So far, so exciting. What was I going to order? If you’ve never used this site before, they offer short term sales of different branded goods that are often reduced by 20 to 70% from the normal RRP. In any given week they might offer boutique sales of designer clothes, beauty products, jewellery, shoes, gifts, electricals and homewares. I’m a big fan.

Now, value for money is a subjective concept. One person’s must-have bargain is another person’s surplus requirement, after all. I decided to make purchases that I knew I’d use a lot, or that would help me make more use of other things in my wardrobe. Here are my personal purchases, and the reasoning behind them.

1. A pair of Enzja Nucci boots, reduced to £19.00. Some comfy everyday boots to wear with jeans or day dresses, to replace a similar pair that I’ve worn to death.

2. A pair of Divine Factory ankle boots, reduced to £19.00. They’re the perfect heel height to go with longer trousers for smart meetings during the colder weather, and foxy enough to wear with any dress or skinny jeans.

3. A J’aime ce Look fitted jacket, reduced to £15.00. A stretchy jersey jacket that will smarten up scruffy outfits, and give a more urban edge to girly dresses.

4. A J’aime ce Look cropped jacket, reduced to £15.00. I’m going to use this to make spring and autumn clothes that little bit warmer, so I can wear more of the other things in my wardrobe. It also comes with a black rosette brooch so you can wear it folded open or pinned closed.

5. A J’aime ce Look slimline coat, reduced to £25.00. I love this coat. It replaces another much-loved warm coat that had a bit of an accident. So technically I need this coat, as well as loving it.

6. Three vintage billboard mugs from Rex International, reduced to £2.00 each. I drink a lot of tea while I’m working so these will be put to good use. They also make me laugh in an Alice In Wonderland meets Monty Python sort of way.

Now the eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted that I only managed to spend £99. It’s just the way it worked out – better to underspend than to overspend at the end of January though. I could have easily gone completely over-budget, there were so many goodies to choose from.

Competition: If you’d like to win yourself a £50 shopping spree at BrandAlley (where your £50 could go an extremely long way), all you have to do is answer the following question by leaving your answer in the comments box below. I spent £99 on things I really wanted, but how much did I save on the total RRP of these goods? Give your estimated answers to the nearest whole £, and the winner will be chosen on the 18th of February.

Terms and conditions: One entry per household please, multiple entries will be disqualified. No cash alternative. UK entrants only. Your email address will not be used by this site or passed on to any third parties, only the winner’s email will be used to contact them.

The clothing will include heavily-reduced excess stock from current and past seasons, and a few one-off sample designs. You can expect discounts of up to 90% off the recommended retail prices, with pieces starting from as little as £5. The labels confirmed so far include Moschino, DKNY, Cavalli, Belstaff, Dolce and Gabbana, Bolangaro Trevor and Yohji Yamamoto, so there’s something for everyone there, from couture to quirky designs and streetwear.

If you’ve never been to a sample sale before, get down there early before someone else grabs the best bargains, don’t bring along bulky coats or big bags if you can help it, and take some cash if you want to avoid credit card charges. Oh, and the changing rooms are makeshift and communal, so make sure there are no holes in those boxer shorts, gents!

This menswear sale is being held at Shop 14, F Block, The Old Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR, and the nearest tube and rail stations are Aldgate East, Shoreditch, and Liverpool Street. Admission costs £1. Open to the public: Friday 5th March, 12 noon – 8pm; Saturday 6th March, 12 noon – 7pm; and Sunday 7th March, 12.00 – 6pm. 

The Secret sample Sale will also be holding a combined sale of womenswear and menswear in the second week of April, so check back with their website next month to find out more about the times, labels and location.

For more information, visit www.secretsamplesale.co.uk or telephone: 020 7247 3959.

This article by Penny Golightly originally appeared on the lastminute.com blog.

If you go to a sample sale you can expect to find new or old retail stock such as fashion or homewares, and some ex-display or sample clothing. Womenswear tends to be in sample sizes, generally UK size 8 to 12, but you can often find larger sizes if certain labels are being stocked, particularly Ghost. Sizes aside, there are also some superb deals to be had on accessories such as designer shoes, bags, scarves, sunglasses, belts, hats and jewellery.

