MAIN Home Life Shopping Women's Clothing

How to save a bundle of money on women's clothing? It's all about ... strategy.

Especially when you're balancing a budget, it's good to know to where to find discount sales coupons, WHAT stores to shop, and WHEN to buy.

Along with the usual go-to's such as Amazon and Target, keep an eye out everywhere for holiday weekend and end-of-season sales. That's when all department stores offer drastic reductions, for example, on summer fashions to make room for the latest fall lines.

When to buy women's clothing month-by-month

Meanwhile, throughout the year, seasonal shopping is the way to go. From January to December, retail stores are constantly changing up inventory to make room for the next season's fashions. And knowing when that happens can save you big.

The first month of the year is not only famous for January white sales, but for clearances on coats, sweaters and other winter gear that didn't move during the holiday rush. And if wedding bells are in your future, remember that January also features the lowest prices of the year on bridal gowns and bride's maid dresses.

Throughout February and March, continue to look for end-of-season sales on winter clothing priced to move to make way for spring, usually centering around the President's Day sales weekend. Also head to the sporting goods department and find great bargains on ski hats, gloves and other winter sports gear.

Stylish raincoats? Try stormy April, when stores stock up on rain-gear -- usually priced low enough to get them off the shelves by May! And speaking of spring months, now is the best time of year to check out local consignment stores for mountains of new clothing donated during spring cleaning binges.

In early summer, when neighborhood gyms are at their least populated, you can get great buys on sports bras, running wear, shoes and other summer fitness gear. And if you can wait until July to buy that new bathing suit, by all means check out 4th of July sales for the best prices of the year on swim-wear.

As always, the longer you wait to buy summer clothes, the deeper the discounts get. By the end of August, stores will be desperately trying to clear the shelves for fall during annual Labor Day sales.

In fall, October is the month to look for sales on jeans and sneakers when retailers are stuck with an overstock following back-to-school sales. And then comes the event of the year -- when November Black Friday sales mean store-wide savings -- up to and including luxury brands by top designers. (And while everyone else is fighting over the last flat-screen TV, you can be stealing away that cashmere scarf you've had your eye on all year.)

Of course, December is all about Christmas sales when patience is a virtue. In short, the longer you wait before December 25, the steeper the prices drop. Once it's all over, remember the deep discounts to be had during after Christmas sales including Christmas wrap and decorations and those holiday scarf/gloves gift sets, with prices slashed up to 90%. If you room to store it all, you'll be way ahead of the game same time next year.

Women's clothing on clearance now at major department stores

At any time of year, also check on women's clothing clearance sales that, with luck, will score you that perfect outfit at drastic savings.