Any person that tries to tell you they are not in some way tempted or indeed won over by the idea of seasonal sales is lying to you. The simple fact of the matter is that each and every time these sales come around, which these days tends to be quite frequently, millions of people completely lose their minds and set out to completely destroy their credit cards. But in most cases there is something that escapes the thought processes of those that dash out to the stores and spend vast sums of cash. Quite simply, they are being parted from their money simply by being offered things which until the discounts were announced they neither wanted nor needed.
Of course, if you play your cards right, then seasonal sales can be absolutely fantastic and can allow you to stock up for the whole year for less than half the price you would normally pay. Nevertheless, there are certain essential rules when it comes to shopping in the sales that any budget-conscious Fashionista should follow in order to ensure that their enthusiasm does not get the better of them.
Here’s a quick look at a few choice examples from the experts:
Plan ahead
First and foremost, never head out to any kind of a seasonal sale without first having some kind of game plan with regard to what it is you want or need. The problem in so many instances is very similar to that of heading out to a supermarket when you are hungry – you basically buy anything that attracts your eye at the time because you didn’t really have a plan in mind as to what it was you need. So while it might sound a little like taking the fun out of the browsing process, it will nonetheless save you a small fortune if you decide ahead of time exactly what you want, need and intend to buy.
Want Vs Need
Following along those lines for a moment, try to bear in mind that there is a very big difference between wanting something and outright needing it. If you have all the money in the world and are really not bothered about how much you spend, then you can of course take home everything you want. If on the other hand you live in the real world and things are quite to the contrary, it is sometimes a good idea to think carefully about what it is you need instead of focusing only on what you want.
Budget Carefully
Prior to heading out to any kind of sale, it is a good idea to set yourself a maximum budget and to make sure you stick with it. In this instance, one of the best ways of going about this would be to take a set amount of cash and to leave the credit cards safely at home. This way, you’ll never find yourself overspending and regretting your enthusiasm after the dust settles.
Is It a Bargain?
It’s one thing for there to be a rather pretty rail of maxi dresses with a good 75% off the price, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the price they are now up for grabs is in fact a bargain. Even when heavy discounts have been applied, it is still a good idea to take into account the price that is now completely independently in order to decide whether or not it is a bargain or whether you can get something equally attractive but cheaper elsewhere.
Forget the Hype
Never under any circumstances fall into the trap of believing that these apparent one-off are never to be repeated sales and deals are in fact anything of the sort. Now more than ever, seasonal sales and clearances are going on throughout the year both on the high street and on the web, which basically means that if you were to miss out on any kind of sale, chances are there would be another one to make use of within a few weeks of the very most. So rather than diving headfirst into things and spending way more than you need to just because you feel that time is not on your side, try not to read into this kind of hype too much.
Think Ahead
Last but not least, if fashion really is your thing and you’re the type that keeps a close watch on upcoming trends, don’t let this kind of knowledge and information escape you when shopping at sales. After all, it may be a bargain right now and it may look the part, but if you’re 99% convinced it will be yesterday’s news within a month, ask yourself whether or not it is really worth buying.
