It is a truth universally acknowledged that every shopper is out for a bargain. A regular purchase might be fun, bring temporary pleasure and give fleeting meaning to the lives of both the shopper and the cashier. A bargain, on the other hand, is an achievement, the result of a lifetime of sizing up sales; it’s legal stealing and, whether you actually want the item or not, is the Holy Grail of shoppers the world over. Problem is, searching for a bargain can be a full time job, meaning that if you actually have a job, you are at a distinct disadvantage. We check out some basic rules of bargain hunting to keep you ahead of the pack:

Plan your time
Aimless wandering is not going to get you into the sale of the century. The malls, even in Doha, are pretty big, and you’ll need determination, not to mention stamina, to get you from one end to the other in record time and before anyone else. Once you know the mall, plan where you are going to head before you enter, making sure to bag a parking spot near the entrance, so you won’t have to drag your purchases too far to the car.

Head to the back of the store
Anyone who knows anything knows that window shopping is for novices. If there was anything worth buying in the window, chances are it was purchased the day the window dresser hung it. When you enter a store, head straight to the back. It’s here that you’ll find a treasure trove of trinkets on sale. Know what you’re looking forIt sounds obvious, but most people who sidle into malls haven’t a clue what they’re after. It is the same people who live to regret what they have bought. Be specific in your mind about what you want. Obviously, you might stumble upon something that it would be criminal to leave behind, but if you have some sort of strategy, you’ll streamline your shopping.

Haggle
The Arab world invented haggling, but today so few people put it to good use. Sure, you are probably not going to get anywhere in Louis Vuitton, but head to some of the independent stores and try your luck. If you see a price, slash it in half and start from there. Remember, there is a recession and retailers have been hit hard. Smell their desperation and hammer their prices down.

Empty out your car
There’s nothing worse than buying so much you can’t cart it all home. When you head to a sale, make sure you have cleared out your car beforehand. Sure, the dress might not look like it would take up too much room, but when you combine it with the three hats you bought, and the 10 pairs of shoes, suddenly you’re driving home with a bulging boot and a backseat full to the brim.

Keep ahead of the sales
Unlike other parts of the world, sales in Doha and sporadic and frequently under-publicised. Time Out has decided to take action, and from this issue endeavours to keep you up-to-date with every sale on across the country, so you can cram your car full before the crowds hit.