On the hunt for a great bargain

By: Melanie Zimmermann | Hickory Daily Record
Published: November 12, 2008

Just because I look like a million bucks does not mean I spent $1 million to get there. When someone compliments my outfit, I am quick to point out what I paid. The outfit I had on yesterday cost $9, and it didn't look like it was $9 either.

I love clearance sales. You show me a 50 percent, 60 percent and 75 percent clearance rack, and someone is going home with a new, extra-large purple floral shirt with bell sleeves that will never be worn but, by golly, I saved 75 percent.

I am one of those people who has to have a salesperson pry money from my balled-up fist because I cannot believe I am spending that much money on a pair of pants when I can use it to clothe my entire family. My husband hates clothes shopping with me. He usually has to hold me down while the salesperson pries the money out of my hand.

I think it comes from working in merchandising for so long. I know the actual cost of the item in the store and I can quickly compute that a $5 sweater should not be sold for $100, which is why I wait until the 75 percent clearance sale. If the sweater is meant to be mine, it will be there for the clearance sale.

I also think it is the thrill of the hunt. I can sniff the air in the mall and tell you exactly where the great clearance sales are hiding. The key is to study the environment. It is easy to pick out my fellow bargain hunters. They are the ones dressed in jeans, T-shirts and tennis shoes. They also are carrying their quota of shopping bags while dragging a screaming kid behind them. Brave souls.

I am fortunate that I have passed this on to four of my five daughters. They call me to proudly relate their bargain-hunting stories.

My youngest is in training. She can spot the clearance racks from a great distance, but she is still lured to the regular retail racks. I can tell she is learning because she will exclaim, "$42 for a pair of pants? Good grief, I am not paying that much for a pair of pants." The sales ladies gasp and our fellow bargain hunters smile with pride. I take my little Grasshopper's hand, get her to focus on her prey, and set her loose.

We ended up with three pair of pants, three blouses and one skirt for $90. As we walked out of the store with our catch, I could hear murmuring in the background, "You got some great deals." "Way to go!" " She is going to be a great bargain-hunter." What a proud moment.

Do you love to bargain hunt or are you just plain stingy? I want to know. E-mail me at mzimmerman@hickoryrecord.com.