Let's face facts, we all aren’t born rich. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy designer clothes or items; quite the contrary, as a matter of fact. Thanks to some crafty discount shopping, you can double or triple your dollar's buying capabilities. It is not only a fun activity but also a rewarding one that can benefit you and your friends. You just need to know where to look and where to start.

Discount shopping is a way of life for some people. They get everything they own due to great deals on lots of different items. It takes a steady routine of bargain hunting that will eventually bring you face to face with a great deal. Discount shopping is a lot of hard work, but the great bargains you can find provide reason enough for the effort. Here are a few ways you can get started today:

• Let’s not kid ourselves here. Nearly everyone goes discount shopping, with most of them only settling on buying items if they cost wholesale or less. If one of your friends tells you they are running to a discount store, I can guarantee you they are discount shopping.

If you plan on going discount shopping, then you better dress for a long day walking around and on your feet. That’s why it is so important to wear comfortable clothes. Don’t be afraid of getting them dirty either since serious discount shopping may mean searching through piles of merchandise to find the best deal. You may even find yourself dirtying your behind sitting on the floor if some of the racks are located at knee height.

• I cannot stress this point enough but you need to leave your kids at home. Discount shopping means searching through racks of clothing for a designer original and it requires concentration and stamina, both of which you won’t have with your kids running around. Plus, most of these discount stores are not really an environment best suited for children.

• There will come a time when you will need to fight the urge to argue or confront in any way someone else over an item you both want. The last thing you want to do is have a physical altercation due to aggressive shopping, no matter how much of a bargain it is. Keep your dignity and walk away before any problems occur. Do you really want to be that person on the news because you got in a physical fight over a sale item?

• One well known secret is to use coupons and multiple discounts as much as possible. The goal of a successful discount shopping trip is frugality. Who cares if you look cheap? You’re there on a mission. Be sure to read over your receipt before leaving the store and confirm you received all of the discounts you were supposed to. Never get intimidated by any sales associates or personnel are you are skimming through the sales racks.

• Don’t go into this with any expectations of personal customer service. As a matter of fact, most discount stores offer little to no customer service but plenty of long waiting lines at the check out counter. Stay calm and relaxed.