In this tough economy, shopping has not been so much a main priority and many people have been cutting down on their purchases. Saving money and finding the best deals for the things you want sometimes requires you to wait for the best time. However, people have needs and it's not always easy waiting and waiting until there's a sale at Bloomingdale's. Here's a list I compiled of all the places with the best deals and tips for saving money for your household, fashion, beauty, and personal needs!
1) Perfume: To find perfume at the cheapest price, I say go to your nearest TJMAXX, Loehmans, or Marshalls. They always have my favorite perfumes (Juicy Couture, Burberry, Britney Spears, Vera Wang) at unbeatable prices. However, if you're looking a for a fully packaged perfume as a gift for someone or neither of those places have the scent you're looking for, try: www.frangrancenet.com
2) Trendy Clothing-For trendy and high-fashion items a cheap prices I would say go to Zara, Banana Republic, Mango, H&M, or F21. I purposely put Zara first cause it is more expensive than the others , but if you're looking for trendy items that last long; those extra $10 make a difference. F21 is great for trendy clothes, just try not to go all crazy when you shop there. Think about what you truly need. You don't want to spend $100 on 5 trendy tops you may not wear a lot or tops that will go out of style. You can invest those $100 in a classic blazer or two well-made blouses that will last you years.
3) Lingerie/Intimates- This is most certainly a personal thing but if you are very concerned for your bank, I'm going to be flat out honest with you, Victoria's Secret ain't gonna be your friend. Although the stuff is cute and sexy, not all of it's made for an everyday woman. A lot of their bras & underwear are very low quality and they wear out quickly. Not to mention that, but they're pretty pricey. For cheap yet long lasting and CUTE underwear try H&M, a discount store, and department stores. For "special occasions" though, feel free to hit the lingerie boutiques ;)
4) Home/Office/Room Decor- To get good room decor at great values its best to first visit your local Target. They usually have a lot of great storage items, lamps, and shelves. Home Goods is also definitely a place where you can find many chic room accessories for your home or bedroom. In addition to that, try Marshalls, Tjmaxx, and Bed Bath & Beyond. I know for a fact Bed Bath & Beyond even gives out 25% off coupons and you can return items whenever you want, even if you don't have a receipt (now that's pretty awesome).
5) Designer Duds- It's hard walking past that Louis V without shedding a tear and sometimes those fakes don't satisfy your craving. Designer bags, clothing, and shoes are expensive. It's hard to accept, but it's annoyingly true. You don't have to settle for the crazy boutique prices though. You can still find cheap alternatives. Not every one has a designer section, but I've seen many discount stores like Marshalls, Tjmaxx, and Filene's Basement where they have a whole section of high end designer clothing at a relatively cheaper price. Nordstrom Rack and Off Saks 5th are also cheap branches of the high end dept. stores. Although these discount stores are relatively cheap, they can still be pricey at times, which is where I resort to outlet malls. They are often in the middle of nowhere and usually very crowded, but if you set a day to go, you can find such good bargains. (I remember one time I went to a Betsey Johnson Outlet and there was a buy one get one free dress sale). Just remember that sometimes these designer clothing items are expensive for a reason. For example; they may be made out of luxurious fabrics, have hand-made beading, have intricate emboridery, and different cuts and styles from that of a regular desginer.
6) Books- The best places to get books is your local library. For me, the library is full of infinite things. I once found a book on old Coco Chanel Photos, which was pretty interesting. If you're really interested in a book, check your local library first. You can even call from your home and they can check for you in the matter of 2 minutes. If they don't have it,try www.amazon.com I once got a used book in great condition for $2 (steal!) You can even sell it back when your done, or pass it along to a friend!
7) Makeup- Makeup can be tricky considering it isn't always the same for every person. If you're very low maintenance and you barely wear any makeup, you can find the most simplest of things at your local drugstore. However, some people are allergic, and do prefer high end brands for it's quality. When it comes down to eyeshadows, mascara, and lipgloss, i would personally go to drugstores. Generally, old mascara needs to get disposed of after 3 months, so there wouldn't be a point in spending $30 for the same quality anyways. Skincare, foundation, and lipstick on the other hand varies. Depending on your skin needs, skin type, and personal taste, skincare tends to fall in a gray zone because many people like to buy high end products as it is "better quality". In my personal opinion, brands like Clinique, Revlon, Rimmel, Maybelline, make great makeup at affordable prices. I definitely think splurging on things that will last you a long time is very important. However, it varies from person to person as people have different needs when it comes to makeup.
8) Travel- First off if you're a student, travelling can come a bit easier for you. If you visit www.studentuniverse.com you can find a lot of vacation deals for cheap. Also when booking a flight or vacation try planning ahead. If you wait until the last minute, flights get booked and prices go up. There are many tricks to getting good deals. If you are travelling in a huge group, many flights offer discounts, if you try visit a travel website at an uncommon time (ex: 3:00 am) you may find that prices are lower. Also, flying a day or two earlier or coming back during the week can dramatically reduce air-fare. In addition, take note that flying during the off-seasons is usually very very cheap as opposed to flying during Christmas.
hope this helps!
love you all
xx
