Three words: BLACK. FRIDAY. SALE.
Being a broke college student, I understand the need for this momentous holiday. Nonetheless, instead of spending on items that most people will barely use or wear for a year, there are better ways to spend and save in an intelligent fashion.
As a self-certified thrifty shopping expert, I know a little thing about savings. I may not be an “accounting major” or “financial expert,” but sales and anything related to buying what you need at the right time, I am a definite expert on.
This and Cyber Monday is the holiday I plan my life around. Thus, after a few mishaps from previous occasions, I have developed fool-proof rules to shop smart.
Rule 1: Budget.
Know the maximum amount you’re willing to spend on your overall spending. Making sure you don’t over spend.
Rule 2: Fill your shopping cart days, weeks in advance.
There are some people who hate making lists, but preparing yourself for this extravagant, limited holiday, is the only way to get the best out of your money. Even if it’s last minute! Do it.
There are two ways of doing this. The first is, if you know what you want, then go to the online websites of those stores and start filling your cart days in advance. Even if you’re not sure if you’re going to buy it, just put it in your cart because you’ll review and edit those items on the day of the sale.
The other method is to make a shopping list of the things you need on a piece of paper, then categorize it. Categorize them into general subjects like clothes, electronics, beauty supplies, etc. Then categorize those items into the stores you would buy them from.
This will help you keep focused from making any purchases you did not want, just because they are discounted.
Rule 3: Do your research.
The trick of shopping in either in-store and online is to scout the merchandise a few weeks or days before.
This should be done on a weekday, ideally a Monday where there’s the least amount of people.
The point of scouting, is to truly see the quality of the items you’re planning on buying. Since, you know what you what you want, you might as well as scout out at least some of the items you’re not too sure of buying. Then on black Friday or Cyber Monday, you can decide clearly whether to buy the item or not.
Rule 4: Know your size, know what material of fabric you’re buying, and read the reviews.
Get those tape measures out and start measuring your body. Online stores have a guide of measurements on the page of every item, as well as a description of what size the model is wearing and how it fits her.
Knowing your size and the type of material you’re buying, only helps because you know how the clothes you want to buy would fit on your body based on these guides. If want to wear a breathable fabric, you probably won’t want to buy polyester or nylon. Though it may look fantastic on the model, it might feel horrible when wearing it.
Reading the reviews further helps knowing if you’re purchase is going to be worthwhile in the long run. You want your clothes to last and knowing previous purchaser’s opinion will guide you making your purchase even further.
This also applies for any type of purchase you’re making, not just clothes.
Rule 5: Read the fine print.
Before putting it on your cart or buying it in the store, make sure it’s something you can return or exchange. You won’t want to make a final purchase on a faulty item.
Optional rule: Shop your yearly needs all at once.
Also, if you haven’t noticed, everything is on sale. Don’t just shop for clothes, shop everything you may need. For instance, this is the time I buy my contact lenses online through either CVS or Walgreens. Just fill out the details of your prescription online and then click and buy. Both stores sell contact lenses for up to 50% off regular price, which means I buy my yearly supply of contacts right after I visit my optometrist.
Here’s a final tip:
E-bates is also a great site if you want to get a percentage of your money back. Just get your shopping carts ready and then search the store you’re shopping for and click shop now then purchase your items by going through E-bates. It’ll give you cash back on a percentage of you purchase.
Now what are you waiting for? Get those online shopping carts ready and get your sale on!