How To Shop
How to Shop NeimanMarcus.com
It doesn’t get much more posh than NeimanMarcus.com, so the idea of budget shopping on its Web site might seem laughable, but not all together impossible. Follow our tips that make the online shop a tad more accessible.
Sales & Values. We say skip paying full price for NeimanMarcus.com items and start your shopping experience by clicking on the Sales & Values section. In this section, you can search sale items by designer, new arrivals or most effectively, by category and size. The best part of the sale section is the Last Call Clearance with items starting at 65% off. Since quality is as important as price, this is a good place to pick up a Diane von Furstenberg classic wrap dress or a Lavender Label Vera Wang gown that will end paying for itself over time when applying the cost per wear ratio. Plus, you still have 30 days to return them if it doesn’t work out.
Practice TBF’s 70/30 Rule. Avoid getting overly excited about seeing an “it” bag on sale – if it’s one sale, then it’s probably no longer an “it” bag because the store is making room on the shelves for the next purse that everyone has to own. When trying to stay within your shopping budget, follow the 70/30 rule: 70 % of your closet should be classic pieces, 30% trendy, and please stick to the cheaper retailers for items that will only last a season.
Avoid Paying Shipping Cost. NeimanMarcus.com often offers free shipping on orders over $150 and occasionally on the entire order, no matter the final sale total.
In Store Returns. While online shopping is convenient in so many ways, not being able to see the item in person and try it on is a major drawback for most consumers. With purchases made at NeimanMarcus.com you can avoid the hassle of returning items by mail and take it back to the store. Note that credit for the return cannot be directly done at the store; instead you will receive an acknowledgment slip for the credit to be refunded once the item makes its way back to the warehouse, which is annoying, but you can at least save on the return shipping cost.
Price Adjustments. There is nothing worse than buying something and seeing it go on sale a week later. NeimanMarcus.com offers a one-time price adjustment for items purchased within a 10-day period. It excludes the Last Call Online Clearance and temporary special promotions, but does include the permanent online sale items, so make sure you check back to see if your item has been marked down.
Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Part of Neiman Marcus retail stores’ simultaneous allure and repel has been over its payment policy of only accepting the proprietary store credit card, American Express cards, cash, check or gift cards. However, NeimanMarcus.com allows you to pay with your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover cards making online transactions and going into debt a little easier.
Fashion News and Sales. Be in the know. Register on the homepage for a periodic email from NeimanMarcus.com. You will learn when new markdowns happen, get a heads up on Last Call Clearance sales, and have a chance to sign up and win shopping spree giveaways.
How to Shop K-mart
Attention K-mart shoppers…. If that phrase conjures up images of the masses running towards the blue light special isle and makes you want to avoid shopping at the store at all cost, we offer fashionistas who truly shop on a budget some tips to navigating the store.
Buy Now, Pay Later. Give your credit cards a break and still pay over time by taking advantage of K-mart’s Layaway Program. You make an initial 10% down payment, plus a $5 service fee, and then payments are schedule for every 2 weeks over an 8-week period. There is a cancellation fee of $10 and merchandise will be re-stocked if you miss a payment by more than 7 days.
Not All Brands Are Created Equal. Okay, so Alexander McQueen isn’t doing a line with the chain anytime soon, but Martha Stewart Everyday is still available despite her deal with Macy’s. If you need some simple layering pieces, Basic Editions lives up to its name, solid color blouses and t-shirts can be found for less than $10, regular price. Jaclyn Smith may not be as hip as Thakoon, but she was one of the first celebrities to do a fashion line exclusively with a chain store and you have to admire her staying power. Season after season she produces clothes that go from the boardroom to the bar and offers petite and plus-sizes.
Try It Before You Buy It. Couture tailoring can’t be expected when you are buying discounted shirts next to the lawn and garden department, so size and fit may vary among brands. Save yourself the headache of having to return the item later by trying it on before purchasing. In-store purchases have a 90-day return policy with a receipt, and online transaction can also be returned to the store with the original packing slip or by mail for a full refund.
