My first rule of thumb when
shopping for clothes is to never leave the house thinking that you have to buy
something. Any savvy shopper will tell you they find the best deals when they
aren't looking. If you must have something, set a limit for how much you will
spend before you leave the house.
General Shopping Tips:
Clearance Racks are your Friend: When you go into a store head straight
for the clearance racks. Ignore all of the full-price items right inside the
door and in the window, even if it has a sale sign on it. "Sale" doesn't always
mean it's a good deal. Peruse the clearance racks and if you don't find
anything you have permission to glance at the full-price racks. If you find
something you like, check the price before you fall in love with it or even
look for your size. If it's too expensive, move on.
Don't Feel Obligated: I used to feel obligated to buy something when an
employee gave me advice or helped me in a store. Remember that you don't have
to buy anything. You are the customer and the employee is probably being nice
to you because they make commission on what you buy. Don't ever buy something
if you don't need it... no matter how nice the employee is.
Don't be Afraid to Ask: If you find a full-price item that "you
can't live without," ask an employee if it will be on sale anytime soon.
If he or she says yes, have some self control and come back during sale time.
The employee might say no, but if you open a store credit card you can save 10%
today. Before you say yes, think of how much you will be saving, is it worth
it? If the card has an annual fee, you may be paying more than you are saving.
Most of the time, these cards are not a good idea, especially since Americans
have a tendency to abuse credit. Getting yourself into credit card debt will
not save you money, so don't do it!
Imperfections are OK: I love stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls because
they have unique items for fairly inexpensive prices. Some items have slight
imperfections, but they aren't always noticeable. It's always worth a look. Another trick I learned
recently is that retail stores sometimes give discounts for imperfect items in
their stores. I was buying a silky dress at JCPenney and it had a small snag in
it, nothing noticeable but it was still there. I asked the employee if there
were any other dresses in the back room in the same size. She said no but she
would give me a discount because of the imperfection. It was the highlight of
my day.
It's ok to be Picky: I will try on 5,000 items before I buy one thing. If
it doesn't fit, I don't buy it. I've learned my lesson. I will not pay extra
money to get those pants hemmed or that jacket taken in; they will just sit in
my closet and collect dust until the next time I move and have to purge my
wardrobe. We all like to think we'll lose weight or grow an inch taller to fit
into those clothes, but the truth is you probably won't. Buy clothes that fit.
Shy away from trendy clothes. Will you really wear those $80 zebra pumps
as long as you would wear a pair of classic black ballet flats? Before you buy
something, think, “will I still want to wear this in two years?”
Shop consignment! Many consignment shops are locally owned small
businesses, and haggling might just work. I once got a pair of beautiful boots
that were marked $30 for $20 just by asking if the owner would be willing to
take less. She said yes and like magic, I saved $10 just by asking. If you are
self conscious about asking for a discount, don't worry about it, the worst
that can happen is they say no.
Trade clothes with
friends: Chances are you don't wear
everything in your closet. Ask a friend if he or she would be willing to let
you borrow some items in exchange for some of yours. Even if you aren't the
exact same size you can trade purses, jewelry, etc.
Shop out of Season: Need a new swimming suit? Look for one at the end of
summer when everything is on clearance. I found a new swimming suit last year
for $4 at Old Navy. Yes, the selection is picked over, but hunting is part
of the fun. I found a solid color top and a patterned bottom that coordinated
with the color of the top. I don't think they were intended to be purchased as
a set, but it works.
Have a favorite store? Make friends with the employees and find out when
they typically mark down clothes. Better yet, if you are a die-hard fan, take a
part-time job at your favorite store to get an even better discount. However,
be careful or your whole paycheck will go to your clothing addiction. Remember
all you shopaholics, clothes are just a tool to keep us warm and decent, there
are more important things to spend money on like food and rent.
After some
deliberation, and some slightly violent rattling of the fates’ cages by
pigeonholing Julie as this, that or the other, she happily acquiesces that she
doesn’t mind being called the “Cheap Chick.”
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