May 28 2009

Cutting Corners

Posted in All Posts, Everyday Life, Misc.

I’ve never been one to scrimp on good hair products.  For years, I have insisted that I had to buy the best so that my hair would curl right or my highlights would stay blonde.  Looking back, I am appalled to think how much money I must have spent each year on $20.00 shampoo and $15.00 hairspray.  It’s not even the brand name I go for, but the supposed quality of the product.

The same applied to makeup.  There is something about walking into the MAC store or going up to the Bobbi Brown counter and seeing the rows and rows of open containers just waiting to be sampled.  Who cares if they’re $18.00 a pop?  We’re talking quality here, right?

This has been my way of thinking for years.  But recently, something has changed.  I could blame it on the economy I guess, but I don’t think that’s it.  I could say it is my desire to go green and support the environment, but I would be lying.

I think what happened is that it finally hit me how much money I have been spending.  So I decided to try a little experiment.  I went to my local Target and I bought a bottle of Pantene shampoo and a matching bottle of conditioner for $5.00.  And you know what?  It wasn’t bad.  In fact, it was very nice.  The smell was good, it left my hair feeling soft, and I didn’t mind using extra to get a good lather because I knew it wasn’t expensive.

So I decided to branch out.  I mean if it worked with hair products, surely it would work with other items too?  Next, I replaced my MAC blotting powder with a Cover Girl compact.  Granted, I have to apply a bit more to get the same coverage, but at $3.50 (compared to $18.00) I can afford to do so.  Then I turned to Loreal and Revlon to replace my MAC lipsticks.  Again, the difference was hardly noticeable.  And finally, the piece de la resistance:  I was able to substitute my $75.00 eye cream (don’t judge) with an over-the-counter product by Aveeno and my eyes are none the wiser.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I haven’t given up the good stuff completely.  There are still some products that I feel I can justify splurging on.  I mean my MAC Glamour V lipstick is irreplaceable.  And Sexy Hair hairspray (which works great, by the way) can be bought at TJ Maxx for $10.00.  So there are some products that remain a necessity on my list, but I have definitely been cutting corners.  And you know what?  The only place I can actually see the difference is in my wallet.

Would you be willing to cut corners with your products?  If so, which products?

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Angela - May 28, 2009 - 4:16 am

Paper products – paper towels and toilet paper in particular. It took a while to find the right toilet paper, but there in an alternative to Charmin that is still 2-ply and not “John Wayne” toilet paper. I am against 1-ply TP because you end up using twice as much so you’re really not saving anything there.

Heidi - May 28, 2009 - 5:04 am

Yo go girl! I got a good chuckle from your “piece de la resistance.” The markup on makeup and hair products is mind-blowing.

What do I skimp on? EVERYTHING except coffee, which isn’t even an expensive hobby, just a mildly high-maintenance one since I have Tim Horton’s coffee shipped from Buffalo to St. Pete every few months.

As you know, I recently started skimping on hair cuts (but not massages.) And then there’s makeup. This is going to sound disgusting, but I’ve been using the same mascara to smudge under my eyes that my mother tossed in the bathroom garbage four years ago.

Granted I use it like a thick eyeliner pencil and just sort of rub it under my eyes, so it’s not like I’m using it for luscious lashes. The beauty of this grubby old mascara is that it’s OLD and therefore smudges perfectly. :)

I stopped buying napkins too. I take ‘em from Chipotle whenever I get a burrito. I’ve been pinching tiny creamers from McDonalds too.

Just kidding. But not about the napkins.

SIDENOTE: Something that’s entirely worth the splurge (brace yourself): Origins Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion Face Scrub. It’s like using 20-grit sandpaper on your face. I love it, but I’m also a brute.

Heidi´s last blog post..The tent diaries

kriss - May 28, 2009 - 5:10 am

Since I adopted my three children and became a stay at home mom I have cut corners on alot of things. Cutting these corners has been wonderful and allowed me to have more money in my pocket to do more fun things with them. Here is an example….

1) Make my own laundry soap, I think it smells and works better than commerical. Costs 7 cents a load versus .40-55 cents. The recipe is at my craft site… http://beewhimsy.blogspot.com

2) I used to go to Sephora and spend $$$ on Philosophy face lotions/soaps. Now I use a homemade (from Goat Milk Stuff) goat milk $5.00 bar soap on my face. I get the oatmeal honey bar and my skin feels great and not tight like most soaps. I have had several friends ask me what I use on my skin because it looks so healthy. I also buy goat milk lotion from Deal Farm Soap Company for my face and love it!!! With shipping… 2oz jar for $12.00

3) I switched from $$$ hairspray to Sally’s Beauty Suppy, Color Defense for $3.99 a bottle. Love it!

