How to Bargain Shop for Clothes

In this economy, a little sale isn't enough to make most people want to buy something new. It is even better if it is at a deep discount of 75-95% off of the original price. That is how I shop, and I will share my tips on finding new clothes on clearance and saving hundreds of dollars (if not more) in clothes every year.

Instructions

1. 

   Find out if you have any outlets and discount stores within driving distance of where you live. While most regular stores will offer periodic clearance sales, you will be able to find better sales at outlets and discount stores more often. You can look for outlets and discount stores via an online search, by looking through the Yellow Pages (the book or online), or by just asking around. If you have any outlet shopping centers near you, find out what stores are in those centers. You may be surprised that some of your favorite name brands might have outlet stores nearby. For example, I have a children's store in my local mall that sells items for normally $9.99 or more per item, but there is an outlet of that store about 30 minutes away from me that often sells items for 99 cents!

2. 

   Try not to be too brand conscious. Name brands can be cute, fashionable, expensive looking, and durable, but when money is tight, it's hard to keep up with everything name brand. I have found that a lot of times you can find clothes in unknown or less expensive brands that are very fashionable and high quality, and these items tend to have great prices to begin with and even better clearance prices! If you must have name brands in your outfit, match it up with something that's not name brand.

3. 

   Try not to be overly trendy. You can be fashionable, even if you are not super trendy. Determine how you want to express yourself, the style that best suits your personality and lifestyle the best. You could probably dress the same way for at least five without looking outdated. However, if you are trendy, like often teenagers are, you must have the very latest and hottest thing that makes you pop in the crowd (or blend in with all the other trendy people), but then a few months later, it will look silly. For example, bright-colored pants might be hot one minute and then ridiculous the next. You can incorporate some trendiness with your accessories, such as costume jewelry, a handbag, a belt, a scarf, a hat, and things that can be incorporated into your existing wardrobe, rather than investing in a lot of trendy clothes that might be useless in a matter of months.

4. 

   Once you have gotten past being overly trendy, the next step will be easy! Shop for out of season clothes! This is the biggest key to finding deep discounts on clothes. In April through June, look for fall and winter items like boots, sweaters, cardigans, heavy dresses, corduroy pants, fall and winter colors, and even clothes that are suitable for the winter holidays. In September through November, look for sandals, spring dresses, t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, capris and cropped pants, and things of that nature. Whatever store you go to should have clearance racks near the end of the season or the beginning of the next season, around the end of summer and the end of winter. Usually, you will want to look near the back of the store, look for the red signs, and you will normally look for the most disorganized looking racks in the store. This is because the clearance section will have a lot of single items and the section will be picked over a lot. Try to find out how the store is organized. Normally, clearance is organized by size and by discount, so that you can just focus on one area that is your size and price range. For example, there might be a rack that is has all smalls and is 75% off. Also be careful to inspect for holes and snags since a lot of people might have been handling the items.

5. 

   Identify your favorite stores where you can find the best clothes that suit your style and at great bargains. Then, find out what kind of shopping incentives that store offers by talking to a sales associate or calling customer service. Sometimes, you can open a credit card and get rewarded for being a frequent customer or just automatically get regular coupons. For example, if you open a Kohl's store card, they will send you a coupon in the mail every month that ranges from 15% to 30% off of anything. Then, if you find items on the 90% off rack and take 30% off of that, your savings will be even greater! Sometimes stores have specific times when you can buy items and get store "cash". Back to my Kohl's example, they might give you $10 Kohl's cash for every $50 you spend. Then, you can come back at a specified time and use the Kohl's cash to get free merchandise! It pays (literally) to sign up for e-mail and mailing lists for your favorite stores so you know all of the latest deals.

6. 

   You can save money by not buying stuff you don't love! Sometimes, women are guilty of buying stuff just because it is a super deal, but it adds up. For example, you could find a top on clearance for $3 in five colors and buy them all! Then, you realize the style doesn't really suit you or the rest of your wardrobe and are out $15 with more stuff taking up space in your closet! Therefore, carefully make your clearance purchases.

7. 

   Finally, check out your local second hand, thrift, and consignment stores. You would be surprised that sometimes you can find items in mint condition or even new with tags still on them. Again, look carefully for holes, snags, and stains. You can really save a bundle going this route.

Tips & Warnings

• Warning: bargain shopping can be addicting!