Clothes shopping can be a lot of fun — even if you’re not a fashionista.
Matching patterns and styles, trying on outfits, picking the perfect look for a big event — there are entire magazines and television shows devoted to artfully shopping for attire.
But if you’re not careful, you can also fall into some traps. There are so many options, from boutiques to giant department stores, and each has its own way of selling and pricing.
So first try on some advice for size: Avoid these dumb clothes-shopping mistakes, which can cost you plenty.
1. Falling for a fake ‘sale’
When you see a price slashed by 50% or even more, that’s a deal worth nabbing, right?
Not so fast. Make sure the supposed original price hasn’t been hiked up just to make this “deal” look juicier.
Do a little online research for the actual list price — or at least to get a sense of what other retailers are charging for the item — so you’ll know if that bargain is the real thing.
To learn more about this trick of the trade, check out “Why You Should Think Twice Before Paying a ‘Sale’ Price.”
2. Not using Honey
There is more than one way to overpay when shopping for clothes. Falling for a fake “sale” is just one. Another is neglecting to use Honey.
This free browser extension and mobile app automatically scours the internet for coupon codes for the items in your e-shopping cart — and then applies the codes that net you the biggest discounts. It works at more than 30,000 retailers.
According to Honey, its users see an average discount of 18% and save an average of $126 per year.
3. Not getting cash back
Are you passing up free money for items you would buy anyway?
When shopping online, you can use a free cash-back website like Rakuten to earn cash rebates on purchases from thousands of retailers.
So long as you are paying off your bill in full every month and thus avoiding interest charges, you can also earn money back by paying with cash-back credit card.
Even better, you can double up on cash back by using a cash-back site and paying with a cash-back credit card.
4. Neglecting to follow your store online
Many major stores will text you a coupon if you sign up to receive their promotional emails. And you can collect coupons and learn about special sales by following the stores you like on social media.
Prefer not to have these alerts sent to your personal email address? No problem. Set up another email address through a free email service and use it just for those deals, promos and purchases.
5. Being clueless about sale schedules
Stores love schedules. If you shop frequently at a particular chain, learn its schedule for markdowns and annual sales — and take advantage.
Ask the clerks if you don’t know. These sale schedules aren’t state secrets.
6. Passing up an outlet store
Love Nordstrom’s shoe selection? Nordy’s heels move on to Nordstrom Rack, its discount relative, when they don’t sell. The same goes with Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.
Plenty of other big-price stores have lower-cost cousins, too. Or, just head to a nearby outlet mall for discounts on everything from jeans to jewelry.
7. Mooning over designer labels
If you’re papering your home with $100 bills, or are actual royalty, ignore this advice. Go ahead and buy all the designer clothes you want.
For the rest of us, the cachet of a fancy label isn’t worth the major-league prices. Levi’s jeans, for example, wear at least as well as pricier brands, and they have great old-school cred.
If you simply must own designer products, hunt for gently worn versions at a secondhand or thrift store.
8. Buying new when used will do
Be sure to check reputable secondhand stores before you buy new.
No one on the ski slopes will know if your snow pants have schussed down that mountain before — on someone else. The same is true for a barely worn prom or party dress, work clothes, school clothes, seasonal garb, sports attire and just about anything else you wear.
A few tips:
- Become an expert thrift store shopper by reading “11 Secrets to Finding Quality Clothing at Thrift Shops.”
- Find shops that specialize in gently used sports clothing and gear by searching online for a city’s name and “secondhand” gear and sports.
- If you live where winter sports are popular, look for garb and equipment at annual local ski swaps.
9. Caring for your clothing improperly
Examine each garment’s washing instructions before you buy. Think realistically about clothing care before wasting money on high-maintenance garments unless you’re up for doing the required care.
Before falling in love with those beautiful linen pants, for instance, remind yourself that, even if they are a bargain, they’re bound to wrinkle. And you hate to iron. Or, if they’re dry-clean-only, your money will be wasted if you’re likely to toss them in a hot dryer.
10. Choosing paper receipts
If a store offers a choice between an emailed receipt and a paper copy, choose email every time. That way, if your purchase disappoints or doesn’t fit, all you need to do is search your email box for the store name to retrieve it.
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