How to shop the sales like a pro (and with zero purchase regret) this season

Sale season is upon us, with brands across the country slashing their prices, online and on the high streets. But if you’re trying to avoid overspending and shopping unnecessarily, here’s our top tips to help you shop the sales sensibly and snag some bargains in the process.

Preparation is key

Before you start your spending spree, take stock of what it is you actually need. We all love the thrill of buying something new, but if it’s not actually necessary, it will soon become just another item gathering dust in your wardrobe.

Go through your closet and think about the pieces that you love, and the pieces that you need. Make a list of these and go into your shopping with them in mind - that way, you’ll be less tempted to veer off-course and make a wild purchase.

Shop clever

To maximise your cash, buy smart and focus on staple pieces that you will wear season after season. Great jeans, tailoring, boots, trainers, knitwear, bags and coats will all be worn time and time again, so try and snap these kinds of items up if you can.

Ignore trend-led pieces and statement buys (yes, put that feather dress down!), and focus on buying items that will work hard for your money.

Stick to the plan!

Look, we know how it is - you go in with a plan, and before you know it, your basket is filled with all manner of wonderfully glamorous, exciting pieces that you just know you’ll wear to that thing next year. But that’s exactly how you make bad purchases.

Unless you absolutely love it and you know you’ll definitely get the use from it, stick to the plan as much as possible and only shop from the list you’ve given yourself. If you’re unsure, search for similar items in Pinterest, to see how they’ve been styled, and decide whether it’s something that will fit into your existing wardrobe, before you tap in your PIN.

Shop ahead of time

By this, we mean think about what you have coming up. If you know that next year is filled with weddings to attend, or that you’ve got an exciting summer holiday booked, then now is the time to snap up summer clothes and occasionwear - items that might not be worn over and over again, but things that you will need to buy at some point. Save the pennies and snag them in the sales instead; plus, hardly anyone will be wearing them next year. It pays to be organised!

Look for items you couldn’t afford before

Cashmere jumpers, leather bags, a great tailored coat - items that all usually make the eyes water when you look at the price tag. But if you’re intent on using sale season to build up quality in your wardrobe, then these are the pieces to grab when the discounts descend. This is how smart shoppers do it.

Purchase pieces you’ve lusted after all season

If you spied it in September and couldn’t justify the spend, now is your time to pounce. Our general rule is never to shop on impulse - if you’re still thinking about a piece hours, days, weeks or even months after you first saw it, then it’s probably a good idea to buy it.

So, now is the time to bag those items that you’ve been daydreaming about - you’ve earned this for showing such self-restraint!