retail
In today’s online shopping landscape, deal comparisons have never been easier. On that same token, it’s possible to get too click-happy and impulsive. My strategy is to leave something in my online cart for a day and then decide the next day whether I still want/need the items I put in my cart. More often than not, my impulsive desire for something has waned by the next day and I don’t purchase.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING WHEN YOU CAN! If you can’t eliminate a shipping fee, it’s always a good indicator to think twice about purchasing. Also be conscious of free returns. It’s best to shop at places like H&M that allow free in-store returns for online purchases otherwise you may not receive a full refund.
Amazon Prime Student allows a 6-months free trial and then $49/year thereafter (compared to regular $99/year) for the projected amount of years you’ll be in school. Free unlimited photo storage and lots of tv/ movies are accessible as well! In this day and age, unlimited photo storage pays for itself and is easy to access via app or computer.
When shopping for things like gadgets (cell phone cases, sunscreen) I use Amazon Prime as a price point for everything. Any purchase with Amazon Prime has free shipping and returns, so I often shop for clothes (basic items - tops, jeans, jackets) or accessories (handbags) because I know I can return it if I don’t like it.
Also download the Amazon Prime app to your phone. You should receive a $5 credit off your first Amazon-fulfilled purchase for downloading the app. (email them if you don’t see the credit).
Make sure you use smile.amazonprime.com so a small percentage of your purchase gets donated to charity!
Select products delivered within two hours from time of placed order! Use "10primenow" off your first Amazon Prime Now order.
Other ways to maximize your Amazon Prime account to the fullest! (including 20% off diaper subscriptions and account sharing)
If you have a university email address you are eligible for a Unidays account. With Unidays you can receive up to 30% off seasonally for brands like Roxy, Quiksilver, Forever 21, Club Monaco, etc. Discounts usually range from 15% - 40%
There’s also a regular 15% off year round for Roxy and Quiksilver for students.
As an ongoing deal, if you donate a bag of clothes when shopping in-store, you get a 15% discount off your entire in-store purchase that day. When shopping online, H&M often runs good discount days AND “free shipping over orders of $40” or “free shipping on any purchase amount” promos. When you can stack discounts like that, that’s the best time to buy.
I recommend shopping only during the Semi-Annual Sale, at the beginning of each year and summer time (January and June, typically) or if you have a coupon (usually along the lines of “free panty with $20 purchase”). Victoria's Secret usually offers free shipping with orders of $100+. Occasionally you’ll see that lower to $50+.
Always wait for the additional 20 – 25% off clearance sales. (sign-up for e-newsletters to get sale alerts). You might not get the top of the line, latest product releases, but who cares? There’s still a huge selection. All I need is a new pair of trainers every 1.5 years. Free shipping if you’re a Nike + member, which you can enroll in for free.
There’s a regular 15% off year round for Roxy and Quiksilver for students.
Most stores will give a “sign up for our newsletter” discount. Do that, then unsubscribe later if you feel inundated. About once a quarter I do a round of “unsubscribing” so that I can purge myself from marketing and not get lured into buying stuff I don’t need.