If you haven’t started already, you should probably start thinking about shopping for the holidays for gift and gifts for yourself!
This week and next week will be filled with TONS of sales, promotions, and offers both in store and online. And while it’s a great time to shop, it’s also easy to be caught up in the sales. When you see 60% off, it sounds like a great deal. But is it actually a great deal? Do you actually need this item, or are you buying it because it’s on sale? Does it actually make a good gift, and will the person receiving it actually enjoy it, or is it just a great price? Holidays can get expensive between gifts and traveling, and I try to save much money as I can, and also mindful of what I’m buying.
Whenever I shop, I always stop and check the prices and look around. A few months ago, I had ordered something online (it was a duvet cover) and it was full price but I had gift cards so to me it was worth the price and it wasn’t as expensive as other similar ones I could find online. A week later, I got an email saying “The item you looked at is now on sale!” Immediately, I was bummed since I had bought it at full price, and opened the email thinking can I get it price adjusted since I just bought it? Then I saw the “sale” price. It was the same price that I had paid “full price” for. I was shocked. I had ordered the duvet cover from a pretty well known higher end home décor brand, and I was so confused why the sale price was the same as the full price I paid a week prior. Did they increase the price that quickly? Or did the raise the original price to make it seem like it was on sale?
From this experience, I now check at all the promotions going on for items I’ve had my eye on and see if they do indeed raise the prices, or consistently have promotions that make full price irrelevant. Some stores will also have promotions online but not in store, or the other way around, so always check for this as well! I wanted a table runner from West Elm after seeing it in store, but it was 20% off online so I ordered online and did in store pick up, so I could pick it up the same day and still get the discount (also saves you from dealing with shipment packaging!). They may have done a price adjustment for me, but the store was busy and I wasn’t in a rush so I was fine with the in store pick up option! It took maybe an extra 5 minutes, but for me the price differences add up and are worth it to me. Sometimes you are getting the best deal, which is also great to have that piece of mind.
Since online sales are everywhere, before you hit the check out button check the item and see if you are actually getting a deal? If it’s an item that can be found in different stores, which store has the best price? Does anywhere have any promotions going on that you can take advantage of? The few extra minutes it takes to Google the product to check other website could save you $$$!! Even if it’s $15 on an item, after a few purchases those savings add up quickly!
I also like to go into holiday sale season with some sort of plan/list. I usually have a general idea of what I want to get people/gift for myself (because it’s the best time to get stuff during sales!), and try not to get too swept up in all of the deals!
This year, the one thing on my list was Parachute sheets and towels. They only have sales twice a year, and we absolutely LOVE their products, so I used this sale to stock up on a few favorites! Their percale sheets are a must have for any hot sleepers. They’re definitely pricey, but to us 1000% worth the money because we sleep so much better with them! We have tried other brands that were cooling at a lower price point, but it just wasn’t the same. Since they’re such great quality, they will also last a long time so the cost per use is justifiable to me. If you sign up to be on their mailing list, you can start shopping their sale early access today! They also have a great return policy (60 days), which I always look for when ordering things online that you can’t touch or try! Due to this being a pricier item on my wish list, it may be the only thing I get for myself this sale season but it’s worth it!
Shades and Stripes 
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