I found a deal, or so I thought, on running shoes that I like at Rue La la, but there is a better deal at shoe buy.com and an 8% rebate if I buy through mrrebates. But I decided I really don’t need them so didn’t buy them. Would have been $90 and I find that this thread makes me buy things I don’t need!
@raclut: That is some unfortunate, bad shopping mojo following you around. Did the mental distraction of focusing on something else help?
My first post to this thread. I love getting a good buy! My husband jokes that I have Nordstrom tastes with a Target budget, so I am always on the lookout for deals on “higher end” stuff. Here are 2 good buys I found yesterday:
Good Buy 1) Ulta is having their 50% off clearance stuff sale through today, in store only. There were large (liter, I think?) bottles of Redken shampoos and conditioners marked on clearance (originally $30 each) for $14.99, so they were $7.49 each with the additional 50% off. That’s a great price for a high-end brand of shampoos and conditioners - even cheaper than what I pay for a similarly-sized bottle of Pantene at Costco - so I bought 3 bottles of each.
Good Buy 2) The REI outlet is offering $20 off a $100 online purchase. I was able to get a Northface “Resolve” rain jacket and a Northface “Glacier” quarter zip pullover for $79.46 total plus tax. Shipping was free. A similar Northface rain jacket alone is $79.90 at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and the same pullover alone is $35.90 at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale right now, so the REI Outlet total price was fantastic. I really needed a good rain jacket and my daughter really needed a nice fleece pullover, so I’m glad I got this deal!
Makes me want to run right out to Ulta.
@jym626 I feel you. Yesterday, I was so tempted with the dog bed, but after a few deep breaths decided it was not something I needed. The dogs are perfectly happy sleeping in my bed and on the couch!
@thumper1 I was told I needed high-end glasses that cost upwards of $300 a pair and discovered Zenni Optical online and pay about $15 or less per pair instead. You can get all manner of add-ons, coatings, polarized, bifocals, etc. though not as cheaply as single-vision lenses. I only am covered for every 2 years as well, and only for $100 per pair. I say, screw that and get as many pairs as I like (I need one prescription for reading, one for driving, and one for sunglasses, if I want to drive in the sun). You got a great deal, but go check out Zenni. You can even get themed ones for each season, if you’re that type., My mom would have been all over that.
I may have to tell D about Ulta. It’s her go-to place for make up and I know she wants to get some new things before she leaves for college. My wallet may not appreciate that, however.
@khmama You are good to go on shampoo/conditioner for a longtime.
Reading your post had me wondering if there was an Ulta store near me. I like to buy the liter bottles too but I purchase Paul Mitchell.
@Waiting2exhale Feeling much better today as I am making sure that I put those rebates in the mail otherwise I will forget. Hope to get $20 rebate check back in the mail in a few weeks.
I have been fortunate to find deals $10 and under this month with all the sales. The most expensive item was about $13 and that was the Columbia fleece jacket mentioned on this thread. I can’t think of anything else I need. Knock on wood.
@khmama, good to know about Ulta, although I’m not sure I can make it there today. Do they have this sale often? I’m a rewards member (or whatever it’s called) and I didn’t know about it. Sounds like a great sale.
@Undercovermom1 - Uup-- spending $ needlessly. And to add insult to injury, when something goes on sale and I have already bought it with less of a deal (bought DS#2 patagonia ski pants on clearance at REI but not with that extra discount) so now I feel bad. I do have a $30 off to spend at zappos. Thinking about that. If I dont use it, PM me if someone wants the code. I haven’t decided yet what to do.
@collage1 I just happened upon the Ulta 50% off clearance sale by luck. My daughter had asked me to go there for the liter Bed Head shampoos and conditioners on sale for $12.99. As I typically do, I headed to the clearance section first and found the Redken stuff. I remember going there about 6 months ago and getting the same 50% off clearance deal. That time, I got some great Ulta body washes for very cheap. One even cost just one cent, lol. I’m guessing that they have the 50% off clearance sale at least twice a year. Ulta always has another terrific clearance sale right after Christmas.
^ Yup, not uup. Sorry for typo.
My Ulta did not have Redken on the clearance rack. Our Ulta the clearance rack is pretty weak.They are having the liter sale on Redken for 15.99. That is a good price. I think the liter sale might go till end of month.
There wasn’t much let at Ulta, but D found several smaller make up items, and we each found a hair product for only $1.50 apiece. Hers is a braiding gel and mine is a hair thickener. Score! I did not see any Redken on sale. The additional 50% off clearance was only for this weekend at our store.
Do shampoos and conditioners have an expiration date?
@khmama, thanks for posting your great find! I always thought Ulta’s stuff are overpriced but you just changed my mind. Please post when they have another sale like this one.
@4beardolls you have to shop there the way D does. She goes in, looks at the testers, tries them out, asks the girls who work there for ideas, then goes home and researches “dupes” of the expensive brands that can be found over in their less expensive section. It works out well for her, based on the number of make up items she has on her dresser.
Just got a Tommy Bahama swim bottoms for $8 and a nice tropical sunset print swim top for $15. And a $90 rashguard for $35. These 6pm items are not showing on Amazon!
Also, there is 25% off already reduced swim stuff at Bare Necessities. On Amazon, the discount did not show.
@4beardolls Sure, I’d be happy to post the next time I see another sale at Ulta!
“Do shampoos and conditioners have an expiration date?”
I’m sure the shampoos companies would like to convince you this is the case. My answer would be no.
I took items out of storage which I could not stand to do earlier because of the painful memories attached and found that not only were the conditioners, shampoos and hand soaps all fine to use, but that, with the exception of one of the more rich conditioners which needed a bit of water added to increase flow, there was absolutely no qualitative difference in that stuff and the stuff I’d been buying and using regularly,
You didn’t ask about this, but I will tell you the one thing which does not hold up to years on the shelf is liquid fabric softener. I buy some every 5 or so years because I see a nice looking bottle, but I am so scent-sitive that I really can’t use most things. I forget to reach for them because of the sensitivity, and when I think about it maybe three years after purchase I find that it would need reconstituting and maybe some dredging of the glops, so out it goes.
After about two years without any on the shelf I find I enter a cycle of want, get, repeat.
“I’m sure the shampoos companies would like to convince you this is the case. My answer would be no.”
My answer is YES, with a caveat. It is not the shampoo per se that goes bad, it is the antioxidant compounds that do. Those oils have parts that break down when they “capture” atmospheric oxygen forming unpleasant-smelling (and not so good for you) compounds. Think rancid nuts - that’s where the rancidity comes from. That said, your shampoos will not go bad quickly. Store your stash of shampoos tightly capped, in a dark, cooler spot, and they will last a while.