What are your favorite shopping tips?

elpgal

Take a husband with you to carry purse, offer feedback and commiserate.

Not very practial in summer but when thrifting, wear a tank and leggings underneath to minimize contact with icky clothes.

When in doubt, think 'what would YLF say?'

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I usually check online to see if there are any coupons available when I have a particular store in mind. I check both the store websites, and the mall website- sometimes there are coupons at one that are not at the other.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Don't go while you're hungry. I don't know why, but somehow I end up making my worst shopping decisions when my tummy is growling...

15 years ago

rute

Veteran

Mine are:

- Always shop alone;
- Comfy shoes;
- Take a bottle of water;
- Take clothes that are easy to undress;

15 years ago

JuliaInGermany

Active Member

I get frustrated rather quickly when shopping so I always start swith something that is "easy" to find: a nice necklace or scarf, shoes, sometimes even underwear. The thing is to find something I like to get into a good mood for the rest of the shopping trip.

15 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

I try to focus on one thing, if I need a black sweater that's all I look at and try on. I usually still get a little distracted, but if I can keep my goal in mind I don't wander through every section. I try to be very efficient too, I scope out all the black sweaters and then move on. No "polite" browsing if I know there's nothing there for me.

I don't enjoy shopping so I also try to remind myself that if I want to be nicely dressed I have to put the time in. I set a time limit and try not to go too far over or under.

15 years ago

NK

Active Member

Debora, that is such a great tip! I'm very guilty of buying dresses that seem to be a great length in the store, only to get them home to realize they look much shorter in my mirror or with the shoes I was thinking of wearing them with. I'll have to try the tape measure idea.

This isn't really a tip, it's just a quote I try to keep in mind in pretty much every aspect of my life:

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment."

I have to keep reminding myself of that, because it's how I keep ending up with stuff like five pairs of cheap shoes I kind of like instead of one pair I truly love! I'm still learning quality over quantity.

15 years ago

Taffy

Active Member

It's hard for me to get out without any kids, so I do a lot of online lurking and research.. checking garment measurements and options that are available. THen I can just run in and try on the ones that I've narrowed the list down to, and viola...I'm done.

15 years ago

Anonymous

Debora, I love your tip too. It would also be a good idea to have a tape measure when thrift/consignment shopping to check pant inseams and rises as well as skirt and dress lengths. I've also measured my best jacket length range for skirts and for pants.
Buy quality over quanity. If you make a mistake, even if it can't be returned, it is more likely to be able to be resold on consignment. Many shops say they won't even take brands from Kohls, Target, Old Navy, Walmart, Forever 21 or Pennys. People go for the better stuff. An exception for myself, I do buy bargain layering knits and replace them often. It seems like, no matter what the price, a black cotton tank or tee will be a bit faded after a season of wear. Even then, camis on Nordstrom's sale rack may be priced less than Target or Old Navy.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

0 Don't wear jewellery, it gets snagged on clothes when getting changed
0 Wear comfy shoes
0 Only shop with girlfriends or my mum as much as BF says he doesn't mind shopping I know he does and I always end up losing him!!!
0 Take regular rest stops

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

For me:
1. Always shop alone
2. Always bring a pair of heels to test out the clothes
3. Research it online first, and check to see if there are any upcoming sales or coupons available
4. Always, always, always check the expiration date (for dairy products) and the cleaning instructions (for clothes)! Are "Dry Clean Only" items of a quality that will merit the small fortune I'll have to invest in getting them cleaned? Are machine washable/tumble dry items likely to stand up to the abuse? Do they look like they're going to pill? And most importantly, will the item actually shrink if I put it in the dryer? I usually grill the sales associates on this last point, especially the ones who perkily inform me, "I have those trousers and I just LOVE them!"

15 years ago

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

LOVE the tape measure tip! And the rest. I get on best when I have done my research online first - I get bewildered when I go into a shop - and don't spend too long. After an hour I am fading and either need to stop or to have a rest if I'm not to make bad decisions.

Oh yes, one useful rule of thumb: if in doubt DON'T BUY!

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Great tips ladies!!

I bring someone. daughter, hubby or girlfriend ...who likes to power shop like me. I move fast , hit the stores I frequent and don't dilly dally. I love to shop but I like to move through it quickly. I don't bring anyone who will slow me down.

15 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Elpgal - love the purse holding hubby tip!

Khris, Taffy, Frances, and Thunalata - I think I need to start doing research on-line before hitting the mall. Excellent suggestion!

Maya - you crack me up! I don't do anything well when I'm hungry, either!

Rute and Louise - I agree, comfy shoes are a must!

Kristine and Taylor - I love that the two of you place an emphasis on staying focused. I tend to get distracted more often than not.

Pregnantmom - LOVE your strategy!

Nk - So true!

Joy - great suggestions for buying knits and thrifting!

15 years ago

April

Veteran

My shopping motto is "easy on, easy off." Wear shoes that you can step in and out of (no laces, no buckles), and don't wear a top that has to keep coming off over your head. The ideal would be a cami under a cardigan. Either leave the cardi open or just do up one or two of the buttons.

Alone is good but shopping with SO is even better. He finds the whole women's clothing thing mysterious and fascinating and takes me to far better stores than I would frequent on my own. (Yes, I count my blessings daily...)

