11 Money-Etiquette Issues, Solved

Answering Questions About Bargains

Problem: A friend asks, "Where did you get that adorable top? I love it!" You don't want to reveal that it's from an inexpensive chain store, so what do you say?

Solution: There's no shame in finding steals at bargain stores, but you don't have to be entirely forthcoming about how much you spent or where you bought the top, says Clinton Kelly, a host on the Learning Channel's What Not to Wear. A simple retort like "Oh, this old thing? I can't remember" usually suffices. If the top is obviously on the new side, try something like "I did so much shopping that day, I don't recall," suggests Kelly. Keep in mind that your fashion fan is probably not trying to figure out how much you paid. "Comments like this usually mean 'You look fabulous! How can I look that great?'" says Kelly. "Take it as a compliment." Probably the best thing to do, says Kelly, is to "throw out a suggestion and say, 'I bought this one in a little boutique in Chicago, but I think I saw some tops like it at Bloomingdale's or Macy's last week.'"