What do you call a shopping intervention?
A spendervention!
Not that I need one myself – I’m definitely a frugal shopper – but I know a few people that do. I’m not naming any names… you know who you are!
I tend to frequent off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, where I know I can find designer fashion, home decor, gourmet gear, beauty products, and more, without sacrificing on quality or spending department store prices. Lucky me got a $25 gift card from Marshalls, to spend as I please, and that’s exactly what I did this past weekend.
So what did I buy, you ask? Shoes for my girls. I knew that’s what I wanted from the moment I stepped foot in the store. After browsing the kids’ shoes for a while, I found these cute OshKosh B’Gosh canvas slip-ons in pink, with the most adorable cupcake print!
The best part is that they’re available in both toddler and big girl sizes.
I didn’t plan on spending any more than that, but while in the clearance section of the shoe department, a shiny pair of Nine West sandals caught Marsy’s eye. She just had to try them on because “they have jewels, mommy! Pretty jewels!”, but after realizing they were a tad too big for her, she begrudgingly handed them to me so I could put them away… and they happened to be my size! What are the odds?! I took it as a sign that I had to buy them! 
As soon as I got home, I ran to the computer to look up the brand and item numbers to see if I could find something similar to what I bought. EUREKA! I found the exact same OshKosh Mary Janes on Shoes.com for $32. Per pair. I paid $25.98 for two pairs. Sure, Shoes.com kicks in free shipping, but that’s still a savings of 60%!
On the Nine West website I found the pair to the far right, which as you can see, look almost identical to the ones I purchased (on the left), except for the ankle strap. Which is one of the reasons I bought these in the first place! Without the strap, they’re just another pair of flip flops, you know? I’d take a picture of them ON my feet, but my un-pedicured toes would surely scare you away. Anyway, these sell for $59 on NineWest.com. I paid $20 for mine, a savings of 66%. Thanks, Marshalls!
Giveaway is closed. Winners are listed here.
I’ve got a $25 T.J. Maxx gift card so that one of my readers can stage a spendervention of their very own! To enter, please leave a comment below with a “spendervention” tip or story.
If you need ideas, download tips from the Spendervention Experts! A few of my favorites:
“My attitude — why spend more when you don’t have to. Just because I dress the hottest stars, doesn’t mean the sky is the limit when it comes to budget. I learned the hard way (after paying department store and designer full-prices one too many times) that by shopping off-price you can get double the merchandise for half the price. Now that’s sassy savings!” - Robert Verdi, E! correspondent and fashion expert
“I’m on planes just about every week and that puts a tough toll on my luggage… In the last 10 years I’ve only bought my suitcases at T.J. Maxx or Marshalls. Every suitcase I’ve bought is name brand, quality suitcase but since I’ve paid a fraction of the price I’d pay at a department store, I don’t fret about my bag getting marks or a bit dirty when they come off the airport carousel.” - Alison Deyette, stylist and lifestyle expert
“We are creatures of habit and tend to gravitate towards the same styles and looks when we go shopping. In fact sometimes we end up buying items similar to what’s already in our closet and that’s just a big old waste of money … Before I went shopping I would take a quick inventory of my closet. I’d keep in mind something that I knew I could wear multiple ways and I would visit my local T.J. Maxx or Marshalls and simply peruse the racks and accessories departments to see what I could find to make it feel like new.” - Farnoosh Torabi, author of You’re So Money and contributor for TheStreet.com
For extra entries:
- Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.
- Subscribe to my feed (or let me know if you already do).
- Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway: Need a spendervention, or know someone who does? A $25 TJ Maxx gift card could help. Enter to win one from @ohMariana! http://bit.ly/UXv7R
- Grab my button and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.
- Stumble this page by clicking the button below, and leave your Stumble Upon name in the comment.
- Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites by clicking on the button below, and leave your username in the comment.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry and leave a valid email address or blog URL in your comment. US entries only. This contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, June 7th, 2009. Winner will be chosen at random, and has 3 days to claim their prize.
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Another “spendervention” tip from Robert Verdi that I think could be effective in motivating myself and others to ditch the expensive labels and stores for great alternatives like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s is to treat each trip there as an exciting challenge and to anticipate a great find in the racks when you’re there.
