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*Heads up: some of the links I'm sharing here are referral links*
1. Download An Apps Like Honey To Find Discount Codes
I can't remember how I first heard about Honey, but I cannot imagine living life without it. It's a Chrome extension that automatically finds and applies discount codes to the sites you are shopping, so if there's an extra discount code you don't know about, it will apply it for you! And even if there aren't any codes that work, you can get credits toward cash back rewards whenever you make purchases.
You can download Honey here.
2. Use ShopStyle to Compare Retailers and Track Sales
Most people know ShopStyle as a way for bloggers like myself to create custom affiliate links and make a commission when readers purchase products, but I also love using ShopStyle as a way to research and compare different styles and shops. These days, most brands are sold at a few different online retailers, so the same item might go on sale at one store while staying full price at the other. Say I find a cute dress from Alice + Olivia; I'll usually search the product name in ShopStyle's search tool so I can see where else the item is sold and if it is available for a cheaper price somewhere else.
Additionally, you can toggle "sale alerts" for items you like so that you receive an email notification when that item gets marked down. With so many surprise sales happening right now, you never know when a favorite item is going to drop in price, so the alerts will keep you informed.
I know it sounds straightforward, but so many people don't take advantage of special offers that brands will advertise through newsletters and social media. Constant email campaigns can be annoying, but it helps to occasionally check out alerts from your favorite brands so you can stay updated on sales and promotions that are running. A lot of brands will host special sales or share exclusive discount codes that are only available to newsletter subscribers, so sign up to your favorite ones so you can stay in the know.
4. Follow Sample Sales
The last time I was in New York, my coworker and I stumbled upon the greatest discovery of all time: a Reformation sample sale. Gorgeous printed midi dresses and chic tops at a fraction of the original prices? Sign me up! I walked away with two midi dresses for less than the price of one full-price piece. While shopping, I realized that the sample sale was run by a company called 260, and they organized sample sales for all sorts of brands in LA and NYC, so I started following them on Instagram to stay updated on upcoming sales in LA.
With the beginning of quarantine, you'd think that sample sales would be on hold, but actually, 260 has started hosting online sample sales so now you can shop them from wherever you live!
You can view their list of online sale events here.
5. Take Advantage of Cash Back Programs
Getting paid to shop? It sounds too good to be true, and yet, cash back programs exist! I've started using Rakuten religiously, and love how many brands are on it. With all the online shopping I've been doing while staying home, the rewards are already starting to add up. Urban Outfitters, Nike, Shopbop, and even Postmates are all partnered with Rakuten, and the site also shares special offers all the time. You can install a Chrome plugin so Rakuten can automatically remind you if a site you are shopping is eligible for cash back, too.
I also highly recommend checking out any offers available through your credit card or debit card company. I've gotten cash back from purchases at Rite Aid, Domino's, and Amazon Fresh through my credit card, some with up to 10% back, so take a look at your card's current offers for additional ways to get rewarded for purchases you are making anyway.
You can sign up for Rakuten here.
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What secret tips do you have to find the best deals?
*Disclaimer: this post is sponsored by Basic Invite. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own!
This past month I’ve been thinking a lot about how we connect with one another. In a time when we are unable to physically spend time with friends and family, finding ways to maintain our relationships in other ways is so important. Like most of you, I’ve been utilizing technology to stay in touch, but I’ve also found myself taking a more old-school approach with personalized cards and stationery, and Basic Invite has become my new obsession for creating custom cards to send to loved ones.
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| Some of the cards I designed using templates from Basic Invite. |
With my birthday coming up, I decided to create a cute birthday brunch invitation (this was designed pre-quarantine, of course) as well as some thank you notes to send to friends and family. Growing up, handwritten thank you notes were always expected after birthdays and holidays, and I’m a firm believer that they are extra special to receive.
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| Exploring the Basic Invite website |
For my birthday thank you cards, I was actually a big fan of the original color scheme, so I kept it pretty close to the default colors, but I did customize the notes with my name for a personal feel. And of course, I played around with some different combinations just for fun (there are over 180 colors to choose from, so the possibilities are endless!):
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| The original color combination in the middle, plus some other options I played around with. Can you tell I like a pink and green scheme? |
For any design, you can request a printed sample to be sent to you before placing the final order so you can assure the color, paper, and all other details are exactly to your liking. This comes in handy for anyone worried about getting their invitations or stationery just right!
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| My customized creation! |
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| My exact tie dye sweatshirt is sold out, but I'm sharing some other options with you! |
Dozens of tie dyeing videos on TikTok and Instagram have tempted me to try my hand at creating a psychedelic sweatsuit of my own, but the mundane logisitical issues (mainly, where does one acquire tie dye materials, and what if I mess up or don't like the end result?) have kept me from ordering supplies on Amazon. There is, alas, a simpler solution: buy an affordable and pre-dyed item on the internet!
Seriously, there is tie dye everywhere at the moment, and in a vast array of cute styles, colors, and designs to fit your fancy. All these pieces that I found are under $100 (and a lot are event under $50) so you can stock up on some cool home-friendly items that aren't too pricey.
Shop Tie Dye:
It's hard to think about fashion right now. I love it—getting dressed each day is part of why I get so excited to wake up—but lately the world of fashion seems even more frivolous than usual. How can I think about pretty spring dresses when going outside requires a face mask? How can I dream about spending money on clothes when people are losing their livelihoods and loved ones all over the world?
It is a strange, strange time that we are in, and I know that looking cute is at the bottom of our priorities right now. But still, I can't help but think about how much joy fashion brings me, and how I hope that when our time of social distancing comes to an end (which, god, I hope is soon) I'll be able to spread some joy through fun and colorful outfits. Maybe it will cheer people up, or even just cheer myself up. I hope that's okay.
Anyway, here are some of the things that I hope we'll be dressing up in very soon. Leave a comment, let me know how you are doing, how you are hanging in there while working from home, whatever. I'm here for you! I may be wearing sweatshirts more than usual (I know, social distancing has changed me) but I'm still the fashion-loving Fashion Barbie and I hope to continue spreading positive energy your way!
Post-Quarantine Wish List
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