Glamour Goes to Work

Summer seems to be when I shell out an unnecessary amount of money on magazines.  It just makes sense to have an array of reading material with all the road trips, pool side days, and down time.  The June issue of Glamour caught my attention with an article called, "Summer Work Special."

In our Mississippi heat, it is hard to dress appropriately for work while still staying cool.  According to Glamour, though, dark suits are out and pastels are in.  So, I shopped around to find the best pastels for the workplace.

Glamour offers sheer tops ranging from $79-$395, blazers ranging from $60-$398, and two-toned pants ranging from
$70-$325.

After searching all around the metro area, here is what I found:

A sheer green top for $9.99 at TJ Maxx.  I found similar tops at Marshall's, Charming Charlie, and JC Penny, and all of them were under $40.

  This Rebecca Taylor light pink blazer, originally marked at $230, is 75% off at Designer Discount Fashions located at the intersection of Lake Harbour Road and Hwy 51 in Ridgeland. It also has a matching skirt to complete the outfit.  The skirt and jacket are a size 2.

Also found at Designer Discount Fashions were these great pastel pants by designers such as Yansi Fugel, originally $209, and Madison Hill New York, originally $97.  They were marked 75% off.

Much to my dismay, I have not been able to find two-toned pants at a great price.  Fortunately, the ones featured in Glamour from Victoria Secret are only $70.








Other great finds inspired by Glamours "Summer Work Special" articles:

 A striped blazer from JC Penny for only $25
compared to this one in Glamour for $129.




















Compare these two pink jelly bags.  The one on the right is $195 by Furla, the one on the left is $29.97 at Charming Charlie.






So, take these fresh ideas and brighten up your work wardrobe without having to work overtime to pay for it.  Send in pictures of your favorite summer work outfit and, as always,

Happy Hunting!

Steal Alert!

While out running errands today I decided to stop by Hudson in Ridgeland to see if they had a shipment of anything worth stopping in for and it seems I stopped by at just the right time.

The clothes racks are filled with cothes by Talbots and Michael Kors.  They also have many brands you would find at JC Penny.

I was a little bummed to find that the shoe racks had been taken down and replaced with Men's sportswear but on my way out I decided to paruse the shelves of what is usually made up of worthless junk.  Today, however I found those shelves filled with shoes.  Lots of shoes! Jessica Simpson, Coach, Kenneth Cole, Nine West, and a whole lot more!

So, go check it out for yourselves and let me know what great bargains you walk out with.

Happy Hunting!

Steal Alert!

With hurricane season among us it just may be the perfect time to make good on these great deals I found today on raincoats!  I thought it was just by happenstance that TJ Maxx had a rather large selection of raincoats in their clearance section until I went to Target and saw an entire sale rack dedicated to raincoats there.  It makes me think, maybe now is the best time to buy raincoats at any store.  Both the TJ Maxx and Target I visited are in Flowood, but I would encourage you to check out the shops in your area for deals like these and let me know what you find!


This khaki trench coat by Laundry was
originally $140.  On TJ Maxx clearance
rack it can be yours for only $29!

 A fun teal raincoat may be

just what you need to

brighen up a rainy day,  

and you can for only $29

at TJ Maxx.  This coat is by Willi Smith.

                                                        

                                         






Target also had a great selection
of raincoats by Merona for only
$14.98!!  The trench coat style is
what most were, but they had them in
a variety of colors.

Khaki, Black, and Yellow, (as shown in
the picture)

       I love this biker style raincoat by Willi Smith TJ Maxx.  With its neutral color and great style for most body types, this jacket is a true steal for only $15!  Original price marked was $39.                                                                                   

So, don't get stuck out in the rain on these deals!  Stay dry and stylish with one of these raincoats, and you may just have enough dough left for an umbrella and rainboots too!


Thanks for reading and happy hunting!

  

A Day at the Beach

Are you planning to head to the beach this Memorial Day weekend or just lounge around the pool this summer?  No matter where you plan to go, you can start shopping for your trip now, and I have the information that you need to save time and money.

Sticking to the essential beach items, I scoped out the best place to get swimsuits, beach towels, cover-ups, sunglasses, flip-flops, and a big floppy sun hat to top things off. 

