Looking forward to retiring this summer. We've got a studio apartment in our home that I will rent out on AirBnB and I've got a small trust ($650/month) from my dad passing last year. My wife will continue working for three years until her pension kicks in. I think we're gonna be OK. We've got IRAs and 401ks.
However, my closet is filled with my business casual clothes.
What happens to those button down shirts and slacks? Do you give them away to Goodwill? Hold onto them to hedge your bets?
donate them to goodwill
Local VA hospital will often be happy to have them - most have some Veterans in long-term care returning to the workforce. Call your VAMC (Va.gov) and ask the operator where you can drop off business clothing donations.
I volunteer at a VA hospital and we have a clothing room that’s supplied by generous people from the community. Please consider this & not the goodwill.
while i think donating to the va is an excellent place to ensure our veterans are taken care of i think the goodwill is another excellent source to ensure non-veterans are taken care of.
maybe giving to both organizations is a nice thing to do? although, i would not go as far as to tell anyone not to donate to the goodwill.
Do you have any idea about the ins and outs of goodwill? They get free donations and often price them higher than the retail cost new? The CEO and people in upper management are making $$$$$. They market themselves as a help to the community (hiring those that have “barriers to employment “) but pay those people the most minimum they can. I stand by my suggestion to donate to the VA
The salvation army does not price higher than new. I actually get some awesome clothing there at ridiculously low prices. Levi's Jeans for example 5 bucks, perfect shape.
Keep a couple of the nicer shirts and pants for date nights or whatever. I still have a few pairs of pants and shirts. Or buy yourself some really nice going out clothes.
good idea
For what??? What’s date night?
And on a morbid note, keep something appropriate for funerals.
Maybe something to be buried in?
The first thing I did after retiring was go through my closet. All suits, heels, etc. went. I only kept a couple short and long sleeve dressy tops. As a guy, you may still want a couple polos, there are times a collar makes you look a bit nicer than a tee, but otherwise, live in what is comfortable.
We are much pickier about clothes purchases and only buy fabrics that feel good. When they get too ragged for public, we use for exercise or yard work.
I think the Salvation Army is a much better charity. Or even churches that have rumen sales.
No offense if you are a member, but my research on the SA ensured that I wouldn’t ever donate to them again.
I'm doing the opposite. In my former life, I had to wear protective gear all day. My work attire was basically anything comfortable to wear underneath the coveralls, so t-shirts and shorts.
Knowing I was retiring soon, I didn't bother with anything new for the last couple years. Now I look like a beach bum everywhere I go and it's kinda bothering me. What are your sizes? Maybe we can do a swap. ;)
I had so many winter outdoor clothes that I wore for work that I knew I'd never wear again after retiring to a warmer climate. Kept a few I couldn't bear to part with, and brought the rest in to work for the rest of the ladies to pick over. I hated being cold, even though I liked working outside, and I know a lot of them liked the same windproof gear I bought over the years.
Great idea! I’m a medium with 32 waist 30 inseam. LOL.
Oh, I know how you feel..I was in the Navy for 25 years. Didn't have much to wear when I retired. Had to buy clothes lol
Check around your area. Some areas have organizations that take dressy clothing for people in need.... homeless men for job interviews, guys for prom, ect.
Dress For Success organization helps people get professional interview or new job clothes that otherwise can't afford to shop.
That's where I donated all my business clothes when I retired.
From their website: We are unable to accept menswear. However, Career Gear and other similar organizations do serve men and could be an option for your drive.
It was cathartic to load all my office clothes into the car and take them to Goodwill. I kept only enough to cover weddings and funerals.
My problem was that the clothes I saved for said occasions no longer fit…..too tight, LOL
Yup. I’m 5-8 lbs in the wrong places heavier. Only 18 months.
I'm having the opposite problem. I retired because I had a near heart attack last July (went to the ER, they pumped me full of anti-heart attack meds and got released 5 days later with no heart damage and a stent) which got me 5 new prescriptions, 3 months of outpatient cardiac rehab and a weight management program.
