Bargain Shopping in Boston

Boston is swimming with discount clothing stores and I honestly can't imagine ever paying full price for designer clothing, no matter how rich I may become. It's literally turned into a cheap thrill for me and the bigger the discount, the bigger the high. My nose has been sniffing out deals in Boston for the last two years, and so now I divulge to you the Diary of a Bargain Shopping Adversary:

Filene's Basement
You'll feel like a kid in a candy store, once you get over the initial shock of the sea of clothes, accessories, and shoes forged into the massive two-story, below-ground terrain.. I advise to set aside 1-2 hours to fully chart your way through the territory, and avoiding the weekends will drastically cut down on time spent waiting for the fitting room. What makes the basement a fun outing is the "automatic markdown" date. Every price tag reflects an already discounted price, but then there is the opportunity to save more based on the date marked on the back of the tag. This is the "automatic markdown" date. A sign hanging high above will show three different dates; if the date on the price tag is before the most recent one you save an extra 25%, if it's before the second one, you save an extra 50%, and before the third one is 75%. Items falling in this category are usually labeled accordingly with a yellow sign over the rack. This store is best when you don't have a clothing objective; go with an open mind, because you never know what you'll find.

My best item: a bright yellow, low plunge halter retailing at $115 that I purchased for $15.

H & M
This is the only store where I don't have to make a beeline to the sale rack. When you want something trendy or need something for a hot party that night, this is the place to go. The merchandise seems to change on a daily basis and colors are always in a wide range. Although quality is not the best, items still outlast the trend. This place understands the benefit of having the same shirt in a variety of colors and offering endless possibilities to create an impeccably coordinated outfit. Try to avoid the weekends, as the cash register line is even longer than the fitting room line. But what most people don't know is that fitting rooms are coed and there is always a shorter line near the men's section. H & M is also great for hats, gloves, and scarves when winter rolls around, and I apologize for bringing up winter so soon, but it's good to know.

My best item: a basic pink, cap-sleeved, scoop neck cotton tee that goes with everything for $5.90.

TJ Maxx
While this store requires a fair amount of sifting, their starting prices are always low and their sale prices are dirt cheap. This is a great store to go to when you need a pair of shoes to match that unconventionally colored bridesmaid dress, and you don't care what they look like as long as they are cheap. Their shoes are actually my favorite part of the store, and I find them to be the most discounted out of all of the stores. The Allston location is great for days when you feel like shopping, but can't bring yourself to deal with the Downtown Crossing or Prudential scene.

My best item: A ¾ length DKNY wool coat for $79 that retailed at $250.