I LOVE a Good Bargain! » Cosmetics

A Quick Note on Having a Beautiful Holiday

Robin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:32:54 +0000

Yesterday I was given a gift that inspires another way to give presents that keep on giving. My gift was a haircut at a really cool place that actually makes a difference on many levels.

The Aveda Institute is primarily a school for all things spa — haircuts, color, massages, facials and the like — where students perform under the tutelage of experienced professors. I have always found that I get amazing services in this type of set-up, and this one was even better. All the students were young, hip, dressed in black and with fabulous hair, so I knew I could count on them for a new and up-to-date look. Because it’s Aveda, all the products are eco-friendly, and the corporate philosophy is to give back. So, I got a haircut (regular price only $12!), bought myself a gift box of products ($40, regular price $45) which came in a beautiful, handmade paper box made by a craftsperson in Nepal, AND I scored a $20 gift card with purchase for my next visit, which I scheduled before leaving. (The Aveda website also offers gifts and samples with purchases; click here.) So, I suported a student, a Nepalese family, myself (with a fab new look and products and a new place to go) and my friend, for company and allowing her to contribute to me. We had a fun girly day and made a difference.

Search the internet for haircare, massage, nail and related schools, and call to see if they have student clinics. The savings are amazing and make great gifts for yourself and others.

On a related note, if you haven’t already, now is a great time to join Groupon, which offers amazing city-specific savings on all kinds of goods and services. I just bought the hubby a haircut and MANicure for just $15! Check them out here.

The thing is, a lot of people have been cutting back (no pun intended) on things this year. Haircuts and other personal pampering services are often the first things to go. Find out what your friends are putting off, and you’ve got the perfect gift.

For more ideas on gift-giving that makes a difference, please click here.

Living the 20-Per-Cent-Off Life

Robin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:24:26 +0000

Hey, this is even more than 20%!

You can thank (if you’re a consumer; blame if you’re a retailer) Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things (RIP) for the fabulous trend of stores selling everything they own for a 20% or more discount off the suggested retail prices. They’ve started something that has cut stores’ profit margins and added value to almost every consumer shopping trip forever!

(Kudos too, while we’re at it, to Macys, which many years ago started the pre-Christmas sale, and the constant one-day sales, effectively training their customers to never, ever pay full retail.)

I was personally thrilled to find that BB&B had started carrying drugstore items, too. (See my post Drugstore Junkie for more on this.) Hey, 20% off generally beats the best discounts at the pharmacy chains, and saves a trip. And now, going into the Holiday Shopping season, lots of other stores have jumped on the bandwagon. Just this week, not even Halloween yet, my local paper carried 20 % or greater discounts from Old Navy, Michaels crafts, and a local decorator. If this year is anything like last, you should soon be seeing more and better discounts, right off the top of any purchase, from such varied retailers as Toys R Us, Sports Authority, Party City, Best Buy, Macys, Walmart (They stole my quote: Save Money. Live Better), Ulta Beauty, GNC, Vitamin World, Firestone Tires, Sears and others. Many of these will accept multiple, expired and competitors’ coupons, too.

While getting my fingers all inky on the Sunday paper is my favorite way of finding coupons, you can now go online to do the same. These are some of the better sites for coupons and coupon codes:

www.Big Crumbs.com This one also gives you cash back at many retailers!

www.thegrocerygame.com

Wanna be a savvy couponer? Check out The Couponizer, for a new way to organize your coupons and maximize your savings.

Getting into the holiday spirit, we’ll be looking at the best and cheapest ways to party, shop, decorate and save on all. Starting with, of course, Halloween — click here for lots of great ideas for cheap or free costumes.

Drugstore Junkie

Robin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:25:01 +0000

I hate shopping (but, as you know, I LOVE a Good Bargain!). Most women love shopping for clothes, shoes and jewelry. Not me — but for some reason, I love drugstores. Maybe because deep inside I know that they are a hotbed of bargain opportunities waiting to be discovered. Or maybe cause there’s a lot of stuff there to make a person feel better, no matter what ails them. In any case, I could get lost in the aisles of CVS, Walgreen’s, Duane Reade, etc. for days. Even the meager selections at superstores like Walmart and Target yield hidden treasures.

Recently, I decided to try Definity, a drugstore brand from Olay, which is supposed to fight discoloration, dullness, brown spots and wrinkles. Off to CVS, where their loyalty programs gives me in-store cash to use on anything for a limited time. TIP: Check expiration dates on all coupons and cards so you get the full value of them when you need something.

Before heading to CVS, armed with a $5.00 coupon for Definity from the Sunday paper, and $12 in CVS cash, I quickly check my email. Voila! Here’s an email from CVS with $5 off this weekend only! So, I go to CVS to buy my Definity item, and a root touch-up hair color product. Guess what? Definity is on sale for $25, Root Touch-Up for $5, using my $21 in credits, it costs me less than $10 for both items.

When I paid for my items, my receipt contained a coupon for another $5 off a $25 purchase. Hopefully Definity will be back on sale before they expire.

Another tip: Log onto CVS.com and sign up for their card, if you don’t have one already. At Walgreen’s, it’s a different set-up, but you can get lots of discounts by using their online rebate system, with a 10 percent bonus if you take the rebate in the form of a Walgreen’s gift card. Check out your local drugstore chains and see what they are offering.

For more on Cosmetics, click here.

Beauty Shot

Robin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:49:51 +0000

I was on the way home from my free therapy appointment yesterday (long story, another time) and passed a small storefront offering a special on Botox — only $150! I had to stop in and see.

Within 10 minutes I was sitting with the Doctor, a drop-dead gorgeous, all done up young woman in high heels and a mini-skirt, a licensed internist with a specialization in anti-aging. 30 minutes and $150 later, I was shot up and out the door.

While the $150 was a one-time, introductory price, the wise doctor uses it as a way to find new patients/customers. I definitely liked her style and will probably return to her office for additional, well-priced services.

Today’s lesson: Take advantage of trial offers and special introductory deals. If you really like the person or thing that you’re trying out, you’ve made a good connection. The more business you give to any particular person or company, the more comfortable you can be with asking for additional specials and discounts.

If you weren’t thrilled with the item or service, move on to the next. If the trial is for something that you signed up for, remember to cancel your membership and auto-shipments.

I’ll be back to see Ms. Dr. Beautiful — I look younger already!