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Economic Cheat Sheet

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

During these tough times we all need to tighten our belts a little bit and find the best bang for our buck!  Here is my little cheat sheet for looking glamorous on a budget!
 
-Buy quality products at affordable prices (example- e.l.f. cosmetics).  Many top shelf brands have the same ingredients as drugstore brands, the top shelf just costs more because of advertising and marketing budgets that are equated into the cost.
 
-Get your hair cut and dyed at salon schools for half the price of beauty salons.  Aveda Institutes and Paul Mitchell School have students that are near graduation that will give you a salon worthy hairdo at a fraction of the cost.
 
-Get cash for your clothes and accessories!  Trade in or sell your clothes at clothing stores like Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange for in store credit or cash. 
 
-Have a pamper party with friends for manicures and pedicures.  This is a great time for girls to get together and paint their nails to avoid the cost of going to a nail salon.
 
Enjoy these great saving tips…because beauty shouldn’t break the bank!
 
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Anissa1024 wrote:
1) 3/3/2009 12:01:03 PM
ebay is a great way to sell old clothes and accessories ... I sold like 6 pair of old jeans for $12 a piece!!! ... talk about a great deal!
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luchie wrote:
2) 3/3/2009 1:07:51 PM
Thanks this is great. Have joined meetup.com and trying to join some clothing swaps but will check out some of the local spots where I can sell my clothes. Hmmm, pamper party is a great idea, will propose hosting one with some wine, good way for the girls to catch up and save.
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xxlynxx wrote:
3) 3/3/2009 1:35:58 PM
hmmm this is really good!
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Long Toes wrote:
4) 3/3/2009 8:19:24 PM
I just want to say that ELF nail polish stays on better than anything else I have ever used.
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Andy41 wrote:
5) 3/3/2009 8:29:20 PM
Sounds great, thanks for the tips!!
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salescavenger wrote:
6) 3/4/2009 4:30:10 PM
omg! elf totally saves my life... i love all of their products and the prices keep me OUT of a job :)
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MakeupMaven1313 wrote:
7) 3/7/2009 5:55:48 PM
These ideas are great!!! i have already tried a few with my friends. another cheap idea is to use sugar in the shower as an exfoliant for your face or body.
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mscottoncandy wrote:
8) 3/11/2009 4:53:54 AM
good advice... looking for bargains is actually how i found e.l.f. !! The only problem is now i cant stop shopping for new cosmetics =D Another good idea is do movie nights at friends houses on Friday nights instead of going out... if you get enough friends to go, it is really fun.. or its a great idea for a romantic evening with your bf
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AP wrote:
9) 3/11/2009 9:12:34 AM
I must say that in the beginning, before I started buying elf cosmetics regularly, I didn't believe that the quality could possibly be as good as the $5.00 eyeliner from the other leading brands. I was happy to learn that it costs a lot less and the quality is just as good. Plus at such low prices I can play more with my style and not feel guilty on the spending.
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KeepItKinky Hair Blog wrote:
10) 3/11/2009 11:27:09 AM
The "salon schools" tip is great. I did that once. I ended up getting a haircut from one of the teachers and it's the best cut I've ever had! The students were doing some good work too. I had a friend who went there almost weekly.
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march12 wrote:
11) 3/12/2009 11:34:05 AM
i have had "shop and swap" parties at my house. you and your friends bring clothes they haven't worn much that are cute and everybody shops each others "impulse purchases". you feel like you get something new and so do your friends! the best part is; it costs nothing!
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heatho wrote:
12) 3/12/2009 11:35:25 AM
I always try to find an alternate use for products I have bought that don't work the way I thought they would. For example, I recently bought a bronzer that was too dark for my fair skin, but it looks fantastic as an eyeshadow, and I recently purchased a moisturizer that broke me out, so I have been using it on my feet to smooth out my heels and such instead! I hate to spend $ on a product and than let it go to waste. I also use makeupalley.com to trade my unwanted products for others I may have not tried yet. This is a great way to try out expensive products without paying top dollar!
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nursepatti wrote:
