Saving money without letting yourself go to hell - Page 2

[jennykilbo]

Awesome ideas here, the only one I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that sometimes the difference between looking like hell and looking really fabulous and cute is the tailoring of your clothes... I have gotten some really nice pants at Goodwill before for a few $, and had them altered for like $15, so you have pants that fit YOU perfectly that look like you spent $100. Even all the style mags will tell you when you are buying brand new stuff, that you need a good tailor in order to really feel wonderful in your clothes. I forget this a lot and will feel terrible when I go shopping (thrift or otherwise) and nothing seems to fit. But it is a really valid consideration!

My main strategy for shopping frugally and still loving the way I look is that I've developed an eye for what I know I really like, as we all know it's not a bargain in the long run if you never wear it. Basically I go through racks at Goodwill or Ross as fast as possible and if something catches my eye, I ask myself if they would sell this style in my favorite store... if yes I try it on, if no then keep moving! (My time is money also)

Lastly like someone else said, you just pick your priorities as far as what makes you feel the best. For me, I figured out a long time ago that if my hair is clean and straightened and I'm wearing a really, really great pair of jeans that it literally doesn't matter what else is going on with my outfit or my face because I just look and feel put together. So I invest time in my hair and money in my (one pair of) jeans and this is frugal to me in the long run because I don't feel like I need a bunch of other stuff. Add cute, cheap sunglasses and purse and I'm done

[Mom2Adam]

I love this thread. I used to wear full make-up and do my hair every day and I got manicures and pedicures regularly (I was working in sales)

Now I cut my own hair (it's curly so mistakes are hidden!) - wear pretty much NO makeup, and my nails look awful!

But...as the birth of baby #3 approaches and so do my late 30's...I've been itching to "beautify" myself! It's not in the budget...but I sneak something in every once in a while. Target had a clearance on their organic shampoos and conditioners last week and I bought one of each! I am very, very, very , frugal with these...use the tiniest bit - but wow I feel special with every shower!

I also find that getting out in the sun a little for some color helps me look prettier - gives me a nice glow that just a little mascara or maybe a touch of lip balm is needed. I've found the best clothes at Goodwill...before I knew I was pregnant I found cute capri's and tops (Liz Claborne and Jones of New York) for a couple of bucks each (looked new!).

Now winter is different - I will be pale, pasty and ummm hugely pregnant.

[macheetah]

I've been discovering natural hair and body care and it saves me money as well as fitting my health and vanity needs. Twenty dollars purchase of good quality henna lasts me 5 months or so and my hair is shiny and healthy and the color I never could maintain with salon or box applications (red).

I use the mineral makeup that costs much less than any store makeup I've found and I like it better. Just three dollars (for shipping) got me all kinds of free samples I'm still using. Eye shadow can double as eyeliner - wet a Q-tip, press it so it's just damp, dip in dark shadow and use like eyeliner. Lipstick can double as blush.

I use a combination of no-poo, ACV rinses and shampoo bars; wash with honey, condition my hair and skin with coconut oil and shea butter for much less than I used to pay for creams and salon items, and I feel more indulgent and pampered by these ingredients than ever.

For bras, I've found good deals, even at VS, in the end of season sales and bins. But I've stuck to a couple brands now that fit me well (not an easy find) and make sure I hand wash them and air dry them for the longest life.

I do my own pedicures but admit my nails aren't the best - I'm rough on my hands!

I totally agree with a PP about tailoring your clothes. A few classic pieces can be found in sales or in thrift stores and if tailored to fit you well can really make for a great warddrobe.

For me, a lot of saving money this way resulted from opening my mind against all the mass marketing that tells us we have to spend big bucks to have the best of hair, skin and makeup. It is just not so - in my experience the opposite.

[nolansmummy]

I don't really spend money on my hair because my sister went to hair school so whenever she comes to visit she does my hair for free!

Pedicures i do myself because i don't like anyone touching my feet.

