How To: Be A Smart Shopper
shirt//Express similar sweater//Aeropostale (old, similar) booties//Nine West
jeans//Hollister (sale) purse//Kate Spade similar sunnies//Quay Australia (sale)
so for today's post i wanted to share a little insight into my mind when i'm planning outfits & what goes through my head before i buy something. i shop ALL the time, but i rarely buy stuff & that's because i have to run a few little tests before i'll actually go through with the purchase. asking those questions is how i save myself from buying items i don't need & not spending more money than i should. let's get started !
1. be intentional about what you want & where you want to go. where you shop is super important, but that's a different conversation for another day lol. before you go shopping make a list of the things you have been wanting lately & then think through which stores you think will have those kind of items. aimless shopping is dangerous shopping because you will always find things you "need" but then you compromise the entire mission of the shopping trip.
2. go directly to the area you think will have that particular item(s). back again to aimless shopping is dangerous shopping. dig into that area & find what you want & make sure to grab a couple sizes because sizing is, unfortunately, not universal.
3. never pass up the clearance rack. confession, i buy most of my clothes in the clearance section. i hate paying full price for anything because eventually everything gets marked down. there are plenty of hidden gems in the clearance section & they're discounted too. in the clearance section specifically make sure to check for holes, rips, stains, etc. if you notice it & still love it, you can always ask the clerk if they'll give you an additional discount on it, sometimes they do sometimes they don't.
bonus tip #4. always try it on. never buy something without double checking it fits, especially if it's clearance, since most of the time those items are final sale.
once you get in the dressing rooms it's time to put your stuff to the test.
test #1. the stomach test. when trying on shirts i always lift both hands in the air to make sure the shirt doesn't come up to high. if it comes above my belly button it's a no, no matter how much i love it. speaking from experience, you'll feel uncomfortable every time you wear it because you're so worried about lifting your hands. just say no.
test #2. the butt test. when trying on dresses i always do the same as test #1 to make sure it doesn't ride up too much. if you can see the cheeks, so can they. toss it & move on girlfriend.
test #3. the see through test. when trying on dresses i always spread my legs & shine my phone light from the back through the front to make sure it's not see through. if you can see the outline of your legs it's got to go. talk about embarrassing. when trying on leggings i'll turn around & bend over to make sure they aren't see through. because once again, talk about embarrassing.
test #4. the skinny test. no matter what i'm trying on, i always look in the mirror at different angles. if at any point i look in the mirror & say "oh i look heavier than normal" then run. you always want to feel like your best you & clothes are meant to accentuate your features, not add weight.
okay so there's the four tests i run on everything i try on, but now here's a few questions i ask myself after the garment has passed all four tests with flying colors:
1. what accessories would i wear with this ? think through what jewelry, shoes, belt, purse, etc. you'd wear with it. if you would need to purchase something additional, don't buy it because it's not worth it.
2. where will i wear this ? come up with at least 3 different places you would wear that item that would be appropriate. if you can't come up with 3 or more, toss it. you'll end up never wearing it & that's just a waste.
3. is this a good price ? if you're familiar enough with that item that you know about how much it costs & that price is lower, go for it ! but if it's significantly higher or about the same, just wait it out. as previously stated, almost everything goes on sale eventually. but, if you aren't super fluent in that type of item's generic price, grab your phone & look it up. double check to see that you're on the right track & then proceed or trash it.
& there ya have it folks ! hopefully that helps you & your wallet stay on good terms & keeps you a happy little clam because you're getting your moneys worth out of an item that you love. if you have any questions about the tests or questions feel free to get in touch with me. do any of y'all have any secret tips for when you go shopping ?!
as always, if you need prayer, have any questions, post requests, or just want to chat please feel free to contact me through email or social media. you can click on the contact tab at the top of the page & fill in the required fields or follow my social media accounts through the icons on the left side of my home page. thank you for reading Saved By Grace, until next time y'all :-)
"& I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, & I will be the glory in her midst."
Zechariah 2:5
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