13) 3/18/2009 2:04:28 PM
I love e.l.f. products...and the savings are great...I have done ebay before but here is a web site that is just as great...www.campbellyardsales.com...they have everything you could ever want and you can set up a site to sell there also...happy shopping...
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jodes wrote:
14) 3/20/2009 10:33:31 AM
personally i love thrifting whenever im trying to save money or not :) you never know what you can find a couple times ive found brand new shoes and tops that haven't even been worn before the $65 price tag is still on sometimes. but i agree with whoever said this earlier the makeup from elf is def. worth the buy. they cream eye shadows are easily my favorites they stay on so long! :) :)
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Kate1363 wrote:
15) 3/20/2009 10:45:20 AM
Lower the shipping costs. Mostly all of the products are lightweight and cost $10 or less, you end up paying more for shipping than your entire order.
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loveTOshop wrote:
16) 3/20/2009 11:01:58 AM
During these rough economic times, I also do quite a bit of saving advice that this article recommends. I have done some spring cleaning and taken away a dozen of garbage bags filled with clothes to sell them at stores and receive cash, I have left my blond highlights behind and gone back to being my natural light brown color (my hair is even healthier now and it's so much cheaper!)and I also have my friends who just graduated from beauty school do my hair at home for a much cheaper price, I have ditched my $20 bronzer and blush from stores like MAC and instead by in bulk from E.L.F., and I have ditched the expensive hairsprays like CHI and instead pay $2-$3 for a large can of Suave hairspray.
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mizoctober wrote:
17) 3/20/2009 12:11:21 PM
I call myself the coupon and bargain queen, hey it saves me $$. Look for coupons in sunday paper and in some magazines or you can sign up for coupons online. I just ordered my prescription glasses and ask them if I can pay it in 3 payments plust I already have my insurance discount. At least it doesn't hurt your pocket so much like when you have to pay for everything at once. Look at your work benefits some company have benefits where they offer discounts to web shopping, museums and vacations.
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joyful2483 wrote:
18) 3/20/2009 2:42:38 PM
To save money I trade my old clothes for cash at local consignment shops. I don't get my hair done as often. My family and I don't eat out as much as we used to, and for groceries I clip coupons form the Sunday paper i have found by just doing this little can add up to big savings
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mrsvee wrote:
19) 3/20/2009 2:51:13 PM
To save some money, I started frequenting my local consignment shop. The owner only accepts clothes in great condition, and the selection changes constantly.
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HeatherMS wrote:
20) 3/20/2009 5:29:02 PM
Achelle, I am always reminding my clients in my chair (I am a student stylist) to check out ELF, so it makes me sad when I don't see Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy as one of the salon schools you mentioned. Visit http://www.toniguy.com for locations and style suggestions. and visit my blog http://web.me.com/hmschloe for more hair tips
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aarynblythe wrote:
21) 3/20/2009 8:52:22 PM
My girlfriends and I have a big Clothes and Shoes Exchange. We kick the kids and Hubby out and everyone brings a treat and wine, then we dig in. You can take as many new items as your brought. Everyone walks away with great things that help to update their current wardrobes, and we all feel like we had shopping trips!
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school nurse wrote:
22) 3/20/2009 10:40:50 PM
I splurge on gourmet whole bean coffee. for what I would spend at a coffee bar in two or three days I now brew at home for month (including weekends!). In just a couple of days I saved enough to offset the cost of my 'to-go' mug, and in two months will have saved enough to upgrade my coffeepot. After that it is all money in my pocket!
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Snoopy4500 wrote:
23) 3/21/2009 1:30:23 PM
I go to charity thrift shops. The prices are usually better. For my rough feet,at bedtime I put Vaseline on them and then I put on a pair of socks and go to bed. You would be surprised how much it helps.
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sarabellum wrote:
24) 3/21/2009 11:56:34 PM
For the pamper party - do your silky hands/feet treatment this way: (1) put baby oil on your hands and/or feet (if you don't have baby oil, vaseline will work, or even vegetable oil) (2) exfoliate with a tablespoon of sugar (3) add a shower gel or liquid hand soap to your hands/feet and wash then rinse (4) finish with a heavy moisturizing cream. If you plan to paint your nails following this, use a little polish remover on your nails to make certain the color will stick OR wait to do the heavy cream until the paint is dry. It's an easy, affordable treat!
