I’m a clothes horse. My closet looks more like a boutique than a typical bedroom closet. I have my favorite affordable stores (which I never shop without a coupon) but I lust after designer brands. Over the years (and with the assistance of my sister), I’ve gotten pretty good at combing discount stores to find the big names on clearance.
It takes time and persistence, but the payoff can be big…
Six weeks ago, I found a pair of Michael Kors wedges at DSW. The department store price was $198. The DSW price was $66 plus an additional 30% off. I loved them. I Tweeted them. I resisted them. I wanted a better deal.
I stopped into DSW two weeks later, and the wedges were still there. Still on clearance for an additional 30% off. Again, I resisted.
Fast forward three weeks and I’m packing for a trip to New York, thinking about how great those wedges would look with one of my outfits. I decide to stop into DSW one more time, hoping that by some miracle they are still there. I scan the clearance section and see nothing, but just as I’m about to leave, there they are! With an additional 70% off!
I practically skip to the register; happy to pay $20 for a $198 pair of Michael Kors wedges.
On my way out of the store the alarms go off. My bag is checked and I’m told my cell phone must have set off the alarm. I should have known better. I get home and there’s a big black sensor, right on the buckle. I was frustrated, but I reminded myself what a good deal I snagged and added it to my to-do list.
So, the next day I stop at the closest DSW, explain the situation, and am met with blank stares. Apparently the security sensors differ from store-to-store and they could not remove the kind that was on my shoe. Back in the car for a 30 minute drive to the store I originally purchased the shoes from.
I head to the register, explain the situation again, and the two associates behind the counter think it’s funny. Yes, it’s absolutely hysterical that one of your coworkers left the security sensor on my shoes, forcing me to drive around Austin for 2-hours to have it removed – now please give me an additional discount for my trouble.
Which they did. After I told them that I wasn’t amused, they upped the original discount to 80% off, making the shoes the bargain of the year at $12! To further redeem themselves, the manager left a nice voice mail apologizing for my trouble and offering an additional discount on my next purchase, which I appreciated.
And that is the story of how I got $198 Michael Kors wedges for $12.
If you’re counting, that was five trips to DSW.
I’m exhausted.
And if I fall and break my ankle the first time I wear them, I’ll know that karma really is a bitch.
Current eBay Auctions -
August 28, 2010 by
Corrin
Here’s a great little back-to-school perk for teachers and students – show your college or high school ID and receive 25% off your entire Old Navy purchase THIS WEEKEND ONLY!
What a great time to take your student to stock up on jeans and tees! Make sure to check out the Facebook event page and tell all you’re friends where you’ll be shopping!
Did you go? How much did you save? What did you get?
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of SupaSwap Corporation. All opinions are 100% mine. Please see my site policy with any questions.
No matter how skilled you are at budgeting and couponing, back-to-school season can put the hurt on your pocketbook. Calculators, backpacks, tennis shoes, and books all add up quickly – especially when you’ve got more than one little crumb catcher to buy for.
So where can you go to stretch your back-to-school budget even further? Supaswap!
SupaSwap is an online shopping community that’s suitable for the entire family! Parents can swap, bid, and buy items with other parents and teens and tweens can learn the value of a dollar by bidding and swapping with other teens and tweens.
The site is constantly reviewed for appropriateness and also allows parents to supervise and control their children’s activities. There’s a full range of parental controls, from moderating email messages to approving buying, bidding, selling, and swapping activities.
So, whether your kids your kids need back-to-school supplies or games and gadgets to keep them busy, take some time and discover SupaSwap together!
After yesterday’s Top 10 Products to Always Buy Generic, it’s only fair that we look at the flip side of the coin today with the Top 10 Products to Never Buy Generic:
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Diapers – I don’t have any personal experience with this, but I have family and friends who swear by Costco diapers!
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Condiments – I’ll buy generic ketchup, but not mustard.
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Paper Products – I never buy generic paper products because with the help of coupon and store sales, I can get brand name products for practically free!
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MP3 Players – I wouldn’t consider anything other than an iPod.
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Garbage Bags – I tried to buy generic garbage bags and after one messy experience, I’ve learned my lesson.
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Paint
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Cheese – I’m such a stinky cheese lover that I wouldn’t even consider generic cheese.
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Apple Knockoffs – Please see #4.
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Beer – My husband agrees.
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Spaghetti Sauce – I always “doctor” spaghetti sauce, so brand names don’t mean much to be. I also think the Aldi brand is quite good straight out of the bottle!
I’ve already weighed in on which products I will and won’t waiver on in my Generic vs. Brand Name post, but what about you? Do you agree that the items listed above should always be name brand? What other products are always name brand in your pantry?
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. Please see my site policy with any questions.
If you’re a regular reader, you know that my husband and I are on a budget. A tight budget. We clip coupons, buy generic, and do without. The 10 Products to Always Buy Generic is a great list to stick to when penny pinching, and we adhere to it with few exceptions.
- OTC Medications – We use our flexible spending plan and stock up at Costco.
- Cereal – Our favorites taste the same no matter the brand.
- Pantry Staples – Can you really tell a difference between brands of flour and sugar? I don’t think so.
- Soda -This is one where I can’t make an exception. I am a devout Coke drinker.
- Gasoline – My dad works for a large oil company, you’d be amazed to learn who is buying from and selling to each other. It’s essentially all the same.
- Electric Cables – This is my husband’s domain, but I’ve never seen him splurge.
- Beauty Products – Drugstore brands for me!
- Batteries – Good in theory, but in practice, I find that Energizes really does keep going and going.
- Fruits & Veggies – Farm stands are always the freshest and the cheapest!
- Baby Formula
Some of you may be surprised to see baby formula show up on a list of generics that are just as good as brand name, but all infant formulas are subject to the same FDA regulations under the Infant Formula Act. That means that no matter what brand of baby formula ends up in your cart, they all meet the exact same minimum nutrient specifications to ensure that your baby is receiving a safe and nutritious alternative to breast milk. That also means that you can save a few dollars (which ads up, quickly!) by buying ditching the name brand formula for store brand formula.
So, do you buy generic? What products are you loyal to and which depend on price?
Today is the last day to get your coupon for a FREE CVS hand sanitizer pen! All you need is a CVS ExtraCare card number and a printer!
Below are my actual transactions this week. Thanks to my very nice CVS manager, I managed 10 items for under $7. Make sure to visit my favorite blogs for more CVS savings…
Transaction #1
Purchased:
- (1) CVS Hand Sanitizer – FREE CVS coupon = FREE
- (2) M&M’s Pretzels on sale 2/$1 – BOGO Sunday coupon = FREE with $1 ECB
Earned:
Total = $0.50
Transaction #2
Purchased:
- (1) Milk (1 gal) for $2.99 = $2.99 with $1 ECB
Earned:
Used:
- $1 ECB from M&M’s (Transaction #1)
Total = $1.99
Transaction #3
Purchased:
- (2) Pantene shampoo for $3.49 ea – $2/2 CVS coupon – $1/2 Vocal Point coupon = $3.97 with $2 ECB
Earned:
Used:
- $1 ECB from Milk (Transaction #2)
Total = $2.97
Transaction #4
Purchased:
- (4) Act II Popcorn on sale 4/$5 – (4) $0.40 Sunday coupons = $3.40
Used:
- $2 ECB from Pantene (Transaction #3)
Total = $1.40
TOOP = $6.86
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