Women waste money on holiday clothes, some they don't even wear
The rush of going on holiday isn't enough for some people, they need a new wardrobe to match. But, is it a waste of money?
New research has found the average Brit is expected to waste almost £100 on unworn and un-wearable summer holiday clothing this season, equating to a national throw-out figure of £3,722,659,000.
The research, undertaken by TK Maxx, has found that despite 30% of Brits starting to shop up to 2 months before their holiday departure, the average person will be £82.91 out of pocket from buying summer sun wear that doesn’t fit properly or that doesn’t make it into the case for the next time away.
This is because items shrank, stretched, fell apart or faded after the first summer holiday wear.
Men are the worst culprits, wasting £100.20, while women buy £67.40 worth of clothes that won’t see another holiday.
The most common wardrobe items that won’t make it into next summer’s suitcase include shorts, swimwear, T-shirts and dresses.
Sarah Willingham, expert in money saving and founder of letssavesomemoney.com says: “Summer holidays are our treat and we work very hard all year to afford them. Spending over £80 of this hard earned money on summer sun clothing that remains unworn or can’t be worn again is a terrible waste, even more so when almost one in 10 of us end up paying additional baggage fees by taking them away with us in the first place.”
The average Brit is now packing 9 summer outfits per summer holiday, of which only 8 will be worn.
Sarah continues: “Summer holidays create memories that revive us for the year ahead and it is worth taking the time to really think about how to shop wisely when you think about what you’ll be squashing into your case this year. By investing in quality clothing that lasts longer than one summer we can hold on to those special holiday memories and remember that gorgeous dress you wore on the beach with the kids or that great shirt that took you from beach to bar.”
Sarah’s top tips for savvy summer wardrobe shopping:
Make a list before you head to the shops for your summer wardrobe and only buy what you really need rather than what you want. Think about what you will wear the most, what you feel comfortable in and go for quality rather than quantity. A few well-chosen and well-made pieces can last year after year
It's worth investing in the right-sized suitcase when it comes to hand luggage. Summer holiday clothing doesn’t take up huge room so it’ll save you a fortune in the long run. Also, save space and money on liquids and decanter your larger toiletries into smaller bottles before you leave, remembering to keep them under the liquids limit
If you’re travelling on a budget airline and have paid to check-in a bag, remember to weigh it before you leave home to make sure you won’t incur any overweight charges – that is not a good way to start your holiday
Don't be fooled into buying lots and lots of cheap clothing and accessories before you leave or at the airport as it can often be a false economy and you won’t touch it after next summer
Follow the latest trends by updating with accessories and investing in staple pieces – shorts, a sun dress, t-shirt and swimwear that fit and flatter you will also make you feel more beach confident.
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