Know Your Codes. Before making your final purchase at K-mart online, remember to look search discount codes. If you are heading to the actual store, visit K-mart’s Web site for the Coupon Center offering printable coupons for everyday household items. The less you spend on necessities, the more you have to spend on building your wardrobe. Online you can also look up the weekly ad tailored to your zip code so you can know before you go what is on sale. Also sign up for K-mart’s email, to get alerts regarding upcoming sales. Just for signing up you get a coupon for $5 off a $50 or more in-store and online purchase.
Don’t Ignore Clearance Signs. Often overstuffed racks and shelves of random items can give you a headache trying to navigate, but if you have the time to sift through it all, you might just find some sweet deals that make it worth the effort.
Use your Sears Gift Card. The two retail giants merged back in 2004 and as a result you can use a Sears gift card at K-mart as well.
How To Shop SmartBargains.com
SmartBargains.com delivers prices you’ll love and brand names you lust over. At first glance it looks like your typical Target-like discount site. Search around and you’ll be pleasantly suprised to find Michael Kors, Cole Haan and Kate Spade to name a fashionable few.
Here are a some tips for getting the best deals on the site.
Check out the Updates. SmartBargains is constantly being updated with new events and promotions. Right now, for example, you can save 50-70% off all Egyptian Cotton Towels(aka the really good towels you put out for “company”). You can also shop for shoes at the 3 for $99 event.
Join the SMART Shoppers Club. Join the SmartBargains SMART Shoppers Club to take advantage of all the deals and steals this site has to offer. For $9.95 a year, you get first dibs on New Arrivals and Clearance bargains, gain admission to Members-Only product exclusives, and get lower price on standard shipping- only $2.95 per order (regularly $9.95).
Keep Check on Clearance Items. Though the entire site is devoted to discounts, click on the Clearance link for even more deals. There’s a wide range of products, with the option to browse by category. Plus: you save up to 70% off.
Find them First and Fast with New Arrivals. Check out the New Arrivals button located to the right of the search bar. It will lead you to pages of just-added items.
Sign up for The Bargain Alert! Newsletter. Subscribe to the SmartBargains newsletter to get a coupon for 10% off (for first time subscribers). Scroll to the bottom of the site and enter your email address to sign up.
How to Shop Forever 21
Sure, you love Forever21 as much as the next fashion obsessed, financially stressed woman, but the store can be utterly overwhelming. If you’ve got time to spare, shopping in store at Forever 21 can be a blast- racks, stacks, hooks and shelves filled with new fashions. But, if you’re strapped for time and find yourself puzzled as to how they fit so much into a single space, maybe you should try shopping at Forever21.com.
Here’s some tips for shopping both in-store and online at Forever21:
Know Before You Go. One thing is true of all things Forever 21- quantity reigns high over quality. You can get ten tops for about 100 bucks if you try hard enough- but don’t expect them to last forever. One of the biggest problems with low quality items is finding a good fit. Always, always, try everything on when shopping at Forever 21. When shopping online at Forever21.com, any returns will cost you big time (see the wretched return policy below). Therefore, it is absolutely crucial to know your body and what clothing styles work well for you before making any purchases.
Understand the Brands. Forever 21 has expanded their line of trend-friendly low-cost clothes to include Heritage 1981 and Twelve by Twelve brands. Looking for something a little more casual? Heritage 1981 channels casual wear with a homely retro feel, sort of like a cheap Urban Outfitters. Twelve by Twelve, the higher priced brand available only in select stores and online, is a bit more fashion forward with designs heavily influenced by the runways.
Be Sure to Snoop on Sale Items. It doesn’t hurt to check out the Forever21 sale bins. When shopping online, the sale link in the upper right-hand corner will take you to a large listing of the recently reduced.
Accessorize Your World. One of the best things about Forever 21 is the sparkling accessories section, with scarves, hats, bags, wallets, clutches, belts, jewelry, etc, etc, etc- you can find it all at F21. The store also has a shoe section, think a more fashion forward Payless, with prices around the $25 mark.
