I'm a TJ Maxx super fan – why you should always follow my 'three-week' rule (2024)

TJ MAXX stores are much-beloved for their low prices, but true fans know that even on the shop floor, there are secret tactics that can score you additional bargains.

One savvy shopper shared her insider knowledge of the store, including which departments simply aren't worth browsing.

Becky Guiles is better known online as The Freebie Lady, because she posts coupons and strategies to score free goods from shoppers' favorite stores.

TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods are three of the top retailers on her list, and Guiles shared her best strategies for shopping there in a YouTube video.

Her most important tip was a reminder that when you enter TJ Maxx, time is of the essence. You need to follow her "three-week rule" or risk missing out on bargains.

"The goal of each store is to only have that particular item on hand for only three weeks," Guiles divulged.

"If you see something, and it's a good price, make sure you scoop it up," because it will be taken off shelves if it's not purchased in the designated time frame.

But just because items are on the shelves for a short time doesn't mean they're fresh from the manufacturers – in fact, the opposite is true, especially in the beauty department.

"You are going to be so surprised at how many of those items have expired or are past their 'best if used by' date," Guiles said.

Because beauty and skincare products on the shelves at TJ Maxx are more likely to have passed their expiration dates, Guiles uses a website to check those dates in-store.

Guiles goes to CosmeticCheck.net and inputs the cosmetic's batch number, which can usually be found on the exterior packaging, to see if the items are expired.

While your phone is out, you can also use the Amazon or Google app to make sure you're getting the best price in TJ Maxx stores.

"I like to always use my Amazon price checker on my Amazon app," Guiles shared, demonstrating how to scan the item's barcode for a price check.

She also said you can open the Google app and perform an image search for an item to find it online, and see where else it might be available.

When you're not quite satisfied with the price TJ Maxx is offering, you can try and make a deal in certain situations.

"If it's on the rack with a regular price, and it doesn't say 'as is,' they have the power to change the price," Guiles revealed.

Ask an associate at the checkout or customer service desk if a price reduction is possible – in some cases, the staff will be willing and able to extend additional discounts.

Even though many people fill their wardrobes with TJ Maxx finds, the best deals are actually in a different part of the store.

"The clothes and accessories are not the best-priced items," Guiles revealed. "The pet items are incredibly priced."

She said that pet items are consistently less expensive at TJ Maxx than at other retailers, and said that she bought a $9 dog bed at TJ Maxx that was on sale at a nearby pet store for $50.

On the other hand, one department isn't worth your time or money: bath towels and washcloths are sometimes actually more expensive than traditional retailers.

"I highly recommend you stay away from them," Guiles said.

After you get home and unload your purchases, you can also hop online to the TJ Maxx and Marshalls websites for more shopping.

While you're there, get on the email list so you can find out when upcoming seasonal sales are hitting your store.

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"Make sure you sign up for their emails to get alerts of when these huge, massive sales are happening," Guiles said.

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She added that the twice-annual mega-sales at TJ Maxx are "by far the best sales of the year," and you'll want to arrive early –so sign up for email alerts and get the best deals before anyone else.