Be A Better Bargain Shopper

Today I have the urge. I’ll be honest, I have the urge a lot. I have the urge when I have a terrible day and I have the urge when I am looking to celebrate.

The urge for something new is real for me. However, I’m not too picky on what that could be. Once I had the urge and I bought a $10 orchid from Home Depot that just took three ice cubes a week to live. Immediate relief – just from the swipe. Yikes! This sounds sad? scary? all of the above? 

You’ve been there right? As a serial shopper I have come up with ways over the years to satisfy this feeling without putting myself too much in financial strain. So I thought I would share with you some of my favorite ways to inject the new into your life at little or no cost.

Set a Budget

First is the easiest of all. You made the conscious decision to shop. Before you leave the house identify how much you want to spend. This step can also determine where you are even going. If tomorrow my limit is five dollars, I will probably hit up the dollar tree for some plastic bins for storage solutions. Or glassware to reinvent. 

$20 as my limit brings me to home goods and TJ Maxx territory. I can usually find one or two adorable things that really light up my life. Plus, I will spend a ton of time there so I get my shopping fix as well.

$50 gets me into the target zone which as all of us know can really get you into trouble if you don’t exercise self-control. Stick to that budget!

Now, if you really want to push your self to your limits with a good adventure, limit yourself to only the sale and clearance section. Now it is a game and you have to find the best item at the greatest deal.

The best part of this game is that you are always the winner!

Nifty and Thrify

This next way is actually my favorite way to shop. Thrift shops or secondhand boutiques are an absolute gold mine and a breath of fresh air for the serial shopper. You can get insane deals if you look hard enough. For example, I found my Tom Ford sunglasses for $50 brand new and they retail for over $300! By some kind of miracle, I have not lost them like every other two dollar pair I have picked up over the years. Score!

I think about some of my absolute favorite pieces in my closet today. My high waisted Levi’s, leopard print Coach clutch and others that I’ve worn one million time and they were all secondhand finds. Most of the time my shopping cart averages less than $10 an item. Honestly, this has been my saving grace for keeping my closet fresh constantly. Where I live there is a duo of stores – one for juniors and one for women and they are always side by side so I will always usually hit up both. You may even have these near you – Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor. Look them up to see if there is a location in your area.

Have Standbys

When I’m looking for a specific wardrobe item, there are a few sites I beeline to first for a few reasons. I usually know my sizing, the quality I can expect (a one-time wearer or a wardrobe staple), the timing of the shipping and how great of a value I’m looking for. Some of these go-tos for me are Venus, Old Navy, Lulu’s – who has the BEST user reviews and Fashion Nova. 

I’m sure you already have your own shops! As you can tell from the description on this picture two of these pieces are from Old Navy. I have to be honest I have shirts from Old Navy that I bought in high school that are still hanging in my closet. Those that don’t still hang in my closet from there are some of my favorites looking back. Hello, rainbow sequin ballet flats. Plus, many of these stores have consistent coupon offers that are readily available both for online shopping or in store.

Facebook Groups/Online Sites

If you really like winning, you will love this strategy. If you have favorite luxury brands, odds are there is a facebook group or instagram account geared toward buying or selling. I got my very first Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bag, which retails for $1,600 for just $329! WHAT?! And believe me, that thing is AUTHENTIC! You don’t usually get all the pretty packaging, but really – who cares. 

I’ve also gotten some Lululemon leggings for $15 this way too. Want some help finding the right sites? Let me know what brands you are looking for and I would love to help. I’m even in a few Brides Buy and Sell groups – there is a way to get literally anything for a deal as long as you are game for the hunt.

Don’t sleep on sites like Poshmark either, which is a large-scale secondhand website that makes the world your own thrift shop. 

Rewards Programs

This one doesn’t necessarily help out the shopping urge, but can help you earn rewards or save money on items you are already spending money on. If you’re not already on Rakuten – girl, you sleepin’ on some serious opportunity. The way it works is you go there first, search the site you are going to purchase from and click through to it from there. They get a commission for sending you to that site and they share a percentage with you! No cost to you, just cash back, baby! If you sign up using my link and you spend $30 on a shopping trip, we BOTH get $30 so….. What are you waiting for: https://www.rakuten.com/r/JESSEL540?eeid=28187

The next is a web app you can install, called Honey. It will do all the searching for coupon codes for you and apply them to your cart. I will be honest, 80% of the time, I already have the best price. But, remember, I’m a professional. I usually already know the deals and codes. I still will do a scan just to be safe because WHY NOT! 

Friend shopping

My last tip is the most fun, but doesn’t always reap the best rewards. If you have friends that share your size and style, a closet swab is an amazing way to spend an afternoon. Bonus points if you have an entire group of friends. Everyone brings items still in good condition that they have grown tired of or no longer fit their style. This works especially well if you have friends that you constantly find yourself admiring how they dress.

Over COVID I did a virtual try on where I put together a group text and sent photos and whoever liked a picture first, got the item. Everything that doesn’t get picked up, can be donated to your local organization of choice. An amazing way to purge and restock for no cost to you or your pals!

In Summary….

LOT of information here, I know. I hope you learned at least one new thing to help your shopping addiction lighten the load on your wallet (or super cute purse of choice). What are some of your favorite tips?