A Shout-Out for Outerwear. Though winter is nearly past us (thank goodness), Forever 21 is a great place for on trend outerwear at low prices. Coats, jackets and blazers in every style, pattern and color. While, the coats aren’t really warm and probably won’t last into next season, the low price allows you to get your full cost per wear.
The Return Policy. If there was one “catch” to shopping at Forever 21, this would definitely be it. The return policy. Scratch that. The exchange policy. Forever 21 doesn’t allow in-store returns. Period. Have you ever tried to physically return something at Forever 21? The salespeople are ruthless. Instead, Forever 21 offers exchanges only within 30 days of purchase for most items (emphasis on most). Gift cards, cosmetics and jewelry items are all final sale all the time, in store or online. Which is why we advise shopping online, because you do have the option for a return- but must foot the shipping fee. Otherwise, exchanges for online purchases can be made at any Forever 21 or sister store. The lesson to be learned here? Check, double-check, triple-check your cart before cashing out.
For Style Inspiration, Shop By… Take an e-shopping short-cut with the Forever21.com Shop by Outfit and Shop by Trend options. A great wardrobe starts with an initial inspiration- and there’s no need to spend much moola on fashion mags to find it. Click on either of the Shop By links to find items that fit in with the season’s trends. Pick and choose from the pieces you love- just don’t fall into a trap of needing it all. Forever 21 does a good job with their visual merchandising. Keep an eye on those dressed to impress mannequins for that extra boost in inspiration.
Shop the Daily 21. Click on the Daily 21 Specials tab on the Forever 21 homepage for 20% off 21 different items every day. Just a reminder- the prices at Forever 21 are already pretty cheap, so, 20% won’t seem like a major discount on a $9.98 shirt, but a penny saved is a penny earned, making the Daily 21 worth a peek.
Subscribe to Save. Sign up for the Forever 21 online newsletter to have discounts delivered to your inbox. Click on Subscribe Now for simple set-up and choose to include Forever 21, Heritage1981 and/or Twelve by Twelve.
How to Shop Overstock.com
Overstock.com is just what the name implies—an online outlet for the liquidation of excess stock, including designer and namebrand goods. It is, essentially, an outlet mall for the Internet (cue the heavenly beams of light and angelic choir).
Like any liquidation/closeout/outlet type shopping experience, however, knowing where to start (and where to go from there) can be a challenge. Some Overstock shopping tips:
Shop Overstock for High End Goods. If we’re going to shop Overstock, quite frankly, the whole goal is to get designer or name-brand goods at the cheapest prices possible—in other words, it’s all about shopping for value (if we want to just amass a bunch of cute but ultimately tossable stuff, we’ll go to Charlotte Russe). Have a goal in mind—that Prada handbag you’ve always promised yourself you’d have one day, or that pair of Christian Louboutin’s that are your personal shopping holy grail (there go the heavenly beams of light again).
Chat With an Online Representative. Overstock is among the increasing number of online retailers that allow you to click to chat instantly with an online representative, in case you have questions about products, ordering, etc. Much more convenient that filling out a “contact us” email (which, we’re pretty sure, get funneled into a black hole in distant outer space) or holding for half the day on some over-burdened 1-800 “hotline”.
Join Club O. If you like what you see and intent to shop Overstock REGULARLY, take advantage of Club O membership. We put REGULARLY in caps because you can find free shipping and other discounts for Overstock pretty easily without purchasing a special memberships. However, if Overstock is your spot, then for $19.95 a year, you get free shipping, 5% off orders (with some exclusions), and special O-club members-only coupons and discounts.
Hit Overstock Auctions. We did a search for those Christian Louboutins, and while Overstock didn’t have any at present, scrolling down took us to links for pairs on Overstock Auctions (including these unbelievably fab Armadillo Red Satin d’Orsay Pumps, which at that moment had a starting bid of $199 . We’re thinking that’s just scratching the surface, and we love that even if Overstock doesn’t have what we’re looking for, there’s another avenue to take without hitting a whole other site.
