I’ll admit it, I love a good clearance sale. Not the “store going out of business” kind of sale (although you can find good deals sometimes) as I’ve found most of the good stuff has been picked over pretty quickly. I prefer when a store is looking to unload overstocked items to make room on the shelves or their warehouse for new inventory. This is the sweet spot for finding fantastic deals on just about anything.
One of the best times to find a great deal is around the holidays. This is difficult of course with all the other spending you’ll be taking on given the time of year, but great deals can be had on just about anything. We needed pots and pans but had been putting off purchasing them for the better part of two years. When searching online for Christmas gifts, I was able to find them for 60% off the regular price. The short term sting to our budget was more than worth it to have a long term commitment on items we use on a daily basis.
The biggest thing you need to dispel from your mind is a care for what others think. Do you think people will think you’re cheap if you buy something on sale? You can just tell them, “I’m frugal, not cheap, thank you very much.” Will you assume people will think you’re broke, poor or simply lacking the funds to purchase something full price? Something like that can sting a little bit, but in the end, it’s really you who cares more than they ever would.
Walking into a store and heading straight for the clearance section is smart. You never know what you’ll come across. Chances are, you’ll be able to find something you actually like and for cheaper than it would’ve been 3-6 months prior when it was sitting in the window display. I’d also caution not to buy something just because it’s on sale. This method only works when you’re buying the items you truly need, not because they’re a “good deal.” 
You can use this same strategy with online shopping as well. This is especially true for running and/or tennis shoes. I usually search for the latest model of a shoe, look up the model prior or even prior to that and attempt to buy it on clearance. You can almost always find the previous model or models severely marked down.
While others are attempting to keep up with the latest fashion and paying full price to do it, I’m happily walking down the street in brand new shoes that are considered “dated” by some but simply new shoes by most.
The best way to make better spending choices is to relieve yourself of the burden of caring what others think. This has come easier for me with age, that’s for sure, but I learned early on to have this attitude.
Spending full price for certain things is often unavoidable and that’s perfectly fine. American made items are a great example. I’ll gladly pay more to support American manufacturing, but I’ll of course keep an eye out for sales and deals as well.
A few years back, I bought a wallet from Filson, an outdoor outfitter based in Seattle. The wallet cost over $100 but was made in America. It has a lifetime guarantee against rips or tears. I could’ve found a much cheaper wallet elsewhere but I’m paying for the lifetime warranty, it’s American made and the fact I’ll never have to buy another wallet again. Full price to me equals almost a lifetime commitment to whatever it is you’re asking me to buy. The wallet fits into that category.
Next time you go to a store or are shopping online, do yourself a favor and head over to the clearance section first. Never mind the shiny objects on the front page of the site or in the window of the store, the real treasure lies buried within a myriad of clearance or sale items.
I’ve got a shovel you can borrow. Start digging.
