10 Frugal Shopping Tips

Here are ten frugal shopping tips. Being fashion-forward and living on a budget are not mutually exclusive! It's easy to be stingy and still show up in style.

1. Go to thrift stores. There are more frugal shopping choices now than ever before. Look around at your options. Check vintage finds will support a good cause. Get creative and put together some outrageously fierce outfits.
   
2. Find a RRFM. Really Really Free Markets are really free. Bring castoffs and visit with other folks who show up. If you see something you like, take it. It's the ultimate frugal shopping experience. Can't find one? Call some friends and organize one! What could be simpler than showing up with your old uglies and picking up a few rad things from someone else's pile, with no money changing hands?
3. Don't bring a credit card. Really folks, by now everyone should know that these are not to be used for shopping. Credit cards are for emergencies. Your average purchase tends to be higher when you use a credit card versus cash. Carry cash for a frugal shopping caper.
4. Clip coupons. You don't have to grab every newspaper and scour the web for every deal, but it does pay to get savvy. A frugal shopper identifies places they shop the most. Do those establishments offer reward cards or loyalty points? If the store is offering you a way to pay less than full price and it's not going to leave you on the hook for future obligations take advantage of it. Make sure you sock the extra cash into your savings account and don't use it as an excuse to buy something extra.
5. Go online or go to the store? Pay attention to where the deals are for frugal shopping online. Sometimes you can really score online, if the shipping is low or free. Vendors hope that you'll spend a little extra because you're charging it. Other times a store may prefer to offer you a better deal in-store, hoping that by drawing you in they can upsell. Be wise to the tactic, grab hold of your willpower, and follow the sale. 
6. You don't need designer. Get a designer look without the designer. Take pictures of your favorite designer pieces and look for similar pieces to create the same look at a tiny fraction of the cost. Or splurge on one statement piece and use non-designer items to complete the look. Why pay for a label that no one will see? 
7. Save your receipts. If something doesn't fit, return it right away! Also, if you purchase something, and afterwards it goes on sale, some stores will do a price adjustment for you. Frugal shoppers should ask about a store's return policy, and if the price changes, get your money!
8. Damaged goods are okay. It's a sexy shirt, but it's dirty, or missing a button. Who cares? Wash it, sew the button back on, and enjoy the savings. It doesn't require a lot of sewing skill to fix a small hole. A tiny bit of time can save you a ton of money.
9. Bid on it. Don't forget about eBay, and similar sites. You can get some really sweet swag at pennies on the dollar by bidding frugally online. Just do a little research first so you know how much the item is really worth, and if the seller can be trusted.
10. Share the cost. Shop frugally with a friend. You and your best bud can both put up half the money, and work out a custody deal.