Clothing
Shop Thrift, But Embrace Big Box Retailers
Goodwill has no shame in changing obscene prices. Every time I walk in and find something decent, I'm appalled by the price and ask myself why I'm not shopping at Target or Old Navy instead.
The Salvation Army Store is the best mainstream thrift store in the country, hands down. The stores allow you to haggle, which is honestly how every retail store should allow and encourage.
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Shopping for clothes in Big Box Retailers is not as expensive as you'd think.
Embrace the in-house brands from Target and Old Navy like Champion which are every bit as good as Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas at half the price.
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For basic collared shirts and khaki pants, Walmart carries the Ben Hogan brand. Ben Hogan is a great golfing brand.
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For athletic wear, Target's Champion brand is actually very solid. The polyester shirts, shorts, underwear, and socks are honestly just as good as any Under Armor or Nike clothing, but for half the price.​
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Ladies, forget Lululemon. They should rename the store, Lululescam. Focus on athletic wear from Target, Old Navy, and Walmart.
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For underwear and socks: Target's Champion brand is solid for both categories. Costco sells great underwear and socks in the Adidas brand. Costco has the best return policy, so don't feel shy to use it if the underwear doesn't fit properly.
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Shoes
How many people bankrupt themselves on overpriced and overrated shoes that make them walk like a duck?
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All that style just to waddle? Hard pass.
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Here's how to save money on shoes: always buy them at an outlet store or online when there's a sale.
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Look for Nike outlet, Adidas outlet, or even just a sale on the shoe manufacturer's website.
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Never pay msrp sticker price for any pair of shoes.
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Shoe manufacturers always host Black Friday specials on their websites. The trick is to try on the shoes in their respective stores, get your sizing down, and buy them during those sales. Sizing changes with shoes every single year, so it's important to size yourself up.​
Backpacks and Bags
Ross stores have the best year round prices on name brand backpacks for best man and women. You can find solid Jansport backpacks for around $30 in multiple colors.
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You can find a backpack for your child with colorful brands like Hello Kitty, Paw Patrol, Spiderman, Super Mario, Minecraft, or even My Little Pony at Ross as well. Many adults make it a meme to wear a backpack intended for children as well, so Ross is right up their alley.