If you want to bag a bargain then head to the River Island sale

....but if you do then I think you'll have to be quick! Yesterday online and today in store, you can take an extra 50% off ALL the sale stock in River Island. And there are plenty of bargains to be had! I was really surpised by how much variety of stock was still left in store, and in a full range of sizes too.

I've only just got back from Brent Cross and can't be bothered to try everything on (again!) and take photos, so here is what I got laid out flat, to give you an idea of what's available:

Silky embellished vest. Was £34.99, sale price £10. Today price: £5Snake print boyfriend blazer. Was £54.99, sale price £10. Today price: £5
Frilly cut out Dress. Was £44.99, sale price £20, today price: £10
Butterfly pattern ankle socks. (They made me think of Alice in Wonderland!)Was £3.99, sale price £1.50. Today price: 75p
And this is my favourite piece of all, and the biggest bargain too. Buttery soft stud detail leather jacket. Was £160, sale price £75. Today price: £37.50.

There is alot more available instore than online, although if you go to Brent Cross you may find the staff are rude to you: my sister wanted to buy a pair of trousers (as well as hundreds of other things) and everything except them came up at half the lowest price. When asked why they weren't too (I suspect they just hadnt programmed the till properly) she was spoken to so rudely ("I wont be changing my views for you, little madam" were the exact words) that she left everything and walked out of the shop. I bet they're waiting on the edge of their seats for my angry letter!

Although I am guilty of impulse-buying things I don't really need (the snake blazer and ankle socks for example) I think it's important to use the sales to your advantage and only buy things that fill a gap in your wardrobe. I've been snapping up cute tops to wear with jeans, having invested in my first pair for years last month and have been looking for the perfect leather jacket for a while: I have a "pleather" one but it feels horrible, both to touch and against the skin. This one is soft as butter, flattering and fabulous: it was love at first sight!

And with that the shopping crew (my boyfriend, sister and I) shook hands and decided that I now have everything I need, and my shopping ban can begin. It's going to be really hard and I will have to lay down some proper rules and need lots of support but i'm determined to do it. (I make it sound like I have a drug addiction!) More on the shopping ban on Monday.

Love, Tor xx