Time For a Guest Post! Reece Shares Her Love For rue21

When I was asked to do a guest post for Brandi’s blog, Pointers from a Penny Pincher I was very excited, not only because she is a wonderful person but because her blog is about saving money when shopping and finding great deals, and that’s something I personally love to do when I go shopping as well. 

What’s so great about rue21?

 

I personally love to shop at rue21 because they have great deals on everything. Every time I go to rue21 I never leave empty handed because I always find something cute, but at a very reasonable price. One time I walked out of the store with a dress that only cost me $3. Clearance, yes, they have a great clearance section, don’t be afraid to check it out because usually that’s where all the good findings are- trust me. Another great thing about rue21 is that they not only sell great clothes for women but for men as well.  They also sell jewelry, shoes, hats, perfume etc. all at good prices.

Here are a few dresses and tops that I purchased from rue21 and none of them cost over $7.

 

 

 

       Here are some earrings, necklaces and rings that I have purchased at rue21 all for great deals.

Online shopping at rue21

Yes, they even have online shopping at rue21 you can check out all their great deals, so if you like to do all you’re shopping online go check them out and find some great deals without even going to the store. 

http://www.rue21.com/

                        

Thank you so much for your post, Reece. I love your style and you always have the best tips for saving money- especially on beauty products. Your blog, Beauty Tips on a College Budget is one of my absolute favorites.

There's an App For That

It’s pretty much common knowledge that sales papers and coupons can be found in the newspaper. A lot of people fail to remember though, that there is a place to find the sales papers and some coupons without even getting off of the couch. Obviously, there are ways to find sales on the internet, but if you do not have a particular store in mind; it may be more difficult to find something relevant. I suggest using your phone.

We’ve all heard the saying “There’s an app for that” and it definitely is true. I just went to my app store and searched “sales” and “discounts.” I downloaded around five apps but ended up only finding three of them helpful. The apps that I downloaded are called Weekly, RetailMeNot, and Groupon. All of the apps were free and had location services to show what stores near me offered sales and/or coupons.

The first app, Weekly, started by asking for my zip code. After entering that, the app showed every store in the area that offered any kind of discount. I could go through the entire list and check off which stores I was interested in seeing the sales for. I chose Aldi, Kmart, Kohl’s, and Old Navy. When I clicked on a store name, such as Kohl’s, the app revealed the recent weekly sales papers for the store. The app allows for the user to go through the entire ad. Although the app didn’t offer any kind of discount at nearby stores, it is nice to not have to go buy a newspaper for the circulars.

The next app that I downloaded was called RetailMeNot. This app was much more aesthetically pleasing than the first. It also had a little more to offer than just sales ads. The app has a search bar to look for ads and discounts for particular stores, but if you are like me and you only want to shop where you know there is a good deal- you can click on the “top coupons” button. The RetailMeNot app offers both online and in-store discounts, which I found extremely helpful.

The last app that I downloaded is much more popular. Groupon started out as a website and is just as convenient and helpful as an app. Similarly to the app Weekly, the first step in using Groupon was to enter your zip code. Then all of the discount deals are separated into categories: nearby, featured, goods, pet deals, getaways, and rewards. The majority of all the deals presented were all within an hour of my location. Also, many of the discounts were for at least 50% off of retail price.

I feel that it’s pretty safe to say that most people don’t leave the house without their phone on them, so next time you’re out on a shopping spree- remember to look for some apps on your phone to help you pinch some pennies.

Make (and take) a List

We’ve all done it…at some point each of us has claimed “I’m just running to the store to get some bread and toilet paper” and then end up leaving the store with more bags than we can possibly carry.  Mistakes happen. Impulse buys are hard to pass up. Sometimes a little retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered. I understand…but, if you’re like me and you can’t afford these kinds of mishaps, here is a tip: write a list. Sound almost too easy? Maybe that’s because it is.

Instead of walking into a store without a plan and being overwhelmed by the hundreds of shelves lined with products, try walking into a store with a list in hand.  You will feel more in control of yourself and in turn, you will be so much more likely to only buy the items that you need. Not to mention, you are much more likely to remember everything that you need to purchase. *That may be worse than buying too much…forgetting to buy to what you actually came to the store for. 

I keep my lists on my phone and they are usually pretty detailed.

Shopping lists aren’t just for groceries either.  If you are planning a party and you need to buy some supplies, writing a list will definitely help you stay on track while shopping. Another time that I like to use a shopping list is when I am shopping for someone’s birthday or Christmas shopping. Without a list, I am likely to either forget to buy someone a present or possibly buy someone more than one present.  

One problem that many people have (including myself) with list making is remembering to bring the list to the store. Here are several possible solutions to this problem: make a list on your phone (no one leaves the house without their phone), always keep your list in the same place (the fridge is a good location), and the day of your shopping trip try taping the list right on the door so that you can’t miss it as you walk out. 

If you can’t tell already- I’m a big proponent of list making. I make lists for everything basically. I believe that one of the reasons I do this is to help myself feel accomplished. Making a list for shopping can provide you with this same sensation. Checking off items, remembering all of the items you need, as well as not buying unnecessary items are all reasons to feel accomplished. 

So next time, before you rush out of your door headed to the store to grab a few things- make sure you write down those “few things” so you don’t come home with more than you bargained for.