More Shopping 'n AM~Erica

So anyway...

I promised some killer designer bargains, so let's get started, shall we?

Clearance!! Need I say more? Probably not, but I will anyway.

Whether you are at Wal-Mart or Macy's, check out the serious savings you can get! A lot of the reason things go on clearance is because they have discontinued the item, or they are making room for more inventory (probably an entire season early); it is NOT because the stuff is out of style! My favorite is probably Target & Kohls. I head straight for the clearance items, and I especially look for the 50% & up. I recently picked up a blouse from Nine & Co. (part of Nine West) for $3.40, and a pair of 1928 earrings to match the shirt for $6 at Kohls. I spent about $10 for a top & accessory ensamble. That's awesome!! The shirt was 90% off! About a year ago, I got about $200 worth of clothing for under $25 at Kohls.

DSW is a new fave of mine...I LOVE SHOES!! It makes my hubby crazy, but it's a passion. Even at "discounted" prices at DSW for their designer shoes, I still want to puke when I look at the pricetag. However...go to the clearance section (sound familiar?), and look at the color-coded prices. You can get 30%, 40%, 50%, 70%, even 80% off of the original DSW price. Learn when they have their sales, too. They had a sale all through the summer, plus gave 15% off coupons for Aug. 2-12. You could use 2 coupons at a time. I bought Lizzie 3 pairs of school shoes, which should have cost me about $80 or more, for under $25 for all three pairs - she got a MUDD pair, a Report pair, and (I'm not kidding) a BCBG pair! I wanted to do cartwheels in the parking lot! I found a pair of Katie & Kelly shoes, as well as a pair of Liz Claiborne shoes for under $10 each there. BARGAIN! I also try to keep track of the BOGO sale @ Payless. When they have their sale, Famous Footwear & Shoe Carnival have to have their buy-one-get-one for ½ off sale, too. Gotta love that! And that goes for every shoe in their store...including clearance items.

Look at the mall for stores catering to Juniors. I say this, because their pricing and sales cater to the working teen-aged girl, making minimum wage. After I got Liz the shoes, we went over to Wet Seal (another fave of mine), paroosed the clearance section (there's that word again), and got her a t-shirt, a sparkely hooded sweater, a long-sleeved shirt w/ rhinestone-crusted bow graphic, and a party-dress for a dance - all for...under $15. This was during their buy-one-get-one free on all clearance sale. Geez, I love shopping! Also, try Forever 21 & Heritage 1981 for clearance deals starting at $2.99 and up...and that includes clothing!

No, I ain't too proud to Goodwill! Thrift shopping is so much fun. Yes, you see a lot of weird stuff, but take time to sort through it; it's amazing what you will find. I recently needed a navy purse - navy is always in style, but you can never find a good purse in the color. I found the cutest patent-leather navy clutch EVER! Found it at Goodwill for $3.99. I even found 2 Issac Mizrahi dresses that I'd had my eye on, and missed out on both of them, in my size for $4.99 each. I also got a groovy, mod white-hooped necklace/belt (can be worn as either) for 99¢. I even found Ethan a pair of Old Navy swim trunks for $1. Look for thrift stores from Association for the Blind, Salvation Army, or any auxillary that may sponser one. Great stuff, great deals! Oh...and they don't charge tax.

I have already pieced together most of my Halloween costume, from these stores, for just under $15.

Another trick I love to use is rewards programs. I have one for DSW, Famous Footwear, and used to carry for Wet Seal (back to that one in jiffy). If you join a store/franchise rewards membership, it is usually for free, and the more you shop there, the more they send to you in rewards; this means they pay you, in essence, to shop at their store. That's Fabulous! Wet Seal offers a program which you pay a one-time fee for the year, and you get 20% off your first purchase, a purchase around your b-day, and 10% every other time. This is for EVERYTHING in the store. Within the first 2-3 trips, you've paid for the card, and you can still use it for a whole year. I've even been given coupons with the card to spend, 1/month. That's even more savings!

I have real challenge now that my hubby gave me. He has been so impressed with my bargain finding, he has challenged me to find stuff for guys like that, too: things like easy care, button-up dress shirts...no pressure. I'm up for the challenge & will keep you updated to my research & findings.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica