Tag Archives: Shopping Trip

Getting Free Croft & Barrow Towels with Kohl’s Cash

imageEarlier this year I wrote about getting Croft & Barrow towels from Kohl’s for $1 each after my Kohl’s Cash. Well again I ended up with $10 Kohl’s cash and didn’t have a chance to make it to the store until the day it was expiring. I was sick and didn’t feel like shopping, but I didn’t want to waste the free $10 to spend on anything in the store. I even tried to give the $10 away to my mother but when that didn’t work I forced myself to head to the store. I ended up picking up some more towels. I already know that I like them, they are good quality, will last a long time, and who can’t use some nice bath towels? This time they were on sale for $4.98 each so I didn’t even have to pay a penny out of pocket. I wish I had thought of buying household items with Kohl’s cash earlier.

This is yet another reminder that saving money isn’t always hard but it does require effort. Was going to a nice store worse than working an hour at a job to earn $10? No, so I consider it time well spent.

5-16-13 Goodwill Thrift Shop Finds

imageI was very happy with my Thrift finds at Goodwill yesterday. I do find Goodwill to be a little more expensive than other thrift stores but they usually also have a better selection and hours. That being said, they are still  usually 100 times cheaper than regular stores.

This is what I got-

– A Black Pencil Skirt $3.69

– Black Dress Pants $3.69

– Keds Shoes $3.99

– 2 Storage Baskets $3.99 each

– 1 Pairs of Dark Skinny Leg Jeans $5.99

– 1 Pairs of Express Jeans $5.99 (These are $100 jeans! I didn’t realize they were from Express until I got home)

– A Polo Purse $7.99

– A Rolling Pin $3.99 (for making Homemade Pizzas we have always used a cup before)

I also received 10% off my entire purchase for being a student.

 

To see even more of our Thrift Shop and Yard Sale finds click HERE.

5-11-13 Recent Thrift Shop Finds

image
We made a quick trip to our favorite thrift shop this Thursday afternoon (the only afternoon they are open) I was really happy with all of my finds.

I bought-

– A Lucky Brand Shirt .50¢

– A Victoria’s Secret Shirt .50¢

– Desk Organizer $1

– New Package of 2 Potato Peelers .50¢

– In the Package Fast Flats (Shoes that fold up so you can put them in your purse, I love these!) .50¢

– Dress Shoes $3

– 10 gallon fish tank with working lighted lid, two rock food/water dishes and a small wooden house for our hermit crabs $4 (one of those small items alone would be AT LEAST $4 each)

image

How to Buy and Dress in Business Clothes for Less

imageEveryone knows that buying business and dress clothes can be expensive. When I was about to graduate from college and start looking for my first ‘real job’ I only had one day to get a suit and business dress outfit appropriate for a job fair. My sister, who is also my fashion consultant, took me to the mall and several other department stores and here is what I got-

– $45 for my suit jacket (My friends assure me this was a bargain) from Kohl’s
– $10 for a dress shirt on clearance from H&M
– $20 for a pencil skirt on clearance from Express
– $5 for nylons from Target
– $15 for clearance dress shoes from Target
– $7 conservative earrings from Claire’s
Total- $102

I don’t think I did badly on this trip because I did need the items right away, we did find some great clearance deals on name brands, and everything we got was such great quality I still wear these items today (minus the nylons). A woman from the FBI actually stopped me and wanted to know where I got my suit jacket- it’s stylish and professional looking. When I explained to a friend what I spent on my suit jacket (thinking it was a lot) she was shocked saying she had spent more than $200 on her suit jacket alone. Apparently my outfit worked because I did get my first full time job. Knowing I was going to need to wear business dress clothes 5 days a week at work I realized that my clothing budget could quickly get out of hand. So while I don’t think that I overspent by any means, my frugal side is always asking “Can I get it for cheaper?”

The answer is yes! I have now learned a LOT of ways to save on dress clothes that I didn’t know as a person who had never had to wear real dress clothes before.

1. Shop Clearance Sales- Now is a great time to hit up those mall clearance sales! Here in Florida, clothes that are conservative enough to wear as dress clothes sometimes fall into the category of winter clothes  and many are on sale right now! See the dresses I got below for $5 and $10.

2. Shop Second Hand for Name Brands- You CAN shop second hand and still look expensive! On all of the dress shirts in the above picture I only spent between .25¢ and $2 and they are name brands like Express, New York and Company, American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, etc. Some of them would cost as much as $60 brand new. Most of these items are from thrift shops but the black sweater was only .25¢ at a yard sale and looks new.