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makeupmaven 49 wrote:
25) 3/23/2009 2:18:04 PM
i have my daughter do my pedicures loook wonderful all the time and so professional.......she is an ace. at 17...rather than hit the salon I save money I would rather give her the money
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makeupmaven 49 wrote:
26) 3/23/2009 2:20:14 PM
i lotion up my feet at nite cover them with socks and i the am so soft...also use the makeup remover towelettes give your skin a facial at the same time you are removing makeup the next morning my skin is so soft
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JennyWenny wrote:
27) 3/23/2009 6:53:05 PM
I'm actually somewhat annoyed at this post. I am a hairstylist and I always refer my friends/clients to eyeslipsface.com. It kinda bummed me out that you all are giving the advice of going to a hair school instead of your regular stylist. Don't get me wrong, schools are good to go to and the students always need the practice. But the students don't make money from those clients, we do. Our income in solely based on the clients we bring in. We do a lot to promote discounts and deals and make sure our clients can afford what they need. It's hard enough as it is in this economy without others trying to send your business somewhere else.
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fashionista12 wrote:
28) 3/23/2009 10:14:53 PM
There is a local clothing consignment shop close to where I live. Every season I go through my wardrobe. If I haven't worn it in two years, or if it's too big for me, I consign it. The money I earn goes to other necessities, and sometimes for a new clothing item. It's very helpful when you're on a fixed income.
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Sheba wrote:
29) 3/24/2009 5:51:54 PM
I sell shoes and clothes and anything I have in my closet that I no longer wear and still may have some wear left, I also buy my makeup from E.L.F. great value for the price. You can't beat a $1.
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Anya wrote:
30) 3/25/2009 10:03:11 AM
Elf is the most reasonable source for great quality cosmetics that I've found online. Anywhere else that sells cosmetics this cheap would be difficult for me to trust. I love how you can buy an entire 'look' altogether when you like the way a certain celebrity or model looks :)
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ChristineNYC wrote:
31) 3/25/2009 6:15:26 PM
I've had luck selling items from my closet on ebay. Brand name jeans, handbags and shoes can fetch good money.
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kclark071888 wrote:
32) 3/28/2009 6:26:38 PM
I have gotten my hair done at a salon school before. It was a good experience, but be careful because somethings you get beginner students who are not ready to tackle difficult, extra thick, or colored hair. Just make sure you ask your stylist if they feel comfortable with what you want them to do.
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$@r@ wrote:
33) 3/28/2009 10:48:24 PM
thanks for the money saving tips! im 13 and have no job but would like to look my best ALL THE TIME! i will defiantly try some of those!!!
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Em71782 wrote:
34) 3/31/2009 12:01:21 AM
Thanks for all of the great tips! I agree 100% about trying out a beauty school to get your hair cut. I brought in a picture that my friend (the bride) wanted for me for her wedding and the hairstylist did it perfectly. She was a perfectionist because she was still a student. A huge plus!It cost me about half the price that a huge salon would charge.Great deal I must say!
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Pinchin' Pennies wrote:
35) 3/31/2009 2:06:15 PM
I go to Walgreens and use their coupons and rebates to get free cosmetics or other assorted items I can use at my house. They have a new rebate book every month and I've been able to try new makeup, hair products, and cleaning supplies for my home all for free. In these tough times, every penny counts!
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ReganTheGreat wrote:
36) 4/10/2009 1:42:12 PM
This awesome! Thanks so much for the tips. I'll definatly try them out. Paul Mitchell School for a cheap haircut? I'm there!! Thanks, ELF!!
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aphrodite021 wrote:
37) 5/27/2009 9:38:53 PM
I go to my local community college cosmetology school and get hair cuts, highlights, facials, manis and pedis at a fraction of salon prices ($10 for a manicure). It takes a little longer (so make sure you have extra time), but the outcome is just as good.
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