The image above cracks me up and when I posted it on Instagram, you guys were equally amused and had expressed you've been there before.

We see the "sale" sign and our eyes automatically light up. Or maybe it's the allure of clothes and accessories that are marked half off. I mean, I get it. If it's on "sale," then that means we're getting a bargain, right? Wrong!

This is a fairly common tactic some retailers use to reel you in and make you think you're getting serious bang for your limited buck.

But there are easy ways for us savvy shoppers to ensure we're really getting a deal and not simply being pulled in by smoke and mirrors.