1. Go through your closet and see if there are any treasures hiding in there. Carve out a few hours and go through all of your clothes. Try removing all the clothes from your closet and trying on every single piece. If something no longer fits or if it no longer fits your style, throw it to the side. If you don't want to simply give away these clothes, have a garage sale or take them to a consignment store to fund your new clothes budget.

2. Get on the list. If you tend to buy specific name brands, make sure you are on the store's mailing list for both snail mail and email mailings. You will be notified in advance of special sales throughout the year, and you may get coupon codes for free shipping through their online site or even a percentage off the entire online purchase. Once you have been a patron for some time, you'll get an idea of what time of the month or year these sales and special discounts are typically offered, and you can plan your spending accordingly.

3. Don't dismiss discount stores. If you haven't gone into a Ross or TJ Maxx for awhile, you may be surprised at the brand names these stores are carrying at significant discounts. You can also find some amazing deals at thrift stores. I have found plenty of pieces in the past with the original tags still on.

4. Know your buying style. Some people enjoy having new outfits more often (and these people can get away with buying products that are of lesser quality). If, on the other hand, you appreciate quality, long-lasting items that you'll have for years, shop for a clothes that are more expensive but of a higher quality. Even though they will cost more, you can buy them only when they are on sale, and they will last longer than their trendier counterparts. For example, I spend more on my neutral basics (black pants, white button down blouse, etcetera) and less on the trendy tops and accessories.

5. Shop out of season. You'll find huge discounts for summer clothing at the beginning of fall and discounts on winter clothing at the onset of spring.

6. Check out eBay, particularly if you have a particular brand that you love. I know moms who buy clothes for their kids by the boxful from eBay and they save bundles in the process.

7. Avoid buying anything that you don't absolutely adore. If something doesn't fit exactly right, keep it on the shelf. Even if you find an item at 80% off or more, it is no bargain if you never wear it.