This Christmas 61% of buyers will spend their money on apparel. That’s more than half of the population. Now since Christmas is only a few weeks away, clothing brands have taken their prices up. So how can you save on shopping for clothes?
Don’t worry, if you have a will for saving, there’s a way too. That said, here are 7 tips that you can employ for saving on apparel shopping this Christmas season.
1 – Shop at the right time and day
They say you should start shopping for Christmas as early as you can. Because you surely don’t want to go for it when Holiday clothing collections for the big day make it to the stores. It’s no secret that new collections are awfully pricey. This is why it is a good idea to start your shopping endeavors in August and September, when shops are trying to get rid of old stock to make space for new one.
Similarly, you can head to stores on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or on November 11. Why this particular date, you ask? Because 11/11 is Single’s Day, and several retailers offer discounts. What’s more, they say Tuesday is the best for shopping for men’s apparel, Wednesday is the best day for jewelry shopping, and Thursday is when you should buy your handbags.
2 – Make use of price-match services
What’s the point of buying from one brand when its competitor is offering a much better price? Conduct price-match before going ahead and purchasing something for a high price. You can do this by making use of several apps. In this regard, BizRate is a good price comparison search engine. It doesn’t only enable you to find products at the best prices but offers other services as well.
For instance, you can set up price alerts. Among apps, Pircena and ShopSavvy can be used for price-matching. However, which app you should go for depends on your location.
3 – Don’t fall for marketing traps
Whistling your way home to find a mannequin on a shop’s window begging you to come inside? No matter how beautiful the dress she’s wearing, don’t listen to her. Everything on display is meant for luring you inside. Emotional advertising is another way to beckon you to shop. Unsurprisingly, a lot of us respond to it too.
Furthermore, a lot of marketers also create urgency by using the label of “limited time offer.” This also pulls people in to shop as no one wants to miss out. Similarly, there are several deals that are not worth your money, but you purchase them only because you saw the word discount. Don’t do that, only purchase what you need.
4 – Check out vertical discount codes websites
You can also make use of coupons and promo codes for shopping along with saving. If you are on the lookout for coupon codes for apparel, go for a vertical discount codes website like ClothingRIC.com. Such a website would be dedicated to providing you with coupon codes that are limited to categories which are relevant to fashion apparel. This way, you’ll be able to find several coupon, free shipping deals, daily offers and site wide discounts.
Moreover, you will also be able to search for what you want more easily. You will be able to find exclusive coupons that would be for apparel, accessories, etc. too. According to a survey, 94% of American women don’t go for clothes shopping without a discount.
5 – Pay only with cash
Rather than flashing out your credit or debit card for paying for your shopping, use cash. The reason behind this is simple – you tend to buy more when you use a card as payment mode. Since you cannot see the money, you don’t think much of it. At the same time, paying with cash restricts you. You keep counting the bucks remaining in your wallet.
This allows you to stay within your budget too. Avni Shah who is an assistant marketing professor and an author says that paying with cash makes you feel pain which in turn makes you value your purchases more. Not only does paying with cash keep you more mindful of your expenditure, but it allows you to better track it as well.
6 – Make use of student discount
Are you a student? If yes, then go ahead and make your purchases at better prices. If you’re not then do you have a kid who can bag student discount offers? You can use that card to your benefit as well to save on clothes shopping this Christmas. If you have your own student email from years back still maintained and useful, you can use that too.
If you’re planning on in-store shopping, ensure you have a NUS card. You can upgrade your NUS card to a TOTUM/NUS extra card for availing better discounts. Since you’ve spent so much for that student email, you better make the most of it.
7 – Use apps for savings
There are several apps that allow you to save more money. For instance, one app that you can use is Qapital. This is a free app that transfers your cash to your savings account on your assigned day. This way, you can save for Christmas shopping from months in advance. There are also apps that apply any available coupons to your purchases.
One example of such an app is Coupon Sherpa. Another cool app that you can use is Swagbucks. This app doesn’t require any investment. With it you can earn for playing simple games and completing brief surveys. Your earned money reaches you in the form of Amazon or Target gift cards or PayPal cash.
Take home message
There are several ways you can save money on clothes shopping for Christmas. These include using apps, student discounts, vertical discount codes, and price-match services. Start shopping months before Christmas to be able to buy from sales rather than new collections. Moreover, stay smart and miles away from marketing traps. Which other unique tips do you have in mind? Tell us in the comments’ section!