I make a food menu to help me use the food I have on hand, purchase only what is useful, and save time and money. A clothing menu will do the same thing! I make a unique menu for each person in the family and include on it the person’s sizes and basic measurements. I shop with my menus with me and use the measurements to make sure the pants will be long enough and the waists will fit. A retractable tape measure in my purse makes it easy. This helps since there can be a large variation in actual garment measurements within the same numerical size.
Here’s a free download of a blank menu to print and use for your family: Blank clothing menu
And to help you get started, here’s a list of items and amounts that might be on a woman’s spring wardrobe list.
THIS is why I reference you so much in my blog. I would have never thought of this. This is brilliant.
Angela,
I love this printable. You did a fantastic job. I plan on using this and want to link to this on my blog.
I try to look at each piece of clothing and figure in the cost per wear. If I pay $3 and wear it 40 times before it falls apart, then I actually am paying .075 cents per wear. I guess it’s like costing out a recipe.
Btw, I bought your ebook several years ago and I enjoy your blog.
Blessings,
Carol
This is a great idea! You seem like a list person like me, I wouldn’t have a brain if it weren’t on paper!
The tape measure thing is wonderful for little girl shopping too! I measure from the waist to below the knees (our modesty standard) for a skirt, and then also from the base of the neck to below the knees. I use that measurement for shopping for the girls because the hems are way too short in typical sizes. I do this when organizing the girls clothes too. Instead of looking at tags I look at hem length and group them together with “real” size. For storing my children’s clothes I layer them in plastic totes by size, 0-3 mo, 3-6 mo, 6-9 mo etc. with a layer of tissue paper between the sizes. It makes the job of “restocking” the baby clothes easier. It also allows me to see what is needed more easily. If someone asks me if we need anything for a new baby I can easily tell which “layer” is the most lean and say “why yes, 6-9 months clothes are our biggest need right now, Thank you!”
Also, I love your idea of a menu, my hubby will often ask what we need for clothing and I’m stumbling for words. If I had a list ready it would be much better, and probably solve the problem of way too many pants and not enough long sleeved shirts!