Make your $$ count for holiday shopping

All over the news are tips on how to save money and make your dollar stretch.  It’s the talk of the town!

As you’ve probably noticed, we’ve been including guest blog postings recently from our Trendsetters.  David from Style Points has taken the time to share his insight on how to make the most of your money in these tough times.  His blog is about style from a male perspective.

David’s also a loyal Shop It To Me subscriber, often discussing items he’s found in his Salemail.  But, he also has some other tips.  Check out what he has to say.

These days, “sale” is the best sounding four-letter word in the dictionary, especially in an economy where retail spending is expected to slow down.

Those who are students of the Shop It To Me school of bargain hunting know there are deals online for quality designer items.

• Allow me to guide you a step further: When surfing other retail sites, browse for what’s new, but click directly to the “sale” or “clearance” section of the site. For instance, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, and Nordstrom have “sale” tabs that immediately take you to what’s marked down. You can then consider items that are more likely to be in the range you’re willing to pay.
• If you plan on taking a road trip, head out to a factory outlet near you.
  Prime Outlets, Chelsea Premium Outlets, and Tanger Outlets have locations through out much of the U.S. (These links provide maps to their various locations)

• If factory outlets are beyond your traveling range, check out your local Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Ross and Kohl’s for options at low prices.
• Not least, price clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s offer members designer clothing at surprisingly low prices.

The thrill of bargain hunting is in knowing where to look, having an idea of how much you want to spend, making a list of items, and executing the plan. The result should be disciplined purchases, maximum bang for the bucks and happy campers who got a gift they can use.

Good luck.