Back in the day--before kids, that is if I needed something I could jump in my car and drive to Ala Moana. If said thing that I absolutely NEEDED wasn't to be found at one of Ala Moana's 290 shops (per alammoanacenter.com) I didn't think twice about jumping in my car and driving to Kahala Mall to continue the hunt. Still not found? Well there's always Pearlridge and even Windward Mall.
Those days are GONE. Now that I am a mom with two active kids shopping has become a SPORT. One that I have had to become a professional at. One that I have had to become ruthless at. Now that I am a mom I need to be able to get in and out quick and get the best deal possible. Now that my kids are five and four years old I have become quite an expert mommy shopper. If you need some sort of frame of reference I am like the Usain Bolt (fastest man in the world) of shopping. I can get in and outta the store in record time with some pretty cool things. So how do I do it? Read on...
First of all I do a lot of scouting. The internet and Social Media have become my most important resources for my shopping expertise. I spend a lot of time "internet shopping" to get an idea of what I want. The popularity of Facebook shopping has been the best invention. I simply open my Facebook account, cruise to the pages of my favorite stores and see their latest arrivals. If I see something I like I either leave a comment to ask questions or save a size or call the Boutique depending on what their level of Facebook customer service is (Fashionista's Boutique with Alyssa Fung and Aly Case are the BEST!). I can buy over the phone and even get roadside pick up for my goodies at Fashionista's Market or I can go to other boutiques, let them know I have things on hold and try on fast. Or, if I hadn't contacted the boutique I can ask for the "black one sleeved dress on the Facebook page" like I did at Adore today. For someone like me who doesn't have time to look through racks, this new Facebook phenomenon has been a GODSEND!!!
Same pretty much goes for internet shopping. I browse the new arrivals page of Old Navy, Gap, BR and Piperlime once a week. If I see something I like I either buy online (free shipping) or make a mental note in my head. With Gap Inc's free shipping I buy, try on at home and take trip to the store if it doesn't fit for free returns. Piperlime is even better. They have free MAIL returns. If I don't like, I pack it back into the box and drop it off at the Post Office. Doesn't get any easier than this. No need to go to the mall, wait for a dressing room, or be trapped with a crazy kid half-naked in a 2 foot by 2 foot room with bad lighting and skinny mirrors!!
And if you are an online shopping junky like me then make sure you google for online coupons for whatever site you're purchasing at. I always find great online coupons for White House Black Market. If you're not into Google, then like the Businesses page on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. This will give you first hand accounts of sales, deals, and coupons to be had.
An even better tip is to join sites like ebates. You visit ebates before shopping, go to the site through ebates and you receive cash back for each purchase. Sometimes it's only 1%, but others it can be 10% and up. Sure, getting $0.67 back doesn't seem like much, but over time you can get $200 plus dollars back like me!!! And if you get friends to join you can get $5 back for their first purchase or earn points toward your own Ipad!!!
My last shopping mom praise is a shout out for the Starbucks Drive Through in Waipio. There are days when you just cannot get out of the car--the kids may be bouncing off the wall, they may be fast asleep, you may have even left the house with two different shoes or sans makeup...and with the day that you're having you need some Caffeine! A fast drive through the Starbucks can help relieve the jonesing for caffeine. Believe me, I have driven out of my way many times to hit that drive through for my own sanity.
These are just a few of my shopping tips to save time and money. More of my little secrets will be revealed...but for now van mommy gotta run and get those kiddies in bed!
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