It’s almost here! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale preview goes live on June 26th! I’m super excited! I’ll be posting all about it here on the blog, Instagram, Facebook, and in the FREE LTK App. This post is going to explain my Anniversary Sale Shopping Strategy while being a frugal blogger.
I’ve already posted some of my must-have favorite items that I’ve purchased through the years that usually come back in a similar version each year. This year, every single item included in the sale will be available to preview AND save to your wishlist starting June 26th!
I’ve been shopping this sale every year since 2006. I love doing the Cardholder-Exclusive Presale appointment. It is so fun! For someone who constantly has a kid around my ankle, it’s nice to get out alone or with a friend and go do my pre-sale when its not so crazy. Not that the presale isn’t crazy, but at least its not as crazy as when the sale is open to the public.
Why A Frugal Blogger Shops The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
I know many people who read this blog probably have some questions about why I’m posting about Nordstrom. Yes, Nordstrom is a luxury department store. I’m sure many people probably think its out of their price range or content about it doesn’t belong on a “Frugal Living” Blog. I think that’s a false narrative for several reasons. Having an Anniversary Sale Shopping Strategy helps tremendously.
First, just buying the cheapest thing available isn’t being frugal. Being frugal means purchasing products that will last, that are high quality at the best possible price. That goes for whether its clothing, shoes, groceries, or personal products – whatever. Buying something that’s super cheap but is such low quality that it won’t last through one wash & dry cycle is not frugal, it’s wasting money.
If a product is of higher quality and will last longer, but costs a little bit more, that’s a better value because the cost per wear/use goes down with every use. If your budget allows, don’t be afraid to buy those expensive designer jeans when they are on sale. This is the time to get them!
Nordstrom has really great quality items. You can find these items at many different price points if you know where to look. They also have an excellent return policy if that t-shirt you bought suddenly gets a hole in it after the first wear. They stand behind their products.
How To Find Deals at Nordstrom
So how do you find deals at Nordstrom? I love brands like BP for basics, dresses, and trendy items that aren’t going to break the bank. Nordstrom house brands Caslon, Halogen, and Treasure & Bond have more sophisticated options & work wear at a slightly higher price point. One of the best deals in the Anniversary Sale is Designer Denim like AG. Other brands to look for include Madewell, Rails and Vince Camuto.
Shopping sales helps as well. The sweet spot for a sale price at Nordstrom is 40% off. TONS of items get marked down to 40% off at different times throughout the year. When they hit that price they sell out fast. If you know the sale cycle, you can add items you love to your Wish List. Then, just check the list every so often or set up alerts to look for that 40% drop. Nordstrom has 2 Half-Yearly Sales, one in Spring and the other in Fall. Nordstrom uses these sales to mark down merchandise from the current season to get ready for the new season. They also have a few random sales & end of season clearance events as well.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
The mother-of-all Nordstrom Sales is the Anniversary Sale, which takes place every year mid-July to beginning of August. This sale is different because it marks down NEW merchandise for the Fall season. There are also a few new items for Summer marked down as well. Once the sale is over, the price goes back up, if there are any of those items left. This sale is legendary, and things sell out very quickly.
So yes, I love shopping at Nordstrom for higher quality items, but I save by purchasing them on sale. I very rarely pay full price for something at Nordstrom, and I usually save 33-40% or more on every item. I also have the Credit Card which means I earn a $20 Nordstrom Note for every 2,000 points I earn. My card earns 2 points/$1 spent, but I maximize my points by shopping for my discounted items on Double or Triple Points weekends. I also strategically use my personal Double Points Days. Instead of spending $1,000 to get a $20 reward certificate, if I spend $250 on my Double Points Day, I get a $20 reward.
Now, I want to note that yes I have the Credit Card, but I save money in a budget category all year just for the Anniversary Sale. The Credit Card gets me early access to the sale and Double Points with their Rewards (plus $100 in tailor credit – I’m short!), and I get free credits to shop at Nordstrom. But, once the charge hits, I use that sinking fund in my budget to pay it off in full. I do not carry balances on credit cards. Never Ever.
My Anniversary Sale Shopping Strategy
Lastly, I think its important to note that I try to spend my money at Nordstrom on not just high-quality basic items, but items that aren’t going to go out of style by next season. Nordstrom does sell a lot of trendy items, and some are at good price points, like in the Juniors Department. But overall, I look for pieces that have classic cuts, silhouettes, and colors.
Going through my Instagram feed, I feel like all of the bloggers & Instagrammers are promoting the exact same items. Like each picture is the same pair of shoes or same top or whatever. What I’m here to tell you is, I’m only promoting items that I love and that I would personally buy or have personally bought. My picks are authentic, and no one is telling me which items to promote. So while I may promote some of the same items that you see all over Instagram and the blogosphere, its because its something that I really love and think is a good value.
That being said, you’re not going to see me promoting highly-trendy items unless its a really good deal and I think the trend will last more than 1 season. This sale has a lot of trendy pieces: cropped pants, interesting shaped shoes, 90s inspired pieces and more. Stuff like that, while cute and fashionable, is not going to make my list. I just don’t see the value in them, and you can find those pieces much cheaper at other stores like Nordstrom Rack or TJ Maxx.
Here at Stacy’s Savings, I do use affiliate links in my blog posts.This means that if you purchase something through my links, your price doesn’t change, and I will receive a small commission. However, no one is telling me which items to post. I only post items that I think are a good value and will last. It takes a lot of time to put these posts together. I use that commission income to keep the blog running, pay taxes, fund house projects and create content for the blog.
My focus is to show you my strategies for living your best life at the best price. Buying low quality items at the cheapest price causes you to spend more money in the long run. Buying high quality trendy items that you won’t wear next year also causes you to spend more money on new trendy items every year. Neither of those options are good for your budget and long-term financial goals. But, you can buy high quality items that will outlast the trends and not pay full price at Nordstrom. That’s what I’m here to show you.
How I Will Cover the Anniversary Sale
Now that I got all of that off my chest, I’m super excited about the Anniversary Sale! The items are available for preview on June 26th, and I can start shopping on July 9th. If you see something you love, buy them online so you get them before they are gone. Especially shoes or bags. You can always return them later, but later they may be sold out. Don’t wait. Remember, Nordstrom offers free shipping both ways.
I generally try to place online orders that I can pick up at the store, but that can sometimes backfire if things sell out before the associates can pull them. If I do shop in store, I’ll be sure to show you what I got. Check Instagram for teasers. When the sale opens to the public on July 12th, I’ll post again with my round ups. I’ll also try to post re-stock alerts for hot items that sell out if and when they are restocked. Set a bookmark for my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Page where I’ll update everything! Also, never miss a post by signing up for the Stacy’s Savings Newsletter!
Make sure you don’t miss my Anniversary Sale Favorite Things Post or my How to Shop the Anniversary Sale Like a Pro post for more!
If you read this far, you deserve a cookie! Maybe we can find a special Anniversary Sale Cookie for you?
As always, Happy Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shopping & Never Pay Full Price!
~Stacy
