How to use a sale period sensibly

Short answer: A sale is only a saving if you would have bought the item anyway. Buy what you use up, not what has the biggest discount, and always check the size before you commit.

Buy what you use up

Socks and underwear wear out and need replacing regardless, so a sale period is a real saving on exactly those items. Think of a sale period as the time you stock up on what you would have bought in a few months anyway. See bamboo socks for men for a range that is often part of sales.

Buy several of the same

If you have found a model that fits perfectly, a sale period is the time to buy five more instead of just one. It saves time later, and you avoid hunting for the same model again once the price is back to normal. See bamboo underwear for men for models that are often part of sales.

Skip untried cuts on sale

A cut you have not tried before can turn out not to fit, even when the price is low. Buy one piece first, and wait on the rest until you know it sits right. A cheap wrong purchase is still a wrong purchase, no matter how much you saved on paper.

Check the size first

A saving on something that does not fit is not a saving, no matter how big the discount looks on the sign. Measure yourself, or a piece you know fits, before ordering several sizes at random. See bamboo underwear for women for a size chart to compare against.

Know what you already have

If you know what is worn out in the drawer, you also know what to look for once a sale period starts. Make a short mental list before you begin, so you do not end up buying more of what you already have plenty of at home.

Set a spending limit

It is easy to get carried away when a lot is reduced at once in a shop. Set a limit on what you will spend before you start looking, so you can shop calmly without regretting it afterwards when you check the total.

Wait for the right sales

Not every sale period is equally good, and the best prices on staple items often come round several times a year. If the price is not noticeably lower than usual, it can pay to wait for the next round instead of buying too fast. See guide to briefs and underwear for what to look for.

Combine with what you already own

Buy something that works with what is already in the drawer, rather than entirely new colours or models you are unsure about. That makes it easier to rotate your clothes day to day, and you avoid pieces sitting unused because they do not match the rest.

Read the care label before buying

If an item is hand wash only, you need to know that before you fill the basket, so the sale does not end up a burden rather than a saving. See washing and care for how to get the most out of what you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What should you buy on sale

What you use up anyway, such as socks and underwear. That is where a sale period gives a real saving, because you would have bought those items later regardless.