The Styled Life

#22: Smart Sale Shopping: Your Guide to Boxing Day Success

Gulinka Season 1 Episode 22

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 9:49

In this episode of The Styled Life Podcast, I share my strategic approach to Boxing Day sales shopping. Drawing from personal experience, I reveal how to avoid common pitfalls and make thoughtful purchases that truly serve your wardrobe.

Key points covered:

  • How to conduct a pre-sale wardrobe audit
  • Creating a specific shopping list and budget
  • Common sale shopping mistakes to avoid
  • The importance of trying items on
  • Managing sales urgency and FOMO
  • Practical tips for shopping day success
  • Receipt and return policy considerations

I emphasise that a good deal is only worthwhile if the item truly serves your wardrobe. By approaching sales with a clear strategy and mindset, you can transform what was once a stressful experience into an opportunity to thoughtfully enhance your wardrobe.

Remember, successful sale shopping isn't about finding the biggest discounts - it's about making strategic purchases that fill genuine wardrobe gaps.

Download the FREE Capsule Wardrobe Guide: https://learn.styledbygulinka.com/capsule-wardrobe-guide

Download the FREE Travel Capsule Guide:
https://styledbygulinka.mykajabi.com/travel-capsule-packing-guide

Work with me here:
https://www.styledbygulinka.com/personal-styling

Join the waitlist for The Styled Life Personal Styling Course:
https://www.styledbygulinka.com/thestyledlife-waitlist

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts. 
If you loved the podcast, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the styled life. 

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Follow me: Instagram: @styledbygulinka
Website: www.styledbygulinka.com

Remember, developing your personal style should empower you, not stress you out. Join me each week as we explore the transformative power of personal style together!

Speaker 1

Welcome to the Starred Life Podcast , where personal style meets self-development . I'm Galinka , your personal stylist . Each week , we'll explore the transformative power of style , helping you ditch the wardrobe overwhelm and discover your authentic self through style . Whether you're looking to refresh your look or completely reinvent yourself , you're in the right place . Or completely reinvent yourself , you're in the right place . Let's unlock your style potential together .

Speaker 1

In today's episode , we are going to talk about how to strategically use the Boxing Day sales to purchase pieces that are actually going to serve you in your wardrobe . Now , I've definitely felt that overwhelm when it comes to Boxing Day sales because there are so many bargains and in the past , I never had a strategy when it came to Boxing Day . I would show up at 7am at my favorite retailer and basically go through every single sale piece and often end up purchasing things that didn't fit me properly , wasn't my personal style , and often I only bought it because it was an absolute bargain and I couldn't resist the bargain itself . So I hope that the strategies that I share today can help you avoid some of the mistakes that I used to make when it came to Boxing Day sales . Avoid some of the mistakes that I used to make when it came to boxing day sales . So , as with anything , it's so important to have a strategy and a goal .

Speaker 1

So the first thing that you should do is have a look at your existing wardrobe and identify any gaps that you have . Now , this could be any gaps in basics , because basics are fantastic to grab during the Boxing Day sales . I know that socks and underwear is always popular , so definitely have a look in that drawer and see if you need any replacements . Also , think about any seasonal pieces that you may want to purchase . Anything for the current season will start going on sale now , so as we move into the autumn , winter in the southern hemisphere , you'll start to see some of those summer pieces go on sale , so it could be a fantastic time to grab some classic pieces for your wardrobe as well . So think about any gaps that you have and make sure that you write a list , because sometimes just having a mental list may not be fantastic , in the sense that when you are in the moment and you see a bargain that you can't resist , you may still end up purchasing a piece that you didn't actually need . So having that list is really , really helpful , and write it down , either on a piece of paper or on your phone , so you know exactly what your wardrobe gaps are before you even start shopping . Now , once you've identified those gaps , sign up to the newsletters for your favorite retailers . Now , what I love to do is sign up before the sale period and then I will unsubscribe after the sale period , because I don't want to be influenced in terms of purchasing things throughout the year that I may not actually need . So , for me , signing up during the sale periods is good , because then you're notified of any pre-sales or any of those pieces that you have been lusting after in your wishlist . You know when they are actually going to go on sale . So make sure you are on the email list for your favorite retailers .