But bras i buy at Jcpenny. Buy 1 get 1 type deals. I spend a little more, but its worth it. Buying a new bra even makes my old clothes look better. If you really want VS, go during their semi annual sale. The bins are great if you don't wear a common size.

As for makeup, everyday minerals. Its online and super cheap, a customizable 12 peice kit for 50$(though you don't have to buy this) free sample kits to find yoru shade, lasts a long time, and they have a new special each week . THis week its 8% off your entire order. Great company.

Kohls has great deals on nightgowns too. Their clearance racks are great if you catch them the day or day after they get reduced.

[Belleweather]

What about www.eyeslipsface.com? They're my go-to spot for makeup. Almost everything is $1 for a full-sized cosmetic, and their formulations are absolutely top-notch and compare favorably in quality to department store makeup. Also, they often have web coupons and throw in freebies with your order. I love them because not only can I have several different 'looks' to chose from, but I can also get a few extras to keep in my car or at work for touch-ups or those days that I'm running late.

Other than that, I do a lot of home hair treatments with things like henna and olive oil, have a low-maintenance haircut done at a salon once every 6 months and then go to cheapie haircut places like the local cosmetology school to have it maintained. I totally do my own pedicures , but I gave up manicures long ago -- I never get to them regularly enough so they just chip and look stupid. But pedicures I can leave as-is for weeks and weeks and weeks before I have to redo them.

[SAHDS]

This is such a fun thread, I feel like I'm doing a lot of nodding!

I also shop thrift stores A LOT (went today and got some great stuff) and check out Ross for shoes (I love a good pair of heels).

I don't get haircuts. My hair is long and is easy to trim myself. I also don't get my hair colored. I do it myself with one of those through-the-cap frosting systems from the drug store. It's $10 instead of the $200 I'd pay a stylist and turns out just as good, if not better. I do have a Chi (straightener) that DH bought me after the cheap-o kind broke my hair to bits. It was $150 but has a lifetime warranty/replacement.

For make-up, I go simple. No eyeliner, lip liner, shadow, blush. In the winter, I use a foundation and loose powder to even my skin, some mascara and brow liner (my brows are transparent). In the summer, I use a tinted moisturizer to even my skin, mascara, brow liner and gloss. Side note, I think well-tweezed (free!) eyebrows make THE biggest difference! I also like a bit of sun.

Manicures and pedicures, I don't do. I have extremely sensitive fingertips and HATE when people touch them. My feet are way too easy to do myself, just trim the nails and add polish.

Bras and undies - I do shop VS for all of those. Like others have said, you can catch their bin sales and find good deals online. Plus, their policies are great and their bras last for a long time. If not, they replace them!

Last but not least, I keep myself in good shape. That way, I stay the same size and shape so my clothes always fit and can wear them for years and years. This saves a lot of money. Plus, I feel good and that translates.

[Bird Girl]

Two things; Have a plan for what you need to buy, and know when to splurge and when to spend. First of all, if you are buying $50 purses and then don't have enough money for bras, you need to make a plan. How many bags do you want to own? Can you keep your summer bag from last year and use it again? I generally can, I must not be that hard on bags. But I need to replace my bras every so often. So I save my money for bras first, and don't buy a bag unless I spill something on my currant one.

Secondly, unless you are buying a high-quality bag that you intend to use for several years, a bag is not the place to spend a lot of money. A T-shirt will not look much better or last much longer if it costs $50 or $5. So get the cheaper ones (as long as they don't cling!) But cashmere sweaters, well-tailored jackets, high quality trousers and skirts and shoes make a big difference--as does a bra that fits and flatters you, and the right kind of underwear. If I'm wearing jeans, then I'll just wear cotton underthings, but when I dress up to go out, I wear Spanx--the ones from Target.

[jtbuko]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

a battle of ethics in addition to battle of finances, haha....as is everything else I suppose.

I think you have captured the heart of most of the decisions I face daily!