First stop - TJ Maxx in Dogwood Festival Marketplace.  I love TJ’s because I can find the best designer brands for so much less than I would find them anywhere else.  And for those skeptics out there, they are NOT last season’s styles. 

I found Hello Kitty sunglasses, complete with an adorable bow on the side of the lens, for $7.99, some great Prada shades for $79.99, and everything in between (including Kenneth Cole, Juicy Couture, and Kate Spade).

The TJ’s in Dogwood also has a whole wall dedicated to sun hats, beach towels, and flip-flops.  While TJ’s did not have the absolute best prices on any one item, it did have the best selection of name-brand items.

After visiting the TJ’s in Dogwood, I hopped in the car and drove over to the one in Ridgeland.  Unfortunately, due to the lack of organization at this particular store, I would not recommend spending time looking unless you know what you want.  This opinion also holds true for the Marshall’s next door.

I also checked out JCPenny, Kohl’s, Ross, Old Navy, Tuesday Morning, Wal-Mart, and Target, and here is what I found:

Swimwear:  Old Navy and Target have the best selection of swimsuits, with prices ranging from $14.50 - $44.94.  The best price on swimsuits can be found at Wal-Mart for only $8 per separate on their Op brand.  

Sunglasses:  Kohl’s has the best selection of sunglasses by designers like Jennifer Lopez, Vera Wang, and Danna Buchannan, which range from $10 - $27.99.  It’s hard to say who has the best prices on sunglasses because you can find a pair for $5 in most stores.

Cover-ups:  TJ Maxx has the most stylish cover-ups 

for the approximate price of $24.99 while Target has 

the best general selection and prices on cover-ups,

which range from $9.99 - $24.99.

Flip-Flops:  Wal-Mart tops all the other stores for the best price on flip-flops at 98 cents.  But, if you really like fun patterns, JCP offers these fun Mix-it brand flip-flops at the price of 2 for $4.  However, based on largest selection at the best price, Old Navy is the way to go.  It has just about every color imaginable for only $3.94, and based on my experience, the store’s flip-flops last a long time. 

Sunhats:  Target has a great selection of fun floppy sun hats for $14.99 - $19.99 while Wal-Mart has the best price for only $8.

Towels:  Although Wal-Mart probably has the best selection and prices (going as low as $3.97), its towels are not the best quality.  I recommend Tuesday Morning or TJ Maxx to rack up on quality towels for around $15.

Beach Bags:  Target, TJ Maxx, and Marshall’s win best selection of beach bags, which started at $9.99.  I especially loved these fun bags found at TJ Maxx and Marshall's for $9.99.  They would make a great gift to get monogrammed and stick some goodies in!

Other fun finds include:  Best Pool toys at Tuesday Morning.

This plastic water jug was at TJ Maxx for $9.99, Target for $5.99, and Wal-Mart for $3.97!! 

Have your eyes on some fashionable Coach flip-flops?  These are at TJ Maxx for $34.99, 

         but check out these great knock offs at JCP for only $12.

                                                                   And these at Wal-Mart for $6.98!              

So, before you hit the beach, hit up these stores to save money and stay stylish!  And stay tuned for my next blog on dressing for success in our MS heat.

Until then,

Happy Hunting!

Playing Dress-Up

I recently had the honor of playing dress-up with my good friend, Heather Richards.
Heather knows that I offer personal shopping advice and that I specialize in finding
bargains. In a bit of a frantic state, Heather asked me to help her find a dress to wear
to an engagement party. I got right to work and found myself in Ross, where the store
motto is “Dress for Less.” In no time at all, I had amassed a basketful of options for
Heather.

When I texted a picture of one of my dress selections to Heather and told her where I
found it, she was stunned. She hadn’t known that Ross had all these options of styles
and sizes. And, as it just so happened, Heather was shopping right next door! She joined
me at Ross in my hunt for dresses, and then she tried on all of our finds. After trying on
about ten dresses, Heather narrowed it down to five – one for every occasion. The picks
included a fun sundress, business chic, date night, a night on the town, and, of course, a
wedding party option.