3. Know Your Size in Good Brands– This is something that could take a while but I have found that dress clothes sizes in certain brands don’t fluctuate as much as normal clothing. I know that a size Small dress shirt from New York & Company will fit me without trying it on. This saves a lot of time especially at thrift shops where they don’t always have fitting rooms.

4. Find Stores that Sell Basics Pieces for Cheap– I know that Wet Seal in the mall carries cute, fitted, black dress pants for around $20 and I know they sell them in ‘Short’ length. It isn’t worth it for me to buy dress pants and then take the time and energy to get them hemmed. Especially when I know I can go to Wet Seal and buy a pair that already fits correctly for $20.

5. Stock Up– You probably already stock up on good deals on household items so why wouldn’t you stock up on clothes you will need to buy down the road anyways? I no longer work full time but I will be starting my teaching job in a few months. I realize that I will have to buy dress clothes regardless of if I find them on sale for really cheap this summer or if I wait until right before my job starts and have to pay full price.

6. Buy Good Basic Pieces– You will probably need a black suit jacket, a pair of black dress pants, a black skirt and some basic button up shirts. These are all versatile pieces that you can mix and match with a lot of outfits. They will never go out of style and if you invest in quality garments you will have them for a really, really long time. Quality doesn’t always mean expensive. If I buy a New York & Company shirt for $2 at a thrift store it is still the same quality as if I paid $60 for it at the store.

7. Shop In Your Closet- What do you already own that can be used as office wear? When I was working full time I found a great pair of black heels that I had bought for $15 but then never worn because they were a little too conservative for going out but they were great for the office. I also had a pair of tan pants that I used to wear hostessing at a restaurant that were great for casual days. Yesterday, I realized that I have a floral print dress that would be appropriate for teaching.

8. Buy Pieces that You Can Mix and Match– Buy tops and bottoms that you can mix and match to make new outfits. You won’t look like you are wearing the same clothes all the time when you wear them in different combinations.

9. Take Pictures of Outfits- If you find a cute top and bottom that go well together take a picture. It will help you to pick out cute clothes when are half asleep in the morning. You can print them out or keep them in a folder on your computer or phone.

10. Don’t Forget Your Accessories- Accessorizing an outfit differently can make it look completely different. Add scarves, belts, or necklaces to give your look a new twist.

11. Winter Clothes Can Sometime Work as Dress Clothes– Here in Florida most people have summer clothes and winter clothes. My winter clothes are in a box in storage for most of the year. However, sometimes winter clothes can work well as office dress clothes because they tend to be a little more conservative.

12. Think Comfortable– If you want to buy something and it isn’t comfortable think twice. Most of the time you will be wearing dress clothes for an 8 or 9 hour work day so if something isn’t comfortable you probably won’t end up wearing it.

13. Know Where to Spend Your Money– I will spend a little more for a piece that I will be able to wear often like a suit jacket or pencil skirt. I won’t spend that a lot on a patterned dress because like the ones below because I know I won’t be able to wear them as much.

14. Use Discounts and Coupons– Students and Seniors receive 10% off at Goodwill. If you have a Target debit card you receive 5% off. My mother works at Target so she receives an additional 10% off. Stores like Bells and Kohls often give out $5 or $10 off coupons. Look for coupons from your favorite stores in the Sunday paper before you shop. Every little bit helps.

15. Don’t rule out the juniors or kids departments– They are usually cheaper and often have more conservative cuts. I was able to buy a comfortable, grey, longish suit jacket form the kids department for $20 in a size large. It’s comfortable and goes with a lot of outfits.

16. Don’t buy everything in one day– The less time you have to purchase your dress clothes the more you will spend. If you have the time it always helps to wait for sales, use coupons and look at second hand store which can all be hit or miss if you only look once.

17. Can you buy it online for cheaper?– Sometimes I find pieces that I love but at prices I don’t. One tip I have learned is to look on eBay or Amazon for the same piece at a much lower price or even at the same store’s online shop that might have a coupon code or sale the physical store doesn’t.

image

This suit jacket is the same brand and fit as the black one I paid $45 for at Kohls. Only this one I found a week later for $3.50 in grey. The picture doesn’t do it justice because it’s actually a really cute pinstripe.

image

I paid $5.50 for this short, cute, black jacket. It’s a little more casual than my regular suit jacket and I like it because I can mix things up, not always having to wear the same jacket. These two jackets provide me with a variety that I wouldn’t have without a huge price tag if I bought all of my suit jackets for $50 to $100 each.

image

I will need some cooler yet conservative dress clothes in the fall when I start teaching. The college campus I will be working on is very large so it requires a lot of walking, not to mention it will be 90 degree Florida weather that doesn’t usually go well with dress pants and a suit jacket. So I was excited when I stumbled across some cute dresses that I can wear with a lighter suit jacket. This dress was $5 on sale at Cotton On this week.

image
This dress was $10 on sale at Cotton On this week.