Online Best Price Match. Scroll down the front page to the “Help” section on the lower left hand side, and click on “Online Best Price Match” to get the lowdown on Overstock’s policy on price matching. Here’s the bottom line: If you happen to find a better online price for a specific product, and meet the particulars of the policy, Overstock will issue you the difference in price with up to $500 in-store credit toward future purchases at Overstock.com. Sure, this won’t come into play every time you shop, but if you just happen to buy something and find it cheaper elsewhere you’ve got an option other than messing around with returns (or just kicking yourself).
O-Text. Live on your Blackberry? Yeah, us too, which is why we dig an option that sends the deals to us wherever we might be. Like this O-Text option—and it won’t just be random deals, as you get to pick which categories you’re interested in. Oh, and you’ll get exclusive promotional discount codes too. Yep, no downside here.
How to Shop Walmart
We can hear the collective groan from all of the fashionistas who turn up their noses at shopping the aisles of the local WalMart. We realize that shopping for workwear just yards from the frozen food aisle might not make for the most aesthetically appealing shopping experience, but bear with us.
Know Your Lines. Not all products at Walmart are created equal. We have a couple of lines we really like—George, Metro7, and currently Norma Kamali (primarly available online). Look to the George collection for on-trend workwear (check out this charmuese Kimono blouse, just 10 bucks), and Metro7 is our pick for slightly more casual (but stylish) apparel (example: this short sleeve cowl neck sweater, $12). We’ve given lots of press to Norma Kamali’s line and with good reason—it’s versatile, stylish, and super inexpensive—in a word, a winner. And for the juniors, we’d recommend the new L.e.i. collection for teen-centric denim and tops.
Know When to Shop. Obviously, avoid weekends and evenings wherever possible. However, there’s more to it than that—Walmart stores generally get shipments and restock nightly, so for the best selection, you should arrive early in the a.m. (stop on the way to work), and for markdowns and clearance? Walmart’s mark down schedules differ from store to store, so don’t be afraid to ask your local store manager for their particular markdown/clearance schedule.
Take Advantage of Site to Store Shipping. If you can’t find what you want in your local store but see it online, Wal-Mart offers FREE site to store shipping—meaning you can go online, order items with the Site to Store logo, select site to store under your shipping options, pick your location, and wait for an email telling you it’s arrived. All you have to do is head to the store to pick it up and pay the regular retail price—no shipping charges.
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes. Our experience is this: while some of the shoes you’ll find at Wal-Mart are less than couture, others—and we always find at least a few pairs—are totally cute, affordable, and durable. Angela’s current favorite pair is from Wal-Mart
, for example—George purple patent slingbacks, picked up at regular price for $13, and worn with everything from jeans to dress pants to pencil skirts and more, with multiple compliments every time (and no one can believe they only cost 13 bucks). Kathryn is in love with the cushiony house slippers she purchased for just $5. Again, brand is key—we again would recommend you stick with George, Norma Kamali, and No Boundaries for the best (and most stylish) bets.
Try It On. When you’re shopping at a discount store like Wal-Mart, you will have to understand that certain elements are just not going to be perfect. Fit is one of them. While that’s not to say you can’t get a great-fitting garment there—we certainly have—the fit and construction are not necessarily going to be ideal or consistent, even if you ALWAYS wear a size 9. Unless you enjoy making return trips to the Walmart Customer Service Desk (and if you’ve not done this before, trust us—the lines usually ain’t pretty) take a few moments to hit the dressing rooms and save yourself some grief.
Organic Clothing. Walmart, like many other retailers, is attempting (slowly) to get on the organic clothing bandwagon—and while the offerings are slim, if buying organic is important to you, Walmart stocks a range of apparel items for women, men, kids and babies made with organic cotton (or, interestingly, things like this t-shirt made from cotton and polyester made from recycled Coca Cola bottles—really.).
How to Shop Drugstore.com
To be perfectly honest, it hardly ever occurred to us to shop online for beauty and personal care items (that’s why God created WalMart, right?), but once we’ve spent a little time clicking around on Drugstore.com, we’re seeing things in a new light. First of all, shopping online gives us time to sit and plan exactly what we need to buy (saving us both the multiple trips for each individual item we forgot the last time AND the temptation to buy that $28 .005 oz. bottle of “eye illuminator” that promises to take off 10 years, instead of the $3.99 generic moisturizer we actually went in for . . . ), and second—free shipping is frequently available, saving us both those pesky delivery charges in addition to gas money . . .
