Need help explaining to DH

[MummaLitt]

I usually just lurk this board but I kinda needed a place to get this out and get another perspective on the situation.

DH currently works as a store manager making a base salary that is WELL below poverty lines. Due to the low-volume of the store, there is little chance for any kind of commission or quarterly bonus. He also has to drive an hour one-way to get to work. This cost about $350 in gas during the month of March. We are currently surviving on our savings as his paychecks are barely enough to pay the rent, car payment, etc. With the savings we have now, if he were to stay at this job, we would be pretty much broke in a 3-4 months. I'm in the process of applying for Food Stamps, Medicaid and WIC. I'm sure we'll be approved and the FS will help a TON, but we're still "hemorrhaging" money (as he puts it). There's also the worrying fact that we're expecting #2 in 12 weeks and there are times when he's in the store alone and can't just LEAVE at a moments notice (which he'd have to do because of the HOUR drive home).

He has an interview for a job next wednesday. The pay will be MUCH better then his current job (altho it will be a flat salary instead of salary+commission & bonus). The office is only 8 minutes away from our place. And it's an office job. From every angle, this is a MUCH better opportunity. With the increase in salary (and reduced income tax due to working in a different state) and reduced gas consumption, we're looking at almost DOUBLING his monthly income.

The problem....we need to buy a suit for the interview. Even the lowest price suit (with shirt, tie, belt, socks and shoes) will be about $400. DH started stressing about the money last night before bed and woke up looking like he didn't get any rest and still stressing. He actually made a comment before he left that we can't afford the suit and he should just cancel the interview!

I think he was able to chew on it a bit in the car this morning but I know my DH and he's SAYING I'm right, but in the back of his head he's still stressing/worrying about it. He has this tendency to not listen to me when I say things but when anyone else says the EXACT same thing (word for word) he believes them and stops stressing.

[russsk]

$400 sounds like quite a lot. My husband wears a suit every day, and we rarely spend that much on him - for pretty nice suits. Have you tried Macy's? They often have really good sales. Barring that, can you borrow one? My brother - who doesn't often need a suit - has bought some at Mens Wearhouse for much less than that. I know they aren't the nicest, but it's something. I know our Goodwill often has nice ties, belts, shoes and shirts, though I've not looked for suits there.

At the very least, you can work out on paper one month's budget at the old job vs. the new to show him how long it will take to break even. If it's one or two months, that should be a deal clincher right there.

[TwinMomPlus]

Do you have to get a $400 suit?

Are there any cheapy stores near you like Value City, TJ Maxx, etc?
What about a second hand store? You could try Goodwill or ask them if they know of any second hand suit stores.

Does he HAVE to wear a whole suit or would nice slacks, button down long sleeved shirt and tie suffice? I agree to look professional but just wondering on the jacket part.

Good luck, I really hope he gets it!

[34me]

Can you rent one?

[Dmitrizmom]

Also wondering about the suit part. I agree with TwinMomPlus about the options.

I get most of dh's business clothing at Walmart - I can get him slacks, a decent shirt and tie, even a jacket, all for less than $80. They look nice and don't break the budget.

[womenswisdom]

TJ Maxx usually has well-known brand-name suits and I believe they even do tailoring there. My dh found one there (several years ago) that was I think Calvin Klein and around $100. You could get a shirt, tie, etc there also for cheap. DSW has good high-end shoes pretty inexpensively.

[MissLotus]

Thrift stores!!!

They (even Goodwill) often have "designer" racks with nice stuff that costs a little more than their average prices, but still waaaaaaay lower than $400. Nothing says a suit needs to cost that much. And if for some reason you don't have a decent thrift store near you, yes, try TJ Maxx and the like.

[hopefulfaith]

What a great opportunity. Hoping for the best for you both!!!

(and seconding the Macys/TJ Maxx, etc. JCPenney also carries less expensive ones, too.)

[doubledutch]

you can definitely do better than $400. even if you want to buy the suit new, get it at marshall's or tj maxx, for $100-$150. you can get the belt for $1 at the thrift store and probably get a decent shirt, tie and socks there too (goodwill often has things like socks new in the package); or even if you buy those new at a discount department store, the total would still only be about $200.

for the shoes, can he borrow them? if not, i would consider just getting very basic black dress shoes from somewhere like target. (target would be a reasonable place too for the shirt, socks & tie).

[MummaLitt]

My mom works at this company and she suggested the suit since he'll be likely meeting the president. Once he gets the job, he can get away with just slacks and dress shirt with the occassional need for a tie.

