‘I buy coats, boots and cold weather essentials months before I need them and it has transformed both my wardrobe and my budget’
There are some purchases that stay with you. Not because they were expensive, but because you simply can’t believe what you paid. Mine happened last week.
I’d wandered into Zara without any real intention of shopping when I spotted a waxed cape I’d admired all last winter. I’d picked it up several times over the colder months but never quite managed to justify buying it. It was £59.99.
This time, it was sitting on the sale rail. The price? £11.99. Needless to say, it came home with me.
It wasn’t my only bargain either. A few days earlier I’d picked up a pair of quality men’s leather boots in the John Lewis sale. They had originally been priced at well over £100 , but I paid less than £40 .
This isn’t anything new either, shopping out of season isn’t a new concept for frugal people. It is however good to remember that now is a good time to get that winter coat: Because with the energy prices due to rise – we will thank ourselves later on.
So here is the reminder: The best time to buy winter clothes isn’t when the weather turns cold.
It’s when everyone else is buying sandals.
We all shop at exactly the wrong time
Most of us don’t think about buying a coat until we’re cold. We don’t replace our boots until they leak. We don’t look for knitwear until the first chilly morning reminds us we haven’t got enough.
It’s perfectly understandable. The trouble is, millions of other shoppers are doing exactly the same thing. Retailers know this too.
Once demand returns in autumn, discounts become harder to find. New season collections arrive, full prices return and the best sizes disappear quickly.
By buying before you actually need something, you completely change the balance of power. Instead of shopping because you have to, you’re shopping because the price is too good to ignore.
The savings can be remarkable
The Zara cape wasn’t an old design that had seen better days. It was simply last season’s stock making way for the next collection.
Exactly the same was true of the John Lewis boots. There was nothing wrong with them. They weren’t seconds. They weren’t damaged. The store simply needed the shelf space.
Come October, boots of that quality are much more likely to be selling close to their original price because people suddenly need them.
That’s why shopping ahead often lets you buy better quality for less money.
I’d much rather own a pair of boots that originally retailed for more than £100 but cost me under £40 than spend the same amount on a cheaper pair that might not survive the winter.
The retailers worth checking now
If you’re tempted to start thinking a season ahead, these are some of the places I’d be looking over the next few weeks.
Zara
The sale rails can be a goldmine for coats, jackets, boots and statement pieces that were full price only a few months ago. My £11.99 waxed cape is proof that it’s worth taking a look.
John Lewis
Don’t assume premium means expensive. Seasonal sales can dramatically reduce the price of quality leather boots, winter coats and accessories, making investment pieces much more affordable.
Mango
Ideal for stylish coats, knitwear and leather boots, particularly once summer sales are in full swing.
Marks & Spencer
If you’re looking for classic winter staples that won’t date, it’s well worth browsing the clearance section.
Mountain Warehouse
One of the best places to find bargains on waterproof jackets, walking boots, fleeces and insulated coats while demand is low.
Sports Direct
Branded puffer jackets, walking boots and winter footwear are often heavily reduced before autumn arrives.
Next Clearance
Particularly useful for families looking to spread the cost of children’s winter wardrobes.
Schuh
Worth keeping an eye on if you’re after premium footwear, with seasonal reductions often making quality brands far more affordable.
TK Maxx
Stock changes constantly, but that’s exactly why it’s worth popping in regularly. You never know what winter bargains might appear.
Vinted
Summer can be one of the best times to buy nearly new winter clothing, as many people clear out wardrobes to make room for lighter clothes.
The biggest saving isn’t always the discount
What I’ve realised is that the biggest benefit isn’t necessarily saving 50% or 60%. It’s avoiding what I call the panic purchase.
Every year, the same thing happens. The first cold snap arrives. You discover your coat zip has broken. The children have outgrown last year’s coats.
Your boots suddenly let in water. Now you need replacements immediately. You haven’t got time to compare prices or wait for another sale. You buy whatever fits and whatever’s available.
Planning ahead removes that pressure completely.
Your budget starts to catch up
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is that my spending now feels much more manageable.
Instead of buying school uniforms, winter coats, Christmas presents and everything else within a few hectic months, I spread those costs across the year.
If I see something I’ll genuinely need in a few months’ time and it’s an exceptional price, I buy it. Little by little, my budget has caught up.
Rather than constantly replacing things at the last minute, I’m quietly ticking them off the list long before I actually need them.
It feels organised at first. Before long, it simply becomes a habit.
Think one season ahead
This approach works for almost everything.
Right now I’m keeping an eye out for:
- Winter coats
- Leather and walking boots
- Waterproof jackets
- Children’s winter clothing
- Hats, scarves and gloves
- Thermal base layers
- Electric blankets
- Hot water bottles
And the same trick works the other way too. When summer comes to an end, I’ll be looking for bargains on barbecues, garden furniture and outdoor entertaining.
Thinking just one season ahead has probably saved me hundreds of pounds over the years. It isn’t about filling your wardrobe with things you don’t need.
It’s about buying things you were always going to buy anyway, just at the moment when retailers are most keen to sell them.
That £11.99 Zara cape reminded me of something I’ll never forget. Sometimes the easiest way to save money isn’t cutting back. It’s simply changing when you shop.
