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Feature article: Online $5 and under
Shopping Savvy
Save your clothes
Simplify your wardrobe
Makeover your clothes
What to do with a T-shirt #7
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People who don't shop often can sometimes be the smartest shoppers. Why? They know exactly what they want. But there's one difference between the really smart shoppers and those people: they don't know where or when to go. Learn all the tricks to being a super-efficient shopper, and save time for strutting in your clothes.
To get really savvy in a jiffy, you need a plan of action.
First, get organized.
Get together a list of what you need to buy. You will not return without looking for everything.
Plan how you'll get there. Use a real map or draw one. Plan your route - which is most efficient?
If it's a shop you visit often, plan out the route INSIDE the shop. Are accessories in the front and sale items in the back to plow through? Go to the back first and work your way forward to the checkout counter. Plan for trips to the fitting room.
Decide when to go - avoid realy crowded times, but try to hit sales.
Set a time limit to finish looking. Any longer, and it has to wait till next time. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time, though (more than 5 minutes per store, and no more than 3 hours total). Include travel time.
Second, get your stuff together.
Carry cash. Carry only exactly as much as you plan to spend.
Carry your checkbook, but leave cards at home. Checks are more tedious and you're less likely to write one out for a small item you don't really need.
Take anything to be returned, exchanged, or matched. If you need a top for your blue striped pants, bring em along in a bag of your own.
Wear a swimsuit under your clothes in case you have to undress in front of others (if you're not shy, forget this step).
Take a pair of knee highs to try on shoes.
Take a bag - cloth or plastic, whatever. This is to carry stuff home in. You can take a few, and vow only to use them so you don't overbuy.
Don't forget your watch. You'll need it to stay on time.
Third, get going.
Whether you drive or take a bus, stop at each place, follow your route.
At each store, take your bags and cash and things inside. Follow your plan of working back to front.
When going through sale racks, decide on two items you are looking for. Flip rapidly and think of those items. Stop at any that seem good candidates and put them on your arm. Keep going until you're through the sale racks. Don't look at price tags yet.
Throughout the store, pick up any items to try on. This will also limit your items so you're more selective since you have to carry it all.
When you're done browsing the store, look at the price tags. Separate out what's beyond your budget..
Head to the fitting room. Give the items beyond your budget to the person or leave them on the rack. If you still have more items than the limit, leave some outside the room. Try on the rest, then come back.
When you've tried them all on, save the ones you like. If you wanted to get only one blue blouse for your blue skirt, don't get three. Pick the one that fits and looks and feels best.
Leave the clothes you're not buying with the person at the fitting room. Calculate how much the clothes you want to get will cost.
If you're over budget, you'll have to drop something. Pick the one you like least, leave it aside at the checkout. Continue until you're below your budget. Only take the items you like best.
Checkout with your cash, check the time, then head to the next store!
Choosing clothes
There are 4 things about clothes to see if they are right: comfort, fit, style, color. Different clothes can handle different things. But comfort and fit are most important for most items. Look for that.
Think about the material - you want clothes that are easy to take care of (no dry cleaning or ironing), that resist stains (neutral or dark colors), and won't fall apart (good sewing and construction).
Don't compromise fit for a style you like. It's okay to take what feels good and looks only okay. Sometimes comfort matters. Keep in mind, you might find something better somewhere else.
Hold clothes up to you when you are flipping through racks. If it looks like it's too small, it probably is. You can check arm lengths this way, too.
Whatever you can try on right there (jackets, etc), do only if there's a mirror around. If not, take it to the fitting room.
When matching to something else, hold them up together, then try them on together. It's the only way you'll know if they really look right.
Finally, go with your instinct. If something tells you it's not quite what you're looking for or you feel mildly disappointed, drop it right there. There's nothing worse than clothing you don't really like wearing.
So, you're a savvy shopper!
Now you're a smart shopper right? A few more hints:
Practice makes perfect. Try it when you go out next. Follow the tips above and see how much time you'll save.
Having said all that, sometimes it's okay to just browse. Leave all your money at home, though, so you don't splurge and regret it later.
To really streamline all your shopping, it helps to Simplify your wardrobe, too!
And once you've got those fab clothes, don't ruin them! Save your clothes. We tell you just how, easily.
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