a) shop online for sales and clearance. (Urban Outfitters, Guess, Macys, etc) Looking online is faster than going to the stores and often there are online-only deals. Plus, if you find the store/bag you like, do a google search for discount codes for that store. There are very often "% off" codes floating around for stores. And many stores let you return online purchases in-store if you find you don't like it when you get it.
b) outlet stores
c) my favorite - thrift stores. I know they aren't new, but you can find almost-new bags there at great prices, and way more varieties of style.
If you're worried about quality, make sure it says genuine leather, not PVC or other manmade materials.
Good luck!