4) Instead of spending $110 on highlights with my stylist, I let her cut my hair only and then I got to the local beauty school, ask for someone fixing to graduate and get my highlights for $20 and highlight/lowlight combos for $40. Huge savings!!

5) Instead of buying overpriced shaving gel, I now buy Sauve conditioner and save my legs. Works great, makes my skin soft and is cheap at $1.00 a bottle that last three times as long!

6) I started cloth diapering my son with Bum Genious diapers / Liners from Abby’s Lane. The initial investment was upfront but they paid for themselves in four months and he will have them until he is completely potty trained. Saved us $80.00 a month. If anyone wants more info on cloth diaper email me, krissriley@sbcglobal.net

7) I bought a pressure cooker and made my own baby food for my son. One $3.50 chicken would make him a whole month of food opposed to a .75-95 jar that smelled awful.

8) I still buy my expensive Bare Essentials makeup in the powder base but I now buy cheap Rimmel Bronzer. I gave up my Clinque lipgloss for Covergirl Amazemints. They are awesome. It’s not sticky and has a mint flavor which plumps up the lips.

Sorry this is so long. I am sure I have more but I can’t think of anything else. -kriss :)

erin - May 28, 2009 - 5:22 am

I’m kind of stingy and cheap to begin with so there’s not much that I cut corners on that’s new. The talk for me would be splurging. As in, Bobbi Brown loose powder, which is something like $38 for one container, but it feels SO nice on my face. Or Clinique’s gel lotion stuff, I love that. Otherwise – I sit down religiously every Sunday and clip my coupons, organize them, and make my shopping lists with them so we can (hopefully!) get some good savings.

erin´s last blog post..baby thankfulness

Julie - May 28, 2009 - 5:33 am

I am the opposite of you. Of course, I work with infants to I don’t wear make-up or do my hair everyday. So I don’t buy expensive products in those areas as I only would really use them on the weekends. I also find that the Suave Professionals line of hair care products work very well for me. And I color/highlight my own hair or have my mother (taught beauty school) or sister (went to beauty school) do it for me. I buy the $15 box that has the color and highlights together (currently am Chocolate Macaroon but since it is summer time to switch back to Toasted Coconut) :) .

I do splurge a little on face wash. I use Mary Kay Timewise for combo skin. It is the only thing that helps to keep me from breaking out. And it is really only $18 and last for a year. So not too much of a splurge really.

If I could find something to cut back on, I would. But like kriss, I already do a lot of frugal/thrifty things.

Julie´s last blog post..Canoe and Birthday

admin - May 28, 2009 - 5:40 am

Angela – you definitely have to tell us which toilet paper works! I’ve tried the cheaper Charmin (I think they call it Charmin Basic) and it’s pretty good. Not the real thing of course, but not bad.

Heidi – you’re so funny! Okay, I won’t say anything about the mascara (although I do know what I’ll be sending you once I get your address). And thanks for the tip on the scrub – I’m always looking for new scrubs. Speaking of scrubs, there’s this natural body scrub by LuSa that’s only $6.00 (online) and it’s amazing!!

Kriss – what a great list! I would have never thought of using the Suave for shaving, awesome idea! And I really love the idea for the highlights. Spending over $200 a pop really takes its toll so I will definitely be looking for schools in the area.

Erin – where do you clip coupons? I actually tried finding some recently but maybe I’m looking in the wrong place?

Julie – I’m just impressed that you can do your own hair! And I agree with you that the Mary Kay Timewise is great stuff!

Joanna - May 28, 2009 - 5:41 am

I wash my hair and sometimes even dry it … that’s about as complicated as my “beauty routine” gets. I’m super sensitive to fragrances in lotions (especially the face creams) so I’ve just given up on finding anything I can stand to put on my face. Ah, well.

Groceries are really my area where I’ve been trying to step away from name brands. I’m a semi-picky eater … willing to try stuff, but once I find something I like, I don’t go testing out other options. So, I’m rather brand loyal.

