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5 Ways To Shop On A Budget

Yes, I admit it, I like to shop. I wouldn’t say it’s a problem, although my husband may disagree with me… I’d classify myself as a smart shopper. It’s how I grew up – often frequenting discount stores and the sales racks. On our shopping days, my mom would give me $15 and I’d do everything I could to squeeze as many things out of it that I could. I treated it like a game, and nothing has changed since then. I’m always on a hunt to find the best deals, rarely paying full price for anything. I’ve compiled my top 5 savvy shopper secrets to help you get started too!

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Join daily deal shopping sites. There are so many different daily deal websites out there, but my favorite is Zulily. They offer up to 70% off your favorite brands and have products for the whole family including clothes, shoes, accessories, electronics, housewares and more! New daily deals start every morning at 6am so they always have something new. Just last week I found a Rose Gold iPhone 7 Plus for over $120 off retail price! Needless to say, that was my daughter’s favorite birthday gift, and my favorite discount thus far. Sign up today and see what kind of deals you can find!

Shop your local yard sales, estate sales, thrift shops and flea markets. You know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It takes patience, you have to dig through a lot, but you never know what you are going to find! Some people aren’t even aware that their vintage goods are worth a pretty penny. I’ve found some beautiful vintage jewelry pieces, baskets, and even vinyl records for a fraction of what they are worth. Don’t be afraid of used items – this just means they have a story.

Sign up for email alerts from your favorite retailers. Taking 3 minutes of your time to sign up for email alerts has potential to save you up to 50% on future purchases. You almost always get an initial 15-20% off code in your email, and retailers will continue to send you coupon codes a couple of times per month. Never pay full price again! A few retailers will also notice when you put something in your cart and exit out of your browser. Since they want you to complete your purchase, they will oftentimes email you a coupon code to entice you to finish. Just a little trick to think about when you are eyeing those shoes!

Search for online coupon codes. This is the quickest and easiest way to save a few bucks. Popular online retailers almost always have some sort of coupon code, whether for a percentage off, free shipping or a free gift. Do a quick Google search and you’ll see dozens of coes just waiting to be used.

Visit designer retailers, outlets and sample sales. While one side of me is happy to pick up a $9 tee from Target, another part of me really wants that $350 pair of stilettos. Life’s a balance, right? So when the designer item is calling my name, i’ll first seek out the outlet. I’m lucky to live about 45 minutes from a large outlet center, and have found many deals on clothes and furniture pieces I had my eye on. If the outlet doesn’t have what you are looking for, check out sample sales. Designers often slash prices up to 90% because they simply want to get rid of it. Oftentimes the merchandise was used in advance showings, fashion shows, or presentations so sizes and quantities are limited. But if you have a common size 7.5 foot, you can find some amazing deals!

So the lesson of the day –  don’t stop shopping, just shop smarter! You can still look and feel fabulous without spending a fortune. Happy shopping!

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