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In these tough economic times, updating your wardrobe can be a daunting challenge. What are you supposed to do when your clothes seem tired and outdated, but you can’t afford to replace what’s in your closet? Check out our tips for five inexpensive ways to spice up your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

1. Try Tailoring

Before you have anything tailored, you need to go through your closet and see how everything fits. If something is too worn out to be salvaged, or if it is unlikely to ever fit properly, toss it out. If it fits but could use a change, consider having it tailored. In this way, you can shorten long skirts and make department store dresses fit like designer clothes. If you have pieces in an outdated cut, you can remedy the situation with tailoring. You’d be surprised what good tailoring can do to make a piece of clothing look fresh, and the cost is a fraction of what it would be to replace.

2. Accessorize

Before you throw out a decent t-shirt, or consign it to sleepwear, consider them as a blank slate on which to showcase bold accessories. Pick a colorful scarf or a statement necklace in a coordinating color, and use your basic tee to anchor the look. This works with anything from jeans to skirts, and you can even create some work-friendly outfits with plain t-shirts and the right accessories, especially when paired with a jacket or blazer. Trendy accessories can be had for a few dollars apiece at several national chain stores, and their low cost means you don’t have to feel too bad when they wear out.

3. Change Your Buttons

You know those cheap, plastic buttons that are found on many blouses? Well, you can change those out with just a little time and money. Sewing nicer buttons on a blouse can not only update it, but make it look more luxurious than it was when you bought it. A decent set of buttons can be purchased for under $10, and they are pretty easy to sew on. For a little more, you can have a tailor change out the buttons for you, and it will still be cheaper than buying a new shirt.

4. Organize Your Closet

This option is great because it doesn’t require you to spend any money at all. Start by taking everything out of your closet. When you put it back in, organize by color and type. Doing this will allow you to make outfits out of pieces you may not have considered wearing together before. You can then simply pick out a pair of pants or skirt and then find a top by the color that you want to wear. Don’t be afraid to try new clothing combinations, and you’ll feel like you have a new wardrobe.

5. Swap It Out

If you still feel like you need new wardrobe pieces, try swapping with friends or at a swapping event. This works well if you have items that are in good shape but that don’t work for you anymore. If you live in a larger city, look for swapping events in local papers or on Facebook. If you can’t find such an event, organize one for you and your friends. You could end up with some great “new-to-you” pieces for free.

Spicing up your wardrobe requires a little planning and work, but if you have a tight budget, these tips can let you update your outfits on the cheap.