Happy Long Weekend for those of you who have today off like I do.  For everyone else, make that money honey!!!! Today we’re starting the week off with a little animal print.  This cheetah print dress caught my attention immediately when I first walked into Target.  It wasn’t because I loved the dress, but because it had a red sticker on it that said “CLEARANCE $18.48”!  That was my cue to at least give it a try.  After trying it on, I realized that I LOVED IT!!! The fit is amazing.  The print is fabulous.  And you can’t beat the price (plus I realized that one of my favorite bloggers had the same dress, and styled it so well).  This is the story of my life when it comes to shopping.  I can’t deny that I love a great deal so I wanted to share with you how I shop smart and get the most for my money.  Check out some of my tips below.

Head straight to the Sale/Clearance Rack

When I first get to a store, the first thing I do is find out what sales and deals are going on that day.  This will dictate how and whether or not I will be shopping at the store.  Afterwards, I head straight to the sales rack. The key to shopping the sales/clearance rack is to be open to your options.  You have to be willing to just try on the marked down pieces even if you’re not sure you will like them.  This dress is the perfect example of a piece that I normally wouldn’t have looked at.  But because it was marked down, I gave it a try and ended up loving it.

Stay out of Stores That are not within your budget

I really love that Gucci belt that all the girls are wearing and that Chanel cross body that I keep seeing my favorite bloggers flaunting.  But truthfully speaking, neither one of those items are in my budget.  Though they are both items of great quality, I know that I can find very similar pieces that won’t break my pocket.  So I shop at the stores that have pieces that I can afford.  I don’t go into the Gucci store or the Chanel store because I’m fully aware that I am not about to spend that much money on a bag or belt.  Now, in the future when my income increases, maybe I will venture into one of those stores.  But right now I will continue to venture into Old Navy, TJ Maxx, New York & Company, Target, etc.  If you have a TJ Maxx budget, stay out of J. Crew.  It’ll only give you anxiety.  Believe me, I know all about it.

Add Yourself to the Email List

I know, I know! Most of us don’t enjoy getting emails from these stores every day.  But truthfully, that’s how you become the first to know about the good sales and coupons. For example, another one of my favorite clothing stores is New York & Company.  I am on their email list, and they send me emails every day. Most of the time I delete them if I’m not going to be doing any shopping that day. But, if I know that I will be headed there, I check my emails to see what kind of good coupons they’ve sent me. I also receive great birthday coupons.  I just checked my mailbox today to find that I have a $15 gift certificate from New York & Company and the Banana Republic. I can’t wait to use my coupons in both stores.  Added to that, New York & Company just sent me a $20 rewards certificate to use. The certificate was awarded to me because I shop there a lot. I mean, why not be rewarded for frequently shopping at one of your favorite stores. This is all because I’m on their email lists!

Shop Out of Season

You’ve probably heard about and witnessed this before. The best sales happen at the end of the season when people no longer want or need certain pieces. This is because the weather is changing, and stores are trying their hardest to clear out inventory to make room for new seasonally appropriate pieces.  I have bought the best pair of winter boots in March, and I’ve also purchased cute swimsuits in October.  Winter clearance sales can start as early as January, while summer clearance sales can start as early as July.  Make sure you stay on the lookout for those deals!

Lastly, Buy Quality Pieces

I can’t tell you how many times I have to tell some of my friends that when it comes to shopping for certain pieces, it’s quality over quantity.  One thing I hate is having to buy the same item over and over again because of it’s cheap material.  I know it’s tempting to buy the inexpensive blouse or the cheap pair of shoes.  But I’m telling you, you lose money when you do this unless you only plan to wear that blouse or pair of shoes once.  If you want to be able to wear your pieces over and over for many seasons to come, you’re going to have to spend a little more money because it actually saves you money in the end.

Dress – Target  Boots – Macy’s  Crossbody – Michael Kors  Jewelry – Charming Charlie

I know a lot of these may be common sense, but sometimes we just need to be reminded; especially when a shopping trip is about to take place, and you have a specific amount of money that you can spend.  Do you have any good tactics that you use to save money when shopping?  Let me know in the comments below.

Speak to you soon!

Daneisha

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