I'm still toying with this whole idea in my head, so I figured that I should take a few baby steps this week and see how it feels. Don't get me wrong; I love shopping online! It's just that...like I said...I like touching stuff! I'm not sure if I should allow window shopping in the rules. Thoughts?
I've been kicking around a few beauty blogs this weekend, most notably Musings of a Muse and, of course, old faithful, MUA and I ended up with a few Benefit items on my wishlist. When it comes to makeup especially, I like to shop in person so I can swatch things on my hand and arm and see the color and texture first hand. If I'm going to really go virtual, though, I will have to rely on the kindness of others for my decisions! So here's what I bought!
I decided to get Bella Bamba blush (thanks, Muse) as well as Breakup Rumor lipstick (Temptalia's fault). I chose to shop from the Benefit website directly. The total at this point was $37, since the lipstick is currently half-off from $18.
I then checked ebates and saw they had 3% cashback for the Benefit website, so I logged in and clicked through. Next up was my FAVORITE coupon site, Retail Me Not where I saw nothing that I could use right then, but I noted that there was a free shipping code with a $50 purchase.
A code from Benefit for signing up for their e-mails granted a free eyeshadow with any $35 purchase, which I had already cleared. Putting this eyeshadow in my cart put me at $55 before applying the code, so I knew I had made the free shipping threshold for the RMN code!
Happily, Benefit's website kicks all kinds of ass and allows multiple code usage. I used the free shipping code first, then the free eyeshadow code.
The total? $40.28, including tax.
If I had purchased my items in-store, let's say at Sephora, I'd have spent $50.08 and have no free eyeshadow. That doesn't factor in the cost of gas, or the 3% I will be getting back. Also, I get two free samples from Benefit!
I think I did pretty good, yes?
Please note that the ebates link IS a referral link, and that the pics I used are from Musings of a Muse, Benefit and Temptalia, as noted above.
I guess the easiest explanation is a recount of what happened today.
I've been going back and forth on a new mp3 player for the gym for a few months, and finally decided to get it. Originally I thought to order from Amazon where it was cheapest, but I wanted it Right Away (as usual) so I hopped on over to Target. In-store, the mp3 player was $52.99, however I knew it was on their site for $44.99. It was only $7 less on Amazon, and I decided that was a fair price instant gratification.
Unfortunately, Target apparently engages in consumer asshattery, as they don't honor the prices on their own site. Now, I thought I was being reasonable; I didn't ask them to pricematch Amazon, just....themselves. The look I got from the associate whom I asked made me wonder if he thought I was going to steal it.
Denied, cranky, and not about to spend $16+tax extra, I put it back and turned to leave. As I did, I wondered aloud why anyone even bothers shopping in a store these days. And when I said that, I realized there is generally no good reason to do so, except instant gratification. Which is probably something I should learn to live with less of, anyway.
So here we are.
I'll admit, I'm having second thoughts. My friend Marley will possibly cut me if I back out, though, so at the moment I'm stockpiling resources (Etsy, don't fail me now!) and contemplating a big ol' haul of supplies before my start date.
Suggestions greatly appreciated!
Well met! I'm Sara, a 28 y.o. NYC native and frequent online shopper. My friends and family know that I hate paying full price for most things, and they come to me to help them get what they want at a better deal, or heck, to find it at all. I shamelessly admit that I'm aces at searching for things online; if it's not easily found, I will Google it into existence!
I do spend a lot of time in-stores, though, mostly for comparison shopping. I'm a tactile shopper (which means I'm the girl touching all of the clothes in the store as I browse) so even though I generally get a better deal online, I often opt to go to the store in-person. Preferably armed with coupons. I like knowing the shoes I'm buying will definitely fit, or that the dress I was drooling over is immodestly sheer. I prefer to walk around bookstores and buy what catches my eye.
BUT, I am giving that up. That's right, I'm quitting stores. For one year, I will buy everything I can online. Clothes, shoes, makeup, books, cd's, movies, hair products, cleaning products, and so on. I won't wear it, use it, read it, or listen to it if I can't buy it online somewhere.
I don't know if I will last, but starting April 15th (tax day!) I'm saying goodbye to standing on a line like cattle to be rung up by someone who won't make eye-contact and can't return a "hello". I don't think I will miss that. I will probably miss impulse purchases. Or, ya know, razors, when I forget to order in time. But! I'm interested to see if I can do this, and what changes it will bring about in my life. Will I have more free time? Less, as I search for everything glued to my netbook? Will I save money, or spend more? Will the UPS guy EVER stop asking me "what's in the box"? Oh wait, that last one I already know: nope.
I'm considering opting out of grocery stores, too, but I don't know yet if I can live without Trader Joe's.
Wish me luck!
