3 ways to save on Labor Day bargains

By Tenisha Mercer
www.Bargainistas.Blogspot.com

Labor Day is a huge retail holiday. No, it's not quite Black Friday or Christmas in terms of sales, but savings are substantial -- on everything from electronics and clothes to large ticket items such as cars, furniture and home furnishings.

Sure, the day is supposed to celebrate the Labor movement in the U.S., but like most holidays, it's all about the shopping!

So get ready to rack up the savings this weekend, through Monday. It's the perfect time to score some good bargains, with deep markdowns on summer merchandise, and some markdowns on new fall items as well. The good deals are everywhere, because no retailer wants to be left without a sale, and this is where you can benefit.

Still, a good deal isn't a bargain unless you follow these tips:

1. Set a budget -- and stick to it! I know it's tempting. Especially for Bargainistas. But if you throw your wallet at every "sale," you'll be broke. Go in with a specific dollar amount in mind  ... before you shop, no matter how good the deal looks. With all the deals floating around, it's too easy to go broke!

2. Do you really need it or is it just a good sale? Sales are so tempting. But if a sales item is something that you aren't going to wear or use, it's really like flushing good money down the drain. Avoid unnecessary temptation by asking - and answering honestly - if this is an item you actually need vs. want, and if you will USE it! I don't care how good the sale is, an item that gathers dust is no good. Do not buy JUST because it's on sale!

3. Is the item really on sale? Retailers are a tricky bunch. They'll mark stuff up to make it "appear" to go down in terms of pricing.  Now, if this is something you've kept your eye on and you know the regular price, well have at it and pat yourself on the back for money saved. But always research whether item is really on a markdown or if it's just an inflated sale.

Here are a few good deals that I found, via International Business Times. Many of these deals expire Monday, so get to shopping! Deals vary by retailer and are subject to change.
 
American Eagle: 25% off purchase with code 952367P1 with free shipping through Monday.
ASOS: 75%  off clearance; free shipping on orders over $25.
Banana Republic: 40% off online purchase and in stores with code BRLABOR, through Monday.

Express: 40% off; excludes gift cards and watches.
Forever21: Buy 1, get 1 free clearance sale with promo code BOGOFREE online, through Monday.
H&M: $4.95 clothing deals through Monday.
Loft: Take an additional 40% off sale merchandise on already reduced items online.
Macy's: Extra percent or 15% off  plus free shipping at $75 and free returns by mail or in-store; 65% off jewelry plus an extra 20% off.
Neiman Marcus: Up to 40% off regular prices online.
Victoria’s Secret: $15 off $100, $30 off $150, $75 off $250, $150 off $500 using code FALL14

Apple: Buy a Mac for college by Sept. 9 and get a $100 Apple Store Gift Card. Buy an iPad or iPhone and get a $50 gift card
Best Buy: Save 10%-30% on major appliances and up to 25 percent off HDTVs until 09/06/14
Target: Various discounts in-stores, online. 
Walmart: Online only Labor Day sale; various items on sale.
JCPenney: Additional 20% off with JCPenney credit card or extra 15% off other forms of payment; in store and online additional 10% off furniture, mattresses and custom blinds and shades
Kmart: Pre-Labor Day sale; deals vary. 
Lowes: 10-30% off major appliances $399 or more with free delivery and haul away. 
Overstock: Up to 35% off plus an additional 10% off select furniture. Up to 45 percent off plus an additional 10 % off select home decor.
Sears: Free delivery on appliances $399+ and on mattresses $599+; 40%  off or more on appliance super buys.

Post your Labor Day deals in the comments section below! 

3 reasons why I shop at thrift stores

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.com

My name is Tenisha Mercer ... and I am a thrift store addict. I swear, I need a 12-step program. My closet overfloweth with thrift store goods. I shop thrift not because I cannot afford to pay retail, but why pay retail when you don't have to?

1. More is less. Have you ever tried to go in a retail store with $20? I double dare you. Seriously. I promise you it will be difficult, if not impossible, to walk out of there with more than one thing in your hand. But at thrift stores? I can get a whole bag of stuff for $20. Nothing like the feeling of walking out of there George Jefferson style with a bag (s) in hand and your wallet is only $20 lighter.

2.Sense of adventure. Generally, when you go to a retail store, what you see is what you get. And that can get VERY boring. A thrift store is like an adventure that varies from day-to-day: You never know WHAT you'll find! You just might see a to-die for vintage top from the 1980s, a Louis Vuitton bag (sometimes real, most times knock off) and a trendy dress from H&M. I have gotten many new items, many with the tags still on them. SCORE!

3. Thrift and I go wayyyyy back. Like close cousins, back. I hated thrift stores as a kid. I mean,what kid wouldn't? My grandmother would drag me to them, all dark and dank. Racks of clothes. My young eyes just saw stuff from DECADES ago - stuff that I'd never, ever wear. It was a place that no teenager wanted to be. I wanted to be at the place that sold the cool, hip clothes.

Trust me, it was nothing like Ryan Lewis & McLemore song, "Thrift Shop." I didn't want to pop no tags. Fastforward a good 20 years later and it's my favorite place. I grew to like them, actually love them. Funny how that works, huh? Guess my grandmother knew what she was doing.

Do you thrift and if so, why?