By Michelle Carr, of Kathea Boutique - Crediton.

LOVE them or hate them the 'sales' offer us the chance to pick up a bargain – or do they?

Shopping during the sales can be a great time for picking up quality investment pieces which can form the backbone of your wardrobe, but before you part with your hard earned cash, ask yourself the following seven questions:

1. Will I really wear it?

2. How often will I wear it?

3. Does it fit properly?

4. What else will it go with in my wardrobe?

5. Would I have considered buying it at full price?

6. Is it good quality?

7. Is there a reason why this item is in the sale and it hasn't been bought?

Before setting off for the sales, it is also a good idea to plan your shopping trip. Personally, I like to go with a list of items to buy and a list of shops to buy from. I check my wardrobe to see what items need replacing or updating. This has come about after years of making too many expensive sale mistakes!

If there is something I've bought at full price which has become a favorite, I use the 'sale' as an opportunity to see if they have the same outfit in a second colour at a discounted price. If it's a pair of jeans which fit well I buy a second pair as it's always hard to find that perfect fit when it comes to jeans.

So, some good investment pieces would be: winter boots, cashmere knitwear, white shirt/t-shirts, black trousers, coat, little black dress, underwear, jeans and handbags.

If you have a 'special occasion' coming up, the sales are often a good time to look out for that outfit to wear to a wedding or event. Often you can buy something quite special at the equivalent of high street prices. Don't be afraid to take a look in shops you would normally think of as being too expensive. Even designers have sales!

Remember that the returns policy quite often changes during sale time. Always try the item on as you may only have seven days in which to return it. Unless the item is faulty some stores, especially smaller ones, offer a non-returnable policy on sale purchases.

The most common mistake people make when sale shopping is to get carried away with the amount of discount. If you really can't say yes to nearly all the first seven questions in this column – then put it back.

A bargain isn't a bargain if you will never wear it.