The Best 5 Ways to Cut Costs on Your Personal CareProduct Purchases
Whether your goal is to minimize the amount of plastic in your life or cut costs on your toiletries, there are several ways you can save money without skimping on quality. Try shopping for products packaged in glass, paper, or metal containers, and favor shops that offer refills.
Adding water to formulas will also decrease the cost of the product (provided the preservative level remains adequate). This is especially effective for reducing fragrance, which is often expensive in personal care products.
Look for Multipurpose Personal Products
Many people think switching to less-toxic personal care products is a big undertaking, but that doesn’t have to be the case. It can be a gradual process that involves gradually replacing your old products with new ones. When making purchases, you can save money by buying multipurpose products instead of single-use products. These can include items like shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer. Additionally, you can look for beauty products available in bulk and purchase them when they’re on sale. Finally, you can also use coupon codes, including Walmart coupons and cashback rewards online shopping. These strategies can help you cut costs on your beauty products and other miscellaneous expenses.
When shopping for products online, it’s best to avoid items fulfilled by a third party, as this can make it difficult to return them through the Amazon returns process if necessary.
Shop at Off-Price Stores
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add quality products to your beauty regimen, a trip to an off-price retailer is the answer. Retailers offer various brands at budget-friendly prices. You can also find bargains at department stores that sell off-brand products.
Some retailers will let you know when their items go on sale, and others have a section highlighting ingredients like phthalates, parabens and sulfates. Big shops, for example, feature an ingredient callouts section on their website that helps shoppers identify products that don’t contain controversial chemicals.
Another option is to shop online and use discount codes and cashback rewards, which can help you save money on purchases. However, the selection on these websites changes daily, so you might need help to pick up every item on your wish list.
Try Store-Branded Products
Savvy shoppers in the United States save more than $40 billion yearly on grocery and household items by choosing store-brand products over name brands. Most store-brand items are made to resemble their name-brand counterparts closely and often include the same ingredients. However, deciding to buy a store-brand or name-brand ultimately comes down to preference. If you prefer name-brand items, you can still save money by shopping at discount stores, buying in bulk and using coupons and cashback rewards. Consumer items tend to be priciest when they first hit the market, so if you are willing to wait for sales, you can score some major discounts on your favorite products.
Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is often a good way to get items that you use regularly for a cheaper price. However, it’s important to remember that you should always check the unit price on the label. This way, you can be sure you are saving money and not just getting more of the same thing for a higher price.
Another great benefit of buying in bulk is that it can help you reduce your environmental footprint. Purchasing items packaged in bulk usually means fewer overall packaging components, which can also reduce the amount of plastic waste produced.
For the best results, buy in bulk for household items like toilet paper and tissues or everyday pantry staples such as flour and oats. But don’t buy in bulk for food items that will expire before you can eat them, which creates waste and defeats the purpose of buying in bulk!
Reduce Fragrance Levels
Fragrance is more than just a pleasant smell; it is also one of the most important factors influencing product and brand perceptions. Consumers judge products based on sensory qualities, including the shape of the packaging, the color of the formulation, viscosity and – most of all – the scent.
Scents are a powerful way to communicate a product’s quality, benefits, user experience and trustworthiness to consumers. They can even be a key factor in product longevity; fragrances that do not meet a customer’s expectations can quickly detract from overall product satisfaction.
Choosing products with minimal or no fragrance is a great way to avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals that can trigger allergies and sensitivities. Look for “fragrance-free” or “parfum-free” on the ingredient list, and consider supporting companies committed to full chemical disclosure. There are also resources online for shoppers who want to maintain a clean beauty and personal care regimen, like the Environmental Working Group’s database and Black Women for Wellness’ pocket guide on ingredients to avoid.