Everyone loves a good beauty sale–especially when it runs for two whole weeks. But as the saying goes, “time is money”, and when you’re seduced by 14 days of smoking hot deals at Target, it’s almost impossible to keep your wallet tightly closed. No wonder so many ladies have a love-hate relationship with the 14 Days of Beauty Sale. Sadly for the disorganized shopper, these hot deals can turn into even hotter bills (and a super hot mess in your bathroom). How can you pull back but still spoil yourself?
To avoid the Walk of Shame toward the return counter, you must plan your purchases in advance. The goal is to prioritize your beauty essentials in a shopping list, avoiding too many impulse buys, so you can shop like a winner– without the regret-afterburn.
The Saving Strategies
Plan in advance
With different deals each day that expire after 24 hrs, you’ll need to plan your beauty buys beforehand. Thankfully, all the items on sale for the entire two weeks are already laid out here so you can coordinate when to make your purchases.
It would be nice if the 14 Days of Beauty Sale came with this disclaimer: “Products that seem dear aren’t as crucial as they appear”. Fortunately, however, the guilt of over-shopping won’t affect you if you plan early. The goal is to have leeway in case you change your mind and want to make exchanges.
Last-minute shoppers, on the other hand, won’t have those vital buffer days to decide if they like their products. So if you’re a procrastinator, avoid waiting for the final days of the sale. You need time to evaluate your choices before committing to them, while still having the option of returning products in exchange for better replacements.
Know your needs
The key to saving during the 14 Days of Beauty Sale is knowing your needs. First, identify your top five beauty categories– for example, 1) Skincare 2) Hygiene 3) Fragrance 4) Haircare 5) Makeup. Next, for each category, list the top 2-3 items on your wish list.
Since you’ll likely feel the judgement-clouding effects of a sale shopping, it’s best to keep your item count as low as possible to prepare for the likelihood of some impulse buys. As we all know, you rarely walk out with just the bare necessities– somehow, a few “must-haves” sneak their way into your cart.
Downsize the goods
Once you created your list, the next step is to start shrinking your list– painful but possible. There are two ways to easily decide which items to scratch: 1) sacrifice the ones you need least or 2) ditch the most expensive ones.
If you consider the first option, aim to give up one item from each category on your list. This strategy allows you to save more, yet still make room for some impulse buys while shopping. And ideally, you shouldn’t allow yourself more than 1 impulse buy per beauty category– otherwise, you’ll probably go over budget.
Be a savvy saver
The second saving strategy is to slash the most expensive item from each category on your list. If you’re super savvy, you’ll browse the options first before shopping to take note of which products offer the best discounts.
During the 14 Days of Beauty Sale, all participating brands will be market by 20 to 50 percent off. Although the half-off products are a steal, the ones at 20 perfect off won’t be as friendly on your wallet. To benefit the most from these bargains, only purchase products marked at 40-50 percent off. If you can be disciplined enough to ignore the mediocre sales on products, you’ll feel a lot better about your purchases.
Besides, nothing cramps your conscience like the moment you get home, unpack your new goods, and realize you didn’t need that new fruit-scented facial mist.
The bare necessities
The last saving strategy is to customize your shopping list based on fewer beauty product categories. So instead of choosing items from all five, you’ll just limit yourself to two– for example, skincare and makeup. By curbing your categories, you can focus exclusively on your favorite essentials.
If you can’t narrow it down, take an honest look at your beauty needs by assessing your skin, hair and whatnot, and decide where you demand the most upkeep. Maybe your face has become dry or your fragrance collection is stale. By shopping for products from just one or two necessary categories, you’ll be focusing only on the most vital deals.
Downsize even more
Once you’ve identified your top category or two, cap your product list at eight products. If you’re still concerned about affordability, returned to the savvy saver rule: only choose deals marked at 40-50 percent off.
When you’re shopping with this level of obsessive planning, you’re almost guaranteed to have an affordable spree at the 14 Days of Beauty Sale. And assuming you’ve ever watched the show, Extreme Couponing, you’ve seen first-hand how the best planners get the best savings.
Remember that over the course of two weeks, Target will feature the participating beauty brands both in-store and online. Then, at the stroke of midnight, the discounted products will revert back to their original prices–much like a Cinderella shopping emergency. And hopefully in your case, you’ll return home with more than just a fond memory and a lost shoe.