I refuse to buy cheap trash bags.

cher - May 28, 2009 - 6:28 am

i was exactly the same way before. used all high end things, all the time and didn’t consider that there was an alternative. i was thinking last year about how many coupons there are out there and how few people really use them, and started wondering why…so i started using them. first month….i saved over $400. Needless to say, i use the “grocery store” brands now, without batting an eye. I get toilet paper and toothpaste for free now and am happier about the fact that i have stockpiles of supplies for years, rather than the extra that i was spending before!

cher´s last blog post.."what is it????"

the domestic fringe - May 28, 2009 - 6:39 am

Oh, ya, I’ve been cutting corners ever since I had kids. That was the turning point for us financially because I stopped working full-time. There are always trade-offs.

I’ve gone to using Burt’s Bees natural products on my face rather than Aveda products. I love AVEDA products more than food, but they are just too pricey for me right now.

I also love Bumble & Bumble shampoo & conditioner, but too expensive. I use Panteen too.

Makeup is a little harder for me because I break out and get eczema from certain products. I still use drugstore type products, but I try and go with organics in powders and foundation.

Saving money is a good thing. ;-)
-FringeGirl

Linda - May 28, 2009 - 7:12 am

I have found the best way to save money! I let my sister drive everywhere, and once in awhile, I’ll buy the gas. I always offer to take my car, but she insists!

Mindee@ourfrontdoor - May 28, 2009 - 7:26 am

I like Tresemme hair spray and though I use Bare Escentials foundation powder, I balance with Neutrogena cover up and Almay mascara.

Also, a few years back I let my natural color grow in. I discovered that I actually liked it (had been so long I had no idea what color I really was!) The bonus is that I save money at the hairdresser and on product.

Mindee@ourfrontdoor´s last blog post..Lawn OCD

Katie - May 28, 2009 - 7:57 am

I have given up salon treatments. No more $75 haircuts or $25 eyebrow waxings. No more manicures and pedicures. I thought it would be a lot harder than it was. Now, I get my hair cut at Super Cuts for $15 and you’d never know the difference. I do my own eyebrows, manicures, and pedicures. And you know what? It hasn’t been so bad! :)

Katie´s last blog post..Spring Make Over!

Kristina - May 28, 2009 - 8:18 am

I have never been one to spend a ton of money on beauty products. In fact, one of my favorite lipsticks is $1.50 at Target!

Kristina´s last blog post..One Is NOT the Loneliest Number

Terra - May 28, 2009 - 8:20 am

I am stuck up about my shampoo and conditioner because my sister in law owns a salon, but I buy my shampoo when they have sales on the liters so I am not spending THAT much, and it lasts a LONG time.

I’ll be cutting corners on going out to eat, getting coffee at the drive through, buying clearanced baby clothes rather than full priced ones, etc. :)

Terra´s last blog post..Soda Creek

Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com - May 28, 2009 - 8:35 am

Donald and I actually don’t purchase much at all, so it’s hard to say whether or not we cut corners. Neither of us likes clutter or mess, and both of us like to squeeze every bit of utility out of the products we do purchase because we’re green freaks. Kind of. We don’t chain ourselves naked to redwoods or anything like that, but we are both big fans of at least TRYING to live a healthier, more earth-friendly life. So. I don’t really know where we cut corners, but I’m sure we do it all the time without realizing it.

Briony - May 28, 2009 - 8:48 am

good for you! i am already a bargain shopper so cutting the corners for me would be not buying anything at all ahha…which I am sure there are some things i don’t need but at the moment i only buy makeup like 4 times a year and shampoo and conditioner like you said can be found for pennies…if anything I could cut back on my Deo…haha i love the Secret Clinical it lasts all day and all night but costs $10 a pop. i could probably find an off brand for a lil less…i will get looking!

Briony´s last blog post..loves canvas

Julie - May 28, 2009 - 10:57 am

I thought of one thing this morning after I already left for work. You can get a lot of high end products brand new, never opened on ebay for a lot cheaper than in the store. It is a great way of being able to still use high end stuff without the high end price. My sister buys all her origin and Mary Kay stuff through ebay.

Julie´s last blog post..Canoe and Birthday

Hokie Deb - May 28, 2009 - 11:17 am

–>I now color my own hair and spend $6 for a box of dye vs. $100 for highlights. It’s actually easy to do and I keep up on my roots more often since it’s so cheap.

