1. Thrift baby thrift. You never know what you will find at the thrift store, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s hit or miss. I won’t lie, most of the stuff at the local Goodwill you can do without, but occasionally you’ll find the deal of the century. Your best bet is to go to a thrift store in an fancy neighborhood. They’re the most likely to have $2 Banana Republic sweaters and discount designer duds — as long as you don’t mind last season’s styles. I recently found a mint condition Anne Taylor silk skirt ($5) and a Betsey Johnson skirt ($6.99) — total scores. But if sifting through unsorted racks sounds like a drag, a consignment stores is also a good bet.

2. Swap with your Girlfriends. Share duds you are tired of with other lady friends. Give them first dibs on your giveaways before you drop them off at the thrift store and ask the same in return. It may be old to them, but it is new to you.

3. Buy basics then dress them up. Basics — the black dress, black pants, white collared blouse, slim black skirts, and a great pair of sexy jeans. They never go out of style. Basics are the practical clothes that look good on you but won’t wow the fashionistas. They may not seem very exciting, but they are the backbone of a working wardrobe. It’s wise to spend your money on high-quality, wonderfully-fitting basics and then just dress them up with cheap-o mix and match fun stuff like jewelry, jackets, shoes and accessories. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on the basics either. A friend of mine buys her little black dresses for $19.99.

4. Give the discount stores a whirl before you hit the mall. I confess. My favorite jeans came from Wal-mart — a pair of retro Jordache stretch jeans I bought for $15.99. I wear then three times a week while my $50 Dillard’s jeans lay forlorn in my dresser drawer. Kmart, Walmart, Target — whatever your local discount store is — if you dig, you can often find a wardrobe basic that makes you look good. They are pay dirt for things like black tank tops and T-shirts. But don’t be tempted by price alone. If you try something on and don’t look awesome, put it back on the rack and walk away. You’ll never wear it. Pay more for the right fit somewhere else. Shops like Ross Dress for Less and Value City — the kind that buy name brand leftovers from other retail chains — are another great stop before the mall.

5. Bust out the needle and thread. How many times have you NOT worn that shirt because it’s missing a button, bought the perfect pair of pants that you swore you would hem or passed by the perfect party dress because the zipper is on the lam? Dedicate an afternoon to fixing these little imperfections. Sewing on a button is easy and every independent lady should own a needle and thread. If it’s a big problem like a broken zipper or a new hemline, local dry cleaners can fix them for a lot less than buying something new.

6. If you aren’t in love, don’t buy it. This may seem obvious, but I know lots of ladies — including myself — have bought clothes they had lukewarm feelings about. Who can say why? Decide to only buy clothes you are truly in love with, the ones that make you say "Wow!" the minute you look in the dressing room mirror. If you have to think about it, put it back.

7. Buy off season. If there’s a sweater, a coat or a swimsuit that you have been dreaming of but can’t afford, wait until the end of the season to buy it. Retailers put out summer clothes in March, winter clothes in July and the minute the new season is on the rack, everything else is on sale. If you can’t wait that long, at least wait until there is a holiday or special event sale. The only risk? They may not have your size. It’s also advantageous to cruise your favorite stores for the secret sales. For instance, The Gap gets new merchandise every 6 to 8 weeks and every time they do, the old stand-bys go on sale.

8. Explore your closet. I’m always amazed at the clothes I discover in my closet that I totally forgot I had. Take the time to reacquaint yourself with the clothes already lurking in the back of your closet, storage space and dresser drawers. While you are digging around, assess which items and colors you’ll need to add a little bit of spice to what you already own. And, don’t forget to spend an afternoon trying on everything in your closet — and get rid of everything that doesn’t fit or doesn’t suit you anymore.

9. Pay attention to the label. Don’t you dare throw that wool sweater in the dryer on high heat. It’ll be the size of potholder in 20 minutes flat. Simply following the washing instructions will save you money by making your clothes last longer. Wouldn’t you rather spend the money on something fun and new instead of replacing something you didn’t take care of? The only exception to this rule is ‘Dry Clean Only’. Many items can be safely hand-washed in cold water and dried flat or tossed in a home dry-cleaning dryer bag. Do your homework to find out if that’s the case with your fabric.

10. Pay cash. Leave the plastic at home and carry only cash on your mall expedition. You won’t spend more than you intended, you’ll save the interest you would have paid on clothes had you put it on your credit card, and you will choose what you buy more carefully because you only have a set amount to get you through the day. It’s ultra simple, but it works.

11. Buy the best. This may seem counterintuitive if you want to save money, but sometimes it pays to pay. If it’s well made and it’ll last, it’s often worth the money. Like shoes…A $50 real leather pair will probably last longer than the $24.99 plastic knock offs. Apply this rule only to basics that won’t go out of style. You don’t want to be stuck with something that is 5 years out of style. The real secret, though, is to buy the best for less — so stake out the sales.

12. Focus on Quality not Quantity. With clothes, more isn’t necessarily better. It’s better to have a few things that you really love than a lot of things you kind of like.