Things You'll Need:
- Planning
- Patience
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Step 1
Make a plan of action this season. It’s now fall, so I will use it as an example, but you should be pre planning your shopping every season. For fall you may want warmer clothing but not quite winter apparel. Hoodies, Long sleeved shirts, jeans, and sweat suits are popular for the fall season. But unless you have to, don’t even think of buying any of it now. Wear last years. Instead, go through your current fall clothes and take notes on what you could use more of, what could be replaced, or what you’d just like to add. A new light leather jacket might be on your list of “wants”. Write it all down.
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Step 2
Do some recon. Hit all your favorite shopping spots and do a little price checking, next to each item on your list write down the price. If you happen to come across something you KNOW is a great deal, snatch it up, it may not last long.
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Step 3
Wait for the season to end. Around mid November the heavier winter apparel will make its way on to the racks, when it does head out and find the best deals on the lighter fall clothes. While you’re out, start planning for your winter savings. Write down items you’d like to have and their prices, come spring go out and nab them from the clearance racks. You can plan for spring and summer the same way, shop spring in the beginning of summer. And summer in the beginning of fall.
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Step 4
Buy your seasonal items, off season and in bulk when possible. Wait until after Christmas to buy anything Christmas related from next years decorations and lights to next years faux Christmas tree. If you buy it all just after Christmas you’ll save a fortune, and if you get your Christmas cards just after in bulk, you’ll never run out again. Another great idea a friend of mine introduced me to is pre-purchasing gift sets. If you have the space buy 5 or 6 perfume/beauty/shaving personal care type gift sets right after Christmas when they all get dumped in the clearance bins. Put them up in a closet and you will be way ahead on next years gift buying.
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Step 5
You can use off season buying to save you cash every year for any season or holiday. If you’re known for your Halloween bashes every year stock up for next year’s bash in the days following Halloween.
Comments
bossypants said
on 11/7/2009 This is such a terrific idea! I love your suggestion about note taking. It's good to capture the enthusiasm and inspiration in the season. Wise ideas for saving on sales! Thanks!