Shop and Save tips

It’s a great time to shop and save. A sluggish economy paired with the ease of Internet price comparisons has created a bull market for purveyors of style.

Internet shopping can save you big bucks even after you’ve decided on an item and e-tailer. Once you find something you love at a specific website, sign up for that site’s newsletter and hold off purchasing until you receive an email with a special savings code. Or, dig up deals at your preferred e-tailer by googling “promo code” plus the website name. Sites such as topbutton.com offer daily doses of online sample sales and other shopping events.

If shopping on the concrete runway is more your style, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount at your favorite boutique or retailer. If you’re not comfortable haggling outright, try simply saying that you have a set budget and asking if the item can be discounted to fit within your financial guidelines. This tactic works best if you are prepared to walk away if the store can’t offer you some incentive to buy. Or ask the salesperson if they have any special promos or coupon cods they can apply to your purchase.

Those who frequent the same spots should consider befriending the salesperson at their favorite fashion haunts. At a certain upscale department store, I was treated to a stockpile of high-end shoes that were marked down 70% and more and secretly stashed in the back room for loyal clients. Proof that, even in tough times, it pays to look great.