I've spent the last few years embracing how to be cheap without letting it consume my life. I believe I've found the perfect middle ground of getting amazing deals, and spending a minimum amount of time to do so.
1. Sign up for the annoying emails
This is the best way I've found to get the good deals from my favorite stores. 90% of the emails go into the trash, but every once in a while you'll get a great deal. I've noticed that this is a lot more effective, and less time consuming, than going to other websites to check on deals. So, if you can handle hitting the delete button a few minutes out of your day for a ton of savings, go for it!
2. BE PATIENT
How else can I put it? I won't buy anything full price, (other than groceries, and that's sometimes.) I always wait for the good deals. At least once a month a store will have a good sale. You don't have to wait for Black Friday to go shopping, just wait until you've found a price that you won't feel guilty about.
3. Be aware
After a while, you get to know a certain store and their common, great sales. For Bath and Body Works, it's their 2 for $22 candles, $3 lotions and wallflowers. For American Eagle, it's 40% off clothing. Then, there's some stores that don't hardly offer anything. Don't follow my first two steps if the purchase you're going to make is from one of those stores. If the product is worth it to you, get it. Don't sit around waiting for a deal that's never going to happen. But also don't be the person kicking yourself in the bum for spending $50 for two candles when you could have spent $22.
After a while, you get to know a certain store and their common, great sales. For Bath and Body Works, it's their 2 for $22 candles, $3 lotions and wallflowers. For American Eagle, it's 40% off clothing. Then, there's some stores that don't hardly offer anything. Don't follow my first two steps if the purchase you're going to make is from one of those stores. If the product is worth it to you, get it. Don't sit around waiting for a deal that's never going to happen. But also don't be the person kicking yourself in the bum for spending $50 for two candles when you could have spent $22.
4. Never pay for shipping
I almost always order everything online. A mall is about 2 hours away from me, and it's almost impossible to get the time to go. Almost all good stores have free shipping deals multiple times a month. If you have to buy $25 worth of merchandise to get the free shipping, but only want $6 worth of stuff.. it can wait. You're wasting money without getting product in return.
5. Don't spend hours looking for deals
If there's something I want to buy, these steps might take a maximum of 2 weeks of spending 5 minutes actually reading my emails once a day. If you let deal hunting take over your life, you'll end up wasting more time than it's worth to get $20 off your purchase.
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