WINTER comes with a hidden extra cost for Brits as they spend far more on clothes in the colder months of the year than at any other time, it has been revealed.
New research by online high street fashion brand Simply Be found that a woman’s winter wardrobe is likely to cost three times more than clothing bought in any other season.
The study found the cold season is the most expensive time of year for especially for women who splash out on average £341 on clothes and “investment” items such as warm coats, boots and wool and cashmere garments.
In contrast, they spend an average of £119 on their summer wardrobe, only £105 in spring and just £79 in the autumn, according to a poll for the retailer, with an average annual cost of £644.
Boots are the favourite winter purchase with the study showing 71 per cent of those surveyed buy one pair and 44 per cent buy two pairs in winter.
Other purchases in the list of top winter purchases include more predictable and practical items such as trousers, pyjamas, thicker opaque tights, gloves, scarves and cosy dressing gowns.
Top ten women’s winter purchases
1. Boots – 71 per cent buy one pair – average spend £84
2. Coat – 41 per cent – average spend £81
3. Mac – 34 per cent – average spend £69
4. Cashmere or wool sweater/cardigans – 27 per cent – average spend £56
5. Dress – 24 per cent – average spend £47
6. Trousers – 22 per cent – average spend £35
7. Tights – 22 per cent- average spend £3
8. Scarves and gloves – 22% – average spend £14
9. Pyjamas – 17 per cent – average spend £20
10. Dressing gown – 11 per cent – average spend £29
But you don't have to spend a fortune to expand your winter selection. Here are five tips to help you save money on clothing and still be fashionable this season:
1. Get cashback
An easy-peasy way to earn money every time you spend online is by making purchases through a cashback site – and you'll get some great prices.
Simply sign up to a cashback website for free and click on your chosen company before making your usual purchases online and you can get a percentage of your purchase back as cashback.
If you buy something, an amount is put into your cashback site account once the transaction's processed. You can then withdraw this once it arrives in your cashback account, which can take a few weeks.
Top paying cashback sites include TopCashback and Quidco.
2. Voucher codes
Code stacking, using multiple codes or vouchers, is a great way to get even better savings.
Never pay the full price by looking for voucher codes using vouchercodes.co.uk, vouchercloud.com and savoo.co.uk.
These sites can offer superb one-off deals in forms of codes you can use online or vouchers which can be printed off and redeemed in the shops themselves.
Although prices can be lower when you shop online, those shipping charges often chip away at your savings – look out for free delivery codes can help you save a fiver.
There are also Facebook groups dedicated to saving money and couponing which post deals and codes.
3. Return unwanted items
If you're guilty of buying something that you're never going to wear or it doesn't fit- then return it. Why pay for something that will sit in your wardrobe when you could use that money to buy your next favourite pair of shoes?
Try to get into the habit of keeping your receipts to return your unwanted purchases.
4. Compare prices
When you’re considering a purchase online or in a store, find out how much the item you want is selling for at other retailers.
Comparison shopping can save you a lot of money helping you find the cheapest option.
ShopSavvy app is a handy shopping companion which gets your instant price comparisons for in-store purchases.
5. Calculate 'cost-per-wear'
To buy or not to buy? To justify your purchase all you need to do is look at the cost of your item, divide it by the number of times you'll probably wear it, and come up with your estimated cost-per-wear.
It can help you save money by figuring out which pieces are actually the most important to you and stop those impulse spending.
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