The Ultimate Sales Shopping Guide

Avoid all the stress and the rush this year and make real bargains during sales period with this practical shopping guide!

One of the most stressful periods of the year is when sales come. It is also the period, a part from Christmas, when people tend to spend more, especially on something they don’t really need or then regret buying.

It has happened to the best of us to go out for our shopping and get caught up in the whole sales rush and end up coming home with something that was not really a bargain and probably will never wear in your life because it is one size too small.

Women and men tend to spend a lot of money during sales period on impulse buys because an item is 20, 30 or 50 percent off but they don’t realize that it might still be expensive or it is not really what they wanted.

You might know it but sales shopping requires a lot of preparation and know-how, either if you hit the high-street, a designer boutique or an online store.

So, here is my shopping guide for you on the best tips on how to make real deals during the sales and come back with all that you wanted. No more regrets and wasting money!

Plan it in advance

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Before the sales even start, spend one afternoon to have a look around at the shops and spot already what you would like to buy. The shops will in fact be emptier and you will have all the calm you need to make your choices wisely. Compare different shops and check the prices, to find out where you can find the cheapest product.

Then, when you come home, check also what you have in the wardrobe. It is very easy to forget what items you already have and in this way you can also spot the gaps you could fill with your new buys. Memorize especially what you do not need so you will prevent ending u with two items that are the same.

Make a plan also on where you will be going and don’t get distracted. Try to prefer smaller places and cities that will be not as crowded as the big capitals. There will be more possibility to find exactly what you want in the right size.

Then the most important phase of the plan is to actually stick to it! Don’t get distracted by flashy signals and writings but follow the itinerary you had already organized.

Decide your budget and stick to it

As a general guideline, to not end up spending more than you can afford, decide in advance what your budget will be. Base it on what you have spotted during your planning.

This will not stop you from enjoying all the fun of the sales, but it will prevent you from making impulse buys and actually spending more than your year’s salary. 

Invest in the classics and on what will stay in fashion also next season

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There is absolutely no point in buying something that you would just be wearing for a few more weeks and then leave in the back of your closet and never touch again because it is out of season or out of fashion completely.

Try to look for things like knitwear, denim, shift dresses, blazers and all the things that are either timeless classics or that you know that will stay in fashion also next season. For instance, you might want to get a cotton tank top you can wear with a cute skirt this season but also with a sweater on top this winter!

Plus, another piece of advice is to buy what you are really going wear not just because it is on sale. Ask yourself: can I really see myself wearing this? For which occasion? With which top/bottom/shoes? If you can’t picture wearing it in the next 6 months then you will probably never wear it and therefore it’s best to leave it.

Buy the right size

Avoid to buy an item that is one size to small and does not fit your with the idea that you will lose weight in the coming months and use it as a motivation, because, let’s face it: it rarely works anyway.

If your size is not there then you might want to get a bigger one rather than a small one and get your tailor to adjust it to fit your body, but then you will have to calculate the cost of that too in the total and you could realize that it is not really convenient anymore.

For the shoes, if they are a bit too big you can always add a gel sole to them to make them fit, but of course it is not the optimal solution. In any case, do not get them if they hurt, even if they are at an amazing price. It is better to do without a pair of shoes rather than ruin your feet or make them hurt really badly.

Check and compare the prices

Sometimes shops do some “fake” sales, that is they only discount the item by a couple of dollars or they even put up the original price just to make it look like they are offering a big sale on it!

Check on the internet the actual retail price of that item and then decide if it is a real bargain or they are just pretending it is.

Have a look at the return policy

Most shops will actually not make you return items that are on sale so you need to be super sure about that item before you buy it. You might want to check also that is is not ruined, so try the zipper and look for stains and holes before you go to the checkout. 

Internet shopping

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The Internet is a great tool to avoid most of the stress and the rush of going for sales shopping on the high-street. Keep checking the e-stores you like constantly, even before the sales in your city start, as sometimes online companies make them start at their own dates.

Plus, some of these stores might be located abroad so sales will start in different periods in different countries and even more in different continents!

Cover photo: tumblr.com

About the author

Stephanie Reed

Stephanie has written for many online and printed magazines and she is now working as the editor of So Vain, which she founded, but also as a fashion consultant and stylist.

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