If you are in your twenties and just starting to climb the career ladder, chances are you need at least one suit that doesn’t look like it came from a costume shop. The problem is that decent suits are expensive. Retail prices for a well-constructed wool-blend jacket and matching trousers easily run north of five hundred dollars. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to pay that. Not even close. The secret is not in finding some obscure discount code or joining a sketchy “members only” club. It’s in understanding when stores need to clear their racks and being patient enough to strike at the right moment.

Let’s talk about the rhythm of the retail year for professional clothing. Unlike summer t-shirts or winter coats, suits and blazers follow a predictable cycle that is tied to wedding season, graduation season, and the corporate hiring calendar. The single best time to buy a suit is during the mid-summer clearance period, specifically from late June through the end of July. By that point, stores are desperate to move the spring and early summer inventory that hasn’t sold. If you live in a place where weddings peak in May and June, retailers stock up heavily. Once July hits, that stock is sitting on the floor collecting dust. You can often find wool suits that were originally designed for cool weather being marked down forty to sixty percent, even though they’re perfectly wearable for the other nine months of the year. Navy, charcoal, and dark gray are not seasonal colors. They are year-round workhorses. A store treating a navy suit as “spring merchandise” is a gift to you.

Another golden window is right after the holidays. From January 5th through mid-February, retailers reset their floors with new spring arrivals. That means all the fall and winter suits go on deep clearance. This is particularly good if you live in a colder climate and want a heavier fabric like flannel or twill. But even if you don’t, you’ll find that many of the garments moved are classic business suits that were simply over-ordered. Online retailers are even better at this because they have real warehouse data and don’t want to pay storage costs. Look for steep markdowns around the middle of January, and don’t forget to layer a promo code on top of the sale price. Many sites will offer an extra fifteen or twenty percent off clearance items for a few days around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

If you can’t wait for those seasons, your next best bet is to watch the calendar for specific holiday sales. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the week after Thanksgiving are all times when department stores run promotions that aren’t exactly clearances but still give you substantial savings. The trick is to avoid the “doorbuster” garbage. That’s when stores bring in cheap, low-quality suits with fused construction and polyester blends that they know will fall apart after a few dry cleanings. Instead, shop the regular stock that just happens to be discounted for the holiday. A suit that originally cost six hundred dollars being sold for three hundred is a steal only if the construction quality is decent. Check the label for high wool content, look at the stitching on the lapels, and feel the fabric. If it feels like a trash bag, walk away.

Here’s where a lot of people in their twenties make a mistake. They assume that outlet malls offer the best deals on professional wear. That used to be true, but not anymore. Outlet versions of well-known brands are often manufactured specifically for the outlet channel with cheaper fabrics and lower-grade materials. They might have the same brand name on the label, but the fit and durability are noticeably worse. Instead of hitting an outlet, focus on regular department stores during their clearance events, or go online and use price-tracking tools to see historical lows for the exact suit you want. You can set an alert for your size and wait for the price to drop. This is the single most effective way to get a great suit without the guesswork.

Another underutilized strategy is to buy separates. Jackets and trousers go on sale at different times, and you don’t need to buy them as a set. If you find a jacket you love at forty percent off but the matching pants are still full price, check back in two weeks. Or buy the jacket now and the trousers later if the sizing works. Many stores offer free hemming on pants, so you don’t have to worry about that extra cost. And remember that a suit is not a single-purchase item. You will need at least two pairs of trousers for every jacket if you wear suits regularly. That means buying a second pair of trousers when they go on clearance, even if you don’t need them right away.

Finally, do not overlook the power of off-season purchases. A lightweight tropical wool suit is perfect for summer weddings and hot weather job interviews. It will drop to half price in September. A heavy flannel suit is ideal for winter. It will be marked down in March. Just buy it then and hang it in your closet until next year. That requires storage space and a bit of discipline, but the savings are enormous. And if you are between sizes, now is not the time to gamble with a diet plan. Buy only what fits you right now. A discounted suit that needs major tailoring suddenly stops being a bargain.

The bottom line is that a professional wardrobe does not have to derail your budget. Watch the calendar, avoid outlet traps, and use volume to your advantage. Buy the best you can afford, but only when the price is right.