SHOPPING DOS AND DON’TS
Summer,
monsoon or winter, you can save money while looking like a million bucks!
IT doesn’t take a lot of money to keep up with the latest trends. Thank god for the ‘SALE’ season. For a true bargain hunter, it’s the right opportunity to save a few bucks while looking like a million dollars! But people often get carried away. With the great deals, comes the reality of struggling to find a parking spot, combating the crowds at the mall, and wrestling your budget into shape. So, here are a few tricks to make your sale shopping much easier on you and your wallet.
Be a store fan
Enrol your name, address and telephone number with the shops’ customer databank; this will enable them to keep you posted about the sales and you can get the best deal by being the early bird. Also, regularly visit stores’ websites and look out for ads and promotions. Today, social media allows for such updates well in time. “Keep an eye on advertisements that talk about ‘SALE’ and ‘DISCOUNT’ in newspapers, magazines, websites, hoardings and on television and take note of the amount of discount and the duration of the sale period. Make sure you do not miss out on a good offer,” says designer Riyaz Gangji. Also, do a bit of research. Read the reviews and ratings of the product to know what you’re buying.
Create a budget for yourself
“In order to avoid post-sale guilt, define your budget beforehand. Browse through your wardrobe and keep your requirements in mind. Make a shopping list and try to stick to it. Red sale signs can be really tempting, but remember to shop wisely,” says personal shopper Simran Lamba. Most important of all, set a time limit for yourself. Do not spend endless hours in a store as eventually, you will land up buying things just for the heck of it.
Schedule your shopping
Shopping early in the season will serve the best selection, and shopping later in the season may result in savings as prices are reduced. One benefit of gaining access to the collection on the first few days is that you will easily find trendy outfits in your size. Stores are less crowded early or late in the day and early in the week. Avoid weekend madness. “If you want t o optimise during sales, prioritise on your calendar. In the early hours as well as on weekdays, shelves are stocked, collection is well displayed and trial rooms are relatively empty. So attack!” says image consultant Sheena Agarwaal. This will also save you the time that goes in searching for a parking space and waiting on line at the cash counter. If you love to compare prices of similar clothes from different brands, remember that travelling to stores in different corners of the city to buy items that seem less expensive, might not be wise once you factor in the cost of fuel and your time. It’s always advisable to stick to one route or one destination on a single day. You can also consider visiting your favourite shops a day or two before the sales, to take a look at the collection and keep in mind what you want. This way, once the sale is on, you need not look through the entire collection, just check for the available size in the ones you had previously selected.
Reputation counts
This one’s for the on-budget fashionistas. You may know a few stores that sell really cheap stuff that are chic but not particularly well-made. These clothes may not even survive the first wash. It’s far wiser to choose reliable retailers who sell quality goods and provide equally good offers.
Consider the season
This one’s for shoppers who like to keep up or ahead of trends. “Along with the latest collection, sales usually comprise stocks which are at least a season or two old. Don’t get swayed by unnecessary bargains. Evaluate and ask yourself whether the sale item will complement other pieces in your closet,” says Agarwaal.
And as we said before, one of the best times to get a bang for your buck is the end of the sale season. Stores often mark down seasonal items once their demand starts to fade. For example, early fall or late summer are times when you can buy swimsuits cheap.
Know when to say NO!
Avoid purchasing things you don’t need now but may need in a year. Planning so much in advance will only trap your funds and waste some additional space in your closet. “As tempting as the discounted prices are, make sure you are investing in clothes that fit you. If they don’t, ask yourself if the piece requires minor alteration or redoing the style altogether,” says Agarwaal.
Check date, price, size
“Do not forget to check the condition of the garment when purchasing. If the fabric seems to be wearing off, no matter how much you love the garment, don’t go for it,” says Jasleen Kaur Gupta, co-founder of the blog, Fashion Bombay. However, a broken button or zip is not a deal breaker as it can be easily replaced. “Also, check return/exchange policies and make sure you redeem the coupons or vouchers,” says Gupta.
