My Secret to Saving Money on Big Purchases (and Bridesmaid Dresses!)
In the market for a new couch, pricey vacuum, or even a bridesmaid dress? Let me share one of my favorite tricks for saving a little money on a bigger ticket item when promo codes are nowhere to be found.
Buy discounted gift cards!!
I came across this trick when I was purchasing a BHLDN bridesmaid dress. Because I try to avoid paying full price for anything, I poked around and discovered the beauty of discounted gift cards.
Here's how it works:
- Head to a site like Giftcard Zen or Giftcard Granny. On these sites, people who have gift cards they don't want to use will resell their gift cards for a discount - anywhere from 3-15%. They get cash for a gift card they'll never use and you get the gift card you want for less than its value. Win win!
- Once you're on the site, search for retailers you're interested in and see what pops up. In my case, I was able to find a $205 Anthropologie gift card available for $169. As you're searching the site, you'll be able to see if the gift card is an egiftcard (as in available right away) or a physical gift card to be shipped.
- Once you get the card, shop away! Fortunately, the card I selected was an egiftcard, so I was able to use it right away to get my bridesmaid dress.
One thing to note - these cards go fast so if you see a deal you like, grab it! I learned that the hard way but, after a few days of checking back on the site, I was able to find another great deal. On most sites you can also sign up for alerts so you're notified when a new card becomes available for your desired retailer.
Hope you're able to find some good deals -- I'll be keeping my eyes out for SoulCycle or Flywheel giftcards!
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Photo via Rebecca Almada
