$25 Gift Cards
I was recently given $25 gift cards to both T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. All I had to do was get the cards, spend the $25 at each store, and give you guys a quick review of my experience.
I do shop at these places (off-price retail stores) from time to time, and have recommended them in the past here on Prime Time Money, so I have no problems sending a nice review their way. I consider them a staple in my desire for a more frugal lifestyle. In case you’re wondering what these stores are, here’s a quick summary:
“Off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are the sweet spot between department and discount stores — they offer the same in-season, brand name merchandise found in department stores, but for much less – and without sacrificing quality!”
Off-Priced Retail
As a teen, I used to get some of my clothes at T.J. Maxx. I remember it was one shopping experience I didn’t mind too much. With a bit of effort, I could usually walk out of there with lots of named-brand clothes. Some real gems I would find for heavily discounted prices. Mom and I were both happy.
Back to the future…these days I’m not so much of a name-brand guy and primarily go to these stores for athletic wear: running shorts and shirts, sweat pants, etc. I hate paying full-price for something I’m going to sweat in. I also sometimes buy shirts for work here, or even picture frames I’ve found are priced right here.
Our Shopping Spree
Yesterday Mrs. PT and I hit these two stores armed with the $25 gift cards. We’d already covered most of our Christmas shopping, so this was just going to be a spending spree for us. Sweet!
The shopping “experience” was very nice. Both stores weren’t too crowded, were well staffed with courteous employees, and things were in relatively nice order considering it was three days before Christmas.
At T.J. Maxx we got:
- Nike sweatshirt for $19.99 (which the tag said I should compare at 40.00)
- Three pairs of ladies Tommy Hilfiger argyle ankle socks for $5.99 (9.00)
At Marshalls we got some nice baby stuff:
- BabyGEAR “Grow With Me” set of five bodysuits for $9.99 (18.00).
- Five pack of Calvin Klein bibs for $7.00 (20.00)
- Two Carters bodysuits for $5.99 (10.00+UP)
What I Thought
Except for the sweatshirt (which I know is a decent deal), I honestly have no idea how discounted these prices are. I’d estimate that if you compared these “compare at” prices to the prices at Dillard’s or Macy’s they’d be spot on. I rarely shop at those places anyway though. I like to shop at more low-cost, boutique shops like the Buckle, Gap, and Old Navy. I wish the clothes from these stores were available at the off-priced stores.
We stuck to clothes this time, but it should be noted that they have a little bit of everything. We were temped by some of their electronic peripherals, snack foods, and even bedding. It’s a great store to just explore. You never know what they’re going to have.
One down-side to these stores I found is sometimes they don’t have consistent items and sizes. It’s common to find “the perfect shirt” only to discover they don’t have it in your size. You’ve got to really hunt for the deals and the items that will work for you. And because everyone before you has performed their own pillage of the clothes racks, the stuff can sometimes be misplaced (i.e. size small in the XL section).
I really enjoyed the shopping spree though. I’m not too hung up on any of the brands they offer though. If you do like named brand stuff but don’t want to pay full-price, then these stores are great for you. Skip the major department stores and head here. …definitely if you’re buying for kids who have to have the label.
What’s your favorite thing to buy at these stores? What would you have bought with the $50?
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We stuck to clothes this time, but it should be noted that they have a little bit of everything. We were temped by some of their electronic peripherals, snack foods, and even bedding. It’s a great store to just explore. You never know what they’re going to have.
well, i just did my shopping trip yesterday, and I got some good stuff. I bought a new 12″ skillet to replace our smaller 10″ one. It had deeper sides and was bigger to accomodate some bigger meals. Great deal at $14.99. I also got a new aluminum water bottle and some chocolates for my mom. Not bad for $25!