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!