Let's go shopping. Get your basics: your cash, your credit
card, your checkbook, your ID, your map, and your car (or
other form of transportation). Where should you go? Here are
some of the places to go that offer great deals. But it may be
up to you to find them:
Big discount stores. These are the common ones you've
heard of: Kmart, Target, Ross, Bradlees, TJMaxx, etc. Sign
up for their regular newsletters so you know when the sales
are on. Be prepared to buy winter clothes at the end of
winter, and summer clothes in the fall for next year. Other
wharehouse and bulk stores like BJ's and Sam's sometimes
have great deals.
Look online. You will have to shop around to find really good
deals online, but garage sales on the web are becoming
more popular, as are second-hand clothing sales and other
store sales.
Garage and yard sales. Some people give away their old
clothing for nearly nothing. Buy the Friday or Saturday paper
and mark out all the places to go, map your route and be
prepared to get up early to shop. Ask if you can try on stuff -
don't just judge by how it looks. Make sure you can live with
any stains or rips or missing buttons - you may not be able to
fix them.
Secondhand stores. Thrift stores abound and the clothes are
dirt cheap. You will have to look around. Click on Thrift to
the right for more information.
Outlet stores. If you shop for outlet GAP, be prepared to pay
not less than half the normal GAP prices (usually). As with
any store, you will have to shop around, try on ten items for
one that is perfect as well as inexpensive.
Malls. Some malls have a reputation for being costly. But a
few have clearance floors upstairs or in the basement - their
own in-store "outlet." Again, try clothes on, sort through the
junk to find the good stuff. Sign up for the credit card for
extra money off and take advantage of deals. Look for
closeouts and grand openings.
Special stores. Occasionally you'll find stores that sell
clothes so that everything's $10 and under or $15 and under.
Categories like consignment let you make money on what you
give them, and you can try pawn shops too.
You can usually find good quality for such prices - but
beware, you might find a better deal elsewhere. $15 in that
store might seem like very little, but would you buy it
somewhere else?
Keep shopping and you'll find the best places in your area -
soon you'll be an expert!
Copyright � 2001 rani. All rights reserved.