Bluetoblue mentioned having bigger clothes altered, that is a good route to take IMO. Also, with minimal sewing skills, you can alter your own clothes as well. When I buy something I try to get things with straight simple seams that can be taken in easily. With just a quick pass of the sewing machine down the side seams of slacks and skirts you can get them fitting again without bagging. These quick alterations can be hidden, and can easily be seam ripped out if you later want to hand them down.

I bought new when I was wearing a pair of 12 pants the day I tried on 8s to find that they were too big. (I only tried on new because my boss told me it was time to get rid of the baggy pants, I didn't look professional. Hard to enforce a dress code when you are the one violating the 'clothes must fit' policy... And, as my boss is a man who doesn't notice that kind of thing I figured it must be bad... I was in denial myself...) I bought a bunch of size six pants, four weeks later they are a little baggy, too, but not nearly as obviously as the 12s were...

Shannon that rocks. Good for you. I'm dying to get into a size 8. I'm hovering hovering hovering between 12 and 10 now ... some things fit in one and some things fit in the other. But I have my eye on a size 8!!!

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Lucky for me, I have already been down to my goal weight before (and not so long ago that the clothing is completely out of style). So I have a closet full of clothes that I am dying to fit back into...

I am blessed that I don't have to dress up for work, I have an office job but it is very technical and our "dress code" is extremely relaxed. So I wear jeans all year round. Fortunately, I had a number of jeans from before so I was able to start downsizing using jeans that I already had. That took me conveniently to size 12 that I am wearing right now. I allow myself only a single pair of jeans because it is a transitional size so I don't want to park too much money in it.
I have a next pair of jeans at home already (normally I don't buy ahead of time) but those are from Costco ($12.99) - I liked them and the price was good so I thought why not. Normally I buy jeans at Winners, usually for $20-$25 per pair. I bought a few tops - those can be usually stretched a bit further than pants.

I really like shopping, but only when the clothes fit properly (which hasn't been very often for a while). I think I would like to use new clothing as my reward for losing the weight.
When I was at my heaviest a few years ago, I "punished" myself by not buying anything new, so I ended up not having clothes that fit and having to borrow my husband's clothes. Needless to say, that wrecked my self-esteem and contributed to send me into what I now recognize as depression.

I really had no idea that when you get smaller, it takes less weight to go down in sizes. Had you asked me, I would've thought it was the opposite.

Since I am not very handy with the sewing machine...I don't even know how to use one, I guess I am going to have to spend a lot of time at the sales racks. But for now, I just can't wait to fit into all the clothes I already own, and to be honest, to get rid of them as I grow out of them too. I really like that idea of downsizing the closet and getting a few high quality items instead.