Outlet Shopping

  Outlet malls are probably a shopaholic's paradise, where an abundance of companies sell their merchandise for a significantly discounted price. The reason for these lowered prices is really just because of the quality. Many of the items that go to these outlets are marked as "irregular" by their manufacturer factories. Don't be frightened though, not everything at the outlet malls are "rejects." Much of the stock there is discounted because they're "out of season." I've found that outlet malls are probably my favorite places to shop, but one of the negative things about them to me, is that they are sometimes hard to find depending on where you live.

  I do have some tips for you if you do plan on going outlet mall shopping. Most of these I've just learned from my own experiences shopping at outlets. One big step you should not cut corners at, is trying on what you're going to buy. Sometimes the reasons why these clothes are "irregular" is because the sizes on them are incorrect. Also, check for flaws, such as stains or holes(I've learned that lesson personally myself) on the items you wish to buy, before you pay for them. You may also want to limit yourself to what you're allowed to spend, just because it's an outlet mall doesn't mean everything there costs a penny. If you don't watch what you're spending, it'd really defeat the purpose of trying to save money by going to an outlet mall.

One advantage of outlet malls for me, is that I pay attention to many of the outlet store prices. This way, if I am shopping at a regular mall, and I want something, I'll know if it's overpriced or not because I know I can get it for a better deal.  I personally recommend Gurnee Mills to anyone who is looking for a Chicago area outlet. This outlet mall has a wide variety of stores for everybody in the family! Plus, it is an indoor outlet mall, perfect for shopping in when the weather gets too cold outside. I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and find some great deals for yourself at the outlet mall!

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Thanksgiving Weekend Savings

   Some of the best sales in stores and online happen sooner than you think they do. Generally, if someone uses the word "holiday," you're going to think that they mean Christmas. Thanksgiving is also a holiday, believe it or not. Shoppers who really know how to find deals will tell you that one of the highlights of their shopping year is Black Friday. Black Friday is the day after the Thanksgiving, marking the beginning of the Christmas season since Thanksgiving is over. Some stores may have sales such as "Midnight Madness," where they open doors at midnight and have some AMAZING steals.

  Shopping during that hour is like survival of the fittest. You must be fully rested upon your journey to the mall. If you're like me, then you're going to want to shop throughout the whole night, to seize the moment! After all the turkey feasting, shopping is probably your best bet to working yourself out. Traditionally, most families begin their Thanksgiving meals at around 7-9, but as long as it's before 12:00 midnight, it doesn't really matter. If you do in fact eat dinner a few hours before you plan to head out, you should try to fit in a nap after you eat. Sleeping right after eating may not be a great idea on regular days, but you're definitely going to need the energy when you're carrying your own weight in shopping bags.  Also, I'd wear something that you can easily take off but will still keep you warm, because I'm sure you're going to want to change in as little time possible in the dressing rooms. Also, I suggest you quickly pick everything that you want to try in on in one fitting, because you'll regret only taking one or two into the dressing room after you come out and see something else you want to try on. As always, when you're paying for your purchases, always begin to take your wallet out while you're getting closer in line to the register. I, myself detest shoppers who stand in front of the cashier digging in their purses for their wallets, holding the line up.
Below is a picture of a crowd of eager shoppers waiting to enter the store, seeking their savings.

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  If you're not the type to stay up all night just to shop, I have great news for you. Cyber Monday is the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The only difference between Cyber Monday and Black Friday is that your savings are online for Cyber Monday, as you have to be in stores to recieve your deals on Black Friday. The majority of the greatest savings are on electronics, but that doesn't mean the discounts on apparel and other departments aren't worth checking out. This method of purchasing things you want or need is great, because you can get them for the prices you want, and you don't have to wait in line for anything or travel in the cold.

Saving Up for the Splurge

   Most of us have all done it, having just one tremendously wallet denting shopping spree. That also means most of us have experienced the aftermath that it leaves. The feeling of missing all your hard earned money, all of it, just gone. There is a way where you could splurge, but not feel guilty because of it. Obviously, when you choose to have a massive trip to the mall to get things you've been wanting since the first time you laid eyes on it, you feel like you deserve it. The truth is you don't exactly deserve it if you're just going to waste all of your money on things that you don't even need, but that's exactly what a "splurge" is. Well I have a proposition for you all who wish to feel proud of yourself, before, during, and after a shopping trip.

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  You've heard it plenty of times before, but you need to save money before you can spend it. The method that works for me especially is to set goals. Once you've gotten past the first one, you will know that you're satisfied with yourself, and want to continue to keep doing it. The way I set goals is I set an amount of money that I wish to save up before going on a shopping binge. One crucial rule is that there must also be a certain amount of money I have to SAVE before moving up to my next goal. An example would be, say I'm going to set my target amount at $100, I'd probably set aside $20 from my shopping. This way, I don't have to start from a clean slate, and I know I'll always have some cash for things here and there. From the time I set the goal and actually accomplishing it, I start to keep my eyes open for things that I want to buy when I finally do save up enough. As you near your goal, you can start planning on eliminating things you know are just too expensive. Also, you might want to map out your trip to the mall, this way you can get straight to your shopping and enjoy doing it, because you know that you're smart enough to save AND spend!

The Solo Shopper

     Although some people may dislike shopping alone, it can actually give some people a "sense of freedom." There are plenty of things you would do or wouldn't do in front of a friend, and there are also things you would buy, and wouldn't buy if your friend was with you. Believe it or not, you can actually spend money and feel good about it, as long as you know how to do so. You may have heard the saying, " You are your own worst enemy." This pertains exactly to these types of situations. You control the money, the money doesn't control you. It may be tempting to spend all of your hard earned money on that one new video game, or those shoes you've been keeping an eye on since the moment you entered the store. Save that money for a rainy day, you won't fall off the face of the Earth just because you don't have the next new thing.

     What I do is, whenever I see something I REALLY want, I contemplate for a moment, "Do you really need that?"You may have almost the exact same thing at home, or something just as good if not better. Another method that works would be to think about something you desire greatly, but don't have enough money for yet, or something else you could get for the same price, but you'd actually use it more often. Every time you see something you desperately want, just think about that other item you could have instead, it'll discourage you from putting a dent in your wallet for something unnecessary. Also, when you're shopping alone, it's about what you want to purchase, not what your friends are pushing towards you to purchase. You're not being influenced by any body's opinion but your own. In the end, it doesn't really matter how you shop with, with an acquaintance or by yourself, because you're the one who forks out the cash.

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