Holiday Shopping For Summer Clothes

Here is a different kind of Christmas list: shorts, tank tops, flip flops, sundresses, swim trunks. Yes, Santa Claus and sunscreen typically don t mix. But buying summer clothes in the winter (and winter clothes in the summer) can save you a lot of money. You can bolster your own wardrobe through this practice or buy for friends and family. Many off-season items are half off or reduced even more. Buying off-season is a common practice of the budget-conscious consumer, especially those who are trying to get out of debt. Many retailers are gearing up for winter s blast and are putting coats, scarves, clothes and jackets on the shelves. That leaves little room for summer gear and retailers often sell summer stock to clear space for cold-weather items. Summer gear may be a bit harder to find at retailers this time of year. It will probably be tucked in a corner far away from the horde of holiday shoppers. It is also good to pick up winter clothes, such as parkas and ski caps, in the summer. Just ignore the curious stares as you haul that bag of sweaters through the mall parking lot in the middle of July and think of the extra cash in your pocket. Fashion mavens take note: Buying clothes off-season means you probably will not get the latest style. On the other hand, requesting summer clothes items from friends and family for Christmas can help you overcome the winter blahs and dream of summertime at the beach. One drawback comes from buying clothes for young children who may outgrow clothes by the time they are in season. Plus, you probably shouldn t do buy clothes too far in advance for people who plan to lose weight. Off-season shopping is an offshoot of waning consumer confidence which has Americans wary of any extra spending. People cannot avoid rising costs associated with housing, food and transportation. Plus, plenty of hard-working folks are strained by consumer debt such as mortgages and credit card debt. That leaves little cash for clothing and that cash has to go a long way. Retailers, in turn, are bracing for the smallest gain in U.S. retail sales in five years, according to the National Retail Federation. Therefore, there are probably deals to be found. Author Bio: Brian Williams has 11 years of experience writing and editing at daily newspapers in Texas. Williams, a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, covered public education, city government and business issues. Learn more about bad credit and credit debt from Brian through Credit Solutions Credit Solutions is your alternative to debt consolidation