Miss Scarlett’s Savvy Saving Shopping Secrets

Spring is here! It was a perfectly gorgeous weekend in my city. My plan was to do some work, but some how the only work I did was repeatedly whipping out my debit card.

I’ve always been a smart shopper. More out of necessity than by choice. I grew up in Marshalls & TJMaxx. I was in those stores so often that I eventually decided it would be best to just work in their corporate headquarters. My other fave stores: Filene’s Basement, Target (or Tar-jay for the bourgeoisie), H&M and Old Navy. I’ve heard good things about SteinMart, but have yet to shop in one. And Burlington Coat Factory is really hit or miss, you need patience in there.

But we ARE in a recession. You can’t be spending your money all willy-nilly, right? Right! So how is a girl supposed to be fashion forward and still have some money left over to put in that fierce new purse? Well follow my tips and you will!

TIP #1: FIND YOUR STYLE AND STICK WITH IT
I like classics. Twin sets. Pencil skirts. Pearls. These items never go out of style. I’ve had some classic items since college (so only two years now… Yeah right!). I know it will always look good on me. Jackie Kennedy had her own style and stuck with it. But find your own style. Whether it be cool & classic, feminine & flirty, polished & professional, or nice & natural. And stick with your style for the most part. It also helps you establish your brand. Not to say that a professional chick can’t rock a ruffled skirt every now and then. Knowing your style makes it easier to shop because you’ll always know you have something to go with that item you’re considering.

TIP #2: ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE!
accessories are one of the easiest– and cheapest– ways to create a totally new look. This is where stores like H&M and Forever 21 come in. They have some great cheap jewelry. Yeah, the gold might wash off, but that bracelet would have been out of style by the time that happens and you only paid $5, maybe $8 for it anyway, right? Now take your basic little black dress. How many ways can you wear it? You can be simple and classic and put on several strands of pearls. Go edgy and rock a studded belt and an armful of bangles. Be fanciful and free with a flowy scarf. Add a cardigan or a denim jacket. Five inch gladiator heels or ballet flats. A black sequined clutch or a bright yellow hobo. If you get creative, you can easily wear the same dress all week-long without anyone noticing. Well, you might wanna invest in some Febreeze or sumthin’. I’m just sayin’!

TIP #3: BUY OFF-SEASON
It’s October in New England. You’re in Target. They have a whole bunch tank tops in black and white on sale for $2.50. (I’ve seen it happen.) It’s gonna be too cold to wear them now, but you know you’ll need them come summer time. Buy them NOW! Why wait til the end of April when they’ll be $14.99 again? And same thing if you see a basic wool cardigan in a classic color or snow boots and you live in Michigan. Buy them for 75-80% off now and put it in storage until winter.

TIP #4: DON’T BUY OFF-SEASON
Wait… didn’t I just tell you to do the opposite? Yes. Am I losing my mind? Yes, but that’s besides the point… It’s snowing out, and you see a totally awesome flourescent pink chiffon dress with ruffles and shoulder pads (Ok, just PRETEND it’s totally awesome! I’m trying to make a point here!). And best of all, this fabulous frock is 90% off! What’s a girl to do? LEAVE IT ON THE RACK!!! So what if it was all the rage this past season. Odds are it’s too trendy to be in style next year and if you wear it, you’ll be looking like a fool. Plain and simple.

TIP #5: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
Great styles never truly die. They just go into hibernation. Some of the frequent fashion faves are the nautical look, military style, and animal prints. For example, I bought this navy Ralph Lauren jersey halter top about seven years ago. I wore it for a season or two, then but it in the back of the drawer for a while, and this year it’s coming back out. I’m going to pair it with some white Bermuda shorts from last season and a new red or gold belt and some new jewelry. My red belt only cost me $4.95 at H&M. Can’t beat that! I suggest you go with the more subtle trends, like a simple navy and white striped shirt, an army green structured jacket or a zebra striped cardigan. Remember, your clothes should be inspired by these ideas and not the exact item, unless of course you ARE in the military, a captain of a ship, or a real live tiger.

Well, these are just a FEW of my secrets. Hey, I’m not gonna divulge ALL of them! Gotta keep some things for mysefl! But I hope these tips help you look fabulous and stay frugal this season. And BTW, for more chic & cheap living tips, check out my girl The Frugalista!

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A whole lotta fish!

Y’all know your girl Miss Scarlett’s got the skillz to pay da billz!  Buuuuutttt… That’s getting harder and harder each day as we’re in this “Great Recession.” I needed to go to the grocery store today, so instead of doing as I used to and just blindly going to the nearest supermarket, I browse the ads online and plan my strategy. Now, I’m no Frugalista, but I know a great deal when I see one. So when I saw “Name Brand Solid White Albacore Tuna – $0.88 – Limit 24,” I grabbed my purse, grabbed my keys, and hit the store! Yes, this means your girl will be eating tuna for the rest of Lent through Christmas– And I’m not even Catholic!

I’ve already gone through several tuna recipes in my mind: tuna salad, tuna noodle casserole, teriyaki tuna (basically dumping tuna in the packaged lo mein noodles and adding extra soy sauce  or teriyaki sauce). But I wanted to share with you one of my mother’s favorite recipes. I made it for her once for Mother’s Day, and it’s a great, impressive recipe, but very cheap. I mean, $1.76 for the meat for 2 people? Can’t beat that!

Tuna Van Ziti

Sauce:

One 12 oz can of diced tomatoes
1/4 – 1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Basil
1 teaspoon Crushed Garlic
Salt to taste
One small jar (4 oz I think?) of Marinated Artichokes (lightly rinsed)
1 small Lemon
2 cans of Solid White Albacore Tuna (or use fresh tuna steaks if you’re ballin’)

Pasta:
1 box of Rigatoni or Ziti (cooked as according to directions on package)

Directions:
Add tomatoes, oil & spices to a pot. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce to a simmer. Add artichokes. Let simmer for at least an hour, or  ideally let sit in fridge overnight. Add lemon (return sauce to heat if chilled). Add tuna. Serve over pasta with parmesan cheese, if desired.

 

For the record, I’m no Emeril, more like Rachael Ray. I don’t typically measure the items, I just add judging by my eyes & tastes. But I hope you enjoy this recipe! Buon Appetito! 🙂