SHE'S ALIIIIIIIVE!!! (and shopping!!)

So, I know that I haven't been the most active blogger around here on Canny Chic these days. But, I promise I have a good excuse. You see, I've really tried this whole not shopping thing, lately. And it's been working...okay..not really. But there has been an effort! 

In fact, I broke down and did some shopping today! You can see what I bought in the video above =)

My best advice for fellow shoppers is to go armed with your coupons! 

And the best way to receive them? Store Email Lists!

This season, when a cashier asks "Can we have your email?" Don't hesitate to hand it over. Providing your email allows you to receive coupons (as well as sale alerts) that you can use on online as well as in-store purchases. Even if a store already has your email address, sometimes providing the information again refreshes your email in their server and allows them to send you new, and sometimes more frequent, coupons!

What have you purchased lately??

I once saw a doggie in the window...and a pair of shoes...

It's harder than it looks, folks.
Walking away from the strategically colorful and beautifully lit displays of fashionable flats and stylin' stilettos was harder than I ever thought it would be!! I've been trying so so hard not to shop lately, in efforts to save for what Uncle Sam refuses to help me out with (ahem. an education). Hence the lack of Canny Chic posts, lately (which I am undoubtedly sorry for!!). But what made today even more difficult (even more difficult than a regularly difficult day) was the 25%+15% discount coupon screaming at me from inside of my wallet.
But I did it, guys.
I walked away without spending a penny on those cute little silver pumps.
But I have a confession...I didn't leave without spending any of my pennies. I spent a lot of pennies, actually. But it was well justified!
Let me EXPLAIN!!!

You might remember reading about my cute Italian boy, over at Pink Lemonade. Well, this little blogger got invited to prom! By who else, other than the cute Italian boy?! It wasn't too long ago that I was planning out my own fabulous Senior prom night. I was so super excited that I couldn't help but look at all the pretty, sparkly dresses.

I tried so many dresses on, but once I picked up this one. I got that undeniable wowza feeling! This. Was. It.

Of course, being the bargain shopper that I brag about being, I left the store empty handed to search for a better buy (spending 200ish dollars on a dress I'll only wear once was not exactly my idea of a savvy spend!).

Going back to the mall yesterday, I decided to stop by the store and just check to see if "my" dress was still there.
And sure enough it was.
And it was in my size.
AND THEY WERE HAVING A SALE!!
Hallelujah! They were having a sale.

And, turns out, by opening a store card that day, I would get 25% off of my purchase, upon approval, and an additional 15% off whatever I charged, that day.
$200 dress (minus) $50 dollar deduction for opening up the card (minus) an extra 22ish dollars for using the card = about 120 for the dress.
That's an 80 dollar savings, here, ladies.
So I caved.

The Look For WAY Less!

While casually walking around the local H&M outlet, after work, with my coffee in one hand and camera in the other (because that's how I spend my after-work time), I just so happen to find, what I thought was the cutest summer skirt ever!

It's got that perfect combination of cute, girly, funky and sophisticated.

Maybe it's because about 90% of my wardrobe is now black, white, or khaki (thanks to that lovely EX-work-dress-code) that kept me from shopping that day.

Or maybe it was that price tag? It wasn't so cute OR sophisticated. Actually, it was downright funky at almost thirty bucks.

Fast forward. Now we're casually walking around the local Kohl's store and perusing the clearance racks, searching for the cheapest finds (because that's how we spend our Saturday mornings). And we just so happen to stumble upon this baby:

Similar skirt. Similar style. Similar perfect combination of cute, girly, funky and sophisticated.
Much different price tag, at a stunning $4.40. Yep.

There you have it!
The same gorgeous look, for way way less.

First Ever Blog Hop!

I've never participated in a blog hop, before. But, to celebrate the first of the month, Ang Hoo from Your Fashion Indulgence has invited CannyChic to participate! Ang Hoo was kind enough to feature Canny Chic's post, The Three C's, here, last week. Below, you should find the list of other participants of today's Blog Hop. Feel free to add your blog, to the list, and Happy Hopping! :)

Forever XXI - Haul

There's no doubt about it: I'm addicted to Forever XXI. Whenever we step near the mall, I am the first one rushing in and typically the last one to be dragged out. Some of their items can run a tad pricey, but there is always a bargain to be had on their clearance racks. What I love most about this store is their wide selection of styles. Always in step with the latest trends, Forever XXI offers a wide variety of pieces that can coordinate with any personal style, from romantic or classy to grunge and eclectic. The gems in their jewelry section are also a great deal-while everything ranges in price, it's rare to spot a piece over $20. Most of the necklaces I find are cute, classic, and super versatile, and never cost me more than $8. Jewelry is final sale, however, so with this in mind, I try to only buy what I know I will wear!

On this trip, I was shopping around for generic items that I could mix-and-match into my already existing wardrobe. My main focus was on pieces that I could wear to work (muted colors, classy, multi-functional) and the basic necessities that any fashionista should have!

The first stop was the clearance racks, of course. I didn't let the adorable mannequins and colorful tee-shirt displays distract me from my ultimate goal, which was saving more than I was going to spend, today. On sale, I found a super-cute, black-fringe, sleeveless dress. For only $14, it was definitely a steal.

I also picked up some basics including a White V-Neck ($3), Tank ($3), and Black Leotard ($4). I usually opt for shopping at Kohl's for my basics, because of the great coupons, but even these prices were no comparison!

