Many people don't realize it, but so many places do huge promotional sales during the summer, but they aren't widely advertised.
Behold, my purchases!
Everything in the pictures (including the charming mirror!) plus two shirts that aren't pictured cost me approximately $75 including tax.
No joke. Even I started gaping at my figures when I added it up.
Allow me to walk you through, store-by-store:
Claire's
Yeah, a little girls' store, but I can't help going in there anyway! Some of my friends have birthdays coming up, and hair flowers or charming little accessories are always good for accompanying giftcards or larger gifts. I went in there for two reasons: One, to find said hair flowers for said birthday presents, and two, to find some suspenders for a costume. I was pleased to find that they were having a huge promotional clearance sale. I saw that they were giving 50% off markdowns. But then, even better - 10 markdown items for $10. I was elated!
Not everything was included in the 10 for 10 deal, but the cashier was kind enough to give me the others for $1 each anyway.
My total haul from here included:
- Pack of 3 glitter eyeliners ($3.25)
- 4 hair flowers ($4)
- fancy tights ($1)
- musical note suspenders ($8.50)
- hat ($2)
- 2 nail polishes ($2)
The whole purchase ended up being around $22 with tax. Originally, that exciting haul would have been $86.11 including tax. I saved around $64 here! Yay (:
Bath & Body Works:
I bought some lotion and some body wash for some birthday presents. Originally, they were priced at $11 each (around $23.98 including tax.) They were 75% off, meaning $2.75 a piece. $6.00 including tax! $17.98 in savings!
JC Penny:
Two shirts for $10, originally almost $20 a piece. Saved nearly $30!
Ross:
Not exactly a promotional sale, just a good find; that lovely pair of shoes was $4.50, marked down from $13. Saved around $9.
Victoria's Secret:
So I had never gone into Victoria's Secret before. It was an interesting experience...Rather awkward at first, but they have some very nice stuff! I've never been a big fan of the idea of their store, mainly because I feel that they play a large role in the objectification of women in society (but we'll save that discussion for another time.) Their stuff is nice and their sales are good when you can find them, so I may become an occasional frequent shopper there yet.
Originally, my purchases from there would have been around $44, but I ended up spending $18.
Michaels:
Craft stores! Yes! My mom had me buy some paint for her, but aside from that, I accidentally stumbled upon a lovely mirror. It was the perfect size for my room. I was amazed to see that it was marked down from $45 to $15. Awed, I asked the cashier if it was a legitimate markdown; and to my surprise it was actually marked down to $9.50. I saved $35.50 from this purchase.
Without the discounts, I would have spent $240! I saved $165. The downside of these sales is that I wasn't intending to spend more than $40, but bought way more than expected on account of the huge deals. Had I anticipated these sales, I would have planned on saving more money to spend at this time of year. I'll definitely need to keep that in mind for next year, to avoid the pangs of guilt I felt on the way home. ("Mom, I just bought so many things! Make sure I don't buy anything until September!")
Life being a cheapskate, what can I say?!
The most amazing thing of all that I was out all day on a Tuesday during summer, and the mall wasn't excessively crowded, even in the afternoon hours. In most places, the sales weren't even widely advertised outside. You only noticed them once you reached the middle or back of the store. And in each place I went, the employees were telling people, "Another 20% off the mark-downs! 50% off all markdowns on the wall!" Sweaters and sweatpants for ten bucks, fancy hats for a dollar, it was insane.
So that was my shopping adventure.
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