Knowing that I am going to need dress clothes in the next few months has allowed me the time I need to purchase quality business clothes for less. I’m really excited to wear my expensive looking dress clothes because I’m the only one who needs to know that they weren’t.

What do you do to save money on business dress clothes?

4-20-13 Yard Sale / Thrift Shop / Rummage Sale Finds

image

So this Saturday was a LOT of fun. We went to the Deltona Flea Market (I wrote about it HERE) and we also went to some thrift shops and yard sales and one fun neighborhood yard sale. I ended up with all of the above loot plus a weed wacker / trimmer for $10 and in total I only spend $24 including the weed wacker.

Here is what I got-

– Weed Wacker / Trimmer $10

– 3 Bath and Body Works Soaps for .50 cents each

– Like New Clothes for .25 cents each- They were also nice brands like American Eagle

– Books for .25 cents or .50 cents each

– New envelopes .10 cents

– Tape .10 cents

– Girl’s Baseball Glove .50 cents

– Antique wooden book/ Bible holder $2

– Some Christmas Craft sets .25 cents each

– And we were given some free pet care kits (in blue bags) from a local vet

image

image

image

imageMy mother bought this antique stroller for $5.

imageI didn’t buy these but they were $4.99 and $9.99 which was a great price because they looked almost new.

4-16-13 Publix Shopping Trip

image

At Publix I spent $19.94 and saved $51.90.

I wasn’t planning on going to Publix but I decided to go last minute because there were some great deals on things we will definitely use. Half of what I got this trip was without coupons but I’m very happy with everything I ended up buying.

4 Sunlight Dish Soap .59¢
– $1 off Sunlight Product PRINTABLE
Cost After Coupons- Free + Overage

2 Friskies Cat Food, 3.15 lb, at $4.69 ($2.34)
– B1G1 Free Target Coupon PRINTABLE
Cost After Coupons- Both Free After Coupon
Note- Your store must accept Target Coupons as a competitor

Smart Balance Buttery Spread, 2 pk. 7.5 oz or 8-15 oz, at $3.59 ($1.79)
-.75/1 Smart Balance spreadable butter or blended butter sticks printable
-$1 off Smart Balance spreadable butter or blended butter sticks, SS 3/24
-$1/2 Smart Balance buttery spread, SS 3/24
-$1 off Smart Balance buttery spread Publix Basket of Savings booklet
-$1 off Smart Balance buttery spread Publix coupon printable
-$1/2 Smart Balance buttery spreads, SS 4/14
Cost After Coupons- As low as 4¢

Garland Jack’s or Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce, 17.5-18 oz, $1
-.75/1 Bulls Eye or Garland Jack’s Secret Six barbecue sauce, 17.5-18 oz (Publix coupon), Savings are Stocking Up home mailer
Cost After Coupons- 25¢ each

B1G1 Marzetti Refrigerated Salad Dressing $3.99
$1/1 Marzetti Refrigerated Salad Dressing Blinkie Coupon from in front of the dressing
Cost After Coupons- $1 each

Kraft Fresh Take is on sale B1G1 for $2.99
– $1 off Kraft Fresh Take PRINTABLE
Cost After Coupons- $.50 each
Note- I bought these for the packs of cheese that come with them

Without coupons I also bought- A sweet onion, ground meat, sour cream, cream cheese, B1G1 free bagels, a bag of spinich, B1G1 free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream

 Snausages Chewy Dog Snacks, 10-12 oz, at $2.99 ($1.49)
-.75/1 Snausages or Snaw Somes! dog snacks (regional), RP 3/17
-$1 off Snausages or Snaw Somes! dog snacks (regional), RP 3/17
Cost After Coupons- 49¢
(Not Pictured I Gave the Coupons to My Mom so they weren’t part of this transaction but still a great deal)

Totals-

Spent- $19.94

Saved- $51.90

4-12-13 Recent Thrift Shop Finds

imageI was able to go thrift shopping with my mother yesterday and we had some good luck at one of our favorite thrift shops. All of the clothes in the picture were either .25¢ or .50¢. This included a Gap suit jacket with pretty blue lining, a summer dress, leggings, a Danskin shirt, a workout DVD (.50 cents) and some other shirts. I’m probably most excited by the red portable cooler ($1.25) with two drink holders on top. It will be making a lot of trips to the beach with us this summer.

