Fitting Room Friday: Thrifty Penny

Paraiso Dress: $148 to $79.95 (46% Off)
Anadyomene Cardigan

Purchases don't always happen on the first introduction. Maybe you first lock eyes online...flirt in the store window. Courting advances in the dressing room. But when your prize's price is reduced; the productivity of playing hard to get has climaxed. You carefully remove your darling from its officious hanger station and take it home to cherish.  Now if an item isn't worthy of this progression, why is it worthy of your closet?

Think of price reductions as opulence diets.  Many (silly) women will wait to purchase until body weight has been shed.  Yet it is far better to procrastinate purchase, on something that fits now, until its lost price?

Meredith is a thrifty-ite, and after approximately four weeks of waiting, we scale her savings potential at over $250 of savings.

Buttondown Cowlneck: $88 to $29.95 (66% Off) + Quiet Approach Skirt: $78 to $39.95 (49% Off)
Loop Stack Cardigan + Peak Through Belt

Springing Season Blouse: $68 to $39.95 (41% off) + Joe's Provocateur: $157 to $99.95 (36% off)
Pulling it Together Sweater

Nuances Necklace $48 to $29.95 (38% Off)

Fountain of Youth Dress + Striped Femme Henley

This last ensemble is one I think she should continue to woo.  And what, might we ask, are you stalking at the moment?

Let Cardigan Empire search out the thriftiest option for you.  A complete Fashion Package: combines a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Thrifty Penny: Markdowns

'Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor' (Samuel Johnson)

Ok, here is my disclaimer. 
I do not speak as an official representative of any of these companies.  The information I present here is based on personal experience and may or may not be company policy.

STORE	MARKDOWN SCHEDULE
Anthropologie	TUESDAYS True for online and in stores.  Shop early for the best selection. New shipments Monday through Thursday.  Semi-Annual sales around Christmas and during the Summer.  Also I recommend adding your birthdate to your Anthro account.
Banana Republic	SUNDAYS Not a rule (may not happen every Sunday) but definitely a good suggestion.  New Shipments Mondays and Thursdays.
Dillards	1st OF THE MONTH additional discounts announced on Wednesday's.  Regular weekly shipment receipts.
Forever21	MONDAYS Not a rule (does not happen every monday) but definitely a good suggestion.  Occurs regularly as dictated by corporate.  New shipments multiple times a week.
Gap/Gap Kids/Baby Gap	WEDNESDAYS New shipments twice a week.
Gymboree	MONDAYS Usually every other week.  Also watch for gymbucks and end of season sales.
H&M	END OF EVERY OTHER MONTH These are end of season sales, the current sale (Spring 2011) started on Tuesday, March 29th.  New shipments weekly.
J. Crew	TUESDAYS Not a rule (does not happen every Tuesday) but definitely a good suggestion.
Janie & Jack	THURSDAYS Usually every other week.  Also watch for end of season sales.
Kohls	WEEKLY Regular one days sales and weekend sales.  Also watch for lowest price of the season sales.
The Limited	SEASONAL Markdowns at the end of season.  New shipments multiple times a month.
Loft (& Ann Taylor	SEASONAL New shipments Monday and Friday.  Apply for an Ann Taylor Credit Card to earn $20 in rewards for every 2,000 pts of s
Macy's	SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY Macy's starts their markdowns on Sunday, and work to be 100% marked down by Wednesday, close of business. 75% off, you should get it, as it will rarely go any lower. The next week they will box it up and ship it out to their clearance stores.  Also watch for "wear red" (extra 20% off) days and semi-annual sales in different departments.
Nordstrom	SALE SCHEDULE Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Kids—starts Wednesday, May 25 Half-Yearly Sale for Men—starts Friday, June 17 Anniversary Sale—starts Friday, July 15 and ends Sunday, July 31 Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Kids—starts Wednesday, November 2 Half-Yearly Sale for Men—starts Sunday, December 25 online, and Monday, December 26 in-store  Also shop for additional savings at Nordstrom Rack and Last Chance.
Talbots	MONTHLY Sign up for e-mails to receive regular promotion notices.
Target	SEE SCHEDULE Monday - Electronics, Kids Clothing and Stationary (Cards, GiftWrap, etc.) Tuesday - Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets and Market (food items) Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Toys, Lawn & Garden, Health and Beauty items Thursday - House Wares, Lingerie, Sporting Goods, Shoes, Music / Movies, Books, Decor and Luggage Friday - Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry 50% off the day after holiday for three days 75% off the fourth day after holiday for three days 90% off the seventh day after holiday for 1-2 days Target rarely marks down non-holiday items below a 75% off discount. And if the price ends in the number 4, you may be looking at your last chance to buy.
Victoria's Secret	ANNUAL & SEMI-ANNUALS SALES January & July
White House | Black Market	AS NEEDED Join Black Book (free customer service program): Once your merchandise purchases reach a net of $300 you will obtain Black Book membership status. As a Black Book Member* you can look forward to these benefits: Preliminary Black Book benefits include: Be the first to know about newest collections, sales, and offers Preview new collections via email Black Book (once your merchandise purchases reach $300) benefits may include : 5% off every merchandise purchase Birthday bonuses Double discount days Invitations to special parties and events Private sales *To be eligible for birthday bonus benefits, Black Book members must have shopped with WHBM during the past 12 months.

