Ty Tips:Luxury living for less

I needed a new outlet after being cooped up at home and recently re-discovered the “Mall”. It’s a perfect place for an afternoon movie and to have a little “me” time just walking around (Horrors! I’m fifty-three, have I reached the age where I should think about putting on a track-suit and joining the other “Mall walkers”?) But, I digress.

I had forgotten the bargains that abound among the various and sundry offerings in the many different stores under one roof. Years ago, I (like many others) had abandoned the “Mall” for more specific upscale shopping at stores like Banana Republic, Zara and the box stores like Target and Costco.

One day I found myself walking into DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) and while the store seems to be mostly for women there is a section for men and better yet a few clearance racks in the back of the store. The shoes are sectioned off by size and color coded from 30 to 70% off (the already discounted prices).

I go to the movies 2 to 3 times a month and I’ve gotten into the habit of stopping in DSW specially to peruse the clearance racks. I have no interest in 30, 40 or even 50% off-I look only for the “Green” tags that signify 70% off the already discounted price.

The clearance rack is alot like a treasure hunt, you’re looking for something and you’re not quite sure what but when you find it you know it was worth looking for.The selections I found to be as varied as the colors on a pinwheel: Kenneth Cole,Gucci,Florsheim,Robert Wayne, Timberland and Ashton Grey.

On my last shopping trip I found four pair of shoes:

Tretorn rubber boots ($ 99.99) $59.94 minus $41.96 Final Price $17.98
Kenneth Cole ($138.00) $99.94 minus $69.96 Final Price $29.98
Natha Studio Winter
roll top Winter boot ($140.00) $79.94 minus $55.96 Final Price $23.98
Stray Dog Boots ($185.00) $99.94 minus $69.96 Final Price $29.98

Grand Total $108.14

All of the shoes were 70% off, after checkout my total cost was less than the cost of the pair of Kenneth Cole suede loafers.

So, remember-it’s not the size of the shoe that matters, it’s the size of the discount that’s truly impressive.

TyTIP:Any serious luxury shopper only takes items up to the cash register that are as close to wholesale (or less) as possible.

TyTIP: Look for clearance racks in any/all stores that you shop and if you don’t see one-ask

TyTIP: When you buy at such a deep discount you can be less concerned with buying classic styles and can afford to have fun with designs that are more trendy or a “less that one occasion” shoe (Like the terry cloth lined, black rubber rain boots with white accent piping) that won’t get out of the closet much.