Since September I'm down 76 lbs, and nothing fits any longer. My belt went from tight on the last notch to loose on the first one. Almost every time I put my sweats on, I have to tighten the drawstring. I'm holding off on new clothes until July so that I'll have new clothes for the cruise we're taking in August.
I'm figuring what little I have that isn't worn out will go to St Vincent Dr Paul's thrift store - I worked from home, which meant I just kept wearing worn out clothes since I rarely left the house.
Yikes. I hope the weight loss is to help you get better and not a bad result.
Yes, it's going well - my doctor is telling me that once I lose another 35-40 lbs I'll be able to get the knee replacements I desperately need. It's already improved my mobility - I'm up to about 1/4 mile of walking before the knee pain and back spasms force a break.
Knee surgeries are tough but worth it!
My rt knee seemed to heal from a meniscus tear. 🤷♂️. Even though he said there is no healing for that. Well anyway, that’s making me hold off on surgery for my left knee.
Good luck.
Good for you! Get an ice machine for the knee replacement.
Good luck. Do the PT and rehab after the surgery. Some people don’t commit to it - seems like you’re heading in the right direction.
This is the way! Someone lucked into a butt load of B/ Brothers button downs, and three piece suits, but I was never so glad to get out of the executive life. Enjoying the garden, woodworking and grandchildren
it was cathartic.... felt soo good.
Bonfire 🔥
Keep 2 or 3 "good" outfits. Donate the rest of them while they are still in style.
When I stopped going to the office, I almost immediately got started moving out my business casual attire. There is just enough nice clothing in the closet to do me for special occasions. I still occasionally upgrade my casual clothes.
Retired people are not allowed to own anything called “slacks”. Burn them.
You are right, I don’t even own a long pair of pants. My short sleeve shirts have to have collars because golf courses around here demand that.
Wow. I’ve never recovered from being raised by parents who insisted that once a boy turned 12 they were never to wear short pants unless swimming or playing basketball. They eventually came around on tennis, but never golf. I can’t bear to bare my knees in public if not on the beach or court.
Wow. I’ve never recovered from being raised by parents who insisted that once a boy turned 12 they were never to wear short pants unless swimming or playing basketball. They eventually came around on tennis, but never golf. I can’t bear to bare my knees in public if not on the beach or court.
I’m guessing that you don’t live in a warm climate, but still, LOL!
Don’t call what you’re wearing an outfit
Great song
No Goodwill, please! Look for Dress For Success in your area. They train and give working clothes for job interviews for unemployed people
Completely agree. Goodwill is a shady organization and there are so many more worthy organizations including Dress for Success.
Why do people dislike Goodwill? Honestly asking. Where I live they use the funds from their thrift stores to run programs to help people get jobs. Is there something I don't know?
With the way the business is structured, the amount of money spent on executive compensation is quite high.
You should keep a small subset of business casual clothes for other needs - social events, etc. Donate the rest. If any of your business clothes contain higher end business wear - like good dress shoes, you maybe able to sell those on Ebay.
In my city there are charities that have clothing on hand for people to have for job interviews, new job, etc. There are also school "closets" where they have suits & gowns for kids who can't afford a suit for going to prom. If interested you could check with the district to see if they have something like that in your area. IMO better than going to goodwill.
My wife works at a hospital where they have a “closet” for people who need a change of clothing at the Emergency room. You could drop some at a place like that.
I plan to retire in a year and am already thinning out my work wardrobe.
Same here, and so am I! I took off a pair of shoes when I got home from work today and swore I was gonna burn 'em when I retire!
Look for a men's shelter in your area.
My husband passed away and I gave his wardrobe to a men's shelter.
Maybe keep a pair of dress pants and a shirt and a couple of ties in case you get invited to a wedding or something.
Wear them to Dennys for 5pm dinner. Get some white sneakers to complete the look. Continue to wear them until you can no longer dress yourself, regardless of the current “style”.
Lol
Best response
When I retired a few months back I donated all my “work clothes” and shoes. I kept a few items in the event I have to look more formal. It was a great feeling!
I’d find a small local thrift store to donate to, after picking out 2-3 good outfits for special occasions.
