How to Bargain Clothing Shop

Bargain shopping could mean saving a few bucks at a time and could ultimately lead to saving a few thousand dollars per year. Being a smart and savvy shopper takes practice and knowledge. A bargain shopper knows when to settle or when to continue searching for greener pastures. Become a bargain shopper by taking advantage of the resources available to you.

Instructions

1. Find out when the major sales are. Ask your preferred stores when their sales are throughout the year and mark these dates on your calendar.

2. Shop during seasonal transitions. Stores have markdowns when they're trying to get rid of last season's goods.

3. Visit off-price divisions of high-priced shops. Many outlet stores have merchandise that is 50 to 60 percent off the department store's costs.

4. Sign up for mailing lists. Many stores and online shops have newsletters that are sent to customers on their mailing lists.

5. Check second-hand stores. For one-of-a-kind items, check vintage, thrift and/or consignment stores.

6. Purchase second-hand items directly from the owner through auction sites or in classified ads. Check classified ads for garage sales, moving sales and estate sales.

7. Find coupons or coupon codes. When shopping online, research coupon, discount or promotional codes in order to get deeper discounts.

8. Price-comparison shop online. Visit several sites until you fetch the best deal possible.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're shopping during a sale, shop early to get first dibs.

Resources

• MSNBC: Navigating online coupon shop
• Los Angeles Times: Secondhand shops often are first choice
• SF Gate: Dress for less
• Real Simple: Bargain hunting websites