Happy Tuesday, ladies! I bet you are just suffocating in sales posts right now, so I’ll keep today’s short and simple. I’ll also have a Nordstrom Sale post go up in the next day or so, but I’m not planning too many posts like these. Bloggers go crazy for these days because a significant amount of our income comes from affiliate links, and many bloggers want to make sure that their link is the last clicked on so they get the commission when you shop. It’s kinda sucky, but these posts are totally free to you (unlike a magazine, which you purchase) so commissions are really the only way we get paid to produce everything for you!

This post may contain affiliate links.

VICTORIA’S SECRET PAJAMAS // AMAZON FIRE

ANYWHOO, as much as that extra income really helps, I know you all prefer the regular content, so for my friends interested in sales, these posts are for you, and everyone else, just know you’ll keep getting regular extra informative content!

JULY SALES SHOPPING OVERVIEW

When it comes to sales shopping, these big sales are nice, but aren’t the best for general, unfocused shopping. The big sales sign can easily get you caught up with a full cart, and some retail regret $500 later. This is not a clearance sale, so it’s not the time to pick up a bunch of new summer clothes or pick up pieces on a whim.

What it is a great time for, is picking up high-quality, expensive or designer pieces that you’ve been wanting for a much lower price. Think strategically here, what’s been on your list for awhile and rarely goes on sale? Pick up those items in these two sales, Amazon Prime Day and the Nordstrom Sale and you will live happily ever after without any retail regret.

WHAT TO BUY ON AMAZON PRIME DAY

Amazon Prime Day is the annual huge sale Amazon offers for it’s Prime Members only. If you’re not already a Prime Member, you can get a 30 day free trial of Amazon Prime right here. If you are a student, you can get a 6 month trial here.

[blockquote align=”none” author=””]Amazon Prime Day is June 16th from 3PM EST to 11:59PM EST on July 17th.[/blockquote]

You need to be checking the site regularly because not all items will be on sale for the full duration of the event, and some have a limited quantity available at the sales price. It’s a bit like Black Friday shopping online, in July, so keep that in mind.

Amazon Devices like the Echo,  Kindle, Fire, and Amazon TV, and services like Kindle Unlimited and Audible are going to be the best items to pick up. These are *their* products, so you won’t find other retailers competing to offer the best price.

Research NOW & Turn on Notifications!

Before the sale, do some research on items you’re loving. Right now, I’m searching for furniture and home decor. So I’ve made a big list of items I like and want. I’ve also compared those items to items at other stores and used the notes feature on lists to remind me of the prices or similar items I can find elsewhere.

Download the Amazon App and turn on notifications for the next week or so under Settings > Notifications > Your Recommendations > Personalized Notifications. The lists you’ve built will help inform Amazon on these as well. Also turn on Watched & Waitlist Deals. Now you can add your favorite items to a Watched List and get notified if they go on sale. This is actually pretty helpful year round, but will be helpful for Prime Day as well.

If you’ve got time to research, before you hit “buy” do a quick search on BestBuy, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Loses, Nordstrom, and other stores you shop at to see if the price is better there. Don’t let the crossed out price fool you.

WHAT TO SKIP ON THE 16TH

Unless one of these items is something you’ve been wanting or thinking about, skip it. If it’s a super trendy item, skip it. We are about a month out from summer clearance, even less for some stores, so items that are low cost or get deeply discounted like clothes and trendy pieces, skip during the sale. You’ll be able to get them cheaper soon. Also skip out on most back to school supplies (like notebooks, pens, and backpacks – unless of course you’re looking for a designer backpack), there will be bigger sales on those soon.

Amazon can be a great place to get designer items like Kate Spade handbags or shoes (which I LOVE!), but other designers as well. I generally don’t recommend ever picking up something like this on a whim, but if you are a big fan of a certain designer, browse through the site, maybe mark a few items to your watched list and wish lists.

MAKE A MAYBE LIST & STICK TO IT

Make a written list of the kinds of items you use, like, and want to have. Do not buy off your list. But your list doesn’t have to be super specific. For example, I’ve been disappointed with my handbag options in my closet. I find myself lacking lighter neutral colors like cognac, grey, white, beige, etc. I prefer saffiano leather bags because I don’t ruin them. And my favorite designers are Michael Kors and Kate Spade. So I’ll make an item on my list that looks like this:

• Handbag?
  • Cognac, grey, white, beige – light neutrals only
  • Structured, small to medium
  • Saffiano leather – HIGH PRIORITY
  • Michael Kors, Kate Spade?

I put a question mark because I’m not necessarily committed to picking it up at this time, but I’m not opposed to it. I noted what feature was the most important to me, and the styles I want to limit myself to. For the brands, I used a question mark because they’re my preference, but I want to explore other brands that may be offering better prices and still check off my other boxes.

Stick to your list and don’t deviate. Research last year’s Black Friday sales on big ticket items, and if the Amazon price isn’t comparable, skip it. Black Friday is just a few months away, if you don’t need it in the next couple weeks, don’t buy it unless the price is better than last year’s Black Friday prices. Being deliberate while you shop is always good, but it’s even more important during these sales. You’re better off being swept away by end of season clearance than a sale like this where prices don’t lower as much for seasonal goods or  the items you tend to buy without thinking too much about.

Are you shopping Amazon Prime Day? How about the Nordstrom sale? And do you have any more tips and tricks to share with your fellow shoppers? Leave your thoughts below!