| Many families are trying to minimize expenses | | | | or movie character from today is old hat next |
| these days. One big cost that can really add up is | | | | year or even next month. Plus, kids decide quickly |
| clothing. It can be tempting to go over budget, | | | | that some things they used to like are now * too |
| especially when new trendy clothes would be so | | | | babyish' for them as they get older. You don't |
| fun to show off at school or work. | | | | want their clothing to fall into this category. |
| There's no reason to go overboard on buying | | | | Dry cleaning is prohibitive. If you buy clothing that |
| clothing. You can still look neat and presentable | | | | has to be dry cleaned, you should remember that |
| and attractive on a budget. It doesn't mean you'll | | | | this greatly increases the actual cost of wearing |
| look like you are wearing castoffs, but at the | | | | the garment. A lovely $20 blouse that has to be |
| same time you should let go of the need to wear | | | | dry cleaned every time you wear it at $4 or |
| expensive designer duds. Think happy medium; | | | | more per time quickly becomes a $100 blouse or |
| you should be able to look nice and let your | | | | more. |
| personality show without great expense. Here are | | | | Check labels for care instructions, and make sure |
| some cost saving tips to remember when | | | | that you are buying clothing that you can |
| shopping for clothes for the family: | | | | adequately take care of on your own. You can |
| Don't follow trends. The trendier something is | | | | always get the special detergents that help |
| today, the more out' it will be tomorrow. You'll | | | | brighten whites or prevent darks from fading and |
| end up hating to wear it in short order. Don't | | | | so on to help your clothing last longer. The clothing |
| follow the latest thing coming out of Milan or Paris. | | | | that you purchase should be easy enough to |
| Instead, try to be fashionable and current, wear | | | | wash at home, without a lot of fussy treatment |
| nice clothing that fit and are good quality, but stick | | | | or unusual settings. |
| with your own style rather than chasing trends. | | | | Watch your accessories costs. It can seem like |
| Otherwise you'll end up with a closet full of clothes | | | | accessories are an easy and inexpensive way to |
| that leave you wondering what you were thinking. | | | | add personality to your outfits. If you go |
| With kids clothing, this translates to avoiding | | | | overboard, you'll spend much more than you |
| clothes with characters on them. The hot cartoon | | | | expect and it can really add up. |