Avoiding The Pitfalls of the January Sales Shop

Christmas is over and the hangovers from New Year have dispersed but the January sales are still going strong. In this time of troubled finances, retailers are trying desperate tactics to entice shoppers and the discounts are high. The mindless consumerism of the sales depresses me a little, with various retail sites going down completely due to the sheer amount of people trying to get onto them. If you celebrate Christmas you’ve probably just got a bunch of new stuff anyway.

I’ve fallen down at the sales so many times before, a slave to the giddy thrill of the purchase only to be followed by the sickening feeling of guilt at buying more junk I don’t need. This all leads to more rubbish in landfills and an unsustainable ‘throwaway’ culture of disposable purchases. This year then, I am going to take my own advice and keep a handle on myself and my purchases.

Obviously I’m only human and I have and will be braving the crowds to get my hands on a bargain, but this year I’ve come up with some basic pointers to ensure I (and you) don’t get too carried away:

Photo Credit: Eric P2x

-If you’re already caught up in the whirl of reductions, ask yourself whether you really need a fifth Elmo beanie or if you’re just drawn in by the price. Would you have bought it full price, assuming you had the money at the time? If the answer is no, put it back on the shelf. I managed to get a glittery skull snow globe that I’d hankered after before Christmas for 50% off, and although this probably isn’t on everyone’s list of essential purchases I really wanted it and that’s what matters.

-Does it fit properly? Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you have to be a slightly too small dress or hugely uncomfortable shoes. However, if it’s a good quality item you know you’ll wear time and time again it may be worth looking into the cost of an alteration (but make sure you don’t end up with a whole case of clothes marked ‘to be altered’ which never actually manage to get there!)

Photo Credit:Gunnar Bangsmoen

-Is the quality decent? It might be cheap, but it’s still not a bargain if it falls to pieces after one wear, or the buttons pop off in the supermarket.

-Have you actually got room for it? If not, and you still really want it, consider getting rid of something else to shift some space with a ‘one in, one out’ policy on purchases. Although the idea of a bulging walk in closet that would make Cher Horowitz salivate is appealing, in reality it usually means half of it is unwearable, unsuitable or just plain wrong.

-Know your rights. Can you take this purchase back for a full refund, or will you only get store credit?

Armed with this knowledge, go forth and sale shop in safety…or not!