Good for you on making the switch on so many products.

http://thaxtonfam.blogspot.com

Serene - May 28, 2009 - 1:25 pm

I had to laugh. I’ve been buying the cheapest of the cheap to save money for so long that I am now branching out and spending that couple extra bucks for something a little better.
Like, I really like MAX FACTOR foundation SOO much better than the cheap Cover Girl. So I now pay $7 for a bottle instead of $3.50. I feel quilty every time, but its worth it!
I’m not sure what I would cut corners on. I’m pretty sure we do on everything already wich gets really old sometimes.
Oh well, “live now as other won’t so you can live later as others can’t.” -Dave Ramsey

Right?

Serene´s last blog post..The Muddy Crossroads of Motherhood

Tabitha Blue - May 28, 2009 - 7:08 pm

Oh yeah I totally get that!!! I always liked my ‘nice’ products, but we’ve been scrimping in alot of areas lately. A big one is my razor, I like the good expensive ones, but recently we clipped some coupons and got alot of middle-of-the-road disposables for almost nothing. I miss mine a little, but have been using these and my wallet definitely sees the difference!

:)
~Tabitha~

freshmommyblog.com

Tabitha Blue´s last blog post..Splash.

sparkly_jules - May 28, 2009 - 9:31 pm

I have been miss super-cheap since quitting my job in 2005 to go back to college; finish college in 2008 and then not find a job for ten months….I really love Loreal lipsticks, and they are all on sale right now for $5.99, at every store that carries them. They must be getting ready to discontinue them! Boo hoo!

As for Mary Kay, I’m putting together an order right now–I’m a ‘lapsed consultant.’– all cosmetics and skincare for MY COST–that’s 50% off retail. Hostess gifts for $13- (my cost) plus tax of 7.25%. WHY?? Because if I don’t put one in soon, I will lose my active status as a consultant and I can’t afford a $200- wholesale order (I buy for myself for the year). If anyone is interested, you can contact me through my web site and we can go through PayPal so everyone feels safe and secure.

BTW, I’ve used MK skincare for 12 years, and no one ever guesses my age. I’m 46 and people usually think I’m 32-35. Seriously! I’m vain enough to enjoy that. lol

Cheers,

Jules

http://allthatsparkles.typepad.com/

sparkly_jules´s last blog post..There’s No Avoiding It

erin - May 29, 2009 - 3:54 am

Tabitha – they come in our Sunday paper. They are mixed in with all the ads and the comics. I just sort through the ads and find the “booklet” of coupons.

Also I meant to mention this before but forgot, there is a book somewhere by this woman Paula something who has tested pretty much every single beauty product known to man. It’s called something like “Don’t Forget to Take Me to the Makeup Counter” or something. She talks about why certain ingredient formulations are good or bad and how different products work and what is good and what she would not recommend. Pantene (conditioner especially) she says is one of the best shampoos/conditioners, at least for drugstore products. I love Pantene and ever since I read that I have vowed not to switch. I have tried occasionally in the past but have never found anything that I like as much as Pantene.

erin´s last blog post..tired.

Robynn's Ravings - May 31, 2009 - 3:07 pm

I agree that lots can be substituted and I’ve done the same thing. The ONLY thing that I think is worth paying for is GOOD SKIN CREAM. (Yes, I pay a LOT and it’s my one indulgence once a year.) I’ve tried other things and noticed a huge difference in my skin. But hey, I’m old so, I can’t afford to mess with success! lol

Robynn’s Ravings´s last blog post..Bo, The Graduate 2009

Alzo - June 1, 2009 - 3:10 am

Nice post! Interesting to think about ways to save money. It is good to reexamine habits every once in a while, and it is really nice to discover that our old ways of doing things are not necessarily the best for us moving forward. Thanks for making me think.

Madison - June 1, 2009 - 4:54 pm

Yep, the only difference you can tell a difference is your wallet. The markup on things is riduculous.

I think it’s ok to splurge on some things since you’ve cut corners in others.

Madison´s last blog post..

Irena - June 11, 2009 - 4:57 pm

wow – so true… I do not use any make up, so no spending there ever, but I have not met a lipgloss I have not liked, so this post definitely made me think about my spending! Thank you! We are planing a family in the future and I am definitely on savings kick! I also have to confess that I get a professional color and cut, and i can probably get a cheaper color somewhere else, but I really love my hairdresser and I know that she depends on me, her customer, to spend money, and I would feel terrible if I were to leave now… plus she does wonders with my fine hair! I cringe every time I pay, but I think this is one thing I will keep…

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