| Your ski clothing should never have to cost | | | | someone else has used before. They never rent |
| as much as your boots or your skis. Quality | | | | skates, either, or swim in public swimming |
| ski wear doesn't have to break the bank, and | | | | pools. |
| you can find comfortable ski jackets and ski | | | | |
| pants at affordable prices. These tips will | | | | The best reason for buying used clothing is |
| help you to save money on ski wear. | | | | often our budgets, but that isn't the only |
| | | | reason. Most of us are not in such bad shape |
| Consider Affordable Brands | | | | that we can't afford to buy something new now |
| | | | and then. It just doesn't make sense to - not |
| Many brands of ski clothing offer quality | | | | when you can buy three or four somethings |
| design at affordable prices - however, make | | | | 'new' with the same money and have a better |
| sure that your ski clothing comes from a | | | | choice! |
| reputable brand, because you will want ski | | | | |
| wear that will hold up well and keep you warm | | | | Shopping for used clothing is not at all like |
| and dry during the entire day. There are | | | | shopping at a retail store, with it's racks |
| brands that offer quality ski clothes at | | | | of same style clothing in limited colors and |
| affordable prices. You will still look sharp | | | | often in limited sizes. At a used clothing |
| and stay comfortable in ski jackets and ski | | | | store, there's not much telling what you can |
| pants from Columbia Sportswear, LL Bean, and | | | | find! People who are unusual sizes often go |
| Lands' End. | | | | to big cities to shop or shop from specialty |
| | | | (read 'expensive') catalogs, then sell or |
| Shop at Outlet Stores | | | | give away their old clothing. People with |
| | | | lots of money (or those who just pretend to |
| Outlet stores offer top-quality, name-brand | | | | have lots of money) often buy clothing from |
| ski clothing at discounted prices. | | | | several sources and discard "old" clothing on |
| | | | a regular basis. |
| Outlet stores offers discounts on brands that | | | | |
| normally sell their ski clothing at high | | | | You can be the benefit of that. |
| prices, so there's no reason not to shop at | | | | |
| outlet stores. These stores include Sierra | | | | Go with a list of what used clothing you |
| Trading Post and Overstock.com. | | | | need. Look ahead, too, and be alert to good |
| | | | buys on things you'll need in the future - |
| Buy Versatile Ski Wear | | | | children's next-size clothing or seasonal |
| | | | furnishings, perhaps maternity clothing or |
| Investing in ski clothing that can be used in | | | | baby items. |
| all types of weather is always a good idea. | | | | |
| For example, a fleece jacket can be used as | | | | Write down clothing and shoe sizes for |
| an insulating layer during cold weather, or | | | | everyone in your family as well as color and |
| it can be worn by itself on warm spring days. | | | | style preferences. Be specific as to what |
| By purchasing versatile ski clothing, you | | | | they need. It's not frugal to buy a third |
| will save money because you won't have to | | | | white shirt for your little boy, especially |
| purchase multiple layers for each type of | | | | if he only wears one a couple of times a |
| weather. | | | | year. |
| | | | |
| Buy Ski Clothing that You Can Wear for | | | | You may not find the exact used clothing |
| Multiple Seasons | | | | you're looking for the first time you go to a |
| | | | thrift store or hit the garage sales, but you |
| If you invest in quality ski clothing, you | | | | will eventually. To get the most out of |
| can save a lot of money by not having to buy | | | | second hand shopping, you need to go often, |
| a new ski "wardrobe" every season. As long as | | | | but you don't buy anything at all if you |
| your ski clothes are still in good condition, | | | | don't see what you're looking for. You won't |
| you can wear your ski clothing for about two | | | | save any money if you buy a sackful of junk |
| to three seasons. However, there are | | | | and things you don't need every time you go, |
| exceptions - some people have purchased | | | | but you won't save either, if you miss that |
| high-quality ski wear and end up wearing | | | | perfect dress or baby outfit because you |
| their ski clothes for ten years! As long as | | | | weren't there. |
| your ski clothing stays in good condition and | | | | |
| holds up well, there's nothing wrong with | | | | If you go used clothing shopping at garage |
| wearing it for more than one season. However, | | | | sales especially, wear snugly fitting |
| purchasing quality ski clothing is a must for | | | | clothing so you can slip a shirt on to check |
| a long life of your ski wear. | | | | the sizes or wrap a skirt around your waist |
| | | | to see if it fits. |
| Just remember that if you're conscious about | | | | |
| matching your ski clothes to your skis and | | | | Zero in on the garage sales most likely to |
| you plan on replacing your skis, purchasing | | | | have what you want. A garage sale in a |
| ski wear that is a neutral color (like black | | | | retirement community is highly unlikely to |
| or gray) is a good idea. That way, your | | | | have children's clothing or toys and a |
| clothes will match your skis - no matter what | | | | community filled with scooters and basketball |
| color they happen to be. | | | | hoops very likely won't be selling Grandma's |
| | | | handkerchiefs with tatted edgings. |
| Take Advantage of Sales | | | | |
| | | | Pay attention to details, whether you shop at |
| Many ski sales have major sales at the end | | | | garage sales or in a second hand store. |
| and the beginning of the ski season. It's a | | | | Zippers, buttons, tears, ripped seams and |
| good idea to visit your favorite ski store | | | | pockets and stains may not stop you from |
| and inquire about sales, as you can save a | | | | buying the item, but the seller should adjust |
| lot of money on discounted ski clothing. | | | | the price for these problems. Many of them |
| | | | can be fixed easily, but be aware of them |
| Consider Used Ski Wear | | | | before you buy and decide whether you want to |
| | | | fix them or not. |
| If you don't mind wearing used clothing, | | | | |
| purchasing used ski wear is always an option! | | | | Keep an eye out for the occasional sale at a |
| As long as you make sure that ski clothing | | | | thrift store. That's the time to find |
| you purchase is still in good condition, | | | | material for that quilt you want to make, or |
| purchasing used ski wear can save you a lot | | | | the rag rug, or to make other clothing from. |
| on money. Consider websites like Ebay for | | | | It's the time to stock up on undershirts for |
| good deals on used or semi-used ski clothes. | | | | cold weather (they don't have to be plain |
| | | | white!) and anything else you might need. |
| A lot of frugal folks won't think twice about | | | | |
| buying used clothing, from garage sales to | | | | Most garage sales are held near the end of |
| thrift stores, but there are some who | | | | the week and/or over the weekend, but it's |
| wouldn't dream of wearing "somebody else's | | | | best to shop the thrift stores during the |
| old clothes". | | | | week. Weekend crowds in the local Salvation |
| | | | Army or Goodwill store can be pretty heavy |
| There are a couple of reasons people don't | | | | and make it hard to look through everything. |
| want to buy used. One is pride, often known | | | | |
| as conceit, as in "I'm too good to wear used | | | | Consider the time you spend shopping this way |
| clothing!". These people often have an | | | | to be an investment. One or two trips, or one |
| awesome array of credit cards, and just as | | | | or two stores or garage sales, won't |
| often, not much real money. | | | | necessarily have the things you're looking |
| | | | for, but the merchandise changes constantly. |
| The other is squeamishness. "Eww... wear | | | | Every other week is a good schedule for |
| something that once belonged to someone I | | | | thrift store shopping and a tight fist is the |
| don't even know?? What if they had some awful | | | | best policy. |
| disease..." These people also take their own | | | | |
| sheets and towels when they travel, not | | | | Be sure of the quality of the item and your |
| wanting to use those from the motel that | | | | need for it and you'll win, every time. |