The Dangers of Buying on Sale when you are on a Budget
The Glam Gals
Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler
Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are image and style experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic™, Image make-over program. For more style tips visit fabulousafter40.
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In this down economy when your fashion budget is tight, it’s natural to want to head straight for the sales rack. But beware! Buying on sale is dangerous, and is the quickest way to waste money and blow your clothing budget.
Sales often seduce even the savviest of shoppers into buying armfuls of useless, clothing they will never wear. Why would you want to buy last summer’s hot shoes, now that it is fall, and the style is really passé anyway, even though are 70% off? This crazy impulse buying leaves women with no money to buy the wardrobe they really need and will wear. Too many women get mesmerized by bright red clearance signs and don’t pay attention to things like style, size or the functionality of the garment they are buying.
Before you load up your cart with a mishmash of discount clothing that will only end up cluttering your closet, stop - take a breath and ask yourself some hard questions like:
1)Is there a reason it’s on the sale rack to begin with?
Is there a reason it’s on the sale rack to begin with? If they’re last seasons, you don’t need them – they’ll be out of style next year!
2)Does it go with the rest of my wardrobe?
Does it go with the rest of my wardrobe? It may be the cutest, cheapest top out there, but if it doesn’t go with anything else in your closet, you’ll never wear it. “It goes with jeans” is another way of saying “I have nothing to wear with it.” What’s the point? If you decide you can’t live without that piece, shop for a whole outfit together so it will get some wear time.
3)Is it the right color/size for me?
Is it the right color/size for me? Don’t get caught up in the sale rack trap. Ask yourself honestly if the piece looks good on you (that means you have to try it on!). If it’s not a good fit for you or the color washes you out, why buy it?
4)Would I normally buy it if it was full price?
Would I normally buy it if it was full price? Check the price tag. Before it was marked down, would it have been worth that much money to you? If the answer is “no,” then why would you spend any money on it now? Put it down and slowly back away.
5)Am I worth more than that?
Am I worth more than that? We can answer this one for you – YES. You deserve to splurge on a piece you really, truly love, especially if you are going to wear the heck out of it. Consider an item’s value, or its cost per wear. If you can’t live without it, why not purchase it, even if it is full price? Who knows – next week, it may not be there anymore!
Finally, about that sale item that is tempting you….
If you’ve asked yourself all the above questions and you find yourself answering NO to many, then do yourself and your wallet a favor and don’t buy it! Instead, save up for a quality, perfect piece that’s worth the money. That’s how you end up with a closet full of clothes you love, not full of clothes that are just ok.
For more sale-rack buying tips, check out the newest eBook in the Tweak Your Chic™ series, CHIC ON THE CHEAP: HOW TO UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE ON A BUDGET. The eBook is available for purchase at www.fabulousafter40.com.
