It might be just one more sleep until Christmas Day but it’s only two sleeps till the Boxing Day sales. In some cases, they’ll be starting tomorrow, or even today. Looking forward to snagging a few bargains? Don’t do anything until you’ve checked out these ten top tips for the sales.
1. Know your budget.
Make sure you know how much you have to spend. You shouldn’t be bankrupting yourself at sales time.
2. Is it really a bargain?
Just cos it’s reduced, doesn’t necessarily make it a bargain. Ask yourself, is it within budget? Even with 90% off, it might still be out of budget (see tip below from Sunday Times’ journalist, Shane Watson!). Likewise, it might be cheap as chips but that doesn’t mean it’s worth it.
3. Shop your size.
Don’t be tempted to buy something a size or two too big, just because it’s in the sale. Chances are, you won’t get it altered and it’ll never fit! Similarly, don’t buy smaller. You might be dieting or getting fit but you don’t really know what you’ll want when that happens.
4. Assess your wardrobe.
Check off what you already have. If you have five white shirts in your wardrobe already, you probably don’t need another. Even if it is 60% off! If you’ve been searching for the perfect black trousers all year but still yet to find them, the sales might be the ideal to get your hands on an even better pair than you’d normally be able to afford. Check the gaps in what you already have.
5. Make a list.
Once you’ve found those gaps in your wardrobe, make a list. I’m not saying you have to religiously stick to the list but it will help to keep you focussed and not go too far off what you actually need.
6. The three outfit rule.
You’ll have heard this so many times but it works. When you find something you love, have a quick mental recap of what you already own and how it will work with your wardrobe. It’s no good buying a new midi leather skirt, knowing that to wear it, you’ll also need a new pair of shoes and a top that will go with the skirt. Again, it’s not a bargain if you have to buy a whole new outfit to make it work!
7. Invest now.
Sales are the time to get your hands on a few slightly more expensive pieces that you wouldn’t be able to afford at other times. Maybe a leather jacket you’ve wanted for years? Or a pair of knee high leather boots? Or maybe a designer piece that you’ve been lusting after.
8. Check out #sssavings for additional money off codes and discounts.
We’ll be keeping out Twitter hashtag up-to-date with all the latest sales news and discount codes as we get them! Follow us @sugarandspiceSG
9. Return anything that doesn’t work.
If, in the unlikely event, after following these tips, you come home with something that doesn’t fit/suit/go with anything else in your wardrobe, make sure to return it. It stops being a bargain and becomes a drain on your bank balance if it just sits in a bag at the back of your drawer until you discover it in a year’s time and it ends up going to the local charity shop.
10. Shop sober. Wear flats.
Think about when you’re going to be shopping and where. If it’s online, try not to be doing it after Christmas drinks as you might end up with a few extra bits you’d not bargained for! If you’re hitting the high street, think about your attire. Choose an outfit which is pretty neutral so that anything you try on should look ok. Choose an outfit without too many layers for trying things on. Wear flats to keep comfortable!
And finally, a few from the experts around the web!
Laura, of Wearing It Today, says:
“I have a little technique I’ve been using for a few years since I absolutely hate sale shopping, in shops and on line. A few weeks before sales time start I adding (quite indiscriminately) to my basket all items that I’ve been wanting that season, I get them ready in my chosen colour and size so the day that the sale hits I am (potentially) one click away from securing it at a better price.
“I keep them in there waiting till the price goes down to what I’m mentally prepared to pay for them and if they go.. oh well, it wasn’t meant to be!”
Shane Watson, at The Sunday Times’ Style magazine, says:
“Just because something is a fraction of its original price, it doesn’t mean you can afford it. The Louis Vuitton ankle boots that I’ve been lusting after all autumn, if reduced by 90%, would still be a cool £1,250. So, establish your price limit and focus on bargains, not whopping discounts.”
What are your top tips for shopping the sales like a pro?
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