Cash is king
Interest charges added up on credit card purchases can completely kill your budget. So always pay in cash. If you must use a credit card, do not spend more than you can completely pay off in one to two months. Moreover, since shopping is really cheap during the sale season, it’s easy to get carried away and shop more than you want to. So leaving the cards at home wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Stock up on gifts
“If you are planning to buy gifts for your loved ones, make sure you purchase things that never go out of date,” says Gupta. This is because you may not want to give the gift rightaway but wait for the right occasion or a few months till the right time arrives. Ask for a gift receipt. Enclose the receipt with the gift so that your recipient can exchange (in case the rules permit) the item, if it does not suit or fit him/her.
Wear comfortable clothing
Always dress smart for a sale season rush. Wear clothes that you can easily slip in and out of. Leave the heels at home. Go with tank top/ganji and shorts or jeans so that when there is a queue, you are prepared to try something on in the aisle.
Consider CPW
If a sale item is appealing but the price seems a little high, think cost per wear (CPW). Spending more money on an investment piece may turn out to be more sensible in the long run. A classic coat priced at 5000 can sound expensive until you take into account how many wears it will actually give.
IT doesn’t take a lot of money to keep up with the latest trends. Thank god for the ‘SALE’ season. For a true bargain hunter, it’s the right opportunity to save a few bucks while looking like a million dollars! But people often get carried away. With the great deals, comes the reality of struggling to find a parking spot, combating the crowds at the mall, and wrestling your budget into shape. So, here are a few tricks to make your sale shopping much easier on you and your wallet.
Be a store fan
Enrol your name, address and telephone number with the shops’ customer databank; this will enable them to keep you posted about the sales and you can get the best deal by being the early bird. Also, regularly visit stores’ websites and look out for ads and promotions. Today, social media allows for such updates well in time. “Keep an eye on advertisements that talk about ‘SALE’ and ‘DISCOUNT’ in newspapers, magazines, websites, hoardings and on television and take note of the amount of discount and the duration of the sale period. Make sure you do not miss out on a good offer,” says designer Riyaz Gangji. Also, do a bit of research. Read the reviews and ratings of the product to know what you’re buying.
Create a budget for yourself
“In order to avoid post-sale guilt, define your budget beforehand. Browse through your wardrobe and keep your requirements in mind. Make a shopping list and try to stick to it. Red sale signs can be really tempting, but remember to shop wisely,” says personal shopper Simran Lamba. Most important of all, set a time limit for yourself. Do not spend endless hours in a store as eventually, you will land up buying things just for the heck of it.
Schedule your shopping
Shopping early in the season will serve the best selection, and shopping later in the season may result in savings as prices are reduced. One benefit of gaining access to the collection on the first few days is that you will easily find trendy outfits in your size. Stores are less crowded early or late in the day and early in the week. Avoid weekend madness. “If you want t o optimise during sales, prioritise on your calendar. In the early hours as well as on weekdays, shelves are stocked, collection is well displayed and trial rooms are relatively empty. So attack!” says image consultant Sheena Agarwaal. This will also save you the time that goes in searching for a parking space and waiting on line at the cash counter. If you love to compare prices of similar clothes from different brands, remember that travelling to stores in different corners of the city to buy items that seem less expensive, might not be wise once you factor in the cost of fuel and your time. It’s always advisable to stick to one route or one destination on a single day. You can also consider visiting your favourite shops a day or two before the sales, to take a look at the collection and keep in mind what you want. This way, once the sale is on, you need not look through the entire collection, just check for the available size in the ones you had previously selected.
Reputation counts
This one’s for the on-budget fashionistas. You may know a few stores that sell really cheap stuff that are chic but not particularly well-made. These clothes may not even survive the first wash. It’s far wiser to choose reliable retailers who sell quality goods and provide equally good offers.