Another thing I love about Forever XXI how everything is organized by style. So, after scarfing up on the necessities, I took a spin through the military-inspired clothing, where I found this sweater. I just love the buttons!

My shopping buddy found this romantic lace top ($9.99), last minute while we were standing in line, waiting to purchase our goodies. It's so sheer, so a cami is a must!

I also found a sweater for less than five dollars! While it's current state is more shabby than chic, it has definite potential. For now, I'll leave you guessing with these snapshots:

To Be Continued... ;)

Student Savings! :)

Every true fashionista knows and follows "The Three C's of Shopping", but to truly save, shoppers have to think outside of the bag!
Full or Part time college students (as well as middle/high schoolers with a student ID) are eligible for discounts at many stores just by presenting a valid school identification at checkout. The savings vary, but usually are around 15% off.

A few stores that offer great student discounts are:
The Goodwill
 J. Crew*
Apple
T-Mobile
GAP
Charlotte Russe
Canon
*Select stores also offer discounts for teachers with a valid ID.

Another great option is the Student Savers Card. They cost about $20 a year, but entitle you to savings at hundreds of retailers and health services from 10-50%. Depending on how often  you purchase from these retailers, your twenty bucks could be easily paid back in tenfold!

Not every store offers the discount, but it only takes a quick second to ask and be on your way to student savings!

Grand Opening Goolah

It comes as no surprise that in order to score the hottest deals, a fashionista needs to be thrifty. But these days, even the most frugal of shoppers still find themselves muttering in hindsight about unlucky worms and giddy birds. This is because a truly successful shopper knows that to save more than she will spend will require more than a quick eye and speedy shoes - it will require patience.
Although there are countless ways to prove dedication to your dollar, standing behind dozens of other anxious and dedicated divas seems to top the charts as proof. If the temperatures are below freezing or the guest list is over 100, shoppers seem to rake in the brownie points by the minute. Now, while my shopping buddies and I had been number twelve or so in the air-conditioned line, I would like to think that the two or so hours we spent waiting for the grand opening of our local Tilly's store was at least a small tribute to our extreme dedication. ;)
Unfortunately, we were not able to stay for the entire day's events, which included a visit from a local radio station, a live debut by Kids of Survival, and refreshments (when in doubt, go for the food!). But we were able to score free tee-shirts, discounted merchandise, and other goodies! The first 100 dedicated shoppers were guaranteed to receive a Tilly's logo tee, Volcom brand stickers, and a Tilly's key chain. In addition, the first 50 early-birds scored themselves a promotional $10 gift card (with one extremely lucky shopper receiving a $100 gift card). Now, tell me, fashionistas: What is shopping-lingo for "extremely lucky"? Whatever it may be, insert it here, because after waiting in line a few hours, one of my shopping buddies (who, ironically, was bribed to tag along for mere company) walked away not only with their slew of goodies, but with nearly $100 in free merchandise, thanks to being lucky number thirteen in line. :)
We ended up shopping around, but saving much more than we spent, by using plenty of the discount coupons laying around the store.
If you would like to see some of the items from our Tilly's Haul, just click here!

The Three C's

     What can twenty-one dollars and one afternoon of shopping do for the average Joe? Usually, not a whole lot. But for the canny spender, even the smallest of budgets can yeild amazing results! For me, as you saw from yesterday's extravaganza, twenty-one dollars refreshed my makeup stock, enhanced my shoe collection, and ultimately topped off my fall wardrobe. And I did it by following the Three C's of Shopping:

• Coupons
• Clearance
• Control

     Ask your grandma, coupons are the number one way to save dough when you shop. The easiest way to get the coupons that will end up saving you the most is through E-mail. I have two personal E-mail accounts. One for personal E-mails from friends, coworkers, coaches, and teachers, and then an additional E-mails for stores! This way, I won't be tempted by those "save-ory" sales when I'm not intending on shopping, and E-mails that need a reply won't be hidden among the alerts. Now everytime a sales clerk asks, "Are you on our E-mail list?" I eagerly fork mine over. Another great way to get a heads up on sales and coupons is by becoming a fan or "liking"  your local mall or favorite shops on facebook and twitter. By reading about the grand opening of a local Tilly's store via facebook, I ended up scoring myself a a load of goodies and a free gift card. My beau, who I dragged along to the event, scored one worth $100! But I'll tell you more about that deal later. ;) Another way to get coupons is via snail mail. Old fashion coupon clipping will always be in style! Sign up for store mailing lists by inquiring about a free catalog!
    The second "C" of shopping is Clearance. The clearance sections are the best way to score inexpensive and trendy additions to your closet. While often mix-matched and messy, shopping clearance can be a challenge, because of the limited availability of colors and sizes. Don't let the clutter distract you from your mission for savings! Focus on finding peices that you can pair with a variety of items that you already own, to spice things up. And most of all, stick with your size. Regardless of how affordable something is, it isn't a bargin if it doesn't fit, which leads us to our next "C": Control. Next time you're tempted to blow it all on those $80 boots, think about how many other cute items you could scarf up for the same cost. Do 16 pairs of jeans or 8 pairs of ballet flats seem like a better deal? If so, you'd better put the boots down. While there isn't anything wrong with the occasional splurge, the key to getting the look for less is having self control. I will be the first to admit it: Restraint is difficult! But just remember, for every dollar you save on one outfit, you have one more dollar to put towoards the next one.
     How do you make your dollar stretch? Shoot me an E-mail (to the address for people) and tell me all about your deals and dilemmas!