• Danielle Bauter recently compared shopping at her local Kohl's and T.J. Maxx in Upland, California.
• She said the brands at Kohl's appeal more to her style and the prices are easier to identify.
• Though T.J. Maxx offers more variety, Bauter said shopping there makes her feel a bit overwhelmed.

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When it comes to Kohl's versus T.J. Maxx, both are great places for finding savings on clothing, accessories, and housewares. But after recently visiting the department stores in my hometown of Upland, California, I realized I'd much rather shop at a store like Kohl's — here are five reasons why I like it better than T.J Maxx.

1. Kohl's is more organized and not as cluttered as T.J. Maxx

I found that the overall layout of Kohl's makes the store easier to navigate, whereas T.J. Maxx often has a menagerie of mismatched items that seem to be crammed into every possible space. As I walk through Kohl's, I often admire the orderly displays — crisp piles of Levi's jeans, walls of Lego toys, and an array of towels representing almost every color of the rainbow. 

The store I shopped at also has more room to work with than T.J. Maxx, and I appreciate how each department groups similar items like athletic apparel together, making it easier to find what you're looking for.

2. Kohl's rewards program is easier to join and save than T.J. Maxx's

When I first learned about the rewards program at Kohl's, I was immediately sold. As its marketing slogan puts it, "It's like getting paid to shop." You earn $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend, making it easy to rack up rewards. The catch? You must spend said cash within a specified redemption period, or it disappears. 

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T.J. Maxx also has a rewards program, but it requires that you sign up for a TJX Rewards credit card. This credit card also allows you to earn points with Marshalls, Home Goods, Sierra, and Home Sense stores, too. However, I'd much rather earn cash-back rewards without having to use a credit card.