Lisa 
I am right there with ya. I too am in 8s and need clothes bad. But one I am on a spending freeze and two can't find anything I like. I did however go to the Red White and Blue store in one of the richer place around here and found some gerat things. I got 9 tops for less the 30$. They had a ton of brand name tag on pants. I say google thrift/ goodwill stores in you area and go look. I bet you are surprised at what you will find. 

I told James last night when taxes come back I am going shopping like a mad women. As i am pretty sure I will be at goal weight by then. Only 15 pounds away!

I LOVE Goodwill and still shop there 3 years post-op. I go to one where there is literally at least 500 pairs of jeans to shift through and I go every few months. At first I really liked it because there were so many styles to try and it was so much easier trying different styles in one place than having to shop at dozens of stores. Also, the older jeans tend to be higher waisted which was nice before my plastic surgery because I needed my tummy covered up.

As a single mom of 2 with no "babby-daddy", I need to be thrifty.

Laura

Have you tried consignment stores? beings that im only  a few weeks post op i havent done much shopping but we even have some plus size consignment stores and its a great place to take clothes that you are too big. Also, my surgeons office has a place they promote that you pay so much per bag and get to pick out what you want or need.. Hope something like this may help :)