Lately I’ve given thought to where and what my money is going towards – this business of constant beauty maintenance and dressing well can really start to cost a fortune. And while I do believe there are things to splurge on, I’ve also found a number of ways to save money and spend wisely on nice clothing and good beauty services. I’d like to share those with you today!
FIND BLOGGERS YOU LOVE AND FOLLOW THEM – THEY POST DISCOUNTS AND FREE THINGS OFTEN…
More and more, brands small and large are working with bloggers to spread the word about their products and services. Unlike a magazine ad, a blogger is a real person sharing real opinions and experiences with other real people who trust, relate and/or look up to her. The brands we work with will often share discounts that readers can take advantage of…
…LIKE THIS $50 CLARINS FACIAL OFFER FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL AT NORDSTROM*!
I’ve got my facial scheduled for mid-April. I’ll tell you all about it then, so stay tuned!
VISIT YOUNG TALENT SALONS
I went to beauty school, so I know how important practice is for those learning a new craft. I also know how scary it can be to have a brand new cosmetology student work on your hair – neither of you feeling confident about the outcome. Which is why I recommend looking for ‘young talent salons’ that are advanced education facilities for people who have already earned their licenses, know what they are doing and are looking to continue building their expertise in real time – with teachers guiding them through the process. What’s in it for you? A discounted price and a youthful point of view to your cut and color.
I recently visited the Civello Young Talent Salon here in Chicago for highlights with Allie Ogden and was SO INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED with the results. We were going for an ombre-esque and randomized effect, and I couldn’t be happier with my hair and the service. Not only was the price friendly on my wallet but this Aveda lifestyle salon meant that I received head and hand massages during my service, plus a little lipstick touch-up at the end. I highly recommend this place for those of you who live in Chicago.
For those who live in other cities, look for big names that have advanced education schools – like Matrix Global Academy in New York or the Vidal Sassoon Advanced Academy in Santa Monica. Type in ‘advanced academy’ in your google search plus the name of haircare brands you like.
WAIT FOR END-OF-SEASON CLEARANCE SALES TO STOCK UP ON DESIGNER SHOES
At the end of every season, most stores will clear the previous season’s inventory with extreme price cuts. It’s a great opportunity to buy winter boots for next year. Sure, you don’t get to wear them right away, but just think how excited you’ll be next year when you pull brand new shoes out of storage. Winter shoes can be among the most expensive, so I always try to score new ones now. These irridescent Tory Burch boots were originally $495 dollars. They went from a markdown of $299 and then went all the way down to clearance, where they were just under $175. These were worth that price tag to me for the wear and joy I’ll get out of them next year.
BUT, don’t worry you can also find great deals on shoes for the upcoming season ahead of you. They are usually last year’s designs, but they are still new and of great quality. I waited for Nordstrom Rack’s ‘Clear the Rack’ sale (additional 25% all clearance items) to buy these Tory Burch wedges and Via Spiga thong sandals. I’d had my eye on both for a while, but I knew I could get them for less if I exercised some patience. In total I spent $100 on these two pairs that at full value equaled $540. That’s over 75% off!!!
FREQUENT HIGH-END CONSIGNMENT SHOPS TO BUY DESIGNER LABELS
I love shopping at consignment shops for designer duds. It’s *almost* like a game to find the best deal or the most high-end brand. I’ve found that you should go to these shops in neighborhoods with higher costs of living (read: where rich people live). You’ll have a better chance of finding high-quality items in really great condition. I’ve found items like a Clover Canyon top for $45, an Alice and Olivia leather skirt for $45, and a Marc Jacobs jacket for$30 at stores like Wasteland LA, Second Time Around and Crossroads Trading Co (the latter two are in many major cities).
I’ve also recently discovered www.thwrld.com, which is an online market of authenticated designer items for resale at great prices – with full information on the condition of the item. I’m thinking about buying my first (gently-used) high-end handbag from here after I save up a bit more money.
SELL YOUR CLOTHES FOR LOW PRICES
There are several apps out there for selling your own closet items for extra cash – eBay being the most popular, of course. But being successful at eBay selling can be tricky so I’ve also found sites like Poshmark and Depop Market that use social media profiles to connect you to the selling community. Here’s a snapshot of my own profile on depop…anyone want these size 6.5 crystal-encrusted booties?!
USE MULT-PURPOSE BEAUTY PRODUCTS – LIKE COCONUT OIL
Buying a big jar of organic coconut oil can go a really long way. This is a miracle product that can work in a number of ways to make your skin, hair and body beautiful – as a face and body moisturizer, a nail strengthener, a hair mask, a makeup remover, a shaving balm, a stretch mark salve, and a wrinkle reducer. I’ve used a number of brands, but this one by Cocovit is my favorite because of the way it is processed – it keeps more of the nutrients in the oil that do great things for you and it doesn’t smell as strongly as the kind you buy off the shelf at Whole Foods (though as long as that one is organic, it will work wonders too!).
I hope these tips have resonated with you and hopefully sparked some new ideas, as well.
As I said in the beginning, though, I do believe there are also smart ways to splurge, too! I’ll cover those in one of my next posts. In the meantime, start stuffing that piggy bank!
Belle
