The WorkGroup

Very likely if you’re working a retail, sales or customer service job, you need to dress up a little for work. If you’re low on cash or cash or just starting out, that can be a tall order. How can you dress for success on a tight budget?

Your first instinct might be to go to Wal-Mart or another discount store. Avoid that instinct and head for a thrift store. If you live in or around a major metropolitan area you can get much nicer clothes, at a much MUCH nicer price than going to a discount store.

If you live in a city, search the internet or yellow pages for local thrift stores. First, look for stores in the suburbs. Those thrift stores tend to be nicer, and the more affluent the suburb the better. More affluent people go through clothes a lot faster because they’re more slaves to fashion, and they buy nicer clothes to begin with.

You have to go into a thrift store without a specific intention, and you have to have a little patience. You’ll have to wade through some older, more worn clothes but once you get going you’ll be able to find a few quality outfits in your size. The wading process can be a lot easier if clothes are sorted by size. In some thrift stores they aren’t, and if time is any issue at all, don’t bother with them. If there’s a lot in your area, shop at the ones that sort their clothes.

I always manage to come away with a few quality articles at a very low price. Many thrift stores even have specials, where they’ll sell items with one colored tag at half off, and another as low as 99 cents. Last week I walked out with a beautiful Tommy Hilfiger sweater for $4.00, a Ralph Lauren sweater for $4.00 and a pair of Dockers for 99 cents. I also got a pair of roller blades for $5.99, but I digress.

Once you get hooked on shopping for high end labels at thrift stores, you’re not going to want to pay even sale prices on clothes at the mall. Why would you pay $80 for something you can buy for $5? And nobody knows the difference!

Dress for success, and keep some change in your pocket.