Buying Big and Beautiful on a Budget.

 

My Library of Restoration Hardware Catalogs

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Good Monday morning.

Let’s have a nice conversation about shopping… to start our week.

Just You and Me.

Okay?

My coffee is hot…and my cup is quite full.

So I hope you are in a comfy chair and ready to talk ‘shop’.

And if my future daughter-in-law is reading today, this post is dedicated to You!

We both appreciate shopping for a good bargain!  And we like our shopping trips to The Container Store….which is a future topic.

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It was not my personality type (due to my previously disclosed OCD tendencies) to give control over to a professional decorator/designer.

I have taken great pride in building 2 houses…. from actually watching the slabs being poured to living in a fully furnished and decorated home using my own selections.

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of my household, I truly felt it was incumbent upon me to stretch every dollar.

In many ways, I felt like I owed it to my family’s financial well-being to be frugal and mindful of our money.

And because I live in a town where it is not uncommon for costs to be considered a non-issue, I am – to put it nicely – an odd duck in my purchasing philosophy.

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Every shopper knows to first l@@k at well-known couponing sites like www.retailmenot.com for discount codes when ordering from popular stores.

But here are a few of my personal favorite ‘tried-and-true’ shopping secrets that I will only share with you.  And only you.

Today, I will write about 4 examples using my methods.

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TIP #1

 

Speaking of Restoration Hardware…

I really wanted to use a certain type of very long ‘wand’ on my window treatments because the oils on your hands (albeit clean ones) will leave noticeable, darkened residue over the years on this type of silk.

Can you tell which Estate Drapery Wand was purchased online for $70 (full price) minus a 20% coupon code… and which one was purchased at a Restoration Hardware Outlet Store in Colorado while on vacation for $15.95?

Neither can I.

The 2 pieces are exactly alike.

And truth-be-told, I only found 1 wand at the outlet store.  But it is still a very nice savings, and I can’t complain.

So here’s the take-away for you, The Consumer.

You don’t have to settle for off-brands.

Research high-end lines of merchandise which also have outlet stores to find the décor that you absolutely love – but at deeply discounted dollars.

I have been rewarded with large savings dozens and dozens of times using this strategy!

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TIP #2

Antique Apothecary Chest

Find a reputable and longstanding Auction House which hosts regularly scheduled auctions.

These wonderful venues are crawling with professional decorators and designers.

I was the winning bidder on this 20-drawer apothecary unit.

Paid roughly 40% of retail.

Go early and preview each lot of furniture.

Wait for your piece to go on the block and bid.  Have a preset $ limit and stick to it.  Don’t let emotion cause you to overspend.

 I never have ‘buyer’s remorse’ at auction because I know exactly what I am shopping for before the bidding begins.

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TIP #3

Tiffany Candlesticks – Retail $200 (approximately)

Even though I paid $40 for the pair, they are still authentically Tiffany & Co….and they are still gorgeous in my home.

Tiffany Acid-Etched Trademark on bottom of Candlestick

There are dozens of Consignment Shops.  Everywhere.

Choose 2-5 good, quality shops and watch the newly arriving merchandise online a few times a week.

You will find treasures at a fraction of mall prices.

Yes, these items are ‘experienced’ or pre-owned, but high quality consignment stores only accept mint or ‘perfect-condition’ items.

Remember my post in the category of Friday’s Short & Sweet Inspirational – called The Clock?

All of the Waterford miniature clocks pictured in that post were purchased at consignment shops.

Do you remember seeing this clock in that post?

It’s one of my favorite finds….and sits on my writing desk.  I’m looking at it right now. I paid $40.  And I recently saw it listed online for $125.

Here’s my newest clock – purchased last week.

This small Waterford oval clock is in perfect condition.

I paid approximately 35% of retail.

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TIP #4

 

Look at this dream desk…will you?

I pinned this picture in my office as inspiration to find The Desk!

That’s Diane Keaton who portrays a successful writer named Erica Barry in one of my favorite Rom-Com movies – Something’s Gotta Give.

I knew I had to have that desk….but not at $1000+.  No way.  No how.

For this saving suggestion, you’ll need a computer, smart phone or iPad….and a healthy dose of Patience to wait for the right price.

Pottery Barn (one of my favorite stores) carried a desk very similar to Erica’s desk – but again, the price was too steep at $799.

So, I decided to look at Pottery Barn Teens…and I found my desk but still not quite at the right price.

Dimensions were perfectly suitable for an adult…but the cost was still too much for my budget at that time.

So, I added a tile to my home screen on my iPad….and every morning I quickly clicked on it.  I rarely let 2 days go by without checking.

3 or so months later…

Without warning or any particular holiday-induced sale, VOILA.

The price on my dream desk dropped to $375 (plus a $10 coupon I had from a previous purchase from Pottery Barn).

I pounced and purchased it.

And guess what?

I’m sitting at my ‘Diane Keaton’ desk as I write to you this morning.

Just so you know, I use this Reminder Tile Technique to buy most of my Christmas presents.  I decide on an item and wait for it to go on sale.  Works like a charm.  I save a ton of money.

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So whether you decide to try a high-end outlet store, an auction house, a consignment shop, or what I have coined ‘The Reminder Tile’ strategy on your iPad –

I do hope…

My Written Thoughts will save you some bucks and help you buy big and beautiful on a budget.

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At a later date….I’ll share my secrets on buying Art – original oils, watercolors, pastels, and other interesting wall-hangings.