About 5 years ago, I changed employers from someplace where I did physical work and wore jeans and t-shirts, to a dressy office where I had to wear slacks, dresses and dress shoes. I had to buy a lot of stuff new, but also thrift shops saved me a lot of money! Now that I work from home, one of my first retirement projects will be to clean out my closet and donate.
Donate anything you don't want, there's places that need business attire for women's shelters, etc. There's also companies that'll pick up at your house.
Female here, but had a similar "work only" wardrobe of pants and tops. I kept one pair for funerals and asking banks for loans and dumped the rest to my favorite thrift store. Clearing that stuff out of my closet was a happy day.
When I left the military I made a promise to myself to never wear a uniform again. I only wear a suit (sans tie) to weddings and funerals (of later, it has been funerals - the least wedding was 20+ years ago).
So I do not have any "office" attire - a polo and jeans is about as close as I get. I have been retired for 4 years, and while I could go back to work, I neither need to nor want to.
Yes Dress for Success is a great place to donate !
Donate those business clothes to a local college’s placement center. I donated mine to the University of Illinois and the graduating students had business attire to practice job interviews. The college thought it was great! Just a thought.
Or look for a charity that helps outfit people with donated business clothing.
A local high school had a regular distribution of "work clothes" for teens who didn't have money to buy such clothes. They also accepted other clothes. Condition mattered, not size, since teens come in ALL sizes (petite to yowza).
We gave even lower-quality suits to them (not Hugo Boss ones). Good for a kid on an office internship.
There is a world of people on the edge trying to find employment. Find a charity in your area that works with them and donate everything.
I’ll be getting rid of all my work clothing. It is all fire retardant coveralls. I don’t know if I’ll return to work but it won’t be in an oil refinery
In my town we have a "career wardrobe" where people can donate clothing to people trying to find jobs. That seems like a great cause.
Good luck.
No dress code in the afterlife so you won't need them. Let someone else enjoy them
Many community colleges have an “interview closet” to help their students start their careers. You might find it more satisfying to help a young person kick off their work life than just sending it all to a general charity shop.
We joined our local Buy Nothing group on Facebook and had someone in the neighborhood gratefully take them.
When I retired one of the first things I did was donate all my business casual wear to a local charity. No more khakis, polo shirts or dark socks. Ditched most of my ties as well. Now it's strictly jeans, shorts, cotton shirts and sandals. Life is good!
Donate, but not to Goodwill. Research Goodwill and you might be surprised.
Goodwill. I've been retired 7 years and I am still taking huge bags to Goodwill. Someone will think they found a treasure.
Keep a pair or two (tan, black) for special occasions, etc.
They are freed from their burden to clothe you so they go on and start their own families and businesses.
There is an organization near me that takes “professional” clothing and provides it to people who need them for interviews and working in a professional setting. Earlier this week I took what I figured was about $10,000 worth of suits and barely worn dress shirts. It felt good.
I kept a suit to be buried in. I have a few sports coats and some trousers to wear to weddings and the occasional dinner out.
I'm retired two years and still keep a few button down shirts and a couple pair of slacks. But jeans (or shorts depending on weather), polo shirts and t-shirts are my staple.
Keep enough for weddings and funerals. Donate the rest!
The way you ended with "hedge your bets" makes me think that you feel you might need them for a possible return to work life. If you did have to go back to work, would you want to work in the same position (or another where your business casual clothing would be needed)? Do you realistically think that you would be able to land such a position after a longish break from work (not trying to be snarky - just would your skills still be in demand and sharp enough)? If you answered yes to both, keep your favorites - you don't need a full closet of just-in-case clothes. Regardless of if you think a return to work is possible and the dress requirements of the career you might want to try, I think everyone should have some items of dressy clothing for occasions that require them or for when you just want to dress up nice.
Give me to some guy who looks like you felt before retiring.
Save a few of your favorites for weddings and funerals. Donate the rest. I donated 75% of my work and “going out” wardrobe when we moved to our retirement home. I still haven’t worn the other 25%. I had to buy a lot of casual clothes.
Give them away!
I kept two sets business casual and one suit, the rest I donated. But like someone else mentioned they may tend to get a bit tight after a while.
