Happy Friday, Followers! I am incorporating a new segment on the blog called Frugal Friday. At first, I wanted this segment to focus solely on fashion items, but then I decided that I am frugal in almost every single way possible… why not share my tips/hauls/etc. Now, I will say that a majority of the posts will likely focus on fashion and makeup. But, for those men out there who read my blog, don’t you worry! I will be sharing men’s fashion, products, and much more, too.
This segment is something I have been conjuring up for quite some time now. The problem was related to my injury. Shopping was not exactly the easiest for me up until recently. And, to be honest, it still isn’t the easiest. I can only walk around so much until I need to elevate my leg, rest, and recharge my batteries. HOWEVER… I have learned some tricks to assist me in these situations. With that being said, I am finally happy to announce this new segment.
As the title implies, I will be sharing some of my top “frugal” finds each Friday. To kick off this segment, I wanted to share a list of my top five favorite stores for all things frugal. If you have any stores you would like to share with me, PLEASE do! I also want to say that this will not include stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. I am just now getting into thrifting. SO… this won’t be a thrifty, frugal, finds segment. When I am ready for that, I promise I will share my tips.
- Ross – My love for Ross has been real since I was a kid. My Grandmom, mommy, and I would go to “Ross Dress For Less,” with intentions to find affordable clothing, shoes, books, toys, and more. That’s what is so wonderful about this store… they have pretty much EVERYTHING you could ever want. From makeup to clothes and furniture to toys, Ross offers a lot of discount items for their customers. Something my Grandmom always said when shopping somewhere other than Ross was, “$10.99? Are they out of their mind!?” Then we would go to Ross and get it for cheaper.
- Christmas Tree Shops – If you need discount decor for your home, frames, greeting cards, even some foods, check out Christmas Tree Shops. I believe this store is a subsidiary of the store, “And That!” Or perhaps it is the other way around. Either way, this is a fantastic store to find little things that may cost more at Target. A great example is greeting cards. I get all my cards from here. I got a card that is typically $4.29 for $1.29. BOOM!
- TJMaxx/Homegoods – When I make gifts for friends/family, I always start here. I am huge on grabbing a $4 basket and filling it with little things that someone would love. A great example is a gift I made for a friend who was married this time last year. I made a “date night in a basket” gift that included a movie, some candy, spaghetti with sauce, and other little things to make them feel special. The price was affordable. The gift was thoughtful. The bride was happy.
- Target – As a Walmart hater, I have to say Target. The trick with Target is to live in the clearance section, take advantage of Cartwheel (an app), and ALWAYS do your research. Click here for some tips on how to kill the shopping game in Target. The week after Christmas, I got most of my holiday decor for 90% off. I know the last thing we all want to do after Christmas is spend money, but if you are preparing for the next year and saving a ton, I say do it. *Also, get the Target Red Card if you shop here regularly. I was hesitant at first, but my bestie who currently works for the company explained to me that it is NOT a credit card. It is connected to your debit account and you save 5% every time you shop there.
- Nordstrom Rack – Okay frugal friends, I know this one may make you cringe. BUT, I have found some quality items at ridiculously low prices when shopping here. For the fashion/brand name lover, this is the store for you (along with TJMaxx and Ross). In high school and college, I was so obsessed with name brand items. Ugh, I am so upset with my previous self. Anyway… I love Nordstrom Rack. I rarely shop here with the intention to buy items that are a specific “brand.” I only shop here for items that I feel are priced well and of good quality. Over five years ago, I bought a Steve Madden purse that was GORGEOUS, leather, and super chic. Of course, it was originally $100 plus, but I got it for $30 in the clearance section. I still use this bag today because it is in almost perfect condition. (The inside liner is a bit worn, but no one can see that but me!) I have purchased very nice sweaters from Michael Kors (coincidence that it is super name brand) for less than $20. Hard to pass that up in my opinion.
- Bonus store: Cotton On – I get all my “basics” clothing from the Cotton On clearance rack. ALL of my over-sized shirts, flowy tunics, and (most of) my workout clothes come from this store. Check it out!
When it comes to shopping with a frugal mindset, you really can shop online or in store. For me, I prefer in store for all my shopping. I love to see the items in person. I rip through clearance racks like my life depends on it. Oh, and if I actually decide to try it on (super rare), I have that option. This is especially important for items that are marked as “final sale.”
Stay tuned for a special, frugal outfit, feature on my Instagram this weekend! It is a sneak peek of next Friday’s Frugal Find. Thanks for reading and if you have any tips for us frugal peeps out there, please share them below! Happy Hunting.
Completely unwarranted life lesson from a married woman #32: A great way to be frugal is to KNOW the average price for an item. Why spend over $5 for a t-shirt? I rarely spend more than I have to for items of clothing that I know I can purchase cheaper somewhere else. Name brand shouldn’t always matter. If it is cute… it is cute, right?
*all gifs found on Giphy.com*