Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Teaching Bargain Shopping and Value

The art of bargain shopping is more like a state of mind then a shopping technique. It’s frugality with a quality base line. Whether it’s in upper end home furnishings, clothing or on grocery items and household cleaners. You want the best quality you can get for less.

Teaching this to your kids isn’t easy. Whether or not you shop department stores or the web, thrift stores or outlets or sample and warehouse sales, take the time to show the quality and value (or lack there of) on product. Explain the reasoning behind your purchase. As good bargain shoppers, teach by example.

Ask these 5 questions before you make a purchase:
Is it quality?
Is it priced below market prices?
Do you need it?
Does it serve a purpose?
Do you love it?

If you can answer yes to all of these and can afford to buy the item… do!

It looks like I finally succeeded in teaching this to our kid. This last week I had to get her another dress for a special occasion. We spent an afternoon and shopped at resale stores and websites as well as department stores and garage sales. She found a summer dress she loved at Kohls on sale for $39 instead of $49,  but she needed an evening dress. So she passed on the cute Summer dress and continued looking even though we were both exhausted. Ultimately she found the evening/ cocktail type dress in a girlfriends closet… it fit and she could borrow it for free.

To reward her good judgment, I snuck back to Kohls to pick up the summer dress she loved so much, but didn’t need. Not a killer deal, but a fair price on a reasonably well constructed garment. It had value.

Both dresses look really great on her.