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With less stress and more physical activity I lost 30 lbs. Donated my dad bod clothes and picked up trim and athletic replacements.
Oh ya, I'll work on that.
Most of mine went to Goodwill. Kept a couple of the newer suits, but I've been retired 10 years and I'm thinking they too need to go.
I have probably 50+ pairs of dress slacks. And at least 100 shirts. I wear Jeans all the time now. But I do wear the shirts now and again over the jeans...
Most guys of retirement age hang on to clothes too long anyway. Goodwill stores full of pleated dress slacks and tassel loafers that stopped being in fashion 20 years ago. Toss anything you’ve had since the Clinton administration
tassel loafers are out of fashion?
You will save all of them in your closet for 3-5 years and watch them gather dust until you have finally gained enough comfort in your new life to shed the illusion that ‘maybe I’ll just go back for a part time gig’.
I shed that illusion about 3 days after my last day. I took the advice of somebody on here to take a trip shortly after retiring to break work habits. My last day was January 31, by 5:00 the evening of February 1 I was 350 miles from home soaking in a hot tub while looking at the Smoky Mountains. By the time we got home I was cured of the work sickness. It's a rough life, but somebody has to do it! ;-)
Our local community college has a "closet" where students can shop for business professional clothing. They will have a professional look when they go out on job interviews and when they are at work (for office type jobs). I'm keeping one favorite suit then I'm going to donate the rest!
My old work gear is now for gardening in. Anything else is for charity
Call or email your nearest college or university. Ask for their career services. They may have a career closet that offers gently used professional attire to students in need. They'll take both men's and ladies' clothing.
Goodwill not so good; Dress For Success is better.
Or sell on eBay or FN Marketplace or Nextdoor.
Kept 1. Donated the rest to a local charity
There will be a rescue organization somewhere near you that helps individuals who are recovering from addiction or just released from prison who are desperate for casual dress clothes. Much more worthy use than a thrift store that is going to resell them, at least in my opinion. There is likely a women's shelter nearby that similarly has a clothes closet. (Lots of those clothes are unisex). Shoes, especially, are often in short supply.
On the lighter side - once my dad retired some 30 years ago, he swore he only needed 3 neckties after that - one for funerals, one for church and one for Christmas. He swore the best use for the others was to tie up his tomato plants.
In my own case, the ties got recycled to people who make quilts. They make spectacular quilt tops in the right hands!
Congratulations on your retirement!
Sell them on Posh?
or ebay?
You might want to hold on to a couple pairs of slacks and a few button down shirts. You’ll need them for things like going to dinner, an occasion where business casual is appropriate and odd occasions. They sort of become your good clothes.
When I retired from the medical field I had a closet full of scrubs. The favorites are now my yard and painting clothes. The rest were donated to a woman’s shelter. I kept my Hello Kitty tops. Just cause.
I work part time as a golf starter. Little does anyone know, I have the most expensive slacks on the course
Donate to the Goodwill. That way it's a clean break.
No goodwill pls.
Except for weddings I’m in sweatpants every day all day. My black jeans are my dress pants now.
There are a couple of churches in my area (Northern Virginia) that specialize in office:interview clothes.
Save one good suit and donate the rest. I took a big donation exemption the year I retired and it felt great.
Put them in a box out of the way. You’ve just barely retired and haven’t tried the retired life on for size. With your wife working another three years you may decide to work or do something you need nice clothes for. For example I knew someone who got a volunteer job ushering at city events. You had to look nice. Also once you get rid of them they’re gone. It doesn’t hurt to keep them. Have you priced clothes lately?
I donated my business clothes to the local community college. They have a 'closet' full of clothes they donate to students who go on interviews
a story that will turn them into kick around rough looking pants. My American friend told her south african husband to bring slacks on a work trip for a nice dinner. Well slacks are apparently not nice pants to an Afrikaner so it didn’t go well
Check with local nursing homes or senior centers. Some men still like to dress in button downs and slacks.
Find a local refugee mission. People show up from all over the world with nothing but the clothes on their backs and their lives. Educated people who need work attire. The Goodwill is nothing but big business now.
