FashBlog.com

by Christina VanGinkel

I am a bargain shopper! I will pick a clearance rack to browse any day over a rack of new clothing. Online, I am no different. Sites such as Overstock and Smart Bargains will find me browsing their sites more likely than an online venue that offers no advertising of discounts and deals. Do not get me wrong, as shopping online oftentimes goes hand in hand with discounts, yet I am still much more likely to shop the stores that are better known for their bargains and deals.

When I wondered aloud about this fact the other morning over a cup of tea with a friend, I made the statement that maybe my draw to bargain shopping is more about the find than the bargain itself. When she asked me exactly what I meant, I did my best to explain it.

Consider Smart Bargains and their Going Fast and Last Chance sections located on their front page and within their website. Similar to discovering a lone 'must have item' on a rack and getting to it before another savvy shopper in the store grabs it, the Going Fast and Last Chance sections list some hot items, oftentimes along with how many of the item are actually left available to order, usually a low number such as three or four.

On a recent visit to the Smart Bargains site, a Prada zip bag was headlined in the Going Fast section, with only five of them left available. At an advertised 44% off, it was still way out of my price range, but I was giddy with excitement as I watched how quickly they disappeared. I knew if they were offering deals like that, a deal that was perfect for me might be next, and I was not left waiting long. In the Last Chance section, I found Lucky Brand 'Spellbound' boot cut jeans marked from $92.00 down to $30.99. They were only available in one size, but that size happened to be the size a very good friend wears, a friend whose birthday was coming up and I happened to know she loved those jeans! I had been shopping not long before with her when she tried on a pair in the mall but had wistfully put them back on the shelf after looking at the price tag. Locally, they had been even higher than the $92.00, and had been priced at $109.99!

There is just something fantastic about coming across a deal, especially with clothes, as who would not want to dress and accessorize stylishly. At the same time, who other than the wealthiest among us can afford to? All of us! That is if we learn to use the Internet to our advantage by shopping sensibly and taking advantage of bargains and deals when they are available. Check the clearance or bargain sections of your favorite online clothing retailers. Also, check for any online discount codes or coupons that the stores may be offering. Unlike most brick and mortar stores that do not allow shoppers to combine discount coupons and clearance prices, most Internet stores have no such rule. If you find a coupon, chances are you can even use it on clearance and closeouts.