The Way We Shop Now

Trina Reuben-Williams, 35, Danbury, Connecticut, Marketing Consultant

Where I look: "Until recently, I only shopped at high-end retailers online because I was too intimidated to walk into the stores. No matter where you make your purchases, the key is to shop during sales. With all the designers doing lower-priced lines, it's much harder to tell the difference between high and low end these days."

Impulse buys: "I regularly bring coupons on my shopping trips, but if I really love something, I just buy it. I'm not the type of person who thinks for weeks about whether to buy an item. Life is too short."

Where I put my money: "I try to follow a budget, which increased significantly this year when I got promoted. Half of my wardrobe comes from midtier stores like Ann Taylor and Macy's, 30 percent is from discount stores such as Marshall's, and 20 percent is from high-end places like Neiman Marcus or Saks. I'll splurge on a few key pieces like a suit, handbag, or shoes, yet I like to keep my purchases to less than $300 per item. What I consider serious money may be a drop in the bucket to someone else. I'm coveting a Missoni sweater and a Fendi bag right now but haven't crossed that price threshold yet. Maybe when I reach another major milestone…"