I said I wasn’t going to, but I caved and bought a flannel shirt.  I don’t feel quite so bad, though.  It’s warm, comfy, and I found it at Target for only $15.

Come to think of it, it kind of reminds me of my Snuggie…

Last fall, it was a white wool jacket.  This time around, it was a light beige tote bag.  Whether it’s clothing, accessories, or shoes, I gravitate towards most impractical, dirt-loving duds.  Rather than resist, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s nearly impossible to say no when my item-to-be is selling for less than 50 of its original price.

Case in point: this buttery leather Coach bag.  Regularly $379, I left the Woodburn outlets only $144 in the red. Practical?  Hardly. But it reminds me why I started bargain hunting in the first place. Clearance sales allow me to splurge on fun, impractical goodies. Items that I may have shied away from at first glance, but that have come to define my personal sense of style.

It’s been eons since I last blogged, but there’s only so much shopping an unemployed girl can do–bargain hunting included.  A couple months into my new job, and with all my credit cards paid off, it looks like it’s time to start blogging again.  One of my first purchases was a pair of leopard print flats from Aerosoles. They’re the ultimate day to night shoe, plus, with a thick rubber sole, I don’t have to worry about slipping and breaking an ankle during a torrential fall downpour.  The shoes retail for $69, but Aerosoles frequently runs promotions, so I scored my pair for $55.

Right now, one of my favorite looks is a leather jacket layered over a soft, floral sundress. At $45, this faux leather motorcycle jacket from Nordstrom is a great pick that will last throughout the fall. Just be sure to get your hands on one before their anniversary sale ends, or you’ll be stuck paying regular price.

It always surprises me when I find a beautiful, delicious-smelling candle—and then I look at the price tag and it’s something outrageous like $49. I recently bought a soy based candle from Glade’s The Fragrance Collection, and was very pleasantly surprised. A nice consumer-friendly substitute to pricey designer candles. They’re available online from Drugstore.com for $9.99, but I would keep my eyes peeled for coupons and buy one from a retailer like Target, Walmart or Walgreens.

Call me Mary Poppins, but I love big bags. Extra-extra-extra-extra large bags. This weekender tote from Ellington Leather is super sized at H 28″ / W 23″ / D 8″, but it’s on sale for $39.50. Plus, the straps unsnap in front so you can slip in your yoga mat. Talk about value for your square inch.

I don’t usually spent much time on Etsy. Probably because I know that if I did, I’d wake up two days later with a zero balance on my check card. That said, I couldn’t help but notice the adorable handmade tops and dresses in erinleighheart’s Etsy shop. Blame it on the ruffles! Everything in the shop is just too darn cute.

From left: White Halter Sundress, $56; Lemon Yellow Ruffle Bib Front Tunic, $64; Goddess Navy Blue Jersey Knit One Shoulder Ruffle Empire Waist, $49

Nothing screams summer like a pair of white jeans. This year, I’ve been on the lookout for a pair that’s slim-fitting, but not super tight, so these jeans from the Gap look very promising ($59.50). If you’ve ever owned a pair of white jeans, you know how difficult it can be to find the perfect pair, but once you find them, you have an item that’s sure to brighten your entire summer wardrobe.

Bonus: If the pants get stained beyond repair after a few too many drunken nights on the beach, use scissors to snip the pants into knee grazing shorts. Send them through the wash a few times to roughen up the hemline, and voila—effortlessly chic shorts.

Walking through the mall last week, I noticed that Betsey Johnson’s windows were lined with racks of 80s-style pouffy party dresses. What fun, I thought to myself.  And then, not even two minutes later, I found a selection of similar dresses at Forever 21.  The Betsey Johnson frock is $435, the one from Forever 21 is $24.80.  I’m sure you can guess which one I’ll be buying.

My boyfriend moved into a new appartment recently, so the fine art of apartment decorating has been on my mind a lot lately. As usual, I’m reminded of how much I can’t wait to move into my own place again (I’m one of those return-to-home-after-college casualties), but such is life when you’d rather crash at your parent’s house than default on your student loans. At least my room is an 8′ x 12′ place of solace. The best place in the whole room? My vanity!

Ladies: do not underestimate the power of a vanity in transforming a room from a space into a santuary. I think a huge part of why I love my vanity so much is that the entire project cost less than 100 dollars. I took the desk I used to use when I was in high school and covered the top of it with Martha Stewart craft paper ($4). I added a mirror from Fred Meyer ($20), a magnifying mirror from Ikea ($10), and then gave the vanity a shabby chic look with knobs and a stool from Target ($10, $37).  Craigslist, Goodwill, flea markets and garage sales are also great places to find one-of-a-kind accessories for a vanity.