We have some big sales going on and coming up, so I wanted to share four strategies to shop big sales without going broke. The biggest and most well known sales are Amazon Prime Day (July 15th) and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, (starts July 12th for card holders) however it turns out that stores including Banana Republic, Macy’s, Best Buy, Sears, and JCPenney are all having sales too in order to compete. All of the sales and good deals can be overwhelming, so I’m sharing four strategies to shop big sales without going broke to help you stay calm, collected, and on budget.
Give yourself a strict budget ahead of time
Before shopping, go over your finances and determine what you can spend. Part of successfully navigating big sales without going broke is being financially responsible. Pay attention to your finances and give yourself a hard budget that you cannot go over. By outlining your max budget ahead of time, you’ll be able to make smart purchasing decisions and prioritize what you really want/need without going overboard.
If you’re really consistent shopper at the same places, consider getting a store card:
Don’t want to affect your credit? Many stores and websites have debit options as well, and if you do frequently shop there, the discounts WILL add up. As an added bonus, Nordstrom card holders get to shop the anniversary sale early.
Target and Amazon both have fantastic loyalty programs where you save 5% on each visit and get additional coupons in the mail, whereas Nordstrom mails you gift cards equating to a % of your purchases and provides free in store alterations. Now stores like TJ Maxx are even offering great store card options! Do your research and see what’s best for you, but I always say, if you’re going to shop, you might as well get money back from it!
If you’re going to shop, you might as well get money back from it! – Click to tweet this
Utilize your online wish list:
One of the easiest ways to save money is to be patient. Many online stores such as Amazon and Nordstrom have a wish list where you can add items you like, and wait for the price to go down. Check your wish list to see if any items you were eying have gone down in price, then snatch up your item for a percentage off. Using your wish list as a guideline during sales is also a great way to stay on budget. Figure out what you need or have been wanting for a while to give you a better idea on what to buy during sales. It’s the spur of the moment sale item purchases that often break the bank.
Make sure that your purchases are actually useful:
When going shopping, it is important to buy items that a) you truly love, and b) that will be useful. We all buy items that aren’t super practical but oh so worth it, and that’s fine, because if you can’t treat yourself sometimes, what’s the point?
With that said, the key when shopping a big sale is to stick with items that will help you build a wardrobe that boosts your confidence and works with your everyday routine. Invest in timeless pieces like a fabulous jacket, a perfectly fitted blazer, or pants that fit you like a glove. Items that you can repeatedly wear and style into different outfits are what will keep you going and let you build your own iconic style. Before you go shopping take inventory of your wardrobe and see what items you’d like to add to it. By figuring out pieces that will be useful additions, you’ll have a better idea for what to look for during the sale.
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If you don’t have a plan, it’s easy to completely derail your budget during a big sale. Items at a discounted rate seem alluring, and you forget all about what you really need or what to spend, but as long as you use these four strategies to shop big sales without going broke, you’ll be just fine. Happy shopping!