A great way to have more money is to spend less on the things you buy. These days, it seems like most stores have a sale every other week (or more). So how do you know when a sale is REALLY a sale?
Let’s talk about clothing for a moment because that’s what I’ve been keeping my eye on. I’d assume this also applies to other items sold mainly in clothing stores as well.
June and August are “boring” months when it comes to sales. As you know, there are often big sales around holidays: Black Friday, Presidents Day, Labor Day weekend – you name it. These are all big sales that are fun to shop, and don’t get me wrong, I shop those as well.
But when I’m looking for a really low price (usually it’s because I don’t need the item but want it), I find two of the best times to shop for clothing are the middle of June and right now – the first part of August. In other words, times that don’t have a holiday sale anywhere near them. There could be other times as well, but these are just two periods I’ve noticed over the past few years.
Let me give you a few examples. Earlier this summer, I found a pair of shorts that I really wanted from Eddie Bauer. I know they often have 50% off sales, so I waited. I didn’t have to wait too long, and soon the whole store was 50% off. Instead of paying the full price of $70, I paid $35 for the shorts. I brought them home and started wearing them. I loved the way they fit. They had a second color that I liked, so I kept my eye on them again waiting for a sale. I saw them jump around from $70 to $42 and back up, but they didn’t go back to $35. Then guess what happened yesterday? They dropped down to $26.99. That’s a huge discount.
We’re in early August. There’s no holiday. It’s a sale to get people interested in shopping. I just looked it up, and they’re calling it the “End of Summer Sale” with up to 60% off. It doesn’t matter to me what they call it…I’m very happy with the price and will be buying it!
Here’s another example. I’ve been looking at a sweatshirt from Talbots that’s regularly $89.50. I wasn’t going to pay that. I waited, and eventually, they brought it down to $69.99. Then, every so often they’d have a sale on it…it would be 40% off one day, then 50% off another. I’m not going to lie…I still didn’t want to spend $35 on the shirt! I didn’t need it. Guess what? This past weekend it was 50% off and then an additional 25% off, bringing it down to $26.25. Now THAT is a discount that I’m happy with. Since then, the past few days it’s been 60% off, at $28. Still not a bad price.
Now, I will point something out. If you really love something and HAVE to have it, waiting is not what you want to do. If you wait too long, there is a good chance your size will be sold out. But if it’s more important for you to get a better price and you’re OK with the fact that you might not get it, watching the price and seeing what happens is a good way to go.
My point is if you want to save money, keep an eye on the prices of things. Check every day or two (online, of course) and keep track of the price trends. You’ll soon see if the price gets cut in half every month, or goes down even more. You’ll also see that at certain times of the year (like I’ve noticed with June and August) prices can get really low when stores are trying to clear out inventory!
So what am I saying? Patience and observation can lead to significant savings. Whether it’s clothing, electronics, or other goods, understanding the timing of sales and knowing when to pounce (or when to wait) can make a big difference in your spending.
Happy shopping, and may your deals be plentiful!
Enjoy,
