Cost of living: Newbury money-saving guru suggests simple ways to make and save money on your wardrobe

Karen Kirton is always on the look out for ways to economise on a daily basis.

Here she looks at buying clothes, which although necessary, can sometimes feel extravagant.

But, says Karen, you can still look and feel good without breaking the bank.

First of all do a stock take on what you already have. Take a breath and empty the wardrobe, you may find something long lost. Remove buttons etc from items to be recycled for reuse.

Some dry cleaners offer repairs or alterations for a favourite item needing a bit of TLC.

If you’ve got clothes you know you will no longer wear, sell or swap them through online sites such as Vinted or Preloved and car boot sales.

Agencies will sell higher end items for you on a commission basis and baby items sell well at the NAT and Mum2Mum sales, with people on hand to sell for you, for a small fee, if required.

Before spending the cash you’ve raised, maybe treat yourself to a free, no obligation, Personal Styling session at some John Lewis stores.

For a special occasion, consider hiring an outfit, it will cost less than buying new, although charity shops in affluent areas may also be worth a visit.

The Oxfam Superstore in Oxford is the biggest in the UK and the Clothing Warehouse in Newbury sells new and pre-loved items at very good prices.

Clothing Exchange events (Swishing) are a great way to replenish your wardrobe contents. If you don’t have any items to swap, you have to pay a small entry fee, but it’s still worth a visit.

While jumble sales often have very cheap items, they can also be chaotic and it also best to check carefully for damage before handing over the cash.

Freecycle, Olio and Facebay regularly offer free clothing and if you are on benefits or looking for work, ask your Job Centre Plus adviser for information on funding or finding clothes suitable for interviews.

Smart Works in Reading helps women with job hunting outfits and The Cow Shed provide clothes for Berkshire families in crisis as does the Community Baby Bank.

Tuxchange is a free, school uniform exchange for the Newbury/Thatcham area. If you do not have items to exchange, donations to cover costs are welcomed, but not compulsory. It’s also worth finding out if your child’s school has pre-loved uniform items for sale and suggestions for uniform grants available.

Pupil Premium is extra government funding paid to schools for every child eligible for free school meals to help with uniform costs. Turn2us is a free, online grant search tool for people who are not claiming benefits, but need help.

And finally, if you are a working adult, check you are claiming the Uniform Tax allowance and if buying clothes in store at M&S, claim a treat via the Sparks app after popping one of your preloved items into the Shwop Box.

A free Berkshire Family Life card offers many discounts and the subscription Tastecard offers a decent 60-day free trial for half price meals. If you struggle to use the internet for any of the apps, the libraries offer a lot of free computer help and if you would like more information on anything here, follow “mybestforless” on Instagram