THE COSMO GIRL’S GUIDE TO SALES!
Did you hear that? It’s discount time! Make it count with these helpful hints...
Counting down the days to store sales? Of course you are! According to Kit Yarrow, Ph.D., there’s a reason why we’re obsessed with them. “Giant reductions tap into primal psychological impulses,” she explains on time.com. “The difference between the original and marked-down rates leave the impression that these deals are too good to pass up. Also, the rush we get from snagging a bargain (85% off!) can be addictive.” But not all is perfect in ‘sale world’. For one, there’s fighting off other hysterical shoppers, and then there’s the all-too-familiar chance of buying stuff we don’t ever use. (Kit even found that consumers fixated on discounts buy things that aren’t truly satisfying—and because they aren’t satisfied, they continue to shop). So, to help you work the best discounts, we asked four truly savvy Cosmo shoppers to reveal their sale-time secrets. Bags at the ready, ladies!
1 Choose weekdays
Instead of visiting the store on weekends, when everybody is out shopping, aim to go on a weekday as there are fewer people around. “I prefer targeting sales on Mondays as it’s easier to find sizes and all the clothes are neatly stacked,” says Priyanjali, 20. Also, mornings and afternoons work better than evenings.
2 Take prior stock
Knowing what you want beforehand helps avoid impulsive buys. “I always make a list of things to buy and stick to it, no matter the temptation,” says Anonyaa Bosu, 20.
3 Focus on the item, only
Kit says many shoppers end up buying stuff they don’t actually need because they have a “fear of missing out” and feel they must act quickly to cut ‘competition’. Anjali Monga, 21, has a solution: “I ask myself, ‘Would I have wanted it before it went on sale?’ and then decide.”
4 Make investments
The sales are a great time to invest in usually-expensive, luxury fabrics, like silk, which have the potential to last you a lifetime. “My mum got me a basic silk blouse from a sale four seasons ago, which still looks really good,” says Shrishti Ahuja, 21.