Blog Savvy4Less: Discount Days by Design

It's a good time of year to save! What you should know?

Here's a couple of quick tips to get 

Your Savvy Lifestyle for Less!

Don't lose out! Retailers don't carry as much merchandise as they used to.

What does this mean to you? Know when you should buy your merchandise. Some items are more expensive to make and stock is less plentiful. Jeans for instance, are something that you should buy when you see it in the late summer, early fall. Limited amounts on sizes and styles are available and they will sell out.

If you see shoes or clothing that you like in JCPenney, Kohl's and sometimes Macy's... You should buy it. Chances are good that they will not get any more merchandise delivered  These 3 specific retailers are no longer consistent about offering all merchandise through their website either. There is always a sale, coupon or both available. If you really like an item, don't wait for a better price.

On the other hand... Target and Walmart function differently.

MY ALL Time Favorite Retailer is Target! Here is where you can wait for another mark-down. They have so many retail stores, that even if you miss the item at one location, it is sure to be down the street at another.

This is the perfect time a year to save. Target has a line of merchandise that is for college students and back to school. Target will have tons of left overs and will clearance most items for far less than even their sale prices. 

Look for circular red clearance signs on shelving or long red signs for clothes. Clothes 30% off signs show to the aisle and 75% or more to the wall. You need to wander in to get the good deals. All other departments will have items on end caps: which are the shelving at the end of aisles that face the back walls. Target has them in every department. When there is a lot of clearance merchandise in one department, like after school starts, they will devote an entire aisle to clearance. Look for red signs.

When you sign up for Target's Redcard debit card you receive and additional 5% off of your total purchase.

At Target, when the price ends in 4, it is the final markdown. If the item doesn't sell, it is sent to Goodwill or a salvage company. I have seen brand new bicycles and household goods at Goodwill with Target price tags still on, selling for pennies on the dollar. You can find out which Goodwill most of the Target merchandise goes to in your city by asking the workers in the Goodwill stores. If they get a lot of Target merchandise, they will tell you.

Here is their unofficial clearance schedule:

Typically items are first marked down at 15% off. After two to three weeks, the items will go 30% off. Then 50%, finally 75%. It is generally two weeks between markdowns but that varies. For seasonal items (Christmas, Valentines, Halloween) the markdown is much faster and can vary from store to store. Merchandise returned to the store that was purchased from the internet usually hits the floor at 65%-75% off and ticketing price will usually end in a 7.

A lot of people will purchase items off a clearance rack at 30% off, just because it says clearance. The fact is that Target's sale price is usually 25%-30% off anyway and it isn't really a "clearance" price. 

Target also rotates their regular sale schedule by product and department. An item is bound to go on sale if you wait a week or two.

My local Target pushes a lot of merchandise through. Here is their typical schedule  All stores have a team just for marking down merchandise and schedules may vary slightly.

• 50 % off the day after a holiday for 3 days
• 75% off on the 4th day for 3 days
• 90% off on the 7th day for 1-2 days (if it get's marked down this far)

Electronics will very rarely sell for less than 50% off...

Happy Shopping!

Kimberly R Lifestyle by Design 
Designing a life with grace and ease