One of the best ways I have found that consistently enables me to find more money for adventures is doing the ‘capsule wardrobe’ thing.
You might have heard of it before and understand that it’s about reducing the amount of clothing you own, ensuring that everything goes together, and that you only wear things that you really love.
Maybe that idea excites you, or maybe it fills you with terror! But how can it help you to save money for adventures? Basically:
- You make money selling stuff you no longer need/want
- You don’t buy so much new stuff
- BONUS! Everything goes together, so packing becomes easier when you save enough to take that trip!
The basics: What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of 37 items of clothing (it could be a little more, or less, but 37 is the typical ‘rule’). The idea is that all of the items mix and match with the other items.
With a little planning, it is possible to make enough different outfits out of those 37 items that you don’t look as though you are repeatedly wearing the same clothes.
Each season you choose a colour palette, pick out items that you already own and love, and then go shopping only to buy additional items which make the capsule work for a whole season.
The idea is that, as you go shopping just once per season, with a clear idea of what to buy, you cut out the impulse buys which don’t really get worn. And you save that money to pay for your next adventure!
How much can you save?
How much you can save largely depends on how much you are spending on clothes, shoes and accessories in the first place. But if you have a bit of a shopping habit, as many of us do, the amount may surprise you!
How much money do you spend on new clothes each year? £500? £1000? More?
And how much of the stuff you bought did you actually need? How many items have you worn often? How many items still have the tags attached? (Be honest!)
Before my capsule wardrobe experiment, I think I spent around £1000 a year on clothes, shoes, accessories etc. More if there was an occasion, like a wedding for instance.
I have considerably reduced that by planning my wardrobe more carefully and only buying things that I really need and really love. Last year I think I spent about £150.
My Capsule Wardrobe Journey
A few years ago I was going through a bit of a stressful time leading my first team at work, amongst other things in my personal life.
Because of those big things, I was finding the little things – like deciding what to wear each day – disproportionately stressful!
After standing in front of my wardrobe full of clothes thinking ‘I have nothing to wear!’ for the umpteenth time, I decided to make a change.
It was a happy accident for me that I ended up saving money too! But if saving money for adventures is your goal, this is a good place to start.
How to do it
Step 1: Find out how much you spend?
You will be way more motivated if you can see how much you could save over the year by putting this method into practice.
So go through your accounts for last year and write down everything you spent on clothes, shoes Dand accessories.
Could you have paid for an adventure with that? Then this is worth doing!
Step 2: Sort your stuff
Pull everything out of your closet – clothes, shoes and accessories – and sort them into three piles. Things you LOVE, things you like and might wear, and things that are damaged/you don’t like/don’t wear.
Sell the things you don’t need any more on eBay – it’s instant adventure money! Here’s some tips for selling on eBay.
Then sort your love and like piles into things you think you will wear this season, and things you probably won’t (e.g. winter coats, boots, etc.). Put the non-seasonal items away out of sight.
Step 3: Create your season capsule wardrobe
Be ruthless. You’re aiming to have just 37 items which includes tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear and shoes. But don’t include accessories, workout clothes, pyjamas, or underwear.
Un-Fancy.com suggests 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottoms and 15 tops, leaving space for 2 dresses and 2 coats/jackets. But you can configure this any way you like!
As you go through, check that every item goes with at least three other items – it’s no use having a skirt that only goes with one top!
Don’t worry if you end up with more items, or things you’re not sure about. One good way of paring down as you go is to put everything back in your closet with the hangers turned the wrong way round.
If you wear something, put it back in the wardrobe with the hanger the right way round. In a couple of months you’ll see the things you just aren’t wearing and you can sell them (for adventure money!)
You might find you need to buy a few items to make the capsule wardrobe work and that’s ok – but go out with a list and only buy those things! You’re trying to make money here, not spend more!
Step 4: Review
You’ll need to repeat the process each season (every 3 months). Each time, only buy the few items necessary to make the capsule work and only buy things that you really love.
After a year, go back to step one and go through your accounts. How much did you spend on clothes and shoes? And more importantly, how much did you save?
It’s adventure time!!
Join my email list and get saving for adventures inspiration in your inbox!
Plus! Free guide: How to Get More Adventure in Your Life