See if you can find an organization that provides work clothing for out of work people. They would love to get these.
Men’s shelters
My wife made a quilt cover out of squares cut from my work shirts
(Actually not for retirement but when office-going stopped for Covid)
Please donate your business wardrobe for individuals that can’t afford such nice attire for interviews, etc.
I donated most of my office clothes to our community thrift shop. I prefer that over Goodwill as Goodwill is no better than Walmart when it comes to business ethics.
I did keep a couple outfits just in case they're needed for events like funerals.
There are local men's shelters where I live that really need presentable business clothes so their folks have something nice to interview in.
I can’t bring myself to wear my work clothes anymore. I’ve given a lot to a thrift store and have more to go. There’s too much trauma associated with my work life.
Keep a few pairs and post the rest to your local Buy Nothing group! I’ve gotten rid of so many things that way, and you’re helping out your neighbors.
female here. I did a massive culling of work clothing immediately at retirement (looking at them made me think of work). I kept a few "work outfits" for imaginary scenarios that never happened... I attend a professional conferences or get invited to something work like. then I tossed those work outfits.
In their place, I purchased a few new professional outfits for events that arent formal, volunteer events, concerts, visiting friends, etc.
I wear them out & about, walking the dogs, gardening, etc. I don't "match" my suits I wear them as separates.
All my work clothes are very comfortable. If you hate yours, get rid of them.
I lounge around in my evening dresses on occasion too haha! Even though I'm not going out to a formal event. I paid good money, I'm wearing them until they wear out. Many new clothing is all shoddy polyester blend crap anyway.
I no longer iron or dry clean, just, get a front loading washer that has a "hand wash" setting for delicate stuff. Know that some textures will likely change on wool and silk. But many things can be cleaned this way, I don't care if gardening clothes are wrinkled. If you dry a bit longer using lower heat settings, and remove & hang promptly when dry, that will minimize wrinkling.
Men’s shelter or a place that donates clothes for men’s interviews .
Poshmark
I occasionally put the khakis on for a doctor's appointment. Otherwise they are in the back of the closet
There are nonprofits where you can help outfit young people and excons entering the workforce
Regarding the folks trashing Goodwill. Goodwill got my brother off of the streets, into rehab and gave him a job when no one else would. Charity Navigator give them good ratings, can someone post an objective source for all of this negativity?
I worked from home since 2018, retired December 2023. I’ve got one pair of slacks and a few polos
Sober living home. Many of those men are trying to get jobs and need your old attire.
Not spending on office clothes, makeup, and hair coloring every six weeks has saved me a small fortune! Not to mention more hours of sleep. I gave a lot of my clothes to Dress for Success. Sort of a pay it forward, I guess.
I had the same problem.
I weeded out the old ones and ones I didn't need and kept a few for cruises and church and various other things. The rest went to Paralyzed Veterans.
It’s the only thing I wear… why change? I just keep wearing them.
I drove over mine with rhe truck a few times.
I have a neighbor that retired from a career in outside sales a few years ago. He always dressed really nice and hasn't changed. Best dressed guy on the street running a weed eater and lawn mower!!! He's just comfortable dressing nice and ready for an outing at any time.
I am in the same boat-lots of business casual clothes and no where to go where I can wear them. I guess I should go through them and donate them but I just can’t seem to get around to it.
Goodwill…a great way to give someone steering out a budget way to spruce up.
Dress for Success provides office work clothes for folks (re)entering the workforce. Much better than Goodwill.
Keep a few of your favorites and give the rest to charity.
Hold on to a couple of suits for weddings and funerals. Donate the rest.
Ten years later and they’re still hanging in my closet along with about 30 nicely laundered and folded shirts. On occasion I break out a shirt.
Poshmark! Even if you only get a little for them, so easy to do, take the money and convert it into flip flops and shorts.
Is there a Plato’s closet near you? They may give you cash depending on if they’re currently in style and a customer may want to buy them at a discounted price. They won’t want any cuffed or front pleated pants. Nice Dockers absolutely. They may want your shoes too.