[amyamanda]

If you have a Hanes/Bali outlet near you, they have nice bras and good prices. I just bought three identical bras there, that fit me perfectly and that I love, for $13.99 each.

FWIW I'm one of those happily Plain Jane types, but I still want my clothes to looks and feel good (however simple/hippiesh). I like to shop alone at the thrift shop - we have a nice, bright, big one - because I can walk out with a whole armload of stuff for under $50 and sometimes way less than that. And I don't freak out later if something I bought has a small stain or doesn't fit like I remembered, because I didn't spend much on it, so my attachment to it is less. And then I just write off the loss as a nice donation to the charity that runs the thrift shop.

Good luck.

[pixiewytch]

Reading all of this makes me realize that I'm already frugal in a lot of ways the rest of you are. First of all, I haven't been to a hair salon in five years, with the exception of once last year when I got dread extensions. Before that, having real dreads for so long made me paranoid to go to the salon so I still haven't been DH trims my hair and I have also been using henna from Lush.

I also recently discovered $2 ayurvedic face soap from frontier as a cleanser that works great. I only buy makeup when I need it although I do splurge at Sephora most of the time for that stuff. That is about to end though since I've discovered that Dior is made right along with the cheap drugstore stuff ,and sometimes with lead.

Skin care is a biggie for me too. As I get older I feel like I need more product. Even though I rarely afford Sephora or anything in the $80 price range, I still buy Weleda or something else natural in the $20-30 price range.

Lush is another biggie for me. I am in love with the no packaging philosophy on most of their stuff but it is so pricey.

Birdgirl made some good points though. I have a tendency to buy the things I really like (such as bags) but don't need and then other things like bras fall by the wayside.

I need a plan!! Otherwise I don't think I'm doing too terrible compared to everyone else here. Oh, and I've got to splurge on the bras. I've got that much out of this thread too.

[Ruthiegirl]

After spending time in Target last night trying on cheap clothes with a three-way mirror -- I am completely on the 'good bra bandwagon'. Just ordered a few of my favorite nursing bras.

I am frugal, but I am also terribly lazy about taking care of myself. I embarrass myself by not having a decent bathing suit, pants that fit well, clean shirts and decent underwear. Now that we have three kids, I fear that I have entered that scary 'she's let herself go' zone and it is time to beef up the self care regiment.

For me, money is always a consideration, but also time. I simply don't take the time to clean up. I may not be able to go out for a manicure, but I can certainly scrub the dirt from under my nails, clean up my cuticles and moisturize regularly.

So, I am on this kick lately to take more time for myself and of course spend a little more money on basic stuff -- good bras, pants that fit, clean t-shirts, good moisturizer -- I know I need to be frugal, but man, I don't want to look like the dumpy mom in the crowd.

[Purplehaze]

keep lists...

That's my secret- I keep lists, and when any one asks what I want for Christmas or my B-day I ask for those things... like GCs for Clinique make up or Mac (the 2 I like) or for a pedicure, or to a place that sells the clothing that I like and fits me. The rest of the time I keep other lists- a little 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 post it note inside my wallet tells what I am looking for... boots (to go with skirts) for fall, Doc Martin Mary Janes, new blush... since we are no where near Christmas or B-day then I just use my personal spending money to get this stuff. I normally give myself $20 a week but if I really want something then I will do with out the spending money for a number of weeks till I can take, in cash the amount I need to get the item. I wait to buy Clinique for when they have that "gift with" thing...

I also still make some pretty amazing finds at Goodwill. The other night I found an awesome Brazilian leather hand bag for fall for $8 and a really cool black knit cape/poncho kind of thing for $9.... 2 great sweaters too... and a skirt. All told, under $30. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, keep thrift shopping, just don't buy anything that does not look exactly like who you want to present.

As for your hair... I'm a hairdresser by trade... I see so many people hair-unhappy because they fight thier hair. I am not gonna tell you that you need $$$ products, most people do not... but a lot of people try to have their hair in a way that is fighting it.... longer then it should be to look how they want or some poeple want is short but don't want to style it. You have to really look at your hair and what you are willing to do to it and decide what would be best for your time and money.

