2012 is just around the corner, and with it comes Christmas debt, and new fashion and beauty collections that put us into a frenzy and equal amounts of anxiety on how the hell we are going to afford it. If you are anything like me, you know exactly how this cycle feels...obsession, the acquisition and ultimately the guilt. So if you are having guilt for splurging way too much this past holiday season, I have put together some tips for the makeup junkie out there on how to save money and stretch your money further in 2012.
Tokki & Oliver's 25 Ways To Save Money in 2012
(or make your money go further for you)
1. Sign up for e-newsletters and mailing lists - This is the best way to find out when your favourite shop is having sales. My recommendation is to use a separate email address just for these types of emails.
2. Sign up for money back programs: Quidco, ebates, check your bank for their own money back programs (i.e. Bank of America has Add It Up Program), Boots treat street, etc. etc. You mine as well get some money back if you're going to shop online.
3. Clip coupons and vouchers: Get rid of the notion or "shame" in coupon clipping, it saves you money so your money goes further.
4. Sign up for reward programs from shops that you always go to: Boots, Superdrugs, Sainsbury, Tesco, Debenhams, CVS, etc... Sure they don't give you a lot of points per purchase, but if you go their often it will add up.
5. Sell on Ebay, Etsy or Bonanza: I have been selling online since 2001 and this additional income has helped me a lot!
6. If you have boxes and boxes of unwanted beauty products, and you don't like the idea of selling them then try swapping. There are websites like
www.makeupalley.com where you can swap your products and it's Free.
7. Best time to shop is during Beauty events, Boxing Day, Black Friday and other big shopping holidays and shopping events. Try holding out on that ultimate splurge until these events roll around. You are bound to not only get your item, but you can also walk away with some awesome freebies too.
8. Before buying a product, try an obtain a sample. By obtaining a sample, you can avoid spending money on a product you won't like. Not every company has a generous return policy, so if you can obtain a sample, try before buying.
9. MAC, Lush and Origins have excellent recycle programs. If you return empty containers you can get samples or even a full size item. This is responsible and beneficial if you shop at these shops.
10. If you have a ton of MAC pigments, try breaking them into smaller sample pots and you can sell them. This works with any other product that you know you'll never use fully.
11. Always check end cap of aisles for marked down products. Sure some items come in damaged packaging, but if the product itself isn't damaged then you could save money money.
12. Tk Maxx/TJ Maxx has a great beauty section, so make sure you check it out. You should also ask them when they get new shipment, since that is when they mark down the items already there. Also, if there is visible damage, TK Maxx is great about offering 10% off. All you have to do is just ask.
13. Shop Ebay and Shop Victoriously. haha. Isn't that their motto? But it's true. You can get some really great bargains off of ebay. Also, search for "job lots" as sometimes you can get a lot of products for a really cheap price if you get lucky.
14. A friend recently bought a Gosh nail polish at a charity shop for only 50p. Although, I wouldn't buy lotions and skincare at charity shops since you don't know how long it's been there, but for products that have a longer shelf life, you could really get yourself a steal at charity shops. Plus, it's for a good cause right?
15. If you aren't stuck on brand names, always look for dupes. This is the best way to stretch your money. I have been very surprised by cheaper alternatives this year, and I'm slowly starting to see the validity in buying cheaper versions of popular products.
16. If you have a blog, have a blog sale.
17. Have a swap with other bloggers, or with friends. Your trash may be some one else's treasure. You could also sell your items off of your facebook account (but be warned that this is not allowed on facebook; however, thousands upon thousands of people do this).
18. This is old school, but it works. Throw your change in a jar and leave it alone. Do this for an entire year, and you'd be surprised how much change you managed to save.
19. Before shopping online, google search for vouchers and free shipping codes. Every little bit helps.
20. If you have an iphone/smart phone, there are apps that can scan bar codes and search for competitor's prices. This can help you make an informed decision on whether this purchase is the best purchase for you.
21. If obtaining free samples and products is something that will help you curb your spending, there are many survey companies out there that offer product testing. It's a great way to test new products out. Just be willing to test products and give honest feedback.
22. Every beauty junkie faces the issues of storage for their massive collection. There are a million and one DIY storage ideas online, so get your glue guns and put your wallet away.
23. Gumtree or Craigslist is a great place to find deals and swap with others online. Just be careful however, as there are a lot of fakes and replicas being sold, but there are of course honest sellers on there too.
24. I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this, because it really is a pain in the ass. Yard Sale/Boot Sales are a great way to get extra money in, but it is hard work and you always get hagglers. I had a weekly yard sale when I was selling off all my goods to move to England, and they were a nightmare! But I was able to raise money and people always showed up for a good bargain.
25. Last but not least, and yes this is the hardest part to do is to NOT impulse buy. We have all been there, and you feel guilty as soon as you leave the shop. Think it over for a day or two, if it's something you want and you can't find it cheaper anywhere else then you should return to the shop, but impulse shopping is our enemy :)
So those are my 25 tips on how I stretched my money and saved some money in 2011.
Please let me know what your tips are :)
