[Win a $250 giftcard] What are the best buys at bargain stores like Marshalls?

[Will]

This is one of the official Marshalls $250 giveaway threads.

Marshalls is giving away a $250 gift card to a randomly selected Wise Bread reader in this thread. This is part of their promotion to raise awareness for the new Cube and Megashoe sections in their stores.

How to participate

Just post a comment in this thread. You must be a US resident and be 18 or over. We'll randomly pick a winner from this thread on 9/15/08.

The topic

Tell us what kind of things you like to stock up on at bargain stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Sam's Club, Costco, etc.

The other two contest threads

This topic not your cup of tea? Try out these other two threads which are also giving away $250 gift cards. You can enter all three threads, but you can only win once.

• What are your favorite stores for bargain shopping?
• What is your favorite article of clothing (shirt, shoes, earrings, etc)?

[kris10pierce]

Designer suits are great bargains at discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx.

I scored an Elie Tahari suit 4 years ago (retail $600+) for $101 at Steinmart! I only had to have the pants hemmed, was a steal! Was great for all my interviews when I was just getting out of school.

Just last week I got a Theory suit at Off 5th for $275, which would have been that much per piece. It will come in handy for B-School interviews this fall.

You can find great work clothes & shoes at these places!

[mydebtquest]

For stores like Marshalls, I have found discounts as high as 90% off the retail price of clothing. I try to hit Marshalls every few weeks to see what new merchandise has arrived -- if they have something that (1) I need that (2) is appropriately discounted, I'll pick it up. I think the best deal I can think of off the top of my head was the $130 queen sized blanket for $15.

I shop Sam's club every couple of weeks as part of my grocery shopping routine. We drink huge quantities of gatorade/powerade/on-sale-ade, plow through cases of cat food, and devour grab-and-go snack foods, and the price-per-unit at Sam's beats out buying from Walmart or the grocery store. We buy most of the non-perishables at Sam's Club, then hit Hannaford or Walmart for the perishables.

[KateH]

I generally go to stores like Marshalls for wardrobe basics. I don't need to dress up very often, but it's nice to have something fun to put on once in a while. At BJ's, our local warehouse store, I stock up on bulk quantities of toiletries, vitamins, high end cat food, and a few edibles.

[maevedragon]

Spices! I'm married to a picky eater, but he loves certain spices so I used them in everything and tended to run out a lot. This year we picked up a Sam's Club membership (only bulk discount store in our area) and started stocking up on taco seasoning, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, garlic pepper, and oregano. Unfortunately they don't carry Panko breadcrumbs, kosher salt, or the one stew seasoning mix that my husband loves, so we order those from Amazon. These items take up a lot of space in my cupboard, but make life with him so much easier.

[j9drost]

Towels, bras and panties, and kitchen tools are my top three.

[Coupon Artist]

In my area, TJ Maxx has better home buys (clearance on pots, etc.) but Marshall's has better shoes. Steinmart also has a really nice home section (is Steinmart a store in many areas or local only?)

[kav122]

I do Marshall's for clothes that I wear to work (business casual), shoes and christmas presents for all of the men in my family.

[alaithea]

My two best buys have been wool, designer Italian sweaters for a fraction of their original price at Marshall's and Loehmann's. And since I have entirely too many sweaters already, I guess you could say that's what I stock up on.

[thebeckscr]

I love getting top quality sheets and pillows there! I also love getting bath and other cute things to make my home love more rich....I am also a big fan of the shoes but my "thinks I have enough"....wow is he wrong