[Dr.Worm]

I know what you mean, pixiewytch! I used to(many years ago)be way into my hair and make-up and stylish clothes but since my dd was born i felt selfish wasting money on myself when she could have something instead. But I am 31 (gag) and when I look at myself in the mirror I really think I look crappy...my hair is ok cause fortunately I inherited my mom's thick hair and when I let it grow it looks nice cause it has a pretty good color..well..at least in the summer whent he sun puts natural highlights in and it has a nice wave to it but the face,,,egads..I need to wear some makeup...I am not exactly a girly girl type but i need some things...there's no getting around it..especially eye makeup...I wear glasses...can;t stand contacts and I need mascara and eyeliner and eyeshadow or I look like Marcie from Charlie Brown.

As far as clothes go, I am a single mom and can't spend lots on clothes so I look carefully at thrift stores and the evil place(walfart)for bargains..,.I am just careful about what I buy..nothing too trendy....classy audrey hepburn styles...I also like bohemian type stuff but I am just careful to keep my outfits cool but nothing that is going to look tacky next year.

You guys have great ideas...oh and my mom and I found these really cool shoes at a dolar store..hers are white and mine are gold..they are super comfy and have flowers on the top...a dollar and they are the comfiest shoes ever!!!

Norasmomma...thank you for the reminder of the 2 for 1 great lash..I will be getting that soon...and Belleweather...that elf makeup site is AWESOME..i showed my mom and we are freaing out...we will definitely be ordering from them...and you get a subscription to Redbook if you spend 20 dollars..how cool is that!!!

[guestmama9904]

we have a number of great consignment stores here in minneapolis, nu look, everyday people and buffolo exchange (which i believe is a franchise and is also in california?). i have found things like SEven brand jeans for 20-40$ (usually well over 150$ a pair) and some really nice maternity tops from pea in a pod for about 15$. consignement stores are also a way to make a little cash by selling your old stylish clothing that no longer fits.

[Lilcrunchie]

I shop thrift stores, and goodwill quite a bit. I buy cheapo teeshirts for wearing around the house (brands like from Target, or 2nd hand) and those are my day to day tees. If they get stained, no biggie, kwim?

I try to spend more money or invest more time in shopping 2nd hand for a nice looking jacket/coat, and a pair or two of cute shoes/boots. A nice jacket can really dress a long sleeved tee and jeans up for fall, kwim? DItto accessories. A cute necklace or two or a nice scarf plus a nice jacket makes a tee and jeans much cuter. DItto a cute bag if you can find one (Goodwill and other 2nd hand places are a great place to start). I find I can get by with mostly cheapo tees to wear at home and then 3-4 nicer outfits for out of the house (this also usually manages to save them from the inevitable stains inflicted by my two little ones).

I spend quite a bit on haircuts, but I have a funkish pixie cut and it is soooo worth it to me to spend $$ on because I have hair that doesn't require any time to style and can look presentable in under 2 minutes. I have naturally wavy hair, and I've always had to straighten it even when super short, but I found an awesome hair stylist that cuts it so I really don't even need styling products, don't need to straighten/blowdry, etc. and it still looks decent :
So for me the tradeoff is worthwhile for the time saved.

I buy shampoo from Frontier (I like Giovanni). I've bought Giovanni from Costco too I don't need the conditioner it comes with (with my hair being so short right now) but I use it to shave my legs . I use diluted Dr. Bronners in a foaming pump dispenser for washing hands and body (it goes a long way). I am debating figuring out how to coupon for razors because they jacked up the price of our cartridges like crazy (an increase of almost $10 to almost $35 for 20 of them at Costco!!!). My PCOS self is just too hairy if I don't shave

I use mineral makeup. It isn't super cheap, but it lasts a long time, has SPF protection, no parabens, etc. It is still way cheaper than dept store makeup and it lasts longer than a similarly priced bottle of foundation or similar from a drug store. I use everydayminerals.com. My mom and I order together and we usually wait until there is a discount (we just ordered recently and got 7% off, plus two full sized free blush samples. It helps stretch our $$ a little further).