Here’s a few organizations. I’m partial to our vets. https://askthegentleman.com/where-to-donate-suits-for-men/
Depending on where you live, there are charities that specialize in business attire to help people get back in the workforce.
After a full year retired (from my global corporate clownhood)…I’m still moving swanky slacks from one storage closet to another. Now I have them bagged & tagged in a guest closet. BUT: full transparency….i haven’t put one pair of slacks on, not even once.
I bought some of those new young people comfy pants (plug for Public Rec) and I’ve worn those to dinners/etc instead of my fancy slacks…even with a jacket.
Next question: what to do with a closet full of expensive corporate suites I’ll never wear again
I’m four years into retirement and most of my pants now have elastic waistbands. Donate your clothes
First off you have to totally change your mind set and not look for things too manage. Your slacks? Really? If not your just changing your employer and you don't pay well.
Bonfire. 🔥
I actually improved my wardrobe, but that's because after I retired I became an assistant Pastor. But yes, giving your unneeded clothes to a local clothes closet is a great way to recycle. I don't give stuff to Goodwill, because they take it free and charge for it. I'm friends with a guy who runs a homeless outreach, and also a woman who runs a non-profit for low income single mothers, and they get any extra clothes we may have.
I honestly thought you meant like your chat messages. Like what is the retention policy of your slack message after you retire
I've clearly been doing this too long
I kept a few things, not many, then found a charity that helps women with professional clothing for job interviews.
I was looking at my closet recently and thought: “I’ll never wear these ever again”. It made me smile.
If your tax situation is such that you will be itemizing deductions, donate them and get a receipt.
There are organizations which help job applicants look professional, I would look them up.
There might be a local foster care agency in your area that could use your work clothes. My city has a store for kids who have aged out of foster care so they can “shop” for office-appropriate outfits. Enjoy shorts and sweats!
Slather the legs of your slacks with gravy and play tug of war with the largest dog in your neighborhood
Maybe keep them for a year then give them away to charity. I went back to work after 8 months and had to buy new clothes😞
I wore embroidered shirts at both of my jobs when I retired. Donating was not an option, so I offered them to fellow employees (we had to buy our own). The rest were used in the classroom (we were an EMS program so they used them to dress the training manikins).
I came by one day and saw one of the students wearing a shirt with my name on it. Turned out he had ridden his motorcycle to class in the rain and got soaked, so his instructor loaned him one to wear that day.
Leave them in the closet for 3 months. If they haven’t multiplied in that time, they aren’t going to. Donate em and get some new duds!
keep a few business clothes for certain occasions, and donate or even sell the rest. My father always wore a suit to church, which he continued to attend regularly until his death, and out for supper. He took his lady friend out once a week, and had supper at her home once a week.
He joined Toastmasters as well, and while he didn't wear a suit to most meetings, he did to contests.
In short, there may be many occasions you will want some of these clothes. You won't only live in t-shirts and shorts.
I kept a few pairs of dress pants and blouses to wear on days I volunteer at a school or if I go to someplace that I might to be a little bit dressed up (a play, or a funeral, etc)
I live in Florida so it’s shorts and t shirts or tank tops almost every day and in the winter it’s yoga pants and hoodies.
Most of the dressy stuff got donated to one of those organizations where women can get clothes for job interviews (can’t remember the name right now)
If there’s one budget line item that actually gets reduced in retirement it’s clothing.
I still have closets filled with stuff I haven’t worn in several years and that’s after I thought I did a major purge.
I guess it’s time for another purge and charity donation.
In my area there's an outfit that collects business clothes for people who need them for interviews and work. Donated all my suits there.
Donate what you don't wear in a year....that is what I do with all my clothes. If I cannot remember wearing it in the past year, it is donated.
Always a need to look a step up from retired casual. Just not as often. Save a few pieces and donate the rest.
I'd keep a pair of your best and donate the rest.
Keep two good suits for funerals and dinner parties. Sell the rest or donate.
Man, I can't wait until these are the types of dilemas I debate in my mind. OP, I say you wear your slacks on your head and run around like a crazy man, you know why? Because you're retired and you can!
Goodwill for sure. I wear shorts and flip flops everyday now
Fun post OP!
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