Speaker 1

And the next step is to set a realistic budget . Now you want to stick to this budget , because it will really help you streamline your purchases and make sure you stick to your actual list . So having that budget in mind is really important . So I like to have a overall budget rather than a budget per piece , because you never know how much each piece will cost , and having that overall budget will really help in terms of instilling a level of self-control and also not going for things that are either out of your budget or things that you may not need . Now there are some common mistakes that I want to help you avoid , and the first one is just purchasing a piece because it is on sale . Now , we've all done that before I definitely have and this is a pitfall , because most of the time , you may not actually even end up wearing it . So the question is , is it really a bargain if you never end up wearing it and possibly donating it or selling it in the future ? So , being really , really strategic and asking yourself if this item was full price , would I still purchase it ? And if the answer is no , then maybe it's something that you can leave behind .

Speaker 1

The other sales tactic that is often used is a sense of urgency . So this is a one-time offer , or if you don't get it now , you'll miss out forever . So having that sense of urgency really pushes you over the line to purchase a piece . So it's always good to take a step back . Give yourself time to just have a breather . Even 24 hours is fantastic , because you will be able to think about whether you actually want that piece or not in those 24 hours , but just leaving that space is really helpful . So think about whether you actually really really want this item or whether it's the sense of urgency that is wanting you to purchase this item .

Speaker 1

The other common mistake that we may make during the sale period is compromising of fit and quality , because if it is something that is on sale , we may still be tempted to purchase it , even if it isn't our size which I've definitely done before and regretted or if it's not the right quality and fit that we set for ourselves . So making sure that you are really strict with purchasing things that actually fit you really well and don't compromise on those standards of fit and quality , and make sure that you read the return policies carefully , because sometimes those sell pieces are non-return pieces . So just making sure that you can either exchange or return a piece would be really helpful , unless you know that it's definitely a piece that you will absolutely love and need in your wardrobe . So once you've got your game plan so you know what your gaps are , you've set a budget , so you're thinking more strategically already and you know what common mistakes we all make when it comes to the sale period then the final step is to get started early , so you may want to do your research early , so see if there's any products that are cheaper across different retailers . Now this is best done online , in the comfort of your own home , so you can start researching where you want to buy those pieces . Also , if you want to hit the shops on the day , at least you've got a list and a plan of which brands you may be going for , so being able to think about how you want to set up your day .

Speaker 1

So make sure that you're wearing comfortable shoes . Make sure you've had enough water and something to eat as well , because if you are shopping whilst you're hungry , you may just be tempted to just purchase the piece so you can go home and have a meal . So making sure that you are completely in the best mindset is really important when it comes to Boxing Day sales , because it can be quite a tiring process . Always make sure that , if possible , take the time to try things on . That's why I really like to wear something that is really easy to layer over . So even just a t-shirt and some exercise tights might be perfect , because if you are purchasing , say , a coat or a jumper , you can just layer it on top what you're wearing , so that might be an easy way . Even a dress might be easily layered over a tank top and some tights as well , because we all know that the change rooms can get quite full during the Boxing Day sales . And finally , make sure that you don't throw away those receipts , because you never know if you change your mind or you find that you bring the item home and it doesn't quite work with your current wardrobe . At least you have the option , hopefully , to exchange or return that piece in the future as well .

Speaker 1

I hope this episode has been helpful and taken out the stress around Boxing Day shopping , because it was definitely quite a stressful time for me , but now , with these strategies and more of an approach of purchasing things that I know that are gaps in my wardrobe , it's definitely helped me have more of a excited and positive mindset when it comes to boxing day sales , because I know that I'll be getting some good bargains and pieces that will actually serve me in my wardrobe . I hope that you have a beautiful festive season and I look forward to chatting with you before the end of the year and can't wait for our next episode , which is going to be all about 2025 style goals . Thanks for tuning into the Styled Life podcast If you enjoyed this episode . Please subscribe and leave a review . Join us every Tuesday as we continue our style journey . Remember , great style is personal , powerful and always evolving . Until next time , stay stylish and true to you .