While new technologies in virtual retail are allowing you to browse a store’s merchandise and see fashion catwalks in action, we all still have times when we just have to run to a local store and get something in person. Whether we are down to the wire with finding an outfit for an office party or looking to replace some much-needed seasonal items like swimsuits last minute or any other seasonally appropriate attire, it can be hard to get a decent price when shopping in a harried manner. Luckily, there are a number of ways to find local deals when needed.
1. Paperless Flyers to the Rescue
As I mentioned in my last post, Seven Stores to Buy Fashion Inexpensively, Retale.com is a website and app that aggregates all of the latest circulars in your local area in one shot. You can catch a glimpse of promotions and sales of participating stores. This works out well for those who may be out shopping but don’t have their flyers handy. Skip potential paper cuts and wrangle up the sales in one place. This way you can peruse the latest promotions and save while still being an in-the-moment shopper.
2. Scan email alerts and have coupons handy
Signing up to get alerts for your favorite brands can work to your advantage. If you weren’t planning to shop but know that a deal could be hiding in your email, type the name of the store and in the search to scan your inbox quickly. Click on the last email to see what the store is offering. Many stores will offer the same deals in-store that they offered online.
Also, there are stores like Old Navy that give you 10% off your next purchase when you fill out a receipt within five days of making the purchase. If you happened to shop there recently, you could still get the discount if you have your receipt handy. The survey takes only 5-10 minutes to fill out. You can screen-shot the code and have the cashier enter it at checkout or you can manually write it on your receipt and keep it in your wallet. The discount is good for a few months. It works to your advantage to do this in advance so when you are pressed for time, the coupon will be waiting for you to use. When you have down time, be sure to do this as soon as you get back home from the store or you can even learn how to coupon while watching television.
3. Check this app whenever you shop.
Whether you end up finding a deal or promo you can use through your email, rest assured that this app may have a local store to get you a lower price quickly. Raise.com is a virtual hub for buying and selling gift cards. Consider purchasing discounted cards when you know you’ll be shopping soon. Raise.com offers more than 3,000 brands including stores like Target, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s. If you had your eye on a new pair of jeans, you know you’ll need a maxi dress when the season changes or you’d just be happy to sprinkle a few new pieces into your wardrobe, purchase a discounted gift card in minutes and you’ll get a head start on smart spending out of the gate. If the item you want happens to be on sale, you can most likely stack the discount at the register. Check policies first.
4. You might flip for this money-saving app.
Sign up for Target’s Cartwheel app and get alerts about the latest sales and breaking news. Once you install the app, you can start adding desired deals that are stored for you to retrieve later. There is a bar code icon in the top right corner of the app. When you tap on it, you can view what you selected. Once pressed, one bar code sits at the top of the items you’ve chosen, which sets the deals loose once scanned at the register. Search the menu to quickly find the types of offers you’d like to purchase. You literally tap the word “offers,” then “apparel” for clothing deals. The offer listed will tell you the brand, discount available, expiration date and other details.
5. Check out deal sites
Deal sites like PennyPinchinMom.com and Hip2Save.com spend hours on end posting the latest coupons, discounts and promo codes as soon as they are made available. Benefit from their hard work by searching for clothing discounts on their sites. Many of their coupons are good in-store as well as online. Look for the most current offers to snag before entering the store. Type in “clothing deals” or “clothing in store deals” to more readily find what you’re looking for. (Living on the Cheap has promo codes for online shopping.)
There’s hope for us deal seekers who sometimes have to fly by the seat of our pants when searching for budget-friendly clothing. We can still get the most financial bang for our buck when shopping locally in minutes using the tips mentioned above.
