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I love the challenge of living cheaply. It's something I'm constantly thinking about, and I'm always on the lookout for good deals to help make that happen. Here's a few of my favorite ways to do so!
- Shop the clearance racks. Don't be afraid of last season's shoes/dress/jeans/etc. I like to keep an eye out here for my basic pieces: classic skirts, shirts, simple shoes and boots. Things I wear often.
- Shop thrift stores. You can find some really great pieces for not very much money at your local Salvation Army. Don't limit your thrifting to just clothes either; you never know what you'll find there!
- Work the thrift stores. Most have $0.99 days, 50% off a certain color, etc. Know what days are what and use that knowledge to your advantage!
- Shop eBay. If you've got your eye on an item that's out of your price range, see if it's for sale on eBay! I've gotten a few Anthropologie skirts this way for a fraction of what they would have cost brand new. Patience is key here! Just like the thrift store, you'll have to keep checking back.
- Shop off season. This can be difficult because it takes away the instant gratification that often comes with shopping, but it's so worth it! I've gotten some great sweaters in the middle of summer, and shorts in January, all for dirt cheap.
- Only buy what you need. This is another hard one! I've started keeping a list of very specific things I want (yellow cardigan, heeled blue oxfords, etc). It gives me direction when I shop, and I consequently spend less.
- Sell items if you can. When I clean out my closet, I often find a few things that I bought new and either never wore, or wore very little. Often those items have some resale value, so I'll put them on eBay. You won't get every cent back that you spent on it, but it's a great way to get rid of things and make some money at the same time!
- Set a budget. And stick to it! This is something I still struggle with, but it's a good thing to do. Figure out how much you can spend on clothes each month (or year, or week) and keep track of what you spend. We use Mint.com to track all of our expenses, including clothes.
- Sign up for emails from your favorite stores. That way you're aware of sales and big clearance events that are going on. I get lots of coupons that way too. I use my personal email for this, but I know many people will set up a separate email account just for this purpose.
- Use your coupons. Actually print off those coupons and take them to the store with you! I often print things off even if I'm not sure I'll use them, and then just keep them in my purse. I can't tell you how many times I wasn't planning on make a purchase somewhere, only to decide to later and then didn't have my coupon!
- Fill out the surveys on your receipts. Many stores will give you a discount on your next purchase if you fill out the customer survey on your receipt. Take 5 minutes to sit down and do it, and you can save a few dollars on your next visit to that store. :)
- Check retailmenot.com before making an online purchase. This is a great site filled with coupon codes. I always check and see if there's a coupon I can use before making a purchase, and I've saved a lot by doing so!
- Use cash back programs. They really will give you cash back when you make certain online purchases. I use Shop At Home, but I know many people who use Ebates as well.
- Use SwagBucks. Swagbucks is a super easy to use site where you can earn points for taking surveys, printing coupons, and just searching the web! Redeem those points for gift cards to your favorite stores and expand that wardrobe of yours for free!