Nothing I've mentioned is all that different or earth shattering than what PPs have said, but I thought I'd add my useless two cents

[Ellien C]

I agree there is a balance here. Let me tell you about myself.

I haven't shaved my legs about 15 years and they arm pits weren't far behind. I decided to have them waxed recently for a special occasion. I buy drugstore make-up and I'm perfectly happy with it. I think you pay for packaging with the fancy dept. store stuff. I don't wear a bra usually.

I also work in an office and wear panty hose and heels daily (One Hanes Place is my best friend! I order them by the dozen, slightly irregular. Same for bras and underwear).

I've bought second hand clothes for myself only a handful of times and I've hated the clothes everytime. It's not for me and I've decided that. I do buy second hand for my daughter. Call my a hypocrite or whatever, but that works for me.

I buy new stuff on-sale and am a great bargain hunter! I didn't color my hair but started recently. I plan to do this until DD graduates HS and then go grey! I figured I saved a lot of money all those early years by not coloring, now it's time. I've got a good bit of grey that I've decided to hide while I've got a young kid.

I spend big money on haircuts and have had 3 manicures and 2 pedis ever in my life. The last mani-pedi-wax for said special occasion. I would not be caught dead in anything the slightest hippie-ish. I'm corporate-tailored or junky shorts and t-shirts.

Just sayin' we're all different here. DH about fell-off the chair when he saw the GA title under my user name. It's not a descriptor that really fits me!

I think you need to look at what makes you feel good about yourself and start there. I've no need for starbucks coffee and manis (but someone else might) but a good haircut and nice clothes are ESSENTIAL for me.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I'm very frugal- I have to be- but I still make room in the budget for myself.

I'm with Ruthla. I have to do that too.

Money is tight, tight, tight at our house, but I cut back in other areas and allocate $100 a month for "Maintenance of Me"

I have found if I don't allocate money for my appearance, then I start to feel frumpy and that leads to feeling sorry for myself and that leads to splurging and spending sprees.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I've bought second hand clothes for myself only a handful of times and I've hated the clothes everytime. It's not for me and I've decided that. I do buy second hand for my daughter.

This makes perfect sense to me. I do this too.

Because my children only wear clothes for one season (and children's clothing at thrift stores is in brand-new shape)

Whereas I will wear a piece of clothing for YEARS. Better for it to start out new and last a long long time.

[pixiewytch]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

"

I have found if I don't allocate money for my appearance, then I start to feel frumpy and that leads to feeling sorry for myself and that leads to splurging and spending sprees.

Wow, this is one of the most brilliant and insightful things I've read.

[LolaMommy]

What a great thread! We are trying to cut back as well. We have a LOT of medical bills that sprung up this year and our cc debt is outrageous. We are trying to pay for everything in cash (including medical bills) and not use cc's. That doesn't leave a lot left over. I have started getting into the au natural stuff. I've been using charlie's soap and have been getting it for $13/80 loads. I also use a lot of vinegar to clean with. Don't laugh, but I have switched to using olive oil instead of lotion Crazy, huh?

Have you thought about selling shaklee? I only say that because in my journey to non-toxic, I have thought about using their products and maybe selling in the future. I have several friends that would buy from me. Nothing to get rich, but maybe make a few extra bucks. I've been making about $100 a month at www.getpaidto.com. That has helped. I have a lot of dd's clothes that she's outgrown that I need to sell as well. I'm kinda having a hard time coming to terms that we won't need them anymore.

I haven't had a pedicure in two years. My hair needs a cut BAD! I'm trying to save up some money so dd and I can go get our hair done together before school.

Good luck and make sure you take care of YOURSELF as well.