I blogged about the giveaway and linked back here: http://slavetoacademia.blogspot.com/2009/06/tj-maxx-gc-giveaway.html
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Cant pass up things at a baragin price or on sale, call me thrifty? Dunno
wombatspurple at yahoo dot com
I’ve been teaching my daughter how to maximize her budget by shopping at outlets.
Spendervention tip: rest on an un-budgeted purchase overnight. In the morning, you can decide logically if you really want to spend the money!
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I tweeted about this give away as luckweasel
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I have this great croc handbag I got in a little town in Texas shortly after my 12 day Med cruise. Everyone thinks I got it in Italy because it looks so fab and it is made so well, plus the lining is soooo pretty. Well, I’m not gonna spend that kind of money to get a purse (I have a habit, that I am trying to break, as the hubs puts it: “How many purses do you NEED in black???”). I only spent $25 for the one I got in TX and you’d never know the difference from the one my friend got in Italy!!
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Finding a major deal at TJ Maxx or Marshalls makes my life!
heres a tip: use a shopping bot to compare prices with associated shipping costs when shopping online.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Everytime I go into T. J. Maxx I buy a purse from one of my favorite designers. I love the prices and now I am running out of room in my closet to store them.
I sometimes get discount coupons for stores and when I do I combine them with a good sale or clearance price for greater savings.
I really like TJ MAx
My tip is to try everything on and actually see how it looks on you.
My spendervention story is from when I was in college, before I met my fabulous husband, of course. I shopped at TJ Maxx so often that I often spoke of TJ Maxx being my “boyfriend” because shopping there kept me company and cheered me up on tough days!
I love to bargain shop.
My spendervention tip would be not to buy that outfit that you feel iffy about at the store. If you are unsure if you would really wear it while in the dressing room, then chances are it will end up in your closet with the tags on.
One of my favorite Spendervention items for myself is that I knit my own totes and market bags – for 1/4 of the price, I get a bag made just for me as well as the enjoyment of my hobby.
My Spendervention? I use the stained kids’ clothes that are unsable as rags. I don’t have to buy cheap towels anymore for around the house!
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A good spendervention tip is never buy on impulse!
I look op printable store coupons and use them
Think of the cost-per-wear every time you pick up something — an expensive coat that you’ll wear for ages is better than a cheap top that you’ll wear once before it falls apart.
Some people think I need a Spendervention – what they don’t realize is that I try to get everything at the best possible price. Even the gourmet foods and drinks I get at TJ Maxx and don’t spend a ton.
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If I find a great bargain staple (black pants, etc) then I buy more than 1!
Thanks
A spendervention tip I got from my mom: If you find something that looks good on you and it’s a great price, buy one in every color!
I shop the clearance racks at my favorite department stores and gotten $100 skirts and tops for under $10 each. I love it!
I love tjmaxx espically for my 2 sons clothes,they have nike outfits for 14.99 so I bought several.Later that day we went to kohls and they were selling these nike outfits for $30!I was thrilled I got an awesome deal!
ahdrad2932(at)msn(dot)com
I make sure I really need something before I get it. Times are tough
My best way to save is to limit the amount of cash I take with me and NO debit or credit cards. If I find something absolutely incredible that is a “must have” then I’ll just have to come back for it later. Usually I realize that it wasn’t really a necessity after all.
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My tip is to stock up big time on the basics and everyday essentials during sales. Even though you may be spending more at the time, you’ll be saving money in the long run!
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i look for clothes ON THE clearance rakcs i once left tjs with 5 bags of clothes for 75 bucks it was AWESOME
I try to save money by buying off season. Nothing better than a stuffed %75 off clearance rack for next years summer clothes. I also stay away from “special deals” and “incredible sales” because usually they are not much of a deal anyway. Instead, I just stick to regularly low priced stores. Name brands don’t mean much to my kids yet so I get by pretty cheap.
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I need a spendervention when it comes to perfume
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I think TJ Maxx and Marshalls are definitely the places to shop for deals. I love that they have unique items of great quality for small prices. And when they have clearance sections, it’s best to stock up on off season merchandise. I got a brand name clutch purse for under $5!
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