Shopping strategy – the Spiff

Fashion, sale, sale clothing, sale-drunk, shopping, Shopping strategy, west town mall

Expertly Shop a Sale

July 17, 2015 No Comments

If you’re on a spending freeze, I would highly suggest you keep a ten mile buffer zone between you and the mall because the sales are craaayyy-zzzeee good right now.

But just because they’re offering 150% off already marked down items, doesn’t mean you need to run around swiping your credit card like you’re in a sword fight. Or the metaphor I like to go with is – stay sober, don’t get sale-drunk.

It’s so easy to get in the store and immediately become intoxicated by all the savings. But what usually happens in that scenario is you make decisions bases on prices and not need and you end up with things you regret.

Let’s avoid that. Let me be your designated shopper…

1. Go in knowing what you need.

If there are certain things your summer wardrobe is lacking keep those in mind as you shift through the mounds of $2 items. Even if it’s something general like, “I need more shirts to run around in on Saturdays.” It helps you buy more wisely if you have your needs in mind.

2. Start thinking of the next season.

Sometimes retailers will pull out pieces from their winter collections that didn’t sell in January. Don’t disregard these. It’s easy to pass them by because you can’t walk out of the store and put on a sweater, however, Future You will LOVE the fact that you picked up that very versatile striped cardigan for fifty cents. Even when you’re looking at summer tops, start to consider how they’ll layer so you can get even more use out of them.

3. Walk around with it for a second.

This is my go-to, fail safe method for deciding on a piece. Even if the shirt costs $10, if you are unsure of it, or if it doesn’t fit you just right, walk around with it for a second and let the fumes of a great deal settle while you think in real-world terms. Where will you actually wear this? Can you tell me other pieces it will go with or bring together for a look that is truly you? Walk around, ask yourself those questions then decide from there.

Bonus: Do a little Christmas shopping.

Seriously now is the time to get a lot of Christmas shopping done. I’ve already bought three presents that I saved loads of money on by doing so. Future Me is going to do a happy dance.

christmas, Fashion, shopping, Shopping strategy, Videos, wbir

Links You’ll Love

December 11, 2014 No Comments

Want to hear a lesson I learned about buying part of your Christmas outfit online? Check the shipping policy. Do that so it doesn’t send you into a panicked frenzy of trying to replace it when you realize it’s not going to arrive on time. Just something that popped into my head just now as I sit here sipping tea by the fire. It wasn’t at all because I just came out of that panicked frenzy myself. Not at all.

Something that will help prevent all of that is shopping local. And yes, buying from stores that are local to your area is awesome, but I’m also talking about not shopping online for something like clothes that you need to cover your body at a certain event. Ha.

Lesson Learned.

Well, now that I’ve gone on that rant, let me tell you about a couple of links I like to shop from. Yeah…didn’t plan for this blog post to become an oxymoron but, hey, that’s the beauty of reading blogs – you never know what you’re going to get.

When you’re not in a rush to buy something, or you’re looking for a great gift, check these links out…

Keep.com

My inbox is full of stores/brands trying to get my attention. Honestly, I “keep” (I intended the heck out of that pun) this one in there because their subject lines are so hilarious. Proving that witty writing always wins.

Oh and to go along with their great sense of humor, they’ve got a great website full of things you wouldn’t bump into in your friendly neighborhood Target. Things like gorgeous clothes, lovely jewelry and romantic art that says, “You’ll do.” The whole website resides right up my alley.

Buy directly from them or “keep” an item to look back on later.

6pm.com

Sister to Zappos, 6pm is a great way to shop brand names at a discount. And the couple of times I’ve ordered from them it’s actually come in very quickly. Like next day quickly. So if ever I HAVE to buy something online that I need quickly, I go right to them.

But check on it for your area because I’m sure it’s different for everyone.

sale, sale clothing, sale-drunk, Shopping strategy

The One Thing You Don’t Want to do When Shopping a Sale

January 10, 2014 No Comments

There is a special feeling of euphoria when one sees the words “Sale!”

If you love a good bargain, seeing discounts signs are like seeing the first lights of Christmas. The trick is not getting carried away in your jubilation.

The last thing you want to do is buy clothing just because it’s a good deal.

Let me explain…

The danger in buying clothes just because they’re so cheap, is the fact that you begin to fill up your closet with “junk food.” We all know what happens when we fill our body’s with junk food – it doesn’t perform as well.

The same is true with your clothes. I truly believe there is something that changes in our brains when we see great deals. It’s like another part of you takes over – a scary, non-logical part.

I’ve noticed it in myself. I’ll be shopping and see a top that’s discounted off it’s sale price. Now if this top were to be full price, I wouldn’t think twice about it, but because it’s discounted so deeply it becomes a real contender. So I buy it.

And what happens?

I get home and maybe a week later when the shopping high has worn off, I pass the top in my closet and think, “Oh I’m never going to wear that.” There goes money but most importantly there goes valuable space in my close that could be used for something that’s going to help me (a visual vegetable, if you will).

Don’t hear me say that I’m against all sale shopping. Lord (and my husband) knows I am not. But what I’ve done is employ a few tricks to help ward off making any mistakes while sale-drunk.

