Don't Buy That! 10 Purchases to Avoid During Sale Season

Things go in-and-out of style, but sometimes your personal style progression leaves certain items as part of your past. It's nothing to be ashamed of. The problem lies when you get nostalgic because something is cheap. That all-over-print hoodie or jeans with crap on the back pockets need to stay as memories of '06, not purchases on the low in 2013. Please, we know, "that's the homie," or you want to support the brand you grew up on. That's all and well, but these sentimental purchases prevent you from investing in your steezed-out future on some next shit.

Sure, if you've had that never-goes-on-sale jacket in your cart for eight months, why not take advantage of an extra 15 percent off? You just afforded yourself two fancy lunches this week. But wait, that save $10 off a $50 purchase coupon shouldn't be a reason to buy a bunch of stuff you never wanted (until 20 minutes ago). Better sales come, and 15 percent is chump change in the bargain shopper's world. Still, we don't recommend any impulse buys, but if they do happen it better be a great deal (or something actually awesome). Use these small sales to buy things you would have purchased anyways.

Outerwear is the one element of a wardrobe that is best kept simple (it's also expensive). Bright socks, shirts, or sneakers will always be cool—multi-colored jackets could be fresh for a couple months every few years, but they're not ideal if you're on a tight budget (even if they're on sale). You're better off to look out for a nice wool topcoat or technical parka—for a few dollars less—that you can rock throughout the years instead of a one-time statement piece.

Some (or most) of the best online boutiques aren't located in the US. This further complicates things for dudes who want to look fresh-dipped at all times. Although many of these sites hold huge sales on a frequent basis, you've got to watch for the conversion rate (and international shipping, amongst other things). What seems like a great deal on the surface, might actually cost you more than the item's retail value in the US. But, these sites also carry a lot of gear that can't be purchased in the US, so pick your battles.

Taste is subjective. One's man trash is another's holy grail. Don't get distracted, sale season is the time to rack up on all the stuff you think is dope to wear on a regular basis. While a lower price makes a bad purchase sting less, this isn't the time to solely take fashion risks. If you fill your closet up with a bunch of next-level jawnz that A$AP Rocky might have trouble styling, you didn't come up on deals, you downgraded your budding style. Hard-to-wear clothes are just that, but if they dropped over a year ago, and are still lying around, you might never pull them off. Just let the extra 90 percent off pass by, your closet will thank you.

Hold up, before click "buy," read the fine print. That item that you've been wavering about (for an additional 40 percent off), is final sale. That's right. No returns, exchanges, or chance of store credit. It's yours. If you've purchased a similar item before, or you're really sure that's what you want, go ahead and score that discounted bargain. However, if you try and submit an online return, it more than likely will get denied. Your dad doesn't wear extra-small paisley-print shirts, and your friends think menswear is lame (what a bunch of dicks), so you're stuck. Evaluate this, "ehhh it's ah-ight" purchase before you dish out your money.

A new line of button-up shirts dropped, and every street style guy ran out and snapped one up. They came in blue, black, and mustard yellow. You told all your friends the yellow was whack from the get-go, but now it's 60 percent off. Do you cop? This is like the time you hooked up with the "ugly" girl you used to clown. Remember how embarrassed you were? Instead of having a memory that is only brought up by handles of cheap vodka, this monstrosity of a shirt will live in the back of your closet until you decide to donate it to the local thrift.

Original price: $680, sale price: $240. Somebody call the sale police, that's absurd. But hold on a minute. If you had walked into the store, saw the same sweater sitting on the rack (collecting dust, once again) and the original retail price was $240, would you still insta-cop? If the answer is no, put it back. You're not saving any money, you're just spending it. Sales lure us all in, that's their job, but it's mostly to buy stuff that people weren't feeling from the jump. Think of sale prices as the regular price. You aren't saving $440, you are spending $240 on an item you don't need.

We all fluctuate between sizes, it's natural. However, if your shirt size is medium or large, and there is only a small left of the speckled chambray you've been eyeing, don't pull the trigger. Unless you plan on losing 25 pounds in the next six months (and shortening your arms by three inches), this is a poor purchase. The item will just collect dust in the back of your closet or make you look foolish, both bad outcomes. It's never cool to have a shirt you can only wear with the sleeves rolled up or top button undone. Instead, you can combine the money you saved on the four items you don't wear (because they don't fit), and buy something that's your size which you'll wear all the time.

No one wants to feel like they missed out. This mentality applies to sale-shopping. Sometimes it's hard to resist the big red "SALE" sign. You shouldn't feel like another sale will never appear again, they happen all the time. Take a look through the inventory, if you find something you've wanted for a while, buy it. But don't go into the store with the mentality, "I need to purchase something before I leave." There's a good chance you'll leave with the most mediocre graphic T-shirt or a handful of striped polo shirts. The truth is: you're not missing out on anything, really. Your wallet will feel fatter at the end of the month, and nothing feels better than financial stability (or not having to ask your folks for beer money).