Rule 1: Be on the list
Get yourself onto mailing lists for sale tip-offs, and sign up for free membership with as many of the big sample sales retailers as you can. These companies will feature frequently on this site, so check the Hurry, hurry, hurry and Clothes and accessories forums regularly for details. You can also find mentions of them on fashion and design websites, and in the local press. If you have membership, you’re likely to be invited to members-only pre-sales events where you can snap up the best bargains and one-offs before the rest of the crowd pours in. Some companies will ask you to pay for membership, but I’d suggest trying out one of their standard sale days first to see whether they’re stocking the kind of merchandise you’re interested in before parting with any cash.

Rule 2: Have an agenda
Make a list of things you need and set a rough budget. If possible, allow some funds for one or two non-essential purchases as well – it’s good to be slightly flexible in case something special turns up unexpectedly. As a rough rule of thumb, you’ll get the best value out of everyday items rather than special occasion wear, so skew your shopping in that direction if you’re on a tight budget. Look ahead to see what’s going to be in fashion next season and invest in pieces that might have more longevity.

Rule 3: Battle dress
Clothing sample sales tend to have either one massive semi-open changing room, or no changing room at all, so be prepared. I turn up dressed in something that allows me to try other clothes on over the top of it, usually a vest top with built-in bra and opaque shorts-style pants, and shoes I can easily slip off. If I’m shopping for dresses or skirts then I wear lightweight trousers, and if I’m shopping for trousers I start with a lightweight skirt. I never wear anything expensive in case it gets stolen while I’m changing, and I leave bulky bags, coats and jackets at home.

Rule 4: Bring a friend
It really helps to have someone with you so that you can look after each other’s bargains and belongings while you’re trying things on. If possible, pick someone who’s a different size in clothes and shoes and who has different taste from you, then there will be no arguing over the same merchandise.

Rule 5: Expect the worst
Although I’m sure that your behaviour will be most charming and impeccable, please watch out. Not to put too fine a point on it, you get some right bitches at these events. These idiots might push you aside to get to a rail of clothing, try to snatch items from your hands or sneak them out of your trying-on pile when you’re not looking, or tell you something really doesn’t suit your body shape and colouring, dahling, so they can run off with it themselves. Beware of shoplifters too. Take no rubbish from these types.

Rule 6: Arrive early
Get to the pre-sale, or be there on the first day when the doors open. I know that many sample sales organisers say that they replenish their stock daily, but I’m not sure I believe it’s always the best stock. If you can, avoid bringing large shopping bags and prams as you’re not likely to be allowed in with them.

Rule 7: Grab first, ask questions later
Don’t have a general wander around the room first – do a sweep of the whole place and pick up anything and everything that looks likely the second you see it. Chances are, it’ll be gone if you go back for it two minutes later. If you’re only interested in one designer then make a beeline for that rail first, then look around the rest of the sale afterwards if you have time.

Rule 8: Trying on is vital
If at all possible, don’t buy anything without trying it on first. Some garments end up in sample sales because they’re overstocked, but others end up in sample sales because they’re badly designed, badly cut, or plain old damaged or otherwise faulty. Check carefully for snags, rips, wear and tear, stains, dodgy seams and zips and so on, as returns are not easy to obtain after a one-off sale. If you end up with a ‘yes’ pile that’s far more than you can afford, go back to your shopping list and pick one thing you just love to bits, plus the items you think you’ll truly get the most use out of. Try not to buy for a fantasy life you don’t have: leave the salopettes where they are unless you’re a regular skiier, and don’t buy clothes to ‘slim into later’.

Rule 9: Getting the perfect fit
Stand up, walk and sit in the garment if possible – it should fit and flatter at all times. If you’re saving over £100 on an item of clothing, it can be worth spending, say, £12 or so to get it tailored afterwards to get the exact fit you want. Having said that, it should be a pretty good fit in the first place, otherwise extensive alterations can more than wipe out the savings. If something’s too small then it’s usually going to stay too small, unless there’s loads of fabric in the seams that can be let out.

Rule 10: Pay with cash or card
Many places refuse to take cheques, and some make a small charge for using a credit card. If you’re spending over £50 then a credit card gives you more protection than cash if there’s a dispute later, so weigh up whether it’s worth stumping up the fee.

That’s my ten points’ worth – do you have any sample sale tips of your own?