Lately, I’ve been seeing signs.

No, I don’t mean crop circles or the Virgin Mary on a piece of stale toast – it’s much better than all that, unless, of course, blessed anadama is your idea of a good time.

I’m talking about those giant red posters that scream, “Clearance” from every plate-glass window. Those “75 percent off” placards by the side of the road. Those glorious orange price tags with the ridiculously low prices.

Yes, folks, it’s bargain time. The end of each season is an especially wondrous period in a shopper’s life. It’s a time when that overpriced sweater you coveted is suddenly affordable, even cheap. When retailers say, “Out with the old, in with the new.” When you can buy a shirt for $2.

If you’re in the market for clothing, I’ve seen some of the best deals at Filene’s, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Burlington Coat Factory, where I had a hard time resisting a $3 Chinoiserie-print top and a timeless necklace and earring set for $6.

It’s not just the big stores, either. Bargains abound at small local boutiques. Check out the winter sale at Terra Cotta in Ellsworth. Shop and save (50 percent, to be exact) at The Pretty Woman in Orono. Hop over to any of the Grasshopper Shops and find deep discounts of 50 percent or more on cold-weather merchandise. Earth Bound in Camden and Waterville also has great clearance prices.

But those are wants. If you have needs, this is a great time to meet them inexpensively. With clearance sales, you can get twice, even three times as much bang for your buck.

This is the right time to stock up on usually pricey boots – the styles don’t change drastically from year to year, and you can get well-made, upscale footwear for a fraction of its regular price. Bargains abound at Filenes, T.J.s and Marshalls, and The Grasshopper Shop and Shoegazer in Ellworth also have fabulous deals.

Now’s the time to buy a parka or ski coat – it’s not uncommon to find Columbia and The North Face for well under $100 – check out Reny’s and Cadillac Mountain Sports in Ellsworth or The Ski Rack and Epic Sports in Bangor. Cadillac Mountain is having a one-day sale today, in which everything in the store is 40 percent off. Hats, mittens, scarves and gloves are also priced to sell, whether you’re at the L.L. Bean Factory Store or a downtown boutique.

Outdoor outfitters are busy making room for kayaks and camping gear, so if you’re looking for snowshoes or skis, the deals are sublime.

Ditto for housewares. Since most of us don’t overhaul our interior decor each season, it’s great to save when you can, but you need to act fast. Last week, Target marked down its World Marketplace line to 75 percent off. I got a candle holder. I couldn’t bring myself to spend $20 on it, but at $5, it felt right. When I returned a few days later, the whole shebang was gone. Lesson learned.

To me, as I imagine it is to many readers, shopping is a game – I try to find the best product for the lowest price possible. And this time of year, it’s easy – I just follow the signs.

We have a winner – or two

Competition was tight for the “Win Cute Stuff” giveaway – more than 100 readers entered to win an American Eagle bag and a pair of North Face flip-flops. Thanks for taking the time to send me a postcard (and ideas!). The two winners, chosen at random, are Amy Hodgdon of Dennysville and Tammy Howes of Hermon. Congratulations! If you didn’t win, keep reading. We’ll have more great giveaways in the coming months.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.