Be smart about flash sales (+my history with bath and body works)

The flash sale sign that every "MiNiMaLiStIc AeStHeTiC" Instagram fashion company uses
(Source:Kathy Jones Aesthetics)

Flash Sales. My god- I am shuddering at the flashing banners of flash sales that pop up in my emails on a daily basis from multiple retailers. And you know (!!!) it's always for stuff that you probably have copious amounts of. Guilty as charged, officer. For example - I am still recovering from my shopping binge from bath and body works of 2016 and 2017 in which I went there every single weekend to buy 75% off body washes and hand soaps. I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. I HAD AN ISSUE. (past tense) 😁

Now do you think that I truly needed those body washes and hand soaps – nope! I basically only shopped because there was a deep discount sale at the current point in time. Also- I went to fill the endless void created by emotional scarring that capitalism says can be filled with sparkly shiny things. (oh and having actual income from my first adult job post college graduation may have had something to do with it. But I totally refuse to own up to it. hmphh!)

So let's talk about it. Preferably over a hazelnut latte at a cute corner cafe. ~Daydreaming~

Should we go shopping because there is a major sale going on?

Yes and no. I will parse it out below.

One of the existential questions that every avid retail shopper has is;

"Do I really need this __{insert item}__?"

The answer depends on multiple factors; immediate necessity and future necessity.

• Immediate necessity determine if something you own needs to be replaced RIGHT NOW or shortly thereafter- lets say within 45 days from when you are standing in the aisle of your favorite store. You might say; "yes, I should buy this pair of high heels because the soles of mine are going to wear through if I go out clubbing with them one more time and walk down the pavement to the corner pizza-joint for my post 3hr dancing slice of pepperoni pizza. (hold the parmesan)". A more realistic case-scenario of this is if you are standing in the aisle of hair shampoo & conditioner thinking to yourself "Yeah, Im running low on shampoo and conditioner and I'm already leaving the bottles upside down in my shower to get the last drips out. Better pick something up. Ooh! Someone left a coupon on the shelf for this bottle of shampoo. What a great deal. "

Quite a familiar sight for all of us folks with glorious manes. (healthy hair is good hair!)
It seems like we are replacing out shampoos a little too often. TIP: Get liter bottles with pumps! 

• Future necessity determines if a purchase NOW is worthwhile to make a substantial savings LATER (when there will not be a sale going on for said item). Gosh- I hope that makes sense. The timeline for this is generally for items you will need to replace 45+ days in the future (or essentially any time wayyyyy in the future). This is also determinate for items that are continually replaced- like that fabulous toothpaste you always use, and have been using since graduate school in NYC when you were living in that cramped apartment with your cat + chef boyfriend (we've all been there, darling). Or maybe that peppermint-vanilla hand soap that is only available at your local big-chain grocery store during the christmas/winter holiday season.

Ahh, I can smell the winter holiday induced materialistic desire for mindless shopping for christmas decorations that I will never use and will just accumulate dust in storage. 💓✨

Additional factors;

• Availability is Time Sensitive - the item can only be bought during the winter holiday season, but is is available through multiple retailers. 
• Little time, but everywhere.
• Accessibility- the item can only be bought from a random little shop in hong kong (but you live in another far off country), but it is available all year round from that retailer. 
• All the time, but only far away.
• First Time Buyer Experience- this is the first time you have seen the product on the shelves, and you've heard and read great reviews on the product AND(!) it is on sale for 30% off. Why not?
• First time, great reviews.
• "I dont care, the packaging is cute!"- I am rolling my eyes at this one in specific. But I totally understand. I get it- I really do. And you might as well bring it to the register and buy it. 💓
• First time, it's just CUTE!!! 
• Continual replacement- this one is self explanatory from "Future necessity". You know you will use it up, time and time again, because it is a tried and true product.
• All the time, everywhere, but it is available for a deep discount NOW.

My skincare stache is nowhere near this organized and I probably have triple this amount JUST in the back stock of all of my beauty products. I've been so desperate to use product up that I have used eye-cream all over my face. Now that epitomizes an expensive decision. Whoopsies.

Source: cindyhyue

The crux of this discussion is TRUE NECESSITY; do you really need it, or do you just want to stockpile it in the off chance that you  MIGHT need it. I am often guilty of the latter- I have tons and tons of skincare products that I will one day test out. I mean- its probably healthier than other habits...

Be smart about flash sales! (Do you really need it? Or are you falling into the trap of advertisement?)

Spend Wisely. Your dollar is safe in your bank account.