financial

8 Sephora Hacks from Top Coupon Bloggers

This post originally appeared on the Dealspotr blog. Dealspotr is the most accurate coupon site that pays you to save. I’m @MoneySavingQueen on Dealspotr, use my link to join today and earn 5,000 bonus points.

Sephora is one of the top beauty retailers in the country, but their couponing policies can be confusing. You can sign up for their Beauty Insiders rewards program, but are you taking advantage of all the benefits it offers? We asked top coupon bloggers around the web to share their Sephora savings secrets. Here are their best tips:

Purchase gift and sampler sets to save money in the long run

This winning tip is from One Frugal Girl, of the blog OneFrugalGirl.com. Perfume is expensive, and it can be hard to know which perfume will smell the best on you in the long-run. A sample set gives you a few options to try, while also occasionally offering free full-sized bottles!

Purchase value and gift sets rather than individual items. You will save a ton of money by buying a box of items rather than buying each item individually. You can often save up to 60 or 70% by purchasing this way. If you like to wear perfume check out the Sephora perfume sampler sets which often include a certificate for a free full size bottle of your favorite perfume from the sampler. That’s right you can receive a full size bottle of your favorite perfume for free!

Join the Beauty Insiders program to get a free birthday gift

Kathy McClure keeps a list of freebies on her blog, Frugal Lancaster, and this is one offered at Sephora if you sign up for their rewards program.

My favorite Sephora tip is their free gift on your birthday! Why? Because so many freebies on your birthday are free food from restaurants. Its always a special treat to get something other than food free—and Sephora’s gifts are always really unique too! Just sign up for their FREE Beauty Insider Club and you automatically get the coupon for the free gift on your birthday. You’re gonna love it! I keep a list of all the birthday freebies in our area here: www.frugallancaster.com/birthday-clubs/

Cash in your Beauty Insider points in-store

Ashley Drewes found a hack that rewards you for heading to a physical Sephora store to shop. Check out her blog, Closet of Free Samples.

A little known fact worth repeating: If you’re a Beauty Insider of any level, you have to make a purchase online in order to cash in points for products. However, this isn’t the case in-store. You can just pop up at the counter, ask to trade them in, and walk out with a free mini haul.

Mark the semi-annual sales on your calendar

Anyone can become a Beauty Insider, but you have to spend a certain amount at Sephora throughout the year to become a VIB ($350) or VIB Rouge ($1,000) member. And Barbara Ritzman, of the blog Barbie’s Beauty Bits, found a way for these members to save.

Twice a year VIB and VIB Rouge members [note: these memberships require a certain amount to be spent at Sephora per year] get a 20% Off Discount. So save your must-have purchases for this time of year. Usually, happens in Spring time around March or April and November.
No brand exclusions, which is the best part!
No purchase limit you can make during this event.
This discount works at Sephora instore and online, Sephora inside JCPenney locations but does not work on the JCPenney website.

Maximize your freebie haul, both in-store and online

Pam Schmitt of Pammy Blogs Beauty shared how everyone can get free samples, even if you’re not a Beauty Insider.

Sephora is a great store for Freebies! Both online and in-store. Online, you get 3 free samples with every purchase, plus if you have codes you can get additional samples with each order. In-Store, the Sephora associates make fantastic samples. You can pretty much get take-home samples of anything in the store. You just have to ask and an associate will make you a sample. I believe you can get up to three samples per each category of items (even expensive eye creams! great way to save).

Sign up for free two-day shipping

If you’re a frequent online Sephora shopper, you might consider the Sephora FLASH subscription. Thanks to Angie Beechan of Luv Saving Money for the tip!

Pay just $10 and get FREE 2 day shipping for 1 year. Even if you only order from Sephora two or three times a year, it more than pays for itself.

Stay on top of in-store events and classes

For free services and classes on hair and makeup, Erin Huffstetler of My Frugal Home knows where to look.

One time they were offering free up-dos in their salon. I scheduled an appointment. Then, took a new headshot for my website afterwards. Right now, they’re offering a free makeover and photo shoot combo. Pretty nice freebie. Here’s where they post the store events: https://www.sephora.com/store-locations-events?tab=events
They also offer lots of free classes. If there are makeup techniques that you want to learn, this is a great way to get hands-on advice from experts. There’s a class on teen makeup that would be really fun to take your daughter to. https://www.sephora.com/store-locations-events?tab=classes

Be socially active

Shayna Wiwerski says to keep tabs on Sephora’s social media sites for deals.

Check their Facebook page, they often post promo codes for extra products exclusive for Facebook users who like their page.

You can read more Sephora savings tips on the Sephora contest forum thread, and we’d like to congratulate @OneFrugalGirl for winning a $25 Sephora gift card for sharing the most interesting and original tip! Be sure to check out this week’s contest by posting your best savings tips at Macy’s.

I have lived in Oklahoma since I was 3 years old and even though tornadoes are our thing, you never really get used to them. Just like my fellow Oklahomans, I have hid in bathtubs, closets, under desks and more recently, in our own tornado shelter. In this state, I truly believe a tornado shelter is one of the best investments you could ever make. You would not believe the peace of mind it brings!

That all being said, it’s March and we have already been greeted by a tornado watch. That means, it’s time for me to vacuum out the shelter and get all the gear ready and I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing too. A few years ago, I came up with a little tornado checklist and I go back over it every single year.

I thought I would share my list with you today in case you’re new to our windy weather or just want a little recap. It never hurts to be prepared!

10 Things You Need to Be Prepared for Tornado Season

Weather Radio: Do not rely on your cell phone to see you through a storm, it is super easy to lose service. Invest in a weather radio that is battery powered which means, you’ll need some extra batteries too.
Flashlights and Lanterns: These lanterns are the absolute greatest thing. They are bright and last forever plus, they’re easy to grab during a storm and easy for your kids to hold too.
Water: Ideally, you’ll want about one gallon of water per person. I grab a case of water and keep it in our tornado shelter.
Shoes: Do not forget shoes. Keep them near your shelter (bathtub or closet) especially if the weather is questionable. You don’t want to be caught in a real tornado having to walk through fallen trees and splintered wood barefoot.
First Aid Kit: Skip throwing a few things together and purchase a real first aid kit. You’ll want to be prepared especially if you have kids.
Cash, Credit Cards & Your ID: Make sure your money and ID is easy to grab in the event of a storm, you’ll need those items if something really hits. Even better, put them in a plastic Ziploc bag so they are not damaged by any water, you can throw your cell phone in there too.
Medication: Keep a bag nearby and throw all of your medication inside. Similar to the bag with your money and ID, you’ll want this to be easy to grab in the event of a real emergency.
Batteries & Chargers: Do not forget extra batteries, you can always stash candles and matches too but batteries are a must have for flashlights especially if the electricity is out for quite awhile.
Pet Supplies: Anything you need for your pets, have an emergency stash ready to go and consider toys, blankets, etc to help keep pets calm.
Extra Clothing: Just in case you are woken up in the middle of the night by tornado sirens, you’ll want to have some extra clothes. Get together a stash of clothing and keep it in your shelter or nearby so you can grab in a hurry.

Being prepared is a big deal, these things are not what you want to worry about while you’re tracking a storm. Gather as much as you can together now so you are completely ready to go. If you need more information about tornadoes and tornado preparedness, please visit RedCross.org. And, don’t forget to download all your favorite weather apps!