For me, having a specific goal in mind as to why I need to not spend money on X helps a lot. It can sometimes be useful to think of spending dollars in terms of how many hours you have to work to spend that (and that often makes it less appealing to buy!). If there’s a place that’s too tempting, I’ll unsubscribe from any newsletters they have so I’m not constantly reminded they exist.
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It depends on the sale. If I can get a discount on one of my everyday regular products, then I usually go for it. (I just bought two backups of my favorite Dior eyebrow pencil during the last VIB sale.) I now have all the backups of all of my basics to last me at least till 2020.
One way I recently resisted buying a particular eyeshadow palette when it was on sale (*cough* Sultry) was by counting the palettes I already own, and realizing I have absolutely no excuse to buy a 26th palette.
Honestly, it’s tough, but I’ve been on a low buy for nearly two years now so I can tell myself that I missed sales in the past and didn’t die from lack of makeup, and there always will be more sales in the future. I won’t lie and say I’m not tempted but I have one planned purchase for the rest of the year – I’m just waiting for MAC to have their sale and that’s it.
I feel like I have everything I could possibly want now, but I still want to make Rouge status next year (for the free shipping on any $ amount, mostly), so I’ve resisted this last (neverending) Rouge sale at Sephora to defer spend until next year.
I’m really focused on using what I have, so not sure I’ll even make Rouge next year, we’ll see.
It’s not any amount for the free shipping I think it’s $25. I could be wrong.
I check the balance on my student loan. Then I check an early repayment calculator and see how much faster the loan will be paid off if I spend the money on the loan versus on the sale.
That’s a good one!
Unless the sale is really a good one, ie; at least 20% off or a really generous coupon, it’s fairly easy to turn my back on it. This is both good and bad. Because while I’m paying no mind to the less generous sales, I’m stepping into it up to my neck with all these Sephora 20% sales! And this particular year has been insane with how many they’ve done. *face-palm*
If I don’t have the budget, I just delete brand newsletters without reading them. I avoid going to shopping websites. I also think, “Do I really need this? Is there something releasing later that I’ll want more?” That usually does the trick.
It can also be fun just to window shop. If I’m iffy, I’ll put stuff in my cart, and then decide I don’t want it after all. It can help to wait a couple hours, or if possible, a day or two. Nine times out of 10, I decide not to buy.
Think about what you really need, use and what you already have.
I actually wish I was better at indulging during sales; I usually sit on an item for a long while before I get it, but when I do take that step, it generally has to do with my mood rather than any savings. Sometimes my shopping coincides with sales, but not often enough; If I timed my purchases to sales, I’d be doing myself a real favor.
When an item is especially expensive and I do have dupes for just about anything & everything I like pretty much all drugstore but it is working for me. Too many eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks, highliters, eyeliners, lip liners, foundation, sponges, etc. Everything! But will I lie to myself when I see the next beautifully packaged thing at Sephora and pretend I don’t want it? However I’m looking for a real nice eyeshadow palette for my daughter for Christmas perhaps the Charlotte Tillbury mothership small set with mostly brown shades. Hard to choose! And for myself I’d love the Nars blush palette badly & the Hourglass one! But seriously don’t need it but then again Santa Baby could be nice to me. Lol!
Cleaning up my bathroom has done it for me. The samples are out of control. I have enough stuff for a couple of lifetimes.
It’s fun to try new stuff but my bathroom looks like a department store.
Being in a small country in the EU, we do have some…. black friday deals (shops are expanding), but when it comes to beauty, it’s a bit blah.
I’d love to expand my Natasha Denona collection, but haven’t seen anything from her in a deal.
If I stumble over an epic cool toned palette, I’ll go for that as well. For the rest, it’s off to walks in the woods!
I only look at sites or sale pages where I have decided I want to purchase beforehand. That saves the impulse buying
I first check what I actually have. If it’s something really new and has received great reviews I may make the purchase. But, more and more I’m just not tempted. It’s a makeup overload. My skin care rarely goes on sale. When it does I buy.