As I've probably already portrayed in previous posts... I like to shop. I also like to travel and adore sushi more than a girl saving to go back to school probably should.
Instead of giving off the appearance that I'm some really lucky girl who can just buy whatever she wants, let me just say: I'm not.
I wish I was, but nope. Not at all. Never have been, and probably never will be (future teacher).
So today I wanted to make my first post about my very own shameless money saving techniques.
First of all ...
clothes.
Four words: Email lists and Clothing swaps.
Emails from your favorite department stores can be a blessing AND a curse. You have to know how to navigate through them with finesse to come out on top.
Instead of signing up for every department store's email list, use websites like
Shop Style. All you do is fill in your favorite brands, and Shop Style will send you emails anytime that brand goes on sale on ANY WEBSITE! From large department stores to online boutiques, Shop Style will find it.
Why is this better? If you sign up for too many store email lists, you will wake up everyday to an inbox full of sale notifications, giving you the urge to shop even when you may not have needed anything.
I've used Shop Style and Ebay to find most of my Wildfox items, and I only buy things that are at least 50% off!
Another website I use is
Hautelook. Hautelook is a Nordstroms company that sells designer items on super sale, and everyday they have new designers on sale!
Click here for an invite from me =)
I also enjoy freebies and discounts from Victoria's Secret through their mailing and email list. But watch out!! Make a list of what you NEED. Then wait... NEVER PAY FULL PRICE AT VICTORIA'S SECRET!! There are too many sales, freebies, super sales etc. And keep an eye on your list when you get those frequent emails about the discounts and free shipping. Do you really need a new bra? Didn't you just get a new one last month when you got that other discount?? Remember, unless you were already going to buy it, it's not a discount!
I've had to learn to toss these out (unless I was going to buy a new bra anyways):
And use these whenever you get them!!!:
Just make sure to bee line it to a sales rep, ask where the free panty is, redeem coupon and run out without looking at all the shiny things!!
The points system at Bloomingdales and Sephora are also extremely rewarding. If you already shop at those locations, I would check it out. If your a makeup lover like me, learn to wait for the holiday season! Sephora, toofaced, M.A.C etc. all have huge sales during the holidays or they have multiple gifts with purchase. I've learned to bulk up on samples during the holiday and use them all throughout the year to keep from having to make large make up purchases multiple times a year.
Clothing swaps are pretty basic, yet most people seem to completely overlook them. I find it very hard to believe that anyone can be a shopaholic and not have any fellow shopaholic friends. We tend to find each other, gush over our favorite brands, and encourage each other by sharing new brands/links to cute new clothes/asking others to go shopping even if they don't "need to".
Instead of being an enabler to another shopaholic, try a clothes swap! Chances are you and your fellow shopaholic have way too many clothes to handle (yes, you can have too many clothes). So try swapping clothes with each other instead of spending more money on new clothes! Here are some items I got in my last clothes swap:
Marc Jacobs t-shirt
And these punk boots my friend got in Paris
Clothes swaps are fun and give you the thrill of getting something new without the crash of buyers remorse.
...secondly,
Groceries!
OK.. I know some of you may have something against.. "shudders"... coupons, but if your looking to save a few extra bucks so you can get that new jacket for fall TIME TO GET OVER IT.
Did you know that a bunch of the products that you buy weekly/monthly could have been purchased at a cheaper price?? And if images of people dumpster diving from the last episode of "
Extreme Couponing" have left you with nightmares FEAR NOT! There's this thing called the internet that companies are using to reach out and give you coupons!
No more digging through newspapers (though I recommend checking for coupons for local restaurants and stores before tossing those suckers), now you can just search for your favorite products online and find coupons to print out at home and bring with you on your next shopping trip. Before leaving the house, check your newspaper for Grocery store sales in your local area. See where your coupon will help you out the most.
You can also join programs where companies give you points for buying their products. Now, I would only do this for products you already actually buy, because
rule number one: It's not a discount if you wouldn't have bought it otherwise!
I for example love Special K cereal, nutri-grain bars, raisin bran, and corn flakes. All of these products are Kellog's brand food products so I went online to their website and joined the
Kellogg's family rewards program. You literally get points for buying the products you would have already purchased and can use those points to buy kitchen items, more food, even gift cards (including movies and starbucks! Hello birthday presents to my friends).
I have more shameless ways to save money that I'll post later... tomorrow I'm going up to Sacramento then driving down to LA Friday morning, so expect some traveling outfits in the near future!
Ciao Ciao
Kk
