How to Shop During Sales and Clearances

Deep discount sales are designed to get products moving at the end of a season to save the retailer money, as shelf space and even warehouse storage space are premium real estate and cost the retailer more money. Shopping during sales and clearances is an excellent way to save money on the items you need and splurge on the items you want, minus the guilt.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Understand the term of the sale or clearance. Most sales are simply done to generate hype for a featured item and convince the consumer to buy, but the savings are often minimal. 10 to 20 percent off is really not a bargain at all, but 40 percent off or more can be a great deal for an item that you need, is popular and probably won't make it to the clearance rack. Check the terms of the sale for hidden minimum purchase requirements and other clever ways that get you to spend more.
2. Know what you need before you shop. Make a list of the items that you truly need before you go sale shopping to avoid buying things that really aren't necessary or overspending on items you won't use. Take the list with you when you shop and stick to it.
3. Set a budget for clearance and deep discount shopping before you go. Searching through racks and bins and digging through last seasons merchandise is the way to save the most money, but it may be hard to find wardrobe essentials and popular items in the bargain bin. Instead, go clearance shopping with a dollar amount in mind that you can spend that day on clearance finds that may not be essential but are a great deal on something you want.
4. Stay in the loop for sales and clearances. Get on your favorite retailer's mailing lists for advance notice for sales and save extra money with promotional coupons. Just make sure it really is a good deal before you end up overspending. For extra savings, get on the mailing lists for your local outlet mall and you can save even bigger.
5. Use the Internet to find great deals. More and more, the Internet is the way to go when it comes to finding what you need at the best price. Research original prices to determine the validity of sale prices, go for deals that include free or reduced shipping costs and consider buying used items on auction sites to get the biggest bang for your buck.