Okay, so now that you’re thinking about shopping, you’ll want to do it in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible. Which is why we’ve compiled a few tips (we’re not your cyber shopping BFFs for nothing) to help you get started:
Buy a Lot at One Time. A single purchase consisting of a bottle of shampoo and a tube of mascara, of course, is not exactly an effective way to shop online. Make a list of a larger number of items you’re going to need, and order all at once—because Drugstore.com offers free ground shipping on orders of $49 or more (spend $99 or more and you’ll get free 3-day shipping).
Take Advantage of Other Shipping Offers. It’s easy—you’ll get free shipping on your very first order if you spend only $25 or more, and even better, if you buy one of the site’s “free shipping items”, you’ll get free shipping on your entire order. Nice.
Drugstore.com Dollars. Saving money is always priority number one, and if you’re going to shop regularly at Drugstore.com, it makes sense to take advantage of this free program, which gives you 5% back on eligible purchases. No, it’s not a windfall of cash, but every little savings helps, especially when it’s stuff you were buying anyway. And it’s automatic as soon as you register your account—no additional form to fill out. You earn your “dollars’ in quarterly increments, and then have one month to spend them (they’ll be applied to the first eligible order you place during the month automatically).
Click on the “Coupons” Tab. It’s tucked in there at the top, amidst all the other category tabs, so it’d be easy to overlook—but be sure to click it to check out online coupons! on a variety of products (for example, we’ve seen coupons for $2 off Revlon products, $3 off Infusium products, $2 off Nutrisse haircolor, and more).
Check Out Their Sister Site, Beauty.com. Beauty.com is kind of a beauty central, where you’ll not only find all kinds of beauty products but also beauty news, advice, product reviews, and a beauty community. You’re 5% back in Drugstore.com dollars applies to Beauty.com as well, and you can combine orders.
Go Green. If organic and/or eco-friendly products are a priority, Drugstore.com has it covered with a number of “green partners” including Burt’s Bees, method, Seventh Generation, and more.
How to Shop Big Lots
A closeout store like Big Lots is not the first thing that springs to mind for, er, fashionable shopping. Or the second. Or twelfth. But let’s change our mindset for just a moment, shall we? We like to save money. We like the thrill of finding a hot deal. We pride ourselves of being financially savvy. And it helps if you know the definition of a “closeout”—which is actually first-quality, brandname goods at discount prices because the manufacturer needed to get rid of them.
Yes, we know the stores can be, well, kind of gross. But, being the commando budget shoppers we are (and in this economy, we can’t really afford to be any other way), we know that Big Lots (which boasts prices 20-40% under other discount stores, and 70% less than conventional retailers) is worth venturing into, assuming you know the best approach. So here it is:
The BuzzClub. Big Lots actually does have an online presence at BigLots.com, and it doesn’t look like much to begin with but if you scroll down to the bottom and click on the teeny tiny print that says “Buzz Club” you can sign up—for FREE—to have access to all their online merchandise, exclusive “members only” discounts, first looks at ads and clearance, and more. See? You can be exclusive even at Big Lots. Who knew.
Check the Weekly Ads. If you don’t relish making the trek when you don’t even know what you’ll find—and don’t want to sign up your overworked inbox up for yet another email list—you can still log on to BigLots.com and view your local weekly ad to plan the deals before you go.
Shop for the Basics. Let’s just say it—apparel is not Big Lots’ thing. But, if you need some basics—like socks and underwear—you can get packs incredibly cheap, for all members of the family. It might not be the types of undergarments you’d want to shimmy into for, say, your big anniversary night, but for the daily grind? Perfectly acceptable.
