Rules of Bargain Shopping

1. Just because it’s inexpensive, doesn’t mean it’s a bargain. It’s only a bargain if you wear it. I recently bought a few inexpensive maternity items at Target, without trying them on, and none of them fit. I almost didn’t bother to take them back because they were so cheap, but when I did, I found out that they purchases totaled nearly $80. Don’t be tempted to buy something just because it’s cheap. But it only if you love it/want it/have to have it.
2. Do Your Due Diligence: Really check an item out before you buy it, to make sure you are getting what you pay for. Make sure the seams are finished well, the fabric feels like it’s good quality and like it will wash well, that it can be washed and not dry-cleaned (otherwise a bargain can get expensive), that the buttons are nice, and the fit is flattering.
3. I have found, when shopping at stores like Target and Old Navy, that it’s best to stick with knits (like t-shirt materials) as opposed to wovens (like a man’s dress shirt, for example). Wovens tend to wash badly and end up being a wrinkled mess, meaning it’s going to take tons of ironing to make that $20 dress look decent. But cotton jerseys and sweaterknits tend to hold up pretty well and look good for longer, with less effort. Also, avoid slinky shiny knits when bargain shopping. These can have a tacky sheen to them and look cheap.