How to Hunt a Bargain! How to Hunt a Bargain!Episode Seven: The Vice
Part One: Clothing, Gifts and Sundries
First of all, real bargain hunters know that you have to always be looking,
this is why the stereotypical male personality type is not very good at finding
bargains. They prefer to wait until they need something, then just go and buy
it, at which point they will pay the going rate.
In many ways I have this personality type. I don’t ask for directions, ever.
I don’t remember first dates (or at least the actual date they occurred on,
although unless great quantities of alcohol are involved I do remember the
events). I don’t remember the song playing on the radio during our first
dance/date/kiss whatever. This means, of course, that I am drawn to men who do
remember these things and so the same sort of arguments ensue that are typical
sitcom fair. I’m not sure if I’m in a relationship like that right now or not. I
actually took the precaution of sending e-cards to my current guy, and copy
myself as a reminder (well in advance!). He never mentions getting the cards, so
basically, all I’m doing is reminding myself exactly how long we’ve been dating!
And depending on how things are going when that card shows up in my in box, can
be either a very nice thing, or a rather depressing one!
However, there is one category I did inherit from my mother and not my
father. I’m a bargain hunter. I don’t like “shopping”. I don’t go to malls, and
when I can, I get my groceries off the Internet. Still, I love to dig through
the big piles of junk you find at thrift shops, or prowl through the mostly
cheap junk you find at discount stores, or scan the classifieds for that
unbelievable deal that was meant just for me.
Bargain hunting can be like a really stressful round of
Jeopardy, where you
know the answer but can’t figure out the question. Just because it’s a great
deal, doesn’t mean it’s a great deal for you! To be a really great bargain
hunter you must know a number of things:
1. What is the Going Rate? Often discount and thrift shops sell items that can be obtained regularly at the same or even better prices. We once found an incredibly worn, grungy sweatshirt with “Nike” on it for $20. Personally, if they want me to advertise for them I think they should pay me, not the other way around, but I couldn’t believe that just because a second hand sweatshirt said “Nike” it was 4 times the price of an unworn, presentable “Hanes” sweatshirt. Not to mention, why even buy a shirt you can get at any department store just to save a couple dollars? I’d pay the extra money in order to buy exactly the color, style, fit I want, not to mention not having to spend the money until I actually want it!
2. What is High Quality? You must know quality when you see it. It isn’t a bargain if it falls apart the next day. If you already like to shop, make sure you’re looking (but not buying!) in the better stores. Look at how good quality suits are lined, pay attention to how garments are put together (especially the stitching), what fabrics they are using and how these fabrics feel and hang. Pay attention to dry clean only items. You don’t really want these unless you’re buying a suit, getting a really great deal, or really love the item. Dry cleaning adds to the cost of wearing the garment, and for those of us too lazy to go to the dry cleaner, the clothes just end up in the bottom of our hamper anyway.
3. What is a Name Brand? It helps to learn name quality name brands, you can often find past season (or even past year) items on sale, and if you like it and it is a good brand nothing says you can’t still get it!
4. Where can I find a Bargain? Shop at discount stores, and I don’t mean “big box” stores like Wal-mart. Wal-mart is great for some things, but not others, know the difference. Great stores for clothing, accessories and some items for the home are Marshall’s, Sylvester’s, Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, Factory 2 U, and even MacFrugal’s and The Dollar Store. These are the names of the best ones from my area (and other places I’ve lived). You may have to search your area. To get the best deals, though, you need to have done your homework. You need to know what is good quality, regardless of brand, and you need to know what brands you can usually count on to be good quality (but always check everything, make sure seams are sewn well and securely, all buttons are on, etc.). All these places have everything from good, quality items to faddish, junk stuff. I have a silly personal rule: “If it’s less than $5, I’ll get something trendy, even if it’s junk.” If it’s more than $5, it needs to be better quality. Other than that, I will pay more for quality, classic styles. Remember: nothing is a deal if you never use it. Even a $500 suit, with a classic cut, in an all seasons color, which lasts five years (with occasionally professionally done alterations, to keep it up to date), worn twice a month is only $4 a wear (not including dry-cleaning). Whereas a $50 suit, worn for one season, twice a month is over $8 a wear. Nothing is a deal if it stays in your house with the tags still on it. Sometimes it pays to get the best, just make sure you love something, will wear it/use it, it goes with other items in your closet/house, and you need it before you lay out the $500 (or whatever).
5. Why should I buy ahead? To get good bargains you often have to shop ahead. This is the other reason trendy buys are dangerous. If you get a great deal on a bunch of flared leg slacks, and then next year peg legs are back, what have you saved? I also buy stocking stuffers all year round (no, don’t imagine I’m that good, the regular gifts I never get until December 20th!) at the dollar stores in my area. Check them out each week, half the time you find junk or nothing you want. Then, occasionally you find great little items, really cheap. I love having a traditional Scandinavian Christmas, so I like having a gift for each person in my family to open each day up to Christmas. That can get expensive if you don’t bargain hunt. When I can’t find enough nice, inexpensive little gifts, I fill out the number with homemade cookies and (store bought) candies (which I also get from a factory outlet!). These places are also great for making gift baskets. If you’re going to purchase one big item, round it out with a bunch of small, related items. Last year we bought my sister a laptop, that pretty much blew our gift budget for her from all of us. I rounded out the tree with accessories. Paper, disks (from my own supply), mouse pad (which are a dime a dozen), pretty much anything I could buy cheap or scrounge up that went with the theme. Then we made her open all the little (and rather disappointing) gifts first, and made her sweat it out trying to guess what was in the last box.
6. Why ask Friends and Family? Friends and Family are the best bargains created. I have the greatest family ever. Well, practically. All the women on my mother’s side of the family get together every year for a women only weekend. No kids, no cooking, no men (only they use alliteration). It’s great fun. One of the most fun things we do is bring all the clothing we (and our boyfriends and husbands!) no longer wear (because it doesn’t fit or we don’t like it, or whatever) and have great fun passing it on to someone else and getting something “new” from someone else. We all sit around in our pajamas with a drink (preferably alcoholic) and “auction” off the items we brought to the first person to claims them. My mom is really quick (and loud), and always comes away with at least a second suitcase full of stuff! There is nothing that says that anyone can’t have a party like this with just friends, and nothing says it can’t have men (ours just can’t). It’s just that most men don’t enjoy that sort of thing.
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