How to Save Money & Still buy Makeup




This is one question my friends are constantly asking. How can I afford it?

Those of you who don't know, I am currently in the process of doing up a flat/buying a house with my other half. With this comes with constant bills or saving - with little to no money for things like makeup *cries*

So here are my top tips on saving money where you can, yet still managing to treat yourself!






1. DO NOT IMPULSE BUY
This one is without a doubt the hardest. That feeling you get when you swatch something and love it - not to just buy it straight away and think later. Do yourself a favour, take a deep breath, put it down and go for a walk, even if you are still obsessing over it an hour later - its better to buy it then than buying it as soon as you see it.

2. DOUPES ONLY WORK WHEN YOU DON'T WANT THE HIGHEND VERSION.
This is another one I fall for all the time, thinking "Oh just get it its £7.99 and it's just like that MAC one" guess what? you are still going to want that MAC one, so now you have spent £23.49 on a MAC lipstick and a drugstore one you will never use. Pointless.

3. CHEAP THINGS ALL ADD UP
Yes all those trips to boots where you buy a few bits because they are on offer, leave spending +£20 you didn't mean to spend. It really does all add up, and half the time you are buying things you didn't need in the first place.

4. MAKE AN INVENTORY
Put out all your blushes and take a photo, so you have 10 pink blushes all the same? Don't be tempted to buy anymore. Same goes for lipsticks, I know - the horror.

5. USE WHAT YOU OWN, AND REPLACE WHEN YOU FINISH
This one is a big one, which I do no problem, but have seen so many people who own 10+ foundations, countless mascaras. My rule is if it has an expiry date of 6 months you should own one - two at the very most. Don't buy things you already have and won't finish in time.
 
6. JUST BECAUSE ITS HIGHEND DOES NOT MEAN ITS WORTH ITS PRICETAG
This one is hard, because its hard to know which items are worth the price. My key is that items like Mascara, eyeliner, are pretty awesome from brands like Maybelline. There is no need to go highend. whereas items like foundation and eyeshadow can often be worth the investment.. which leads me onto...

7.RESEARCH
Lusting after something? look up swatches, reviews, get a sample if you can. Make sure you are 100% about something before you buy it - especially if it has a big price tag. If the blogging world says its not worth it - don't bother. But beware of sponsored posts and items sent out for free, quite often a product does deserve a good review, but does the blogger then continue to use it? Does it keep showing up in their posts? That is how to spot a good product.

8. SHOP AROUND. WAIT ON DEALS.
Debenhams & Boots are the best for offers and deals. Constantly offering points promos or 10% off, it all starts adding up. So when you buy things it will in one way or another be rewarding you back. It's a win win situation.

So there is my top tips for saving money, what are yours? Do you struggle with spending in the beauty halls? Let me know in the comments below

19 comments

  1. Great tips!
    I'm so awful at buying lots of little bits in 3 for 2 offers and getting a mini heart attack at the till..
    ♥ Fran - www.frannymac.com xx

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    1. I used to do this all the time, then wish I hadn't done it! I haven't done it in months :) so proud :)

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  2. Great tips! I'm the worst for buying loads of cheap, little bits on my lunch break while buying a Boots meal deal! I always make use of my points though xx

    Laura | Lala London: Beauty & Lifestyle

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    1. I used to do this all the time, boots is such a good meal deal, but argh the makeup is so appealing! I still look, but use my phone and show myself how much its actually going to cost now, so I save for something I actually want instead :) Boots points system is awesome though :)

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  3. I'm quite good at saving money and I do some of these tips myself plus it's sometimes good to be tight haha it takes me ages to go out for the splurge on a high end product

    Leanne | www.oohsimplething.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I'm exactly the same, but right after this post went live I did one hell of a haul (but I had been saving for so long!)

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  4. Haha I need to write these tips down somewhere for me to look at everyday :D being a little bit addicted to blogging and blogs, I always read as many reviews of products as possible before purchasing something, but sometimes swatches surprise me and I like to try out new things. I also like to plan ahead.. I write down how much money I want to save and how much I'm 'aloud' to use each month.
    Thanks for the great post! I'm sure many girls really nees this :)
    Hugs and kisses! Mmwwaah!
    Emma xxx

    www.wellemma.com

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    1. I do exactly the same with my money, allocate myself spending money then once its gone its gone! :) I do love finding things I haven't seen before, especially when its such a good product :)

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  5. I definitely have to take a page out of your book! These are all great tips. I know I'm a victim of not using what I own. I have about 100 champagne eyeshadows (bit of an exaggeration) and I just keep buying more !!

    Kathy xx
    www.alongcamekathy.blogspot.com

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    1. I'm the same with gold ones, honestly could never have enough of them! We all have a weakness! But I do try to tell myself no :)

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  6. These are great tips! I try to avoid impulse buys, it really helped me save a lot. I should just sleep on it to see if I really need it and if I will actually use it. Just because something looks pretty, it doesn't mean that I need it :)
    Good luck with saving for the house, I hope you will get your own place soon :)

    Ela BellaWorld

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    1. aww thank you so much lovely. impulse buys are my downfall too, but once I stopped I realised how much money I was wasting before :)

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  7. I know what you mean about the dupe thing :') if you're going to cave and get the 'real thing' anyway then you might as well skip the middle man haha. I realised I impulse-buy a lot in Boots/Superdrug but it really adds up! I've started avoiding picking up affordable products I haven't thought through properly xx

    Jasmine Talks Beauty

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    1. I was so bad for trying to find something like it, spending the same amount on trying to find a product like it then buying the one I wanted anyway. serious problems lol :) Glad someone did the same!

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  8. This post title is heaven :) Great tips, super useful and good for my wallet. Thanks :)
    Ivona from www.thesmokedetector.net
    xoxo

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  9. I love this post. I find myself continuously buying make up that I don't need. I think I have 7 lipsticks in the same colour!

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  10. Such great tips! I'm going to have to do the photo inventory - pure brilliance :) I'm the WORST for buying like 8 different products that are basically all exactly the same!
    Rebecca x - www.thestyleshake.com

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  11. BRILLIANT TIPS. And yes, cheap things all add up. I definitely hold on buying expensive make up products but sometimes i tend to go a little overboard. Making an inventory of what i have and what i REALLY want will def. help!

    xx Carina

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  12. Great tips! I'm feeling proud, I've only spent £20 on makeup in the last month. I've really been thinking about what I've already got in my collection and how I can use all my products in different ways!

    http://claresloves.blogspot.com/

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