I’ve always had issues with the word save whose dictionary definition includes “To spend less by (save 25 percent).” You see, I’ve always thought that advertisers were just being clever when they tell you that you can “save big money” by buying their products. In fact, “you can’t save money at a sale” is one of my go-to soundbites. Thankfully, a recent article in Self magazine taught me how you actually can save money at a sale. From the November issue:

Make your virtual savings real
If you buy a $100 jacket on sale at 50 percent off and pay $50, have you saved $50? Of course not. (But you already knew that, didn’t you?) Yet many people succumb to the notion that “a bargain ain’t a bargain unless you buy it,” as if the savings from a discount were as tangible as money spent, says Peter Tufano, Ph.D., professor of financial management at Harvard Business School in Boston. To make your savings concrete, jot down the amount of the discount—$25 off your new Flip cam, for instance—then transfer that money directly into your savings account. This time, you’ve truly saved $25.

I wish I had thought of that! (Actually, that is how I feel every time I read the work of MP Dunleavey.)

I read a lot of magazine articles about money saving tips, but this tip stood out for a number of reasons:

-You’ll think before you buy. It seems as though things look better when they’re on sale. A dress you would never consider for $100 might look very attractive at $30. (70% off seems to be my breaking point—I lose all perspective!) With this new savings strategy, you are still committing to $100, so you’re likely to view things more realistically.

-You’re rewarded twice. Getting a great deal on something you love can be rewarding, but the comfort of knowing that you have something set aside for emergencies is valuable too. By stashing your savings, you’ll get the best of both worlds.

-The New Year will be off to a great start. There is a sale for every occasion and the upcoming holiday season is no exception. By making your virtual savings real, shoppers won’t be able to help saving. If you have trouble sticking to your stashing, try imagining how great it will be to start the New Year with savings instead of debt.

Speaking of debt, I should mention that this savings strategy only works if you’ve got the money to spend and save. As a general rule, charges should not be put on a credit card unless the balance can be paid in full when the monthly statement comes in. Remember, financing purchases—even if they’re on sale—is rarely a bargain.

I am a sucker for store closing sales. I love to rush in during the final hours and snag some last-minute deals. The only problem is that the adrenaline and time crunch weaken my decision making skills. Take my most recent purchase—one half of a leather sectional. You heard me: I bought ½ of a couch.

In my defense, this portion of a couch was marked down from $1,200 to $400–what a bargain! Even though I knew I couldn’t return the couch, I bought it convinced that I could find the other half in a store somewhere and reunite the two saving myself hundreds of dollars in the process. As you can see, this hasn’t happened quite yet and I am starting to think that my effort to save money actually cost me $400 plus whatever it will cost me to get rid of this unsightly thing (I’m referring to the couch, not the dog).

Have you ever wasted money in an attempt to save it? (I am not referring to the current state of your 401k!) If so, I’d love to hear about it. After all, misery loves company.

Soon, we are going to shovel our way out of here and head for the beach. In preparation, I bought my son a few new pairs of shorts. The shorts I found were great—they look good, the quality is decent enough, and they fit him well (yea for slims!) The best part is that they were marked down to $2.99.

At first, I though there were some numbers missing, but the salesperson confirmed that they were in fact selling shorts for under $3 a pair. I realize that shorts are out of season where I live, but really, $3?! It’s not that I am complaining, but I can’t help but wonder if they can even make shorts that that little money. When I go to the fabric store (which I admit is close to never), it seems like decent fabric doesn’t get much cheaper than $7 a yard.

Even if you factor in the fact that they buy materials in bulk, they still had to pay someone to design the shorts, someone to make the shorts, someone to ship the shorts, and someone to sell the shorts. Then there are the costs of the tags and the hangers (which they threw in as part of the deal). Those shorts should also pay their fair share of the store’s facility costs and advertising expenses (along with a bunch of other costs I am probably forgetting).

So, why don’t they just send the shorts to Florida or Arizona and sell them for full price? Or put them in a box and get them out for next year? Or sell them online?

Are they just trying to cut their losses or are shorts really so cheap to make that they are still making money at $2.99 a pair?