14 ways to get sendy not spendy
Want quality gear without breaking the bank? Here are 14 ways to shop scrappy and score epic deals (it’s a long one but tons of good info hidden in here!):
Shop Used:
Patagonia Worn Wear
Shop gently used Patagonia from the comfort of your home. They make it super simple to browse tons of high quality, gently used Patagonia items at unbeatable prices. Pros: the items have been reviewed and priced according to their current quality. Cons: you have to pay shipping and may not be the cheapest option.
REI Used Gear
Similar to Worn Wear, REI now offers their own used section! Score amazing deals on gently used gear that has been reviewed by REI experts. I love seeing this trend grow as clothing makes up just over 7% of all landfill waste. Keep in mind the used gear is technically a different website so you won’t be able to sync your normal REI account with this one.
Gear Swaps
Periodically retailers such as REI and Backcountry will host regional gear swaps. To stay in the loop, I’ve found it easiest to follow and subscribe to various retailers in your area. Swaps are also a great opportunity to clear out your old gear to make room for the new. Be sure to mask up if attending an in-person swap.
Poshmark
This platform is great for shopping closets across the U.S. You also have the ability to negotiate which adds to the fun and excitement of scoring a used gear deal. Although this app has primarily been focused on clothing in the past, more recently I’ve noticed more home goods and outdoor gear available.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace makes it super easy to list and browse used gear close to home. I like that I can usually pick up the item the same day and helps build a sense of community with your neighbors. There’s also a low carbon footprint associated with it as there’s very little transportation involved in moving the goods. Additionally, the deals tend to be pretty good as there’s no middle man to take a cut of the sale.
Regional Facebook Groups
Very similar to Facebook Marketplace, you can also look for regional Facebook Groups that support gear swaps. In my region I utilize the Roaring Fork Swap and Roaring Fork Housing and Advice. I love the “virtual garage sale” aspect to it as I feel like I have to browse daily to not miss anything!
Babecountry Facebook Groups
Sick of toxic strangers berating you online? Us too. Join one of our regional Babecountry Facebook Pages to share local adventure tips, swap gear, and talk all things Babecountry. Specific to like-minded ladies, you can post easy knowing you won’t get verbally attacked and conduct safe in-person swaps. Don’t see a group for your area? DM me and I’ll get one started! Feel free to invite your friends to help grow the movement.
Craigslist
I tend to use Craigslist as a last resort since it can be a bit sketchy. Never give out personal information until you have vetted the person you are coordinating with, and assume everything is a scram until proven otherwise. That being said, I’ve had really good luck finding roommates and most recently a ski rack through Craigslist!
Shop New:
Camel Camel Camel
I only recently learned about this website but it’s a game changer. Camel Camel Camel essentially tracks the price history of all Amazon items and notifies you when the items you are interested in hit a certain threshold. Accounts are free to make but it does require some patience as you wait for items to dip in price.
Honey Chrome Extension
If you use Google Chrome, this extension is a no brainer. Honey takes the guess work out by automatically finding and testing coupon codes for you during checkout. I’ve been pleasantly surprised more than a few times when Honey is able to find a coupon I wasn’t aware of to score me the best price. Honey is free to use and even let’s you earn “Honey Gold” which can later be redeemed for gift cards.
Rewards Programs
Always always always ask if there is a rewards program! Typically they are free to join and don’t expire so there’s no reason not to join. My favorite is the REI membership - not a rewards program per se, but it costs just $20 for a lifetime membership which is easily offset by their annual 10% dividend on qualifying purchases throughout the year. Makes me feel like I’m getting paid to shop and I love supporting a company committed to protecting the environment.
Outlet Sites
REI Outlet and Steep & Cheap (by Backcountry) are two of my favorites. Awesome places to score deals while purchasing from reputable retailers.
Shop Outside the Box:
Price Adjustments and Matching
The expensive jacket you just bought is now on sale? No buyers remorse here. Most (but not all) retailers will honor the sale price of items purchased within a set timeframe. I was able to take advantage of this over Black Friday. I pulled the trigger on a pair of snow pants only to see them on sale a week later. The worst! I emailed REI and without hassle they refunded me the difference in price. I was able to #optoutside with my family instead of shopping on Black Friday, AND I was still able to score the Black Friday price - a win-win if you ask me!
Mens and Child Sizes
This is my favorite tip when it comes to shopping! Why limit yourself to just the women’s section? You can score major deals by extending your search to mens and even children’s departments. I ended up buying a Roxy wetsuit in a girls XL since the sleeves and legs were way too long on the womens and was 1/3 the price! I’ve also been known to raid the mens section at Target to scoop up cozy sweatshirts. Note: this doesn’t work for everything as some items are women’s specific for a reason! For example, insulated jackets will usually be padded differently to focus on the coldest parts of women bodies, which differs from men.
What did I miss? What’s your favorite way to score epic deals?
