are another way to find what you are looking for at a reduced cost, and it also offers the opportunity to generate some much-needed income from items that you no longer need. These shops tend to be a bit more expensive, but then they often times have the higher-end garments, shoes, and accessories. And, in consignment shops, you rarely have to wade through rack after rack of all kinds of other “stuff” to find the really “good” stuff. And if you find a consignment shop where another customer frequently brings items and styles that you like, in your size, then you know right where to go to find something that might be just perfect for you! So, either way, whether you are bringing in your clothing to try to recoup some of your investment in gorgeous garments, or if you are looking to purchase beautiful clothing while working within a budget . . . . or both . . . . consignment shops are a great way to make the most of your dollars and your time. 5. Of course, lots of people like to search for thrifty treasures at garage sales, yard sales, estate sales, and auctions. It is always great fun to discover something that is a priceless treasure, even if only to you, at one of these sales. But it is more difficult actually to find quality, well-preserved clothing in these places. Sometimes you can find great children’s clothing at a yard sale, and gorgeous furniture and home décor items can be discovered at an auction, but if you are looking for that new outfit to wear to your cousin’s wedding next month, your best bet will be to check out the thrift shop around the corner, or the online shop that carries gorgeous formal attire at a price that will fit anyone’s budget. Some of my most favorite outfits have come from my local thrift shop, or from fabric and notions that I’ve purchased at the fabric store and stitched into my own, unique design. You can do it, too, but you will really want to re-evaluate your commitment to frugal living and a balanced family budget. And during these days when we are all struggling a bit to make our limited income cover all of the bases, I prefer to think of it as an adventure in recession-proof living. We just might all come out of this experience a bit more grateful for all that we have, and it just might help us focus on what have instead of what we don’t have. Because if we have a peaceful heart in the midst of difficult days, we can do whatever we need to do to be successful, no matter what our circumstances.
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Contributor's Note
You can also find gorgeous plus-size fashions this fall, if you just take a few minutes to search for online shops that specialize in "Almost Vintage" garments, shoes, and accessories.
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Adventures in Recession-Proof Living
| Gossamer Wings Studio
| mamas*little*treasures
         
Vintage handbag with vintage pin embellishment
"Almost Vintage" black pumps with silvertone studs
Golden Formal Gown Patra
Golden Bronze Rhinestone Embellished Heels
Sparkly White Crop Sweater with Vintage Button Trim
Taupe Open-Toe Heels with Vintage Button Trim
Red blouse with decorative embellishment
Red open-toe shoes with black button trim
Black and White Vintage Dress
Black and White Vintage Shoes
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
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