Hey Meebsies,
So now we have a plan mapped out. We know when to buy and what to buy. The final question we need to ask ourselves is where to buy.
If you are just joining us on our Beauty on a Budget journey; check out the previous posts for more tips. ^_^
Beauty on a Budget: When to Buy
Beauty on a Budget: What to Buy
We all have our personal fav go to stores when it comes to beauty products. Of course you should try to visit stores that are having sales or promotions. However, if they don’t carry things you need, then you are just wasting your money by buying for the sake of a sale. When I say where to buy, I am mainly speaking about shopping online vs. in-store.
It is an interesting problem if you think about it. I mean, shouldn’t products that are sold online, be in-stores as well? Actually, they are surprisingly completely different worlds. Both sides having pros and cons.
Online shopping is always a great choice for those with busy lives. It takes less than 10 minutes to make a purchase if you know what you are looking for. I say this because if you are like me, I always get side tracked and end up browsing the whole website. Other than the obvious convenience of shopping online, you can also snag some great deals. Many companies prefer customers to shop online. It is much cheaper to have a website than have an actual store. Online shopping is also a great way for them to get rid of products that they have a surplus of, or aren’t selling well. This is great news for us bargain shoppers. Not only will you have a greater selection of sale/clearance items; but there will be a greater abundance of promotional offers as well.
On the con side, online shopping is not for those who are more hands on and don’t really know what they want. Not to mention you will end up paying a shipping fee. A shipping fee can be as little as $2 to the more common $5-$10. Depending on your total purchase; no one wants to pay $10 shipping for a $5 purchase.
In-store shopping is a little bit more time consuming. But for passionate shoppers, time is no object. In-store shopping is great if you are not exactly positive about what you want to buy. I love going to stores like Sephora because I can try out the products. People always look at me funny once I leave Sephora, because the back of my hand will have every color of the rainbow on it. Try out products. Unlike online shopping, you can physically hold the product and test it out. Unless you have magical beauty product eyes, you can’t tell how pigmented an eye shadow is just looking at it. Another great thing about shopping in-store are the sales staff. They are there to help you. If you are in-between products, why not ask a beauty sales associate for their opinion. My experience with them has always been pleasant.
Other than being time consuming, shopping in-store can be a hassle. We all want to get the best deals. So it can be frustrating to go from store to store checking prices and taking notes. Online shopping allows you to compare stores by just clicking on a tab.
Another tip that I have is shopping in-store within a store. It’s a weird concept but it can really pay off. We are all aware that stores such as Nordstrom and Macy’s are home to cosmetic/skincare stores such as Clinique, Mac, and Bobbi Brown to name a few. If there was a sale at Clinique and you had a 10% off from Nordstrom, there are times you can combine these two factors to save even more. This method is not 100%, but can save you serious bucks if it works. I mean, there is no harm in trying. If you really need something and don’t want to wait for a sale or promotion, I suggest shopping at Sephora. If you are a member, you can rack up points with every purchase and redeem them later. If you are not a member, all you have to do is give an email. ^_^
Well, that’s all I have for now. Look forward to the next Beauty on a Budget post.
Thank you for reading. ^_^
Love,
Meebs
“When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It’s a whole different way of thinking.”
~ Elayne Boosler
Meebsie's World 