My survival guide to sales shopping

Some people may disagree with me when I say shopping is an art form. Like most art forms there are the amateurs and the pros. The more experienced shopper knows the key difference between the value and the price, the price being an indicator of what that item may bestow. A judicious buyer can spot quality from just a piece of fabric hanging from a rail. The label of course is a sign but it's all the other elements that make up that specific piece which makes that item worth buying, for example: the cut, quality of the fabric and that all important je ne sais quoi factor.

In this post I will be focussing more on my favourite time of the year, January sales!

Let's face it people, who doesn't love a good bargain? But hold on one second my dear readers, let us not lose our judgements by the maze of fabulous discounts. Here is my guide to staying focused during that busy sales season:

Have your eye on the prize

-This means you will have planned ahead for the occasion. By firmly deciding your budget. We do not want any post-sale guilt now do we? It is a good idea, that if you have seen an item online, perhaps on sale for a short time; to watch it. Knowing big retailers, if that specific item is lurking around online or in stores for more than a certain amount of time, a drop in price will definitely be applied.

Always think, 'it's on the rail for a reason'

-After having run a mile down the high street to get to your desired store, arriving sharp on the opening time. You grasp that item you have so longed for months and rush to the cashier to make that payment. But STOP!!! And rewind! No no no, one simply does not do what is told above^. 

Of course not, do I hear you say in agreement. 

Always, always say to yourself once you have that item in hand, 'it's on the sale rail for a reason', now you must inspect that item intensely for any flaws it may show. It would be the definition of a nightmare to return home after your sales ordeal to find a rip in the lining of your Sheepskin bomber, wouldn't it?All you hardwork gone down the drain. This is without a doubt not what we want!

Buy the right size!

-I know it sounds obvious. But for goodness sake, if it is sold out of every other size and you are left with the three sizes up option, just don't buy it, wait. 

The changing rooms are always disastrous during the sales

-I would tell you to avoid the changing rooms, but I do understand that you are obliged to try on that piece of clothing anyway. If I could give you any advice at all about the changing rooms is that it is wise to wear thin layers of clothing, there is nothing worst than trying to remove copious amounts of thick knit in a cramped environment, while a queue of crazed shoppers tut at the length of time they have spent waiting. (An added awkwardness)

Sales of -75% ascending

-If by some miraculous reason one of your favourite stores has a sale of more than 75% off and ascending. Then just Oh. My. God. Why aren't you there already?! Seriously, it is so so rare that a wholesale is sprung upon us. I would say its a once in a life-time experience, not to sound melodramatic mind. But for this category of sales shopping, you can push away all of my advice. It just doesn't matter. Get into that store the moment it opens, I do not care if you have to hand-cuff yourself to the front door and rugby tackle a few buyers to the floor, (anyway it all adds up to my point of shopping being a sport and we all know it) just get in there ASAP! And once your in, do not even bother to think of 'polite, dignified shopping', this is your time to shine, this is impulse buying at its best. Literally grab anything that looks like its worth a lot, but don't even think about that; tear clothes from others, get involved in that brutality. Just go for it! And when your done...you've reached that final stretch, you hurdle over those fallen rails to reach the cashier and that's when one can give you the award (you deserve) of the most ruthless sales shopper. Pride is the overall feeling (maybe a bit of guilt) but you do not care you got what you wanted and boy did you just do the workout of a lifetime or what?

Lastly, make sure you have a STRONG mentality!

- Inner strength is vital. Let me set the scene. Imagine a mass of aggressive, obsessed sale shoppers forcing themselves into the doors of Zara at 6am. You've got to be tough, ready to overcome the obstacles that may lie ahead and remember eyes on the prize. To get into that mental state; you may require a motivational playlist with meaning, to gradually get you into the mindset. Perhaps a little Beyoncé, and think of who you really are. A strong, independent woman or man in some cases. Keep this in mind and bag that bargain shit you've been oh so longing for.