15 years ago

Sharon

Veteran

I try to have a list of what I need and only look for those things. Otherwise I end up with a wardrobe full of orphans and throw good money after bad trying to get them to join the family.

15 years ago

Debora

Veteran

April - your SO sounds like such a sweetheart!

Sharon - I also keep a running list in my purse of what I need. It really does help to keep me on track.

15 years ago

Anonymous

1) Shop alone.
2) I carry a Steno pad in my purse with notes about what I'm looking for and some guidelines I've copied off YLF regarding what looks good on my body shape, as well as the MOTG formulas. I can get overwhelmed while shopping and tend to forget the "big picture," so it helps to refer to my notes when I'm ready to assume the fetal position in the dressing room. I also use it to write down brands/styles/prices of things I think I'd like to look up online for a better deal.

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Yes, shop alone.

Yes, wear clothes & shoes easy to take off and put on.

Yes, concentrate on hunting down one or maybe two items, unless this is just me-time shopping.

Try to keep store coupons/fliers in my purse so I don't miss potential savings!

I need to adopt thunalata's rule of thumb: when in doubt DON'T BUY.

Keep receipts in my wallet (especially when violating thunalata's ROT).

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Oh, Sara, I have GOT to learn to hang onto my receipts longer...thanks for the reminder!!

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

If I can't honestly say that I love it, then it doesn't come home with me.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Funny, I always buy when in doubt because sometimes I just can't tell until I have it home and have time to think about it, style it, and post it on YLF, and I'd hate for it to sell out while I"m dilly-dallying. I figure I can always return, and I frequently do. I always think of Julie's story where she got up for 5 minutes to use the bathroom, and by the time she got back the boots she had in her shopping cart were purchased by someone else!

15 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I agree with most of the tips already mentioned. I follow the comfy clothes and slip on/off shoes when serious shopping is the goal. I also bring a list of items to stay on track. One extra tip I have, a lot of times I find clothes left in the dressing rooms. So I started trying them on regardless of the size. Once in a while I find a perfect size and fit. Other times I find something I NEVER would have tried and end up going onto the sales floor to hunt down my correct size. Either way it's gotten me to try on more variety, expand my comfort zone, and sometimes just get a good chuckle. (and yeah I end up bringing out those extra clothes too)

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Oh Lisa, you're so right, and that reminds me! Yes, sometimes you just have to try things. This sounds simple and obvious, but I tend to be a very finicky and crabby shopper. Oftentimes nothing really appeals to me visually and I have to force myself to start picking up multiple items in my size and start plucking clothes from the rack that don't necessarily have the best-looking shape on the hanger. And I've often surprised myself this way and found some really great things, just by opening my mind a smidge and TRYING instead of internally WHINING.

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh yeah- befriend the salesperson. Seriously, if you remember that gal's name and bother to ask her how she is doing- she will likely be a heck of a lot more helpful.

15 years ago

crazyone

Veteran

Taylor: I've got the same shopping style. Once I went to the mall with my roommate (it was a browsing trip though)...and she was spending forever, like a half hour or more, looking at stuff in Old Navy...I would have looked at several stores in that time. eventually I gave up on hitting stores together and just did my own thing. People with a very different pace are such a drag...I like looking at several different stores to get a sense of what's available and it's a drag to be held back by someone who pores for a half hour over layering tees...

15 years ago

anne

Veteran

When I am on a longer shopping trip (I don't shop often, but when I am in the city I might have a half or even whole day) I now make sure I stop sometime for a some caffeine (and also for lunch, if I am there all day). Since I normally have heaps of cups of tea, their absence when I shop starts to give me headaches. Shopping is stressful enough without them. I didn't used to do it because of the extra expense but I have decided it was worth it.

I like lots of the tips you have. Like Maya, I am now much more a buyer (and possible returner) than previously, when I more resembled the don't buy unless it is perfect school. This is the influence of YLF! (And related to the fact that my size runs out quickly and I don't have much shopping time)

15 years ago

Debora

Veteran

It's interesting how the different trends are emerging. We have those who prefer to shop alone and those who like to bring along a shopping buddy. Some of you are very focused and go with a specific goal in mind, while others are browsers. I'm also seeing that some of you are buyers and returners, while others will only buy if there is no doubt whatsoever. It seems like everyone agrees on comfy shoes and clothes that are easy to take on and off.

Anne - great idea about carrying a notebook with the MOTG formulas.

Sara - another great suggestion about keeping your receipts in your wallet.

Lisa and Frances - I like your attitudes about keeping an open mind.

Khris - good point about befriending the salesperson.

Crazyone - sounds like you are a power shopper!

Anne and Maya - I can understand where you are coming from about buying and then returning, especially if you wear a size that sells out quickly.

15 years ago

crazyone

Veteran

another tip: if you go to the mall with a specific item in mind, and your usual haunts don't turn up the desired result...don't be afraid to look in stores that aren't usually "your style"--they may have the white jacket you desire or the skinny jeans in your size. I like H&M now and own a few pieces from there but as of a year ago I never really bought much from there. But I needed skinny jeans for tucking into boots and the usual stores Gap, Old Navy, NY&C that I go to didn't have jeans that fit me very well or that I liked, but I found a good pair in H&M.

15 years ago

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