   
                                  

Now, you may be wondering how much all these dresses cost. Heather's total bill came
to about $105!! The blue dress had the MSRP (suggested retail price) of $100, but Heather only paid $25. In fact, every dress only cost around $20!

So, the next time that you're out looking for a dress, check out Ross, and you may be
pleasantly surprised by what you find. Or, if you're not one to get out and look yourself,
feel free to contact me at Amanda.Mangrum@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to do some
shopping for you!

Until next time,
Happy Hunting!

Fabulous Formals

With Mardi Gras balls, prom, weddings, and other formal events coming up this spring, there’s no reason to break the bank on the perfect dress – especially when we have places like Ritzy Rags, a formal consignment shop, just a short drive away.

I know that most of us are not much into wearing “someone else’s” clothes.  But when it comes to formals, most people wear a dress once for a couple of hours, and then it just goes back in the closet to never be worn again.  That means that most of the dresses hanging in Ritzy Rags have hardly been worn; some even have the original tags still on them!  My favorite thing about Ritzy Rags is its prices.  Check out these fun formals I found!

$125

  

$200

Neiman Marcus dress $125

$75

Original tag $2,400
Ritzy Rags $175

$65

$200

Originally $940
Ritzy Rags $470

Another great thing about Ritzy Rags is that you can finally clean out your closet and make some money off those gowns that have just been hanging there for years.  Ritzy Rags has some of the most helpful workers I have ever encountered.  The staff members are always up-to-date on fashion and love seeing their customers walk away happy with great finds.  Also, Ritzy Rags seems to be the most generous consignment store when it comes to how much you get for your item.  Although Plato’s Closet gives customers cash upfront, it only gives 30% of the price for which it plans to sell the item.  Private Collection, another great consignment shop with name-brand clothes for less, does not generally accept formal wear, and it only gives 40% of the amount for which it sells your clothes.  Ritzy Rags, however, gives customers HALF of the amount for which it sells items. 

So, as the weather warms up and you get closer to starting the hunt for fabulous formalwear, remember to check out Ritzy Rags, located at 775 Lake Harbour Drive, # F, Ridgeland, MS 39157.  Or, give the store a call at (601) 856-4508. 

Let me know what you find, and, as always, happy hunting!

Everyday Savings

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last posted!  The holidays were a busy time for me!  Luckily, though, I only ran short on time and not on money!  I hope that you and your family had a Christmas season filled with good food, hot chocolate, bright lights, and great savings!  

But, in case you are running a little short on cash or maybe just began a New Year's resolution to save money, then Target should be your next stop!

If you are like me, Target is not where you typically go to get groceries unless you're lucky enough to have a Super Target nearby, which I am not.  Target is, however, a danger zone.  I usually stroll in the sliding doors "just to look," but some smart marketing designer thought to make those sliding doors open right onto the women's clothing and accessories section.  So, of course, my casual strolling turns into me walking out with three new outfits, a pair of earrings, and a cute pair of wedges that I just "had to have."

Tonight I walked through those sliding doors with the full intention of shopping the clothing section and finding great spring fashions at good prices to talk to you about.  Oddly enough, though, I ended up walking out with five bags of groceries!  How did this happen!?

Well, go check it out for yourself!  In the section where it just took out all the Christmas sale items, Target has restocked the shelves with bulk packaged items for super low prices!

I stocked up on these lunch items: two lunch meats for $5, 12 packs of Teddy Grahams for $4.39, individual bags of chips for $6.49, and 12 cups of mandarin orange slices for $5.97.

Target had two boxes of Kashi bars for $5.79, a box of Larabars for $8, and value packs of General Mills cereals for $5.49!

 I was able to get these health products for great prices too! Tampax 40 count for $5.99, MultiVites gummy vitamins for $10, a salon size bottle of Pantene shampoo for  $7.49 and Sally Hansen salon effects nail print for $2.55!   Target also had other health products, cleaning products, and "around the house" items.

I was able to get all this for less than $90!  So, go ahead and rack up on these great savings.  Just be warned - Target also has bulk packages of Oreos for the price of one that will call your name in a deliciously sweet way... at least, that's what they sounded like to me.  :)

I'll be back with more money saving tips soon.

Until next time,

Happy Hunting!