Outlet Shopping: Friend or Foe?

All girls love to go the the outlet malls. And why not? It's an excuse to shop till you drop, get good deals and spend the day with girlfriends catching up on the "need to know gossip."

We frolic down the pathways meandering into hundreds of designer stores, excited about the fact that we're getting 75% off a pair of designer shoes...or we're getting two bags for the price of one. We squeal looking at those possibly deceiving red signs that say" 50% off the retail price," or "buy one get one free!"

But, maybe we should think twice before we hand over the plastic, because it's possible that we may not be getting a deal.

MP Dunleavy, from MSN Money, writes in an article that outlet malls might actually be for suckers....and that many women are being hoodwinked the moment they set foot on the premise.

We all know we take a day of from work to go to the outlets, or plan a Saturday months in advance to hit the shops...but Dunleavy suggests that we have that "I'm going to take advantage of it," even before we get out of the car. He alludes to the fact that just because "us girls" have set aside a whole day for outlet shopping, that we are going to care less about the price, and make the purchase anyway just because we've traveled great lengths to be there.
To read more about outlet controversy click here.

My advice to avoid getting "hoodwinked:"

*Check prices before you go.

*Print and/or cut out coupons.

*Create a shopping list (and try to stick to it).

*Try not to make emotional purchases.

* With every wardrobe purchase -- make sure at least three things from your current wardrobe match it, otherwise you'll end up overshopping for just one piece. (From my co-worker Lisa DiVirgilio...Visit her Dating Diva blog here)

*Ask store clerks where the merchandise came from. (i.e. was the item created JUST for the outlets or did it originate in a retail store.)