Sale or no sale, I am not a big fan of searching through racks of clothes and dealing with pushy salespeople. This doesn’t mean that I don’t like to save money. In fact, bargain shopping is one of my utmost guilty pleasures.

Over the years, I have acquired pretty impressive online shopping skills and I cannot wait to share them with you. Here are my suggestions on how to perfect your online shopping.

The Fitting Room Scramble
I find that shopping strictly at brick and mortar stores restricts you from taking advantage of fabulous online deals. If you spot an item at a store but your size is out of stock or if you have a hunch that it sells elsewhere for less, search this product on your phone straight from the fitting room.

Many stores do not have a large selection of sale items, but online stores might and you could score a better deal. This knowledge will also put you in a better bargaining position should you choose to buy it from the store.

Match Made In Heaven
If you are a veteran online shopper, then you know that prices vary on the internet. If you fall in love with a piece of clothing or a great pair of shoes at a store, search for that item online and ask the store to match the lower price you find.

More stores than you think offer such arrangements. Nordsdrom for one, is quite willing to match prices to get your business. This really is a win/win situation because you remain a loyal patron of the store and you leave feeling good about the price of your purchase.

It’s In The Bag
If you are like me, you want to buy EVERYTHING. But why pay the first price you see? There is no worse feeling than buying that little something, then seeing it on sale somewhere else. Even if you are buying a sales item, place it in your cart and search for it on the web to see if another store is offering it for less. This isn’t necessarily to save you from breaking the bank, but to give you a peace-of-mind. This way you are being savvy, can shop more and avoid shopper’s regret. I can’t think of a better way to keep the economy going.

The Perfect Fit
I know first-hand what it is like to think that you are one size, only to receive your purchase in the mail and have it not fit. How does one avoid such mishaps? First, place your purchase in your shopping cart then Google the designer’s size chart. Some designers tend make things smaller, others bigger. To complicate things, some particular designs have an odd fit.

Chances are you will not be the first to discover this, so do read reviews for what you are about to purchase. This applies to apparel as well as shoes. Also, note the size you are buying. European sizes are different from those in the UK and the US and French Designers almost always make shoes a size smaller. Follow these easy steps and reduce your return ratio and save some trees by not printing any more return labels.

Magic Words: “Discount Code,” Promo Code,” and “Coupon”
Never, ever checkout from an online store without searching for their online offers by typing in the “magic words” in your search engine. This not only applies to boutiques, but also to any e-commerce site. Some stores have 15% off coupons out there, others have free shipping. Very rarely will you encounter an online store without a promo offer that will reduce the price of your purchase. If you ask me, this is a great added bonus to shopping online.

Members Only
Anyone who has ever met me, knows that I am a huge fan of private shopping sale sites like: Gilt.com, Ideeli.com, Hautelook.com and, of course RueLaLa.com. Each site offers something a little bit different, yet ever so enticing. I am a fan of them all but for different reasons. If you are not a member, just click on the link for each site listed above, sign up and unlock the world of premiere discount shopping. RueLala.com also has amazing local deals which are worth checking out on a daily basis.

Gilt.com offers higher-end items where Hautelook.com and RueLaLa.com have an array of designers, both pricey and affordable. Ideeli.com is hit or miss but has great home design items and offers one of the higher referral fees out there. Something to think about when shopping on these sites is their return policy. To save you the time, I will tell you that no private shopping sale site is as accommodating or has better customer service than RueLaLa.com. On RueLaLa.com, you get huge discounts and also your money back if you change your mind. This comes in handy from time to time.

I don’t think that these sites should replace your old shopping habits but they are great for gift buying, and frivolous, guilt-free purchases, so I am sold. This is how real fashionistas keep up with the latest trends, wear the best designer clothes, and dress up in up-to-date accessories while rarely repeating an outfit. Using these tips can keep you within your budget and allow you to get more, way more of the things you really want.

Happy Online Shopping Ladies,

Biana

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