Coupons, BOGO, Red Tags and Store Cash

I like getting the new stuff. I like having the new Spring collection of products as soon as they come out. I like being able to read a blog post and say, "Yep, I have the new blah blah blah too!". Getting in on the ground floor of a new product or being in the "in" crowd with a new face lotion or potion feels great. And, most of the time, to be in the "in" crowd you have to pay full price or a slightly discounted price for the new things. You might get a discount code or coupon but that's usually only a few dollars off. I always make sure that I have store dollars in conjunction with coupons and get the best deal I can but sometimes, I like to spend next to nothing for my deals.

That's when endcaps and red tags come in to play. You don't know how happy I get when I see a red tag! And if I have a coupon to add to that red tag...whoa baby!

Do you see that picture up there ↑? I paid $11.33 for the whole kit and caboodle. Yep, I know! This would have totaled $42.60. I paid about 27% of that. I used coupons, BOGO, red tag and store cash. I can't even begin to tell you the feeling you get when you save like that.

It does mean that the items I'm getting are from last season's collection or the item is being discontinued. Purchasing something that is "so 2 seasons ago" can make it difficult when want to review them and it waaaaay to late for your readers to go and pick them up. I try to make sure the reviews are for relevant items but sometimes your favorite nail polish color is one that was discontinued 30 years ago (well, I liked that pink!!). You try to keep those cases to a minimum and stay with the times.

And use the money that you saved with coupons, BOGO, red tags and store cash on the new, hot "in" crowd stuff!

Bee Nice!

(NOTE: I had to edit this post. Once I went back and read my receipt, I realized that my extremely nice sales associate's name was Heather).

Hopefully this post doesn't catch you too late. Hopefully you haven't gone shopping yet. If you haven't, great because we need to talk about your greatest asset in this makeup game, your sales associate. 

I learned very early in life that you have to be nice to everyone. You catch more bees with honey, all that jazz. It is really true though. It doesn't matter where you are going to get your make up products. It can be the corner drugstore or the high end department store -- It's all the same. Be nice and typically you get nice back (we'll talk about what happens when you don't get nice back another day). Your sales associate has the "in". She knows when product comes in, where it's placed, what folks are saying and if they are super nice, they will call you when product comes in or save it just for you!

For instance, yesterday I went it to pick up my Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses (you may have seen the instagram post). I finally found them after being out of stock at THREE stores! I picked them up but noticed they weren't BOGO 1/2 off. I had searched high and low for Fatal Apple & Pinkissimo and now that I had them, I didn't want to let them go. I don't like paying full price for anything BUT those colors are soooo pretty. Well, Heather(a lovely sales associate that was so sweet to me!) offered to see if they had a store coupon. Low and behold she found dollar off coupons! Well that's practically a sale! You see I brought them home!

And, she was sweet enough to offer some samples from an event that they had over the weekend (that I missed just being plain lazy). She was just a really sweet lady all around. I'll make sure that I go to that drugstore now on and I'll make sure I speak with Heather. And, if I get any good stuff, I'll share with her. She is definitely someone to be nice to!

As are most of the sales associates. Most of them are happy to talk to you (if they aren't busy so try to go during slow times in the day). Always speak, maybe tell them how much you like makeup or that you write a blog or that you have a youtube channel. Be friendly! Everyone (almost) likes it when you are friendly. You do get more bees with honey.

Just don't call the sales associate honey.

They don't like that.

I know.

Don't ask.