THROWBACK OF THE DAY: SECRET SHOPPING TIPS, by Smart Cookie

Don’t you just hate going to TJMaxx on Saturday? You spend an hour trying to sift through the mess the other shoppers leave behind, and you finally come across the cutest shoe, only to find that there isn’t a match. Damn! Half the day is gone, and you didn’t even buy anything. Not to mention that you still have to make a trip to Target…damn…Damn…DAMN!

GO SHOPPIING DURING THE WEEK

Most stores get their stock during the weekdays. I guarantee if you go shopping on a Wednesday after class, during your lunch break, or even an hour before the store closes, you will have a lovely shopping experience. TJMaxx will be clean and organized, and they will have an abundance of merchandise. Not only does TJMaxx now have the match to that cute shoe you found previously, they have several pairs. I highly recommend that shopping be done during the week, but if you must venture out on a Saturday or Sunday, please avoid hitting the snooze button in the morning, and be at the store as soon as they open.

Now that you are shopping inside of TJMaxx on a “good” day, you have the entire store inside of your cart, and you are heading directly to the layaway line and/or register.

RE-EVALUATE THE CONTENTS OF YOUR CART BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL PURCHASE

Hey, if you are rollin’ in the dough, then this need not apply to you. However, if you are ballin’ on a budget or using your bill money to support your shopping addiction, you might want to follow my advice. Try to organize the items in your cart into three categories:

1. THE GOTTA HAVE IT PILE

This pile should contain the items that you cannot live without. These items are the ones that if you do not buy, you will dream about them; Therefore, forcing you to return to the store the next day, in hopes that your items haven’t been purchased by someone else. The “Gotta Have It Pile” must be purchased or put on Layaway immediately!

2. THE SO/SO PILE

This pile should consist of the items that are cute, but you definitely do not need. These items are usually the ones that you already have at home, but in a slightly different style or color. These are the items that you might think about once you are in the car, but quickly forget about once you realize that your phone bill is due in a few days. Though you might put back items from this pile, you may purchase items from this pile as well. Warning…A side effect of this pile is Indecisiveness. It may be extremely hard to decide which items to keep and which items to return to the shelves.

3. THE YOU ARE GREEDY PILE

You don’t really need ten purses! Nor do you need that silk pajama set, when you and I both know that you usually sleep in a t-shirt. And that leopard print bra, that’s just hideous! This pile is made up the items that you bought during your “shopping high”; you know what I’m talking about. A shopping high is the result of over excitement, which then puts you into a trance in which you are picking up items unconsciously. All of the items in this pile must be taken out of the cart ASAP! I repeat, DO NOT purchase these items!

So regardless if you put items on Layaway or not, you may be headed to the cash register. The cashier gives you your total, and then asks, “Would you like to save 10% on your purchase today?”

TRY TO AVOID ACQUIRING STORE CREDIT CARDS

Really think on this one. If you only have $50 of merchandise, is five dollars off your purchase really worth another opened account going on your credit report? Even if you are spending hundreds of dollars, most of us assume that we will just pay the balance off as soon as the bill comes. But we all know that rarely happens. Time passes, you totally forgot about your big purchase and have spent the money, and a few days later a TJMaxx credit card bill comes with a 25% interest rate. Now you have acquired a new bill. If you must take the discount, then I would suggest you pay the full balance right on the spot if possible, but still consider that you have gained another opened account on your credit report. If you must use a credit card, pull out the Visa, Discover, or MasterCard, but don’t open a store account because chances are your major credit card has a much lower interest rate than the store credit card. So basically the best advice I can give, trust me, I am talking from experience, is to avoid getting the store credit card at any cost. You can survive without new shoes, but you cannot survive with bad credit!So you are finally done with your shopping trip, and you are leaving fulfilled. Whew! What a day, ladies. After a fulfilling shopping experience that hasn’t left you feeling guilty or feeling broke, you must end your day with an important ritual.

PARTAKE IN A SHOPPING COOL DOWN

After a great shopping experience, treat yourself to a tasty treat, or if you are out with your girls, go out to dinner. If you are alone, go ahead and order that large fry. Eat your food on your way home, and as soon as you get home take your items out of the bag and adore them, even try them on if you’d like. Well, it’s been fun, and I hope these few tips will enhance your shopping experience. Good Luck!