I am one of those proud thrifty buyers who will spend hours seeks out a good deal and then brag about how little I paid for it the next day. One time I actually framed my sales receipt and deemd it my best score ever. I never pay full price for anything....food, clothing, travel and even entertainment can be found at a discounted price if you know where to look.
Scoping out a once in a lifetime deal send out endorphins into my body that will leave me giddy for days. The Memorial Day sales come in a faint second to Black Friday, which to me is a religious holiday. I will spend weeks pouring over the unleaked sale flyers (that I always manage to view before being released to the public) and map out my plan of attack. It is a well organized day that requires a tight schedule.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm no Extreme Couponer. While I have been known to take home 3 bags of groceries for a total of $0.67, it is rare that I am able to come across those kind of deals on a regular basis given today's economy. But I always do my homework before making any purchase. Price comparision is a must, and knowing how to combine sales with coupons and store rewards can add up to big savings.
Another great trick is to buy off season. With a little preperation you can plan ahead and save tons. The perfect time to buy jeans is right now, at the beginning of summer. The stores are trying to get rid of their inventory and the sales racks are filled with brand name denim for around $7.00 each. Wait two more months to buy the same item and you'll be looking at $40 or greater for the same item, simply because consumers will be doing back to school shopping in August. That patio set you've been eyeing? If you can hold out the prices will plummet from $800 now at peak season down to $75 in October. You may not have it for this summer, but store it away and next spring you'll break it out thanking yourself for saving so much money.
I encourage everyone to shop happy this weekend. I myself think it's the perfect time to start my Christmas shopping. My husband has been hinting at some pretty expensive stuff and I'm willing to bet that I can get some things at least 50% off before December. Who knows, I may even score a 90% off discount if I look on the clearance rack....here's hoping!!