shop and save
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How To Shop And Save Like A Pro

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If you are a money-saving savvy individual like me who wants to shop and save simultaneously, then you have come to the right place! I'm all about saving and spending on a budget!

You might have events or parties coming up in your social life and sometimes household necessities. As much as you want to shop for yourself and your home, you also want to save. It can be hard to shop and save when you are on a budget and you don't want to go overboard with your money.

When I was in college, I usually shopped at the same places because the discounts were great, and I knew I wouldn't overspend. I'm a person who always finds ways to save. I know most people like to spend money on high-quality clothes, but you waste a lot of money if you do that. There is fast fashion at a lower cost that works perfectly fine.

In this post, I want to share my favorite places to shop for clothes, home decor, and gifts and give tips and tricks on how to shop and save without worrying about overspending.

Places To Shop

You don't need to shop at expensive stores to find something you like. Everything can be overpriced if you go to expensive stores like the Banana Republic, Loft, and Express. You can go to thrift stores or places like H&M, and Forever 21 can be enough. You don't need to follow the crowd and shop at trendy stores.

1. Ross or TJ Max

Ross is one of the best places to shop to save money when I was in college and is still my favorite place to shop to this day. I always find a lot of things that I like there.

They have the best bargains on the latest trends in shoes, clothes, bags, home decor, and more. You can get brand names for 40%-60% more than full price somewhere else. Who wouldn't love that, right?

That's not all; the best part is to shop on Monday. They do new markdowns after the weekends, so Monday is the day to go. So, save your Monday for Ross whenever you need household necessities, clothes, or gifts.

Similar to Ross, there is TJ Max, which holds a special place in people's hearts by offering a variety of selections of brands at discounted prices. Sometimes you might not find anything at Ross so you can go to TJ Max or vice versa.

To me, TJ Max has the best home decor compared to Ross. TJ Max is the way to go whenever I need something for my bedroom or bathroom.

You can get many things there, from designer jeans to bedroom furniture, but the price is $4–6 more compared to Ross. It is a place where people come to find many unexpected deals.

Monday is also the best day to shop, according to Ross. If you can shop on Monday, go on Monday morning to get all the good deals. Here are amazing ways to save at TJ Max.

2. Shein

Do you have an upcoming event to go to or a gift you need to buy? Shein always has the best prices for trendy clothes for children, teens, and adults. Shein is an online clothing retailer known for its fast fashion at a lower price.

You can buy accessories, clothes, shoes, and home goods at affordable prices. Some people don't like Shein because it's considered hit or miss, but I personally love to shop on Shein. Back in college, this was the only place I shopped online for clothes besides YesStyle.

I believe it's one of the best places to shop and save money online, especially when you are a broke student.

3. Five Below

Five Below is the perfect place to go if you are on a budget. They sell everything from books to clothes for under $5. This is the most convenient place to go whenever you need a gift for someone, like during Christmas.

It has many cool, fun, and unique things that you'll love, and great for gifts when a party is coming up. You can never go wrong by buying an amazing gift from Five Below.

I know all states do not have the is store, but if you do, you should try to go and see. You might end up loving the place, and it might become your favorite store.

When I first went there, I didn't really know what to expect until I went in and explored. I found headphones, phone cases, posters, t-shirts, toys, make-up products, and more. They have a lot of variety of things compared to the dollar store.

4. Dollar Store

Going to the dollar store is always a safe bet. Everything is literally a dollar there! When the holiday season comes around, this is where I go for decorations and candy. I don't go too often, but I like to be a little festive when the holiday comes around while being on a budget.

If you are a creative individual like me, I would buy something cheap and make it into something grand. Always try to do as much as you can yourself (DIY) so that you can spend your money on other things.

Like any other dollar store, they have shoes, food, household necessities, and much more. What a great way to shop and save on your needs or wants.

5. Thrift Stores

Many people find that thrifting is fun, and I believe that it is. It's not my favorite because I always have difficulty finding the things I like. However, many people have succeeded in finding products that they love when they go shopping.

A place like Goodwill has many affordable things you can buy. Thrift stores exist to help those in need, but they are literally for everyone to shop.

There is a misconception that thrift stores have poor-quality things, but that's not true. You can find great quality if you take the time to look.

Another thing you can do is DIY clothes from thrift stores and make them into something more unique. Now, that is a fun project to do. You can buy something that looks ratchet and transform it into something trendy.

If you really want to save a lot of money and live frugally, you should consider thrifting as an option. You never know what you can find until you go.

Tips And Tricks To Shop And Save

1. Set A Limit

Set a number for yourself every month, so you don't go overboard. If that doesn't work, transfer it to your savings account, so you don't touch that money. By doing this, you are setting a great habit for yourself and your financial goals.

Once you set a number or limit for the month, make sure you try to stick with it. It might take time for those with a spending habit, but if you want to shop and save like a pro, you must put in the effort.

2. Shop Once Or Twice A Month

Besides grocery shopping, I tried to shop for other things once or twice a month. If I go shopping too often, I might end up buying something unnecessary if I look at something.

You might end up going into debt if you keep buying, buying, buying! Doesn't it make you sad when your money leaves your bank account on things you might not need?

Check your calendar for any events or a list of things you might need, and get them all at once. I usually go once or twice a month for home goods or clothes and once a week for groceries. If you set a habit or routine, everything will become easier, and you'll save more.

3. Save Your Coupons

Don't use your coupons right away! Ask yourself first if you need anything from that store or not. I know coupons can be tempting, but only buy them if you need to shop there.

Coupons are great when you want to save a few extra bucks here and there, but don't use them just for their sake. Keep them with you at all times and use them whenever the opportunity arises.

Coupons can be your frenemies, so know when to use them and not to use them

4. Buy On Clearance Or Sales

Whenever there is a clearance or sale section, that is the first place I would go when I'm out shopping. You never know; you could find something fabulous in those sections.

I have found some amazing clothes that I love. People always think that the clearance section has a terrible selection, but I'm afraid I have to disagree with that. If you can save and find something you like, that is all that matters. It would be best if you never underestimated the clearance section.

Whenever you go shopping and look for a top or bottom, go to the clearance section before someone else might grab something nice.

5. Compare Prices

You should always look for alternatives if one place is cheaper than the other. You don't want to spend an extra $5 or $10 at one place when you can find something that can save you a few bucks.

Whether you find discounts on Amazon, a sale at your local grocery store, or cheap things at your thrift store, you can find many deals as long as you try to look for them.

Do you want to spend $50 on a dress when you can find something similar to it on Shein for $20? The gap is huge when you think about it. Whenever you try to buy something, look for alternative places you can buy it from.

6. Money Apps

You have a phone, so why not use it to your advantage? You can download free money apps to save some money. Who doesn't want to shop and save at the same time? Money apps don't make you rich, but you can save extra bucks for something else.

You can earn cash back or gift cards by using money apps on your phone. You don't want to miss this opportunity to save some money. My favorite money apps are Fetch, Rakuten, and Honey.

Final Thoughts

Shopping and saving your money can be hard when you are clueless about where to start. I hope these tips and tricks were helpful to you all. There are probably other methods and strategies out there that people use, you need to find what is best for you.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next post!

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She started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, which was freedom, so she decided to venture out. She took action so that she can live her dream life and decided to help people to live theirs by helping them how to save, budget, and invest.

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