20 Clever Ways to Save Big on Personal Care Products and Services
Personal care costs like hair cuts, cosmetics, toiletries, etc. can really add up over time. But you don’t have to sacrifice looking and feeling your best to stay on budget. With some smart shopping strategies and simple habits, you can cut your personal care expenses significantly. Here are 20 proven tips to save big on all your personal care needs.
1. Make your own products:
Many personal care items like face masks, body scrubs, and hair treatments are easy to make at home using inexpensive ingredients like honey, oatmeal, olive oil, etc. Making DIY versions allows you to avoid pricey retail markups. Pinterest and beauty blogs have tons of simple recipes.
2. Buy generic/store brands:
Name brand personal care products are heavily marked up. Opt for more affordable generic versions of basics like soap, shampoo, deodorant, cotton balls, etc. Most generic formulas are just as effective as name brands at a fraction of the cost.
3. Use coupons:
Whether you clip them from the Sunday paper or browse coupon websites, using coupons is an easy way to save 20-50% off your favorite personal care brands every time you shop. Stack coupons with sales for even bigger savings.
4. Join loyalty/rewards programs:
Most drugstores and beauty retailers offer loyalty programs that earn you cash back or discounts. Signing up is free and the savings add up quickly on your frequent personal care purchases.
5. Shop at discount stores:
Stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and beauty outlets sell name brand personal care products for 20-60% off retail prices. You can stock up on your favorite items for far less.
6. Buy multipurpose products:
Multi-use products consolidate what you need to buy. For instance, a good moisturizer can double as a face cream, hand lotion, and body lotion. You’ll spend less overall.
7. Ask for personal care gifts:
Add personal care items to your birthday and holiday wish lists. Having others gift you those pricey salon hair products or designer perfumes helps offset what you’ll spend out-of-pocket.
8. Use minimal product:
Be conscious of how much product you actually need to get the job done. Using just a dab of hair gel, body wash, or skin cream each time can make your supply go much further.
9. Simplify your routine:
The more products you use, the more you’ll spend trying to keep them all stocked. Streamline your daily personal care regimen to just the essentials to keep costs lean.
10. Conserve containers:
Don’t toss that “empty” bottle away just yet. You can often get several more uses out of a container by adding water to reconstitute the product remnants. Or remove the cap to finally access those last drips.
11. Use less often:
Do you really need to replace that $20 conditioner every 4 weeks? Stretching out your consumption by shampooing or conditioning less often makes supplies last longer between replenishes.
12. Check for deals and sales:
Before any personal care purchase, quickly scan ad previews and discount sites to see if the item you need is being offered for less somewhere else that week. You’ll regret an overpay.
13. Cut back on salon services:
Routine salon services like color, cuts, manicures, etc. are major expenses. Stretch out the time between appointments as long as comfortably possible. Or alternate pricey treatments with at-home versions.
14. Learn DIY hair/nails:
Speaking of at-home, you can bypass the high salon fees altogether by teaching yourself how to properly trim your own hair, give yourself manicures/pedicures, and apply your own color refreshers.
15. Join salon training programs:
Many beauty schools offer salon services like cuts, color, and mani/pedis for a tiny fraction of normal prices as their students get hands-on training. You’ll get pampered on a budget.
16. Go minimal with makeup:
A full face of makeup uses lots of pricey product. Get by with just a few versatile, multi-purpose makeup products used sparingly. The “no makeup” look is in anyway!
17. Sample before buying:
Before splurging on new cosmetics or grooming products, look for free sample promotions so you can try them out first. Many brands offer affordable sample sizes too.
18. Use cashback/rebate sites:
Earn cash back on all your online personal care purchases by shopping through cash-back websites and apps like Rakuten, BeFrugal, etc. The rebates will shave 2-5% off your totals.
19. Check for leaks/spills:
That good smelling personal product may have leaked out all over your bathroom cabinet or purse unnoticed. Check containers for cracks or loose caps to avoid major wastage.
20. Use what you have:
Lastly, make an effort to truly use up every last drop of the personal care products you already own before buying more. You’ll avoid needless replenishment costs.
Conclusion: Save Money on Personal Care
Personal care is an important part of looking and feeling your best, but the costs certainly don’t have to weigh heavy on your wallet. By applying even just a few of the money-saving tips outlined above, you can dramatically reduce what you spend on personal grooming, beauty products, and salon services.
It really comes down to adopting smarter shopping habits and being a more conscious consumer overall. Seek out discounts, utilize multi-purpose products, and stretch out your supplies. Take advantage of affordable alternatives like DIY recipes, generic brands, and cut down on unnecessary costs like salon visits.
With a bit of effort and mindfulness about your spending, you can maintain an effective personal care routine without putting a major dent in your budget. Look fabulous for far less and use those savings to treat yourself in other ways! Your future self (and bank account balance) will thank you.
So don’t delay, implement these personal care money-saving strategies starting today. You have nothing to lose and hundreds of dollars to gain annually. Prioritize being penny-wise on personal pampering and you’ll free up plenty of funds for other financial goals and splurges. It’s an easy win-win!
