I assumed everybody knew about this until I realized that my own mother never used this tip. So I feel a sense of empowerment that I’m contributing my own piece of advice to the mom’s tips treasure trove.

This actually is a great tip for spouses that plan on purchasing clothes this Christmas for their better half. I also use this when shopping for my children, because clothes shopping with three kids under the age of 5 CAN be a very exhausting endeavor.

This simple little trick can help you tremendously. It’s called a tape measure. Really in some cases a tape measure that costs less than a dollar can save you time. Here’s How.

Tape measures have given me back the minutes I lost returning clothes that don’t fit

So earlier today my mom said she doesn’t like trying on clothes at the Ross Store in Maui because their fitting rooms are dirty and messy (yeah, she said it, hopefully you guys get the message!) I can’t account for that store, but during the holiday shopping rush, some fitting rooms are not being kept orderly because sales personnel are so busy. Also, sometimes you are so busy that you don’t have time to try on the item. Yikes! You buy it, take it home and then you realize it doesn’t fit.

To solve that dilemma, bring your tape measure with you. Your fabric tape measure or even a small retractable tape measure easily fits into your purse or pocket. Use it to measure the item that you are thinking of purchasing. Here’s how you do it:

• Measure an item or items of you or your spouse’s/family member’s favorite clothing in the closet that fits well
• Record these measurements on your smartphone or write them down in your notebook
• When you get to the store, bring out your tape measure and see if the clothes you want to buy measure up to those outfit’s measurements.

So how do you measure yourself? What are you measuring exactly?

Now you could go to a professional tailor and ask them to take your measurements or you can do it yourself. You will be measuring the following:

• Chest
• Waist
• Hips
• Inseam – length of the inside of your leg
• The circumference of your thigh
• The circumference of your upper arm

For tips on getting your best measurement see the article, “How to Get Your Body Measurements”

Remember, if your purchasing for someone else and have access to their closet, you can easily measure their favorite outfit and compare it to what you want to buy at the store. Remember, not all size 4′s are the same.

Measuring for kids
This comes in handy when you are shopping for kids. Sometimes I shop on my lunch hour and so I can easily find something that will fit when the kids are not with me. That’s what makes using a tape measure so easy. Also, if I have the measurements handy, I can easily tell friends and relatives the measurements for my children’s clothes and shoes. It’s easier than giving a generic size only to have the item not fit and having to return it.

Apps for measuring

You can also try using your iPhone for a good measuring app. You can try these apps at your own risk, but it’s another method to get a measuring tool with you for your iPhone and iPad.

iPhone Apps that you can download that are good to use as a tape measure:

Point & Measure – TapTapSoft

Multi Ruler – SkyPaw Co. Ltd

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