Bargain hunters have uncovered a clever trick for finding the best deals at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
The hack is being branded as the ‘J Rule’ and it all comes down to knowing when to shop.
This is because the best months to visit the stores are apparently the ‘J months’ of January and July, according to Apartment Therapy.
These are the times when both retailers run their biggest clearance events of the year.
In January, the stores clear out leftover holiday and winter stock.
And, in July, they mark down summer items to make room for fall products.
So, if you shop during these months, you are much more likely to find huge discounts, especially on yellow-tagged items, which are the final markdowns.
This latest hack feeds into a handy color code system that all shoppers should know before going into the big stores.
Bargain hunters have uncovered a clever trick for finding the best deals at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls (stock image)
According to an anonymous employee, even the most seasoned shoppers could be missing out on the best deals by being unaware of this detail.
While the colors of the stickered price tags may seem random, the employee previously told GOBankingRates, they in fact follow a very specific color code.
A stickerless white tag means the item still has its original non-sale price, so you may want to wait to see whether it goes down any further.
‘Red stickers mean the item is marked down but could keep getting lower,’ they said.
‘A yellow sticker means it’s hit the final, lowest price we’ll offer on that product.
‘If you ever see a red and yellow sticker on something, you’re getting the best possible savings,’ they added.
Shoppers should also look out for any damage to an item – however minor – which means they could ask for an additional discount.
This could be chipped dishware, scuffed furniture or an item of clothing with a small hole in it.
The hack is being branded as the ‘J Rule’ and it all comes down to knowing when to shop (stock image)
‘We’re authorized to give customers a nice percentage off at the register just for asking politely,’ they said.
‘We’d rather give you the extra discount than have those items collect dust forever.’
Weekday mornings are the best time to find bargains, they added.
‘Weekends are crazy busy, so we put out new stuff weekdays. And if you have to choose a time, hit us in the late mornings and early afternoons for the freshest deals.’