I ask myself these questions…

1. What can I wear this with?
2. Is it fulfilling a need in my closet?
3. Would I wear it tomorrow? (If it’s a seasonal item and you’re not in it’s current season, think of what events you typically attend that you could wear it to).

Ask those questions and if it passes the test, get it. If it doesn’t pass, but you still want it just be sure to make that kind of purchasing a rare thing, then go home and get rid of something in your closet before you put it in.

Ps: I just happened to go sale shopping after writing this, and for the record I’d like to add one one more question to the list.. 4. Do I already own something similar to this? (For me the question would be…”Don’t you already own four other black tops just like this one?)

Hey, friends don’t let friends buy sale-drunk. That’s what I always say. Well, that’s what I said this one time when I was closing out a blog anyway :)

shopping, Shopping strategy, thanksgiving; style setter

The Eve of Giving Thanks

November 27, 2013 No Comments

I’ve got snow outside my window and a Publix sub waiting on me, so it’s been a very good day so far.

Unfortunately with all the hustle and bustle, today’s blog has gotten away from me.
But here it is, I’d like for you to enjoy one of my favorite posts from last year. It’s the post I wrote on last Thanksgiving Eve and it all still rings true.

Be sure to tune in (during your food coma) tomorrow and Friday for THREE more posts from my Style Setter blog – how to dress for Black Friday shopping, and two gift lists (one for girls and one for boys!).
Then catch The Spiff live on FOX43 Friday morning between 8:30 and 8:45 for some makeup gift ideas! So much to be thankful for!!!

Today, my friends, is the funnest day of the whooooole year.
Why, you ask?
Because we’re standing on the brink of the holiday season.

Right now, all the fun and family and hustling and bustling and glow lights and good eating is waiting to be plugged in and running!

Take a moment and enjoy it. Right now.
Aaahh.
Perfect.

Now you’re ready to gear up for the biggest shopping day of the whole year!!!!
Here are a few quick tips to keep you in a good mood while you grab all the deals…

1. Hydrate. Keep water in your car and refuel in between shop stops.

2. Keep a granola bar in your purse. Those long lines seem a lot shorter when you’re not crankin out the cranky because you’re hungry.

3. Wear comfortable shoes. Comfort over style people-don’t worry so much about looking cute, chances are the other shoppers are too sleepy to notice.

4. Keep the laughter going. The few times I’ve braved the Black Friday darkness, I’ve noticed that everyone has the same half awake, crazed look of desperation on their face. Keep the smile big and the light moments coming. If you don’t get what you set out to buy…Christmas will still come. Jesus will still be on the throne.
And remember there’s always Cyber Monday :)

Enjoy this day, the dawn of the holidays!

Today, I’m thankful for having a relationship with God. There’s no way I would try to make it through life without that. I’m so very thankful that He loves me and cares about the littlest things that I care about :) And He cares about you!!

Shopping strategy

Shop Drop and Roll

November 20, 2012 No Comments

Ladies, it’s almost game day.
I’m talking the super bowl of shopping days that is Black Friday.

And while you want to sit comfy in your Thanksgiving day hangover, it’s not the time to sit sucking on a turkey bone. It’s time to get out there, and get some deals!

But like all good games, we have go into it armed and confident in the fact that we can handle whatever’s thrown at us. Because whether you like shopping or not, you’re going to have to brave the Christmas crowds at some point in the next month, which means any time in the next six weeks you step out the door to shop, you’re going to need a game plan.

So are you ready?!
I said ARE YOU….ok you heard me the first time…

Game day prep:
1. First thing you have to do is make a list. I cannot stress this one enough. If you don’t have a list or if you’ve only got on in your head, it’s going to get lost the moment that desperate mom moves you like a disguarded bag of potato chips to get at the Twilight DVD. Have a list.

2. I know that when we Christmas shop it’s “all about giving”, but that $15 pink half zip pull over at Old Navy would look great with your hair, or at least that’s what you think dashing through the store. Therefore, know what your size is in every store you’re going to visit. This way standing in line to try things on is completely eliminated. Grab, go. (Well, stop and pay for it of course).

3. Have a mapped out game plan. Literally, map it out. A lot of stores are starting to flash up their deals so a lot of research before hand is going to stave you a huge headache and guess work when you’re out in the field. Figure out who opens with the best deals on what you need first, then go from there.

4. Know your budget. Know your budget. Know your budget. I know, that’s a little vague ;)
If you know exactly what you’re going to spend, then there’s no wasted time, money or energy on things that you won’t need/want to give. I know first hand, once you’re out there in the magic of the late night/early morning Thanksgiving hangover fog-everything looks like the deal to end all deals. Snap yourself out of it with a big cold glass of, “I have this much to spend.” When you’re out of that amount, call it a day (or night).

Ok players, the countdown has begun. Start your shopping cart lunges, and run-purse clutched through an open field. It’s almost time to get our deals on.

Come back tomorrow for how to increase your shopping stamina.

And Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)
Today, I’m thankful for a holiday like Thanksgiving that gives us a reason to stop and be thankful for each other. Not to mention getting to take time to be with everyone we love to be with over food. :)