Recent Dollar Tree Finds- Garage Sale, Gardening and Kitchen Stuff

image

I love to go to Dollar Tree and look around. It’s fun to know that I can afford to buy anything in the store. Here are some of the things I found interesting from this trip.

1. Garage Sale Stuff- If you are planning on having a yard sale this summer Dollar Tree has you covered

image

2. Betty Crocker Kitchen Stuff- They have some really nice small kitchen gadgets all for $1
image

image

image

3. They have a lot of stuff for your garden if you are planning on planting a garden soon you might want to take a look. I especially liked the rectangular garden boxes because we rent and I want to be able to plant some vegetables anyways.

3-28-13 Publix Shopping Trip

imageAs you can see I got a lot of stuff in my shopping trip at Publix today. In case you are wondering why there are eggs in a bowl on the right it’s because I broke one in the carton and had to take them out. At least they were free!

Buy 4 Mtn Dew 2-Liters- Regular Price $1.99 each
– On Sale B2G2 Free
– Use $1 off of 3 2-Liters of Mountain Dew Hang Tag Coupon
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $2.98 or .74 cents each

B1G1 Simply Potatoes Mashed Potatoes, 24 oz, at $3.79
-.75/1 Simply Potatoes mashed item, 24 oz printable
-$1/2 Simply Potatoes mashed potatoes, 24 oz (Publix coupon), Publix Spring Savings booklet (EXP 03/31)
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $1.29 for Both

B1G1 Sabra Hummus, 4 pk 2 oz or 10 oz, at $3.99
-$1 off Sabra product, 8 oz+ (Publix coupon), Publix Basket of Savings booklet
-$1 off Sabra product, 8 oz+ (Publix coupon) printable
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $.99 each

Bailey’s Coffee Creamer, 16 oz, $1.66
-$1 off Baileys non-alcoholic coffee creamer, SS 1/20
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $.66

Splenda Packets 50 CT, $2.59
Use one $1/1 Splenda Item Target printable
and use one $2/1 Splenda Sweetener manufacturer’s coupon, 3/24 SS newspaper insert
Cost After Coupons– $0.41 Moneymaker

Mortin IB Travel Size 4ct $1.09
– $2/1 Motrin IB Product coupons, 3/3 SS
Cost After Coupons– $0.91 Moneymaker

Red Baron Pizzas on sale 3/$10 (regular price $4.98)
– $1/2 Red Baron Multi-Serve Pizza PRINTABLE
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $2.83 each
And earned a free movie ticket because of the specially marked boxes with codes! Click HERE to learn more!

B1G1 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise $4.83
– 2 $1.50/1 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise 22 oz or larger Publix Coupons, Best Meals Happen at Home email
– 2 $0.50/1 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise manufacturer’s coupons, 3/24 RP newspaper insert
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $.41 cents each

B1G1 Duncan Hines Cake Mix, 16 to 18.25 oz $1.99
– 1 $0.55/2 Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Publix Coupon Basket of Savings Coupon
– 2 $0.50/1 Duncan Hines Signature Red Velvet Cake Mix
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $.22 cents each

B1G1 Ragu Pasta Sauce $2.57
used two $1.50/2 Ragu Pasta Sauce Publix Best Meals at Home email
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $.53 cents each

B1G1 Sargento Shredded Cheese $4.19
Publix Large Eggs- $2.00
– Free Dozen Large Eggs when you buy two Sargento Shredded Cheese Publix store coupon, Spring Savings Booklet or printable
– $0.55/2 Sargento Cheese printable manufacturer’s coupon PRINTABLE
Cost After Sale and Coupons- $3.64 for 2 bags of cheese and free eggs

Items Bought Without Coupons- 1 Gallon OJ, 2 Pie Crusts, and Cream Cheese

Totals-
Spent- $39.95
Saved- $82.13

Shopaholic Savers Has Joined Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter! Click to Help Us Out and Like/Follow Us!

Shopaholic Savers has joined Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! We are so excited! Please click on the links below to help us out and like/follow us! We will be posting even more about couponing, saving money, and frugal living!

likeusonfacebook

Pinterest

twitter

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...