By ERIN TURNER
Every now and then I spotlight specific stores where I score some great deals. This past week I was reminded of two stores which aren’t always on my “Deal Radar” but those stores are: Ross and TJ Maxx . In Missoula they are conveniently located very close to each other so really it is a “two for one” deal when you make that stop.
My #2 son has a fetish with Nike Elite socks. When I say, fetish I mean FETISH! Whenever I mention that he has enough of those high-priced socks, he says, “But mom it’s my collection!” Over a year ago we bought him his first pair but were very clear anything other than that was strictly coming out of his pocket. And that is exactly what has happened…he earns money from his farm work and he carefully saves for the next pair of pink, blue or neon yellow Nike socks.
Well, this week he broke his collarbone in football. Another sport mom mentioned to me that Ross had Nike Elite socks for $5.99 and that might make my injured player feel better. So, I headed down there later in the week. While I was disappointed that all the Nike Elite socks were sold out, I was delighted at many other super deals.
While they didn’t have the Nike Elite socks, they did have these super cute ‘Superman’ athletic socks. After all my son went through with his injury I figured he had earned ‘Superman’ status so for $2.99 I put a big smile on my superhero!
Ross also had a super selection of fall and Halloween decorations. I love using table runners in the kitchen and the dining room, but wow are they pricey little linens. So, I have a limited amount which I rotate around because at $15-30, I’m not interested in having one for every season. But Ross just opened up the world of table runners for me. I found a beautiful runner with pumpkins which would look perfect in our dining room for $3.99. I couldn’t believe my eyes at the price!
When I moved over to the cosmetics, I was impressed with many salon-quality hair care items. I bought 36oz. shampoo and conditioner for 50% off the retail price. Then I found a few bottles Axe cologne which my two older boys love to wear (I’ll refrain from my true feelings about these fragrances!). These bottles were $2.99…over half off the price of the discount stores. I was on a roll!
I stocked up on a pack of 6 scrubber wash clothes for $2.99 and a few dish towels for about the same price. These are always welcome in my kitchen but it kills me to pay a lot of money for items which get a beating in my kitchen and end up getting retired sooner than later. But at just a few dollars for a decent amount, I’m happy to stock up and use to my heart’s content.
Over at TJ Maxx , I found men’s jeans for $14.99. This price is $3-4 cheaper than what I can usually get a pair of jeans around town WITH coupons! I also scored some great clearance items…yes, I said clearance. If these stores’ prices weren’t already out of this world, then they go and have racks and racks of clearance items. I found a nice pair of long, cargo-style shorts for my oldest son for over 60% off the retail price and I picked up a really nice shirt for my youngest son for $5.50. Everyone ended up with a super deal from this unexpected frugal shopping trip!
I know these stores are popular around town but sometimes they slip my mind when I’m looking for good deals on clothing, households and holiday décor. The only drawback is their inventory changes continuously so if a friend tells you about something they got, you may miss it if you don’t get down there immediately. But I love these stores’ variety and quality…definitely better quality than Walmart or Target. So, I just wanted to give a shout out to these two terrifically frugal stores and also remind YOU to be sure to put Ross on TJ Maxx on your radar when you need a quality good deal!
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Erin’s got tons of tips for saving money, couponing, sticking to a budget, and living sustainably in her blog archive
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Erin Eisenman-Turner is proud to be a native Missoulian. Along with her husband and three sons, they raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and vegetables at Turner Family Farms in the Orchard Homes area. When the farm chores are done, the coupons clipped, and the blog written, you can find Erin exploring Montana, collecting antiques, and trying to maintain a well-run, happy, and organized home for her family.
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