Crafty Tips for Saving Money on Clothes in 2024

Did you know that you have the power to update your wardrobe without splashing the cash? As the cost of living takes its toll on your pennies, you’re likely on the lookout for some easy money-saving tips for 2024. If your wardrobe is looking a bit ropey and in need of a refresh, here are some top tips for making the best of the most sustainable clothes around (hint: they’re the ones you already own!).

Darn it all!

Armed with nothing but a needle and thread, you can help extend the life of your clothes, keeping them out of landfills and on your rails where they belong. Not only is this good for the planet, but a brilliant way to save money, too — why buy a new outfit when you can look after the ones you already look amazing in?

Learning to repair clothes is a simple, surprisingly relaxing skill, and one that’s genuinely useful for day-to-day life. Whether you want to learn how to darn a sock, sew a button back on or how to mend a hole in a jumper, there are teachers across the country keen to help you give your beloved clothes the TLC they deserve, and save a bit of cash in the process. Whether you’re looking at taking on decorative sashiko stitching or learning to darn holes as a way to save money in London, now’s the ideal time to learn one of these handy life skills.

A stitch in time — sewing classes to help save old clothes

Learning to mend your own clothes instead of replacing them might seem a bit extreme when it comes to money-saving tips for 2024, but the time you spend learning some simple stitches will be well worth it. You may have heard clothes and shoes talked about in terms of “cost-per-wear”, which is exactly what it sounds like: an estimate of how much a piece will cost you over the long run the more you wear it (Glamour Magazine has a handy calculator if you’re curious!). Extending the life of your clothes by mending them also reduces this cost-per-wear, making them more economical in the long run.

Some ways you can save money with DIY clothes mending include:

• Fixing small snags and moth holes in knitwear. Say you've got a well-loved sweater sitting in the wardrobe unworn, as it has a tiny hole in a really obvious place. Instead of spending your hard-earned cash to replace it, why not try and mend it? It'll take less than an hour using a simple running stitch, and you'll feel good knowing you saved something from landfill with your new DIY clothes mending skills.

• Sewing a button back onto a shirt. While this sounds like a complicated process, it’s actually pretty simple. All you need to do is pass a needle and thread back and forth through the holes of the button, wrap any excess around the middle to strengthen it, and then tie it off at the end. Done!

• Sewing a patch into bigger holes in jeans. While certain rips in jeans can look good, others might require a bit of TLC to get back into a serviceable state. That’s where the running stitch comes in handy again! Simply find a matching thread (or a contrasting one; whatever you fancy), turn the jeans inside out and stitch the patch of your choice over the hole, trimming any excess away with scissors.

Of course, with all of these tips, you can get a bit fancier once you get the hang of things, but these are some brilliant ways to get started with nothing more than a needle and thread.

Back to black — learning to dye your own clothes

Find picking up a needle and thread a bit daunting to start with? No worries! There are plenty of other money-saving tips for 2024 that’ll help keep your threads looking fresh without having to commit to a new craft.

If you’re an “all black everything” type of person, you’ll know that the darker the clothes, the more susceptible they are to fading. Luckily, dyeing your own clothes is super easy! Here’s how to use dye pods in your washing machine:

1. Add the garment (or garments) you want to dye into the drum of the washing machine; it’s usually best to do this while they’re damp;

2. Add the dye pod — just pop it right in there with the clothes; 

3. Run the wash cycle (30°C works best);

4. Run a second cycle at the same temperature, this time with your normal detergent. This helps set the dye.

5. Wait for your clothes to dry, and you’re done!

You can also get similar results in a tub or pan of warm water if you don’t have access to a washing machine; it’ll just take a bit longer. Your beloved black jeans and sweatshirts will be back to their former glory for much less dosh than replacing them, and you’ll still be boosting that cost-per-wear without a needle and thread in sight — it’s one of the best ways to save money on new clothes.

You can also use this handy tip to add a splash of colour to greying old t-shirts or get the kids involved in experimenting with different tie-dye patterns. If you get really into the process, you could also take a fabric dyeing course to learn some more advanced techniques with natural dyes — always nice to discover a new hobby!

So next time something in your wardrobe gets a bit long in the tooth, don’t reach for the bin bag just yet. Have a go at fixing it first using these top money-saving tips for 2024 — your bank balance and the planet will thank you for it.