Once again this list is not an official statement from any of these fine retail establishments.  It may contain errors or inconsistencies. 

Please pretty please, share what you know or have experienced.

Let Cardigan Empire search out the thriftiest option for you.  A complete Fashion Package: combines a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Thrifty Penny: Price Adjustment

 

'Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'

Price adjustments are slightly different than return policies. With price adjustments, you can still get the difference in cost even if the product has already been opened or worn, as long as you have your original receipt.

STORE	PRICE ADJUSTMENT POLICY
Anthropologie	14 days with original purchase date or date of shipment(you can use your anthro card as receipt)
Banana Republic	14 days one time adjustment within 14 days of purchase. For an online purchase, call 1-888-BRSTYLE or send an email message including order number in your email message.
Dillards	No policy
Forever21	No policy
Gap/Gap Kids/Baby Gap	14 days one time adjustment within 14 days of purchase. For an online purchase, call 1-888-GAPSTYLE or send an email message including order number in your email message.
Gymboree	7 days One-time price adjustment on any item within 7 days of initial purchase with original receipt. To receive a price adjustment for an online purchase, email us at orders@gymboree.com, contact customer service at 1-877-4-GYMWEB or send the entire packing slip to: Gymboree Online Store, Attn: Price Adjustments, 2299 Kids Way, Dixon, CA 95620. Forms must be postmarked within 14 days of the order date noted on the packing slip. Price adjustments will not be allowed on some orders that receive promotion discounts (e.g. Gymbucks). If the price adjustment brings the purchase below the required earning amount for a coupon (e.g. Gymbucks), the coupon will be decremented or deactivated. Online orders can only receive price adjustments as a result of a change to the price of the item at gymboree.com. Online orders cannot receive price adjustments in our retail stores.
H&M	14 days One-time price adjustment will be granted when an original sales receipt is presented within 14 days of purchase.
J. Crew	7 days one-time price adjustment on full-price merchandise within 7 days of the retail purchase or mail order ship date if accompanied by the original receipt.
Janie & Jack	7 days One-time price adjustment on any item within 7 days of initial purchase with original receipt. To receive a price adjustment for an online purchase, email us at orders@janieandjack.com, contact customer service at 1.877.449.8800 or send the entire packing slip to: Janie and Jack Online Shop, Attn: Price Adjustments, 2299 Kids Way, Dixon, CA 95620. Forms must be postmarked within 14 days of the order date noted on the packing slip.
Kohls	14 days with original dated sales receipt (not available on clearance markdowns)
The Limited	14 days one time adjustment within 14 days. For online purchases, contact our customer service center by phone or e-mail within fourteen days of the purchase date. Call toll free at 1-877-LTD-1963 (1-877-583-1963) between the hours of 6 a.m. - midnight EST, 7 days a week or e-mail us and include your order number in the e-mail message.
Loft (& Ann Taylor	7 days One price adjustment for merchandise purchased at full-price, which has been marked down for the first time, may be made within 7 days from the original date of purchase. Price adjustments are not eligible on special promotions, including %'s off (e.g., 25%, 40%, and 50% etc.) and $'s off. Please note, our stores are not able to process price adjustments for online orders. To request a one-time price adjustment, please e-mail us at clientservices@LOFT.com within the 7-day window. Should you be eligible for a price adjustment, we will gladly credit your original form of payment within 1 week of receipt of your email and send you an email reply confirmation. Depending on your credit card cycle, however, please allow 1-2 cycles for the credit to appear. Should you not be eligible for a price adjustment, we will reply with an email, as well.
Macy's	14 days With original dated receipt in stores. Submit request for adjustment on online purchases here
Nordstrom	14 days With original dated receipt in stores.
Talbots	14 days With original dated receipt in stores.
Target	Same week or following week If Target advertises a lower price either the same week or the week following your purchase, bring in your original sales receipt to Guest Services for an adjustment.
Victoria's Secret	14 days in store 21 days online
White House | Black Market	14 days With original dated receipt in stores. A one time price adjustment may be made by calling 877.948.2525 for online and catalog purchases.