Think Beauty. Stylish clothing may just be out of the question at Big Lots but our number one love at this particular store? The beauty section. It’s sooooo not glamorous—usually a mishmash of brands, packages, and cheesy plastic tubs of random items—but we have rarely left without something we couldn’t wait to get to the car to try out. The caveats: check expiration dates closely—VERY VERY important—and inspect the items with a critical eye (if that bottle of nail polish looks like it’s been in the warehouse for six years and counting, step away). But dig around, and you’ll find perfectly good beauty items—from tools to make-up to moisturizer and hair products—dirt cheap. Like a Rimmel mascara for 99 cents, value packs of two e.l.f. lipglosses for a buck (and you don’t have to mess with ordering online), Oil of Olay moisturizer for $3 . . .
Style for Your Living Room. Many folks don’t seem to be aware that many Big Lots stock furniture—and not just the pressed “wood” do-it-yourself dorm-tastic bookshelf variety. We’re talking sofas, kitchen tables, bedroom sets, mattresses. This is not the stuff you’ll want to hand down as family heirlooms mind you, but pretty cheap prices and decent looking stuff if you need to furnish your nest for less. Just to be on the safe side, we’d look for dings, dents, and the like—but for the prices you just might decide it’s worth it anyway.
Embrace Change. Big Lots is one of those stores—being a closeout retailer and all—that often doesn’t carry the same thing twice. Which, if you are a creature of habit, is bad; however, on the upside, if you don’t see anything you like this trip, next time there’ll could be something new and great. The fact of the matter is that while regular retailers stock seasonally, a closeout store like Big Lots changes inventory constantly as they acquire new merchandise, so in this case, change is good.
Bonus for Teachers. Big Lots is a great store for teachers anyway, with super cheap supplies (great for back to schoolers too), but there’s also a “Teachers” section online (it’s in the teeny tiny letters right below “Buzz Club”) where they’ll feature teacher-only deals (and if you join the BuzzClub and indicate you’re an educator, you can get the deals sent directly to your inbox).
How to Shop Target
Ah, you say—you already know how to shop Target. In fact, you’ve spent so much time there that you should be eligible for some kind of lifetime achievement award. Okay, we’ll give you that—but are you shopping it in the smartest way possible? Probably not. And to show that Kathryn will not be sharing a classic six condo in hell with Sam Walton (link to the depressionista article), here’s our tips for maximizing your Tar-jay experience:
Know the Schedule. Target has a regular schedule for clearance and markdowns, and while it can vary from store to store, this is the general breakdown:
Monday - Electronics, Kids Clothing (and possibly Infants items) and Stationary
Tuesday - Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and Market
Wednesday - Men’s Clothing, Toys, Lawn & Garden, Health and Beauty items
Thursday - House Wares, Lingerie, Sporting Goods, Shoes, Music/Movies, Books, Decor and Luggage
Friday - Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry
Traditional Holiday Clearance:
50% off the day after the holiday, for three days
75% off the fourth day after the holiday, for three days
90% off the seventh day after holiday, for 1-2 days.
Arriving early on the days you know they’re marking stuff down and you’ll have access to the best deals of the week. Also, Internet wisdom notes that if the price ends in the number 4, it’s your last chance to buy before the item gets shipped out to, well, wherever Target merchandise goes to die (some of it ends up at Goodwill, just FYI).
Know Where to Get Coupons/Discounts. If you’re shopping Target online, be sure to hit RetailMeNot.com for coupon/discount codes before you check out—and if you’re looking for in store coupons (particularly for groceries) be sure to head to the Target website first for printable coupons. Also, you’ll want to be sure to sign up for Target’s weekly ad to be delivered to your inbox to peruse the latest sales before you go (you can also get mobile reminders or sign up for their RSS feed).