We're going to Men's Wearhouse today to get measured. DH is VERY tall and VERY skinny and has never owned a suit before so we definitely need to get him measured. I usually get his slacks and dress shirts at Walmart but honestly, the shirts are to short and they BARELY tuck in. The cheapest jacket and slacks at Men's Wearhouse is $180. We'll be taking the shirt measurements to Penney's and getting the shirt there. The tie is another hard one cause a standard length tie is NOT long enough and looks silly so we might have to get that at Men's Wearhouse. If we don't see any shoes at Penney's, we'll check out DSW.

[doubledutch]

another option would be to get measured and then post on craigslist or something, to see if he can borrow or "rent" a suit, shirt and tie from another very tall and slender person.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

There's no way you need to spend $400 on a suit! First, is there anyone he can borrow from for the day? A friend, dad, brother, church, etc? If not, then I'd hit up eveything thrift store you can find. Then post on craigslist and freecycle - I bet you can find someone willing to part with an old suit on freecycle Last resort, hit tjmaxx, marshalls, kohl's, macy's, walmart and every other discount place. Heck, you can order online and probably get it for $100. Megasuits has them for $149. Try ebay, too! You're in Nashua, right? It might be worth the drive to find a great deal at the outlets in Kittery - when we lived in maine, Dh would go at the end of the season and get tons of stuff super cheap at the outlets.

DH wears a suit to work nearly every day, and the most we've ever spent on one was just under $400 on a seriously a-ma-zing Ralph Lauren on clearance.

[leavemealone]

Other posters have pretty much covered the issue, but I did want to reiterate that you can definitely find a decent suit for way less than $400. Even stores like Sears, JC Penney, etc usually have decent suits or separates that coordinate to make a suit. Don't forget to look at any consignment shops in your area as well. Good luck to your DH!

[EFmom]

My sympathies. Dh no longer needs to wear suits to work, but when he did, we had the same problem--he's got a 36"inseam, needs an extra long suit, and is very slim. You can't buy these suits most normal places, and your chance of finding one at a thrift store are non-existent.

Men's Wearhouse is probably your cheapest bet since you need it right away. If he can take a straight long in a suit coat, Land's End has a Year Rounder brand that's not terribly expensive and is nice. You can buy long ties at JCPenney (might need to get it from them online), but sadly, all their big and tall suits are only for heavier guys.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by MummaLitt

The tie is another hard one cause a standard length tie is NOT long enough and looks silly so we might have to get that at Men's Wearhouse. If we don't see any shoes at Penney's, we'll check out DSW.

I completely hear you on the uber-tall DH. I can't even buy him jeans locally. But I will say that with a tie, any tie will do - it's all in how it's tied. And I see ties all the time at thrift stores for $2 or less. Start with about an inch on the thin side and do a single knot instead of a double (I grew up tying doubles, so it took me a while to figure that out). As long as it gets within about 1-2 inches from his belt, that's perfect.

But I also agree with the pps - unless this is a high-level position, a suit is not necessary for the interview, slacks, jacket and tie should be plenty.

And if you're going to have to buy him a new wardrobe for a new job, I recommend landsend. I shop their clearance section almost exclusively and can usually find the extra long slacks for $15-20.

GL

[Drummer's Wife]

Someone else mentioned walmart - and it's true. Go to ther website, and type in "George suit" the blazers are $45-50 and the dress pants are $19-22. I'd link you if I wasn't on my phone. Shirts and ties are each under $20. Even with socks, he's looking at maybe $110. And the thing about the George brand is that it actually holds up fairly well as the quality isn't what you'd expect at walmart. So, if your dh needs a suit later on, or just dress pants and a nice shirt, he'll have one. My DH shops at both macy's and walmart for work clothes, and just recently I was comparing two black pin stripe pants that he bought from each at the same time - you really couldn't tell the difference - even though one cost $80 and the other $20.

Anyhow, you've gotten a lot of good advice about how he can look nice for cheaper - I just wanted to throw that out there. Another idea is borrowing a suit from a relative or friend?

Hope he gets the position. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for your family.

[lolar2]

I'm pretty sure I've seen extra-long ties at Target.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Do you not have a Macy's or Penny's, or even Sears, in your area? Brecause my husband just bought a suit for his brothers rehearsal dinner, (The only thing he didnt get was a tie) and it was about 180. He even got shoes! Granted hes not super tall (Average) But I have seen their mens sections. They are pretty big.

[celtic_angel]

Have you checked out the new "Savers" thrift store that just opened in Nashua? The selection there is really great ! When my DH was interviewing for the job he has now we bought everything he wore at a "Savers" thrift store and it came to less than 50 dollars ~~