Black Friday is the most notorious shopping day for great sales and the best bargains.
However, I have noticed summer clearance sales are a great way to save a penny or two.
Every summer each store seems to have enticing sales.
There are signs everywhere.
Take a stroll through your shopping area and let me share some of my nifty thrifty tips for saving your moo-la!
I believe there are strategies and rules for shopping sales.
“Sale” with me through my own shopping experience, and let’s explore how to make our dollars go further.
My Top Shopping Sale Rack Strategies
Timing:
In my area, major retailers have sales at certain times in the summer.
I have noticed like clockwork that Victoria’s Secrets has an annual clearance sale near the end of June.
- This is when I stock up on Christmas gifts for teachers or family that I don’t see very often.
- I can get bath products or “smell good” sprays that everyone likes to use for less – a whole lot less.
- I make a list of who I am buying for and what I bought.
I also buy my “back to school” clothes during the summer. I shop the second week in July.
- My children’s favorite stores have sales that have an additional 50% off clearance. You just can’t beat the prices.
- Jeans costing $10 for a teenager!! The angels are singing!
- I bought several long sleeve shirts for between $7 and $13.
- On top of the great reductions off clearance, the store also gave Discount Bucks. They have a “use by” date so I save these for the more expensive items on the “back to school” shopping list.
I also mark my calendar for no sales tax day.
- One weekend a year, my community has a “back to school” shopping day with no sales tax.
- There are rules for what items qualify and what items don’t.
- Even electronics are acceptable in our area. If we need a new laptop or printer, I wait until I can buy it tax free.
- Backpacks, lunch boxes, and school supplies are included in the no tax weekend.
Pay attention to annual sales and mark your calendar for next year.
When an item is already reduced on clearance and you get an additional 40 - 50% off, the savings is great!
Organization:
Before I go shopping the sales racks, I try to stay organized.
- It takes planning to really reduce your spending.
- I keep a list of what each child needs: jeans, shirts, PJ’s, underwear, jackets, etc.
- I go only to the sale racks so I won’t be enticed by the other racks of clothing.
- I also pull coupons or extra savings cards before I leave the house.
- I carry them in my purse because you never know when you will come across a great bargain. If I have a planned shopping trip, I check the computer for extra coupons.
Computers:
Computers have really changed shopping. A lot of shopping is done online.
- Each store has a sale section on their site.
- They also offer special promotions for signing up for their Email.
- I keep a separate Email account (called my “Junk” Email) for signing up for store savings.
- I hate how the daily alerts would plug up my Email account inbox, so setting up a separate one specifically for this type of mail keeps my important mail separate from my junk mail.
- Before I leave the house on a destination shopping trip, I always check to see if that store is offering any coupons online that I can print and take with me. It is worth the two minutes it takes to Google to save 20%.
Set a Limit:
Just because the item is on sale it doesn’t mean it is a bargain. We all have budgets and when going on shopping trips, a tip that works well for me is a cash only diet.
- I bring cash for my purchases and when I am out of cash my shopping is over.
- It is funny how you really weigh a purchase when you have cash to spend verses a credit card or debit card.
- Something about handing over the greens makes you really think whether you need what you are buying.
Be Selective:
Not everything on the sale rack is worth bringing home.
- If you don’t love it, you don’t need it.
- Also if you don’t have a use for it, it doesn’t have a place in your home.
- Another good adage is if it doesn’t fit you perfectly at this moment, it won’t fit you any better later.
These rules apply even when I am shopping the clearance at my local craft store.
I do like to buy items out of season, but I don’t buy clearance craft items thinking I will use them unless they are a basic such as white cardstock, black or clear beads, ribbon any color.
Basics in crafting, clothing, or home function drive my sale selection.
Planning for Birthdays, Holidays, or Upcoming Travel:
I shared earlier about how I shop ahead for holidays.
- I do the same for birthdays and especially travel. I know I will be in Hawaii in September.
- Where I live, summer wear will be rare by mid September.
- This is the perfect time for a new pair of flip-flops, the dreaded swimsuit, and sundresses.
- I can buy them on clearance if I shop right now.
- I bought a floral maxi dress for our trip for $17 on clearance. It was one of those amazing finds. It was reduced in the clearance area at Limited. Then it was marked down even more with an additional 40% off the sale price. I just can’t wipe the happy smile off my face. I will wear it on my trip in September and to my little husband’s getaway to Vegas in October.
- If you choose to buy a season ahead for your children’s clothes, be cautious as they often grow unexpectedly. I would hate for the items to hang in the closet and never be worn.
- Here’s another good rule: Buy only what you will use now! I have a hard time following this one!
The Basics:
The basics drive my shopping train. They are what I need to survive. I know if it is a black or white T-shirt, I will wear it a million times and it is worth purchasing.
Thedrive my shopping train. . I know if it is a black or white T-shirt, I will wear it a million times and it is worth purchasing.
When I craft, I know what patterns I love and papers that I will need and use.
- For example, I make a Christmas album every year.
- It is safe for me to pick up Christmas scrapbook papers and embellishments in the summer on clearance.
- They will be used.
Follow my tips and hit the summer “sales”.
They will save you in the long run so you will have more moo-la for your crafting fund!
Happy Sale-ing!!!!
Love, Happiness, and Crafting!
~Miss Nifty Thrifty (Studio Pink)
Kara Ward
I live by these rules. No exceptions.