Fighting the Urge to Splurge

Oct 20, 2016
3 min read

Photo: Mark Metcalfe

nymag.com

This is a topic that we all are familiar with. Whether it be on bags, shoes, tech, or makeup we have all found ourselves spending maybe a few dollars too many on an item that we must have in our possession immediately. Now, since my blog focuses on makeup and beauty I will be discussing the problem that all makeup lovers face. Which is choosing to indulge in the bounty of makeup goods that release constantly. Or to be responsible and save the money like a mature adult. Although the latter sounds less intriguing than the first, we all feel that saving our cash would have been the best choice when we find ourselves scavenging for change in the car to buy lunch before the next payday. Oh but we do so rocking out new cosmetic purchase on our faces whilst we smile at the drive thru attendant who reluctantly takes the hand full of coins. :)

Now , some of you may be more fortunate than I and are able to buy all the makeup that your little heat desires. However, I know that there are a lot of you guys and girls out there who would love to get your hands on the latest makeup creations but just don't have the extra coins to spare. I came upon this topic when I saw a Facebook post where a fellow makeup lover was asking the group which makeup pallet she should purchase. She expressed that she wanted all three but was trying to stick to a budget. The three pallets that she was considering was the limited edition Mario palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills ($45 U.S.), the Makeup Geek Autumn Glow eyeshadow bundle($49 U.S.), or the Huda Beauty Rose Gold Textured eyeshadow pallet ($65 U.S.). That's close to $160 just for eyeshadows. That is literally a makeup bill! I don't know about you all, but I certainly don't have the extra cash to spend lots of money on makeup, considering I'm adulting these days and I have plenty of makeup. So I've come up with a few things that may help all of us who struggle with this problem.

M.A.C. receipts from the Selena makeup release. There were three of them. Yikes!

1. Consider whether you really need it/ don't have anything like it.

This may seem like a rational step for everyone to consider. However, when you are hypnotized by the urge to add that new palette to your cart and click checkout, being rational is not in the equation. So I urge you all to consider if the item you want to purchase is something that you really need to add to your collection or do you want it because it is new. Look and see if you have makeup that could serve as a "dupe" for what you're about to buy. Consider how frequently you would use it. If you are someone who sticks to neutral looks maybe a colorful eyeshadow palette wouldn't be that useful to you even though it is gorgeous.

2. Will it break the bank?

This question may also seem redundant to some but it is an important one. One should never choose makeup over paying for something important or something that you actually need. Now if you were going to buy Chipotle for lunch you could probably skip that and spend the $10 on a drugstore lipstick (maybe skip a few Chipotle meals and have more to spend). But if buying the new collection at M.A.C will cause you to pay your light bill late and resort to eating Ramen three times a day then maybe you shouldn't buy it.

3. Is it something that can wait?

Often times makeup releases are limited edition or the products are seasonal. This creates demand for the product. If there are limited quantities buyers know that if they want the product they must get it before it is sold out. However, if the makeup item that you want will be available for while it may be best for your pockets to wait and save some extra cash for the purchase. If you are aware of an upcoming release try to save some money in advance.

I hope that these tips are helpful to you all in the future. Comment/ E-mail me with some tips that you may have. Subscribe to my e-mail list so you can get updates.

Thank you so much for reading!

Stay beautiful inside and out,

MAURA MARIE