If you are outside a merchandiser's price adjustment window, but within the return window, and have not worn the item,  bring the actual item into the store with its original receipt, return it and repurchase it.  Again this option only works if you haven't yet used the item.

Let Cardigan Empire search out the thriftiest option for you.  A complete Fashion Package: combines a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Thrifty Penny: Pretty Teeth Price Comparison

  Laser Whitening Treatments: $500-$1000

Teeth Bleaching Trays: $300-$700

$50: Crest 3d White 2-Hr Express Whitestrips

(But I found it for $30 on Amazon using PriceBlink)

$4.25: Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Enamel Renewal Toothpaste

Sponsored by

That's a whole year of pretty teeth for less than the cost of one trip to the salon.  The new Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips delivers noticeably whiter teeth after just (1) two hour treatment that lasts for three months, and the Advanced Vivid Enamel Renewal Toothpaste helps keep teeth white by removing up to 90% of surface stains in just 14 days while helping to strengthen and rebuild tooth enamel below the surface. 

Did you know that you could whiten your teeth and enter the Thrifty Penny Giveaway at the same time?  You can even enjoy a glass of water with the advanced seal no slip technology.  But you can't win if you don't enter by midnight tonight!

Thrifty Penny Tools

Let's say (hypothetically of course) you're tolerably obsessed with these Matiko Giselle Sandals, but being on a thrifty stint, you cannot afford all three of their $$$ price tag.

We can't just leave these homeless little darlings all alone.  We must rescue them using what I can only describe as online metal detectors for bargain treasures.

1) PriceBlink: Notifies you of applicable coupons for the store on which you are presently shopping (also offers price comparison & a wishlist)

2)Invisible Hand: Just like Adam Smith's theory on self interest and market competition, this little tool helps supply your demand for lovely things at even lovlier prices.  The invisble hand alerts you whenever an item is available at a lower price on the product or flight you're shopping.  

Ta-Da: the Invisible Hand reports that our sandals are available for one less dollar sign ($$) at Amazon, and PriceBlink found us 12 coupons at Endless.

Thanks to my little sister Ashley for introducing me to these two new browser buddies.

Now have you entered the Thrifty Penny Giveaway?  While penny parsimony is commendable,  shopping strategy stinginess is unforgiveable.  Let us share and win.