Don’t Ignore the Endcaps. Sure, the end of the aisles is where they put all those fancy-schmancy displays that try to entice you into buying stuff you don’t need, but if you hit the OTHER end of the displays—the ones closest to the walls typically, you’ll find shelves and baskets full of super-cheap clearance items. We’ve purchased lots of stuff here for next to nothing, but be careful about expiration dates. In our experience this is always worth a look
Not All Targets are Created Equal. It’s worth shopping a couple different Targets to find one that has the stock to match your needs. For example, Angela’s local Target near St. Louis is less than 10 minutes away and is fine for general merchandise, like beauty goods, electronics, etc., but the apparel section? Sadly limited. So, having scouted around a bit, she knows that the Target that’s about 25 minutes away has a MUCH larger and more stylish selection of apparel—so when she knows she’s in the market for, say, a new winter coat and a pair of great pumps, she’ll plan a special trip to the store with the best selection. Kathryn lives in Manhattan and while the Fort Greene Target is near, she firmly believes that it is the place where hope goes to die, therefore she prefers to shop to the Jersey City Target.
Use the TBF Gift Card Strategy to Control Your Spending. Target is one of those stores that sort of hypnotises us—we go in for some Dove shampoo, and leave with two pairs of jeans, a new set of dishes, those tempting chocolates and an mp3 player. So, while we can’t load a gift card for every individual item we need, if you do have some things to pick up and you know you’ll be tempted, have a Target card loaded with however much you can afford (http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/main/tips-for-recession-proofing-your-closet-the-budget-fashionista-economic-sur/) to spend and take no other payment options with you. Or if you don’t mind carrying cash, take only how much you can afford to spend and not a penny more.
Don’t Buy Items You Can Get Cheaper Elsewhere. Shop Target for what Target is best at—budget-friendly shoes, accessories, apparel, furniture/housewares, possibly holiday items. But if you also shop regularly at someplace like, say, Wal-Mart, where we KNOW you can pick up that Jergen’s lotion cheaper, save those items for your next trip to WM. We know, we know—it requires some planning, but even if it’s only 20 cents cheaper, multiply that by 6 items per trip and you’ll see it adds up pretty quick. Then you’ll have more to spend on that cute Anya Hindmarch handbag at Target later . . .
Green Shopping. If eco-friendly shopping is important to you, Target is one of the few budget-friendly retailers that gives you some real options to shop, everything from recycled paper goods (including stationary), recycled glassware, organic bedding, and selected items of organic clothing and sleepwear.
How to Shop Goodwill
Ah, Goodwill. We know what you’re thinking—sequined holiday sweaters and acid wash mommy jeans. Well, there is some of that—but you may not realize that amidst the trove of fashion faux-pas, there are some bonafide gems to be discovered. If you can just get past the mothball smell, and remember that thrift shopping is a cornerstone for many a budget trend-setter.
We wouldn’t want you to head in unarmed, however, so Angela’s compiled some useful tips to make the most of your thrift shopping experience:
Never-worn items. You may not know this, but Goodwill frequently has with-tags items on the racks from retailers, for super cheap prices. I’ve gotten brand new totally cute shoes by Isaac Mizrahi for Target and Xhilaration—never worn and with pricetags—for between $3 and $5 a pair. I recently picked up a beautiful brown pinstripe XOXO jacket—regularly priced $49.99—for 15 bucks, with tags. And this week, I saw a navy pinstripe jacket by Isaac Mizrahi for Target for just 5 bucks—but had to leave it behind because it just didn’t quite flatter me. Darn it.
Gently used pieces. Even if you’re looking at items that have come from someone else’s closet, used doesn’t always mean used up. Look for items that don’t typically get worn to death. Goodwill is a great place for winter jackets (especially the wool dress kind), suiting jackets, and workwear skirts. It seems that women often tire of—or not longer fit into—these items before they’ve outlived their usefulness or style potential. There are some big shoulder pads and wacky tablecloth patterns in there so you’ll have to keep your fashion wits about you, but it’s not uncommon to find a classic wool coat or perfectly acceptable houndstooth skirt if you wade through a little of the yuk.
Know what not to buy. Of course, Goodwill is not a department store, so it shouldn’t be a one-stop shopping experience for all your wardrobe needs. Areas to avoid:
~ anything denim (believe me, the previous owner got all they could get from these items)
~ knit tops (they’re usually washed out, stretched out, or just plain out)
~ most anything black or white (most people don’t wash their black or white items properly, so you’ll be hard pressed to find anything black or white that doesn’t look as though it’s been worked over by someone else, and that’s just not pretty)
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