Today Was A Good Day

“It Was A Good Day.”  Remember that Ice Cube song?  Yes… No…Maybe.  Well, today was one of those days for me. It was a carefree, stress-free Saturday.  Life is so precious and short you have to acknowledge those moments.

It started out bright and early with a quick coffee meeting with a professor that helped me get started with the blog.  Months ago I took a class that finally gave me the push I needed to take my idea live.  S/O to Dave for keeping me on-track.

I followed that up with a little retail therapy – hours of it.  But to be fair, you all know I’m cheap at this point, so I came in with a definite methodical approach.  I have three steps to shopping.

Step 1, always have a budget.  Whether it’s a dollar amount or volume amount, my best advice for shopping is to cap it off before it even gets started – especially if you’re an admirer of fashion.  Once you get in a store, there will always be some sort of fabricated reason to buy something so you have to control the beast in you. No need to buy a dress for the next time you “go out” when we both know you never “go out.”

Secondly, I prefer to have a game plan.  What am I in this mall or boutique for?  This is where one of my favorite apps – Pinterest – comes in at.  Among my visions and life goals, when I like something (even something as light-weight as fashion), I like to place it here so when/ if I go shopping I know what the goal is.  I don’t want to aimlessly go into shop after shop.  This means if I’m looking for shoes in say a Nordstrom, then I have no business in their fine linens area.  I hit the shoe area and then hit the same door I came in. We have no business to conduct.

Last but not least, know the lay of the land.   I’m a bargain shopper and to me shopping is a hunting sport, so I know my prey very well.  I know how low in prices certain. For example, I’m a fan of the anchor store Dillards.  However Dillards and I have nothing to talk about unless that price gets to at least 35% of the original price.  If you’re patient and have the time to wait on a certain item, they can and will get there.  Until then, there’s no deal.

Today the budget was $100.  It was a holiday weekend so this was my time to strike.  I came equipped with a light-weight purse and chic walking shoes.  I was prepared for the long-haul.  I came out with a nice work dress, a casual shirt, this uber cute hot pink mascara (VERY DJ) that caught all sorts of attention and compliments from Sephora and money to spare.

Oh yes… today was a good day.

BTW – Always keep a calculator with you.  While hunting you’ll need to ensure that the sales price on the ticket is in-line with the discount be advertised. Today I scored a huge win when a dress marked down only 30% was placed on a 65% off rack.  There were fair and gave me the 65% mark down.  Attention to details like that can work in your favor.