Next Paycheck

Spending leaks

How to stop buying clothes you don't need

The closet is full and there's still nothing to wear. Usually that's not a clothes problem; it's a buying problem. Here's how to fix it.

3 min readBy the Next Paycheck team

Quick answer

To stop buying clothes you don't need: take stock of what you already own, unsubscribe from fashion emails and unfollow accounts that make you want to shop, set a clothing allowance for the season, check the cost per wear before you buy, and make every unplanned clothing purchase wait at least 24 hours. Buy for the life you actually live, not the one in the ad.

10 ways to stop buying clothes you don't need

  1. Shop your closet first. Pull everything out once. Most people rediscover pieces they forgot they owned.
  2. Count what you bought last year. The number is usually surprising, and it's a baseline to beat.
  3. Unsubscribe from fashion and store emails. Sales create urges that weren't there before.
  4. Unfollow haul and outfit accounts you mainly follow for shopping inspiration.
  5. Set an allowance: a number of items or a budget for the season, with replacements for worn-out basics allowed.
  6. Check cost per wear. Price divided by how often you'll realistically wear it. The cost-per-use calculator does it in seconds.
  7. Wait before buying. Put it in a wish list for 24 hours (72 for anything pricey).
  8. Don't shop for an imagined life. If you don't go to parties, you don't need three party dresses.
  9. Make returns easier than keeping. If you do buy, keep tags on until you've worn it at home for a day.
  10. Try a clothing low-buy for a season. See low-buy year rules.

The questions to ask at checkout

  • What will I wear it with, from what I already own?
  • Where will I wear it in the next two weeks?
  • Would I buy it at full price?
  • Does it replace something, or just add to the pile?

Run it past Pork

  1. Ask before you buy"Dress", "$85". Pork checks it against what's safe to spend this paycheck.
  2. Enjoy the roastExpect commentary on your existing wardrobe.
  3. Log itResisted adds the price to your money avoided; gave in comes off what's left until payday.
Pork roasting a shoe purchase: let me guess, the other 47 pairs are lonely?

Frequently asked questions

How many clothes should I buy a year?

There's no right number. A useful starting point is to count what you bought last year, then set a smaller allowance for this year, with replacements for worn-out basics allowed on top.

Why do I keep buying clothes I don't wear?

Often because they're bought for an imagined life (the parties, the gym, the job) rather than the one you have, or because they were on sale. Buying for how you actually spend your week fixes most of it.

Is a clothing no-buy too extreme?

For some people it's exactly the reset they need, for a month or a season. If a full ban feels impossible, a low-buy with a small allowance works just as well and is easier to sustain.

Next Paycheck is a budgeting and spending-accountability tool, not a bank or a financial adviser. This page is general information for educational purposes, not financial, legal or tax advice: your situation is your own, so consider a qualified professional before major money decisions. If debt feels unmanageable, a nonprofit credit counselor can help, and if shopping feels out of control or is causing you distress, it is worth talking to a doctor or mental health professional.