‘Tis the season… The holidays have come and gone and now it is January and time for sales. I’m a big fan of clearance sales. Over the years, I have found some incredible bargains. These sales are not for the “faint of heart” shopper. Sometimes you have to dig, “fight” other shoppers and play the coupon game. Call me crazy, but I love it! Check out my additional services. I can help save you money and you’ll learn techniques for future shopping.
If you venture out on your own, strive for wise choices. The following tips should help you think carefully before being enticed by the price!
Karen’s Top 5 Questions to Ask Before a Sale Purchase:
1. Make sure you absolutely LOVE it. Will you rip the tag off and wear this right away? If you don’t love it it the store, you won’t love it at home. Many women buy things just because it is a bargain. It is NOT a bargain even at $10 if it sits in your closet unworn.
2. Do you have things at home that coordinate with the item you’re buying? Are you willing to invest in things later that will match? If not, do NOT buy.
3. Do you NEED the item and does it fill a gap in your wardrobe? If it’s just another top/sweater that is similar to what you have, leave it on the rack. (this is often why women have six almost identical black sweaters)
4. Is it a flattering color and style? Does it hide flaws? Not the perfect fit–leave it. Do NOT purchase something that may look great later. This is a gamble, and most of the time we lose. Buy for the body you have now!
5. Will I wear this next month, next season, next year? True bargains are tested by how much wear it will provide in the future.
Other Tips:
-If the store offers coupons make sure you have the best deal. It can be 15% off the sale price and a day later 20%. Retailers switch signs with different sales and offers so watch closely. Shop towards the end of the week.
-Keep your receipts/tags and ask the store’s policy on price adjustments. If you have find it for less next week, they may adjust your price. Each policy is different so ask and keep track. I save a lot using this technique. If I find something else at another store, it goes back.
-If you replaced worn items with something a new, similar item, make sure you weed out the old pieces.
Happy Shopping! If you are a subscriber and this comes to your e-mail, you can save time when making a comment by clicking on the TITLE of the article. It’s a link and will take you directly to my site. Would love to hear if you find any unforgettable bargains out there.
Great tips Karen! Always good to remember that just because it’s a good deal doesn’t mean that you should buy it!
Have you ever heard of “green goddess giveaway” parties? Green=renew, reuse, recycle. Goddess=we fine ladies! Giveaway=everything is absolutely free. It’s a party where everyone brings items (clothes or otherwise) that must be in Perfect condition but for whatever reason they no longer want it. At the host’s house, everything is arranged in similar groups (everyone’s giveaway clothes hung together, accessories all on a table, kitchenware on another table, books+CDs+DVDs piled together). Anyone can take whatever they want; there are no limits and no money exchanged whatsoever. Add a few refreshments (wine helps loosen the mood for trying things on) and it’s a fun party! I scored an unusual silver Celtic pin from Ireland and a cashmere sweater that was the wrong color for the original owner. At the end, whatever is left over, the host takes to the Goodwill and gets the tax writeoff. The unspoken rule seems to be, this is the way to get rid of (or acquire) high quality/expensive items and feel good about it. And it’s always good to have a party, whatever the reason!
Sounds like a great event… I have not heard of this, but will have to check it out. Thx for sharing, Barb!
Along the same lines of the “green goddess” party, there are lots going on here in town. check out pdxswap.com, they are organized by size and part of town. I have gotten some incredible stuff there, as well as some stuff I realize later was not for me. Oh well, I just take it back to the next swap, no harm done and no $ spent! I think it also fills some sort of deep ‘hunter gatherer’ need in me because I always feel really energized when it’s over.