Consider the season
This one’s for shoppers who like to keep up or ahead of trends. “Along with the latest collection, sales usually comprise stocks which are at least a season or two old. Don’t get swayed by unnecessary bargains. Evaluate and ask yourself whether the sale item will complement other pieces in your closet,” says Agarwaal.
And as we said before, one of the best times to get a bang for your buck is the end of the sale season. Stores often mark down seasonal items once their demand starts to fade. For example, early fall or late summer are times when you can buy swimsuits cheap.
Know when to say NO!
Avoid purchasing things you don’t need now but may need in a year. Planning so much in advance will only trap your funds and waste some additional space in your closet. “As tempting as the discounted prices are, make sure you are investing in clothes that fit you. If they don’t, ask yourself if the piece requires minor alteration or redoing the style altogether,” says Agarwaal.
Check date, price, size
“Do not forget to check the condition of the garment when purchasing. If the fabric seems to be wearing off, no matter how much you love the garment, don’t go for it,” says Jasleen Kaur Gupta, co-founder of the blog, Fashion Bombay. However, a broken button or zip is not a deal breaker as it can be easily replaced. “Also, check return/exchange policies and make sure you redeem the coupons or vouchers,” says Gupta.
Cash is king
Interest charges added up on credit card purchases can completely kill your budget. So always pay in cash. If you must use a credit card, do not spend more than you can completely pay off in one to two months. Moreover, since shopping is really cheap during the sale season, it’s easy to get carried away and shop more than you want to. So leaving the cards at home wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Stock up on gifts
“If you are planning to buy gifts for your loved ones, make sure you purchase things that never go out of date,” says Gupta. This is because you may not want to give the gift rightaway but wait for the right occasion or a few months till the right time arrives. Ask for a gift receipt. Enclose the receipt with the gift so that your recipient can exchange (in case the rules permit) the item, if it does not suit or fit him/her.
Wear comfortable clothing
Always dress smart for a sale season rush. Wear clothes that you can easily slip in and out of. Leave the heels at home. Go with tank top/ganji and shorts or jeans so that when there is a queue, you are prepared to try something on in the aisle.
Consider CPW
If a sale item is appealing but the price seems a little high, think cost per wear (CPW). Spending more money on an investment piece may turn out to be more sensible in the long run. A classic coat priced at 5000 can sound expensive until you take into account how many wears it will actually give.
WHEN SHOPPING FOR APPARELS AND ACCESSORIES, KEEP THESE IN MIND
Daily use items like nightsuits, lounge wear and lingerie sets are great options to start sale shopping. Outerwear like sweatshirts, sweaters, parkas, umbrellas, gumboots are smart options to hunt at the end of season sale.
Stick to classics; they are the sale season must-haves. They never go out of style. The trick of shopping in a sale is not how much one shops but how smartly one invests in pieces that can be worn for the next season as well.
Always hunt for funky, cool accessories. Sales give you a chance to buy some elegant pieces. Bags, belts etc. instantly upgrade and modify a simple look into a statement. Go for accessories that match the clothes you already have.
Avoid prints and bold colours. If neon shades are in this monsoon, it isn’t necessary they would be in vogue after three months from now. So play safe by opting for neutral colours.
Avoid falling into temptation with extreme cut-off prices and instead, give attention to detailing and finishes and most importantly, the fit.
Never buy cosmetics on sale, as they can be tricky in terms of their manufacturing and expiry dates etc. Since many sales do not have an exchange policy, it’s not worth the risk.
SHHH...
It’s
wise to go sale shopping on your own. That way you and your friend don’t have
to look at the same item at the same time thinking who will back out first!
Isn’t it better to put on the new dress and then tell people you got a steal
deal?
NEVER
SHOP HUNGRY!
“If you hit the store with an empty stomach, you’ll get tired soon and even end up buying stuff you don’t even need!” says image consultant Parul Shukla.
“If you hit the store with an empty stomach, you’ll get tired soon and even end up buying stuff you don’t even need!” says image consultant Parul Shukla.
Shikha
Shah TL130714
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