I must say, sometimes we worry about what people think of us…what brand is our clothing, what kind of a car do we drive, is our jewelry real, how big is our house, etc. We all compare on some level.

My husband has asked me more than a few times, “if we had all the money in the world, would you still be so thrifty?” I answered him almost immediately, with no hesitation, “absolutely!” This is a characteristic my husband does appreciate. Something drives me inside, when I find a great deal and know I could spend double the price at retail value. I wonder ALL the time, why people spend so much money for the same brand, same quality but for double the price.

I am very thrifty but thoroughly enjoy it. I love to hunt for the deals, and save extra cash. A couple places that people don’t realize has the higher end brands are places such as:

TJ Maxx: I prefer TJ Maxx over Ross most the time, but it honestly depends on what you are on the hunt for. TJ Maxx has the designer section for clothes that cost half the price. I’ve actually bought a couple pieces of clothing from Nordstrom and a month or so later found the same shirt for half the price at TJ Maxx. The trick is not that it’s lower quality, but that they buy the overstock from other clothing stores allowing the product to still sell, but at a lower cost. Just as a heads up, not ALL their clothes is designer brand, but they have a lot and they do have a specific location for designer brands. They also have great deals on home goods, perfume/cologne and handbags. (Click here if you want more information)

Ross: Very similar to TJ Maxx, but it depends on where you live. Living in the city you learn which stores has the most options. Designer brands actually go very quickly as they don’t keep the same line stocked 100% of the time; they take what they get. They also have very good shoes but it can be hit or miss. They have great home goods, and handbags. Both Ross and TJ Maxx have great deals on skin care and shampoo/conditioner, again it depends on what they have in stock at the time you visit, but I buy Bed Head shampoo/conditioner for $15 each, regularly $26 each.

Home Goods: They have great deals and really compete well with Pier 1.

Nordstrom Rack: Nordstrom Rack has great deals on shoes and clothing, but don’t buy Nike brand from Nordstrom Rack unless it’s on sale. You can get Nike at TJ Maxx and Ross for even less than the Rack.

Overstock.com: To be honest I forget about Overstock but need to remember more frequently the great deals they have and you don’t have to leave your home to find them.

Amazon/Ebay: Amazon is my choice over Ebay but they both are great to compare when looking for a particular product. I love Sephroa, it’s basically my earthly heaven. :) Although I have found if you look on Amazon beforehand, you can get most things, not all, for a better deal. You will not get your Sephora points, but you will save money. Check on Amazon/Ebay before heading to Sephora. I also buy cell phone cases, movies, and hair products that the salon charges an arm and a leg and save a lot of money.

Mysupermarket.com: You’ve heard me say before, that this is a newer website and I’ve used it and love it. It’s nice to get toiletries and pantry items without having to drive to five different stores for the same deal.

Local Boutiques: There’s a couple local boutiques in our area that have the cutest clothing and jewelry yet they aren’t in every store. You can find adorable clothing without the same shirt being in multiple stores across the US. My husband also buys me jewelry and I always get compliments on it, and they come from these boutiques.

Between all of these choices, I guarantee you will find something that will make you feel accomplished while your pocketbook thanks you, or shall I say your husband. :) These are important things to know if you really want to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year. Again, if you have time to hunt and enjoy the hunt, head to one of these stores and simply look around.

Let me know what you find!