Once you’ve finished your holiday shopping, you’ll no doubt want to treat yourself. It’s even better when the sales start but it’s easy to end up with things you don’t want or missing out on what you’re really after. Here are ten tips to help you make the most of the end of season sales.

Do your research

Find out when the sales for your favourite stores start. Even getting to your favourite shop a day late could mean missing out on that dress you’ve had your eye on.

Get there early

Once you’ve found out when the sales start, try to get there early, especially if there’s something specific you’ve got your eye on.

Think about what you really want

In the lead up to the sales, think about what you want and in what size. Focus on getting these rather than traipsing around the shop not really knowing what you’re looking for. Hopefully you’ll manage to get at least some of the items you really want.

Avoid impulse buying

We’ve all been in the position when you think you’ve found some great clothes and a bargain price but realised it’s really not very nice once you’re home. Think about whether you’d want the item if it wasn’t on sale and make sure it’s not the price you’ve fallen in love with.

Budget

Obviously, the great thing about sales is that you get to save some money but with so many bargains it’s easy to overspend. Decide how much you can afford to spend on clothes and beauty products and then stick to it. If you’re really worried about overspending, get the amount out in cash and leave your credit and debit cards at home.

Make sure it fits

Many of us have the best intentions of losing weight, especially after the holiday seasons, but don’t follow through. Only buy clothes that actually fit, if it doesn’t fit you it’s not a bargain! Stock up for the season

Before you hit the sales, go through your wardrobe and work out what will need replacing for the upcoming season. Buying your staple wardrobe pieces in the sales is a great way of getting quality basics at a much better price.

Keep hold of what you find

If you’ve found something you’re not sure of, keep hold of it until you’ve made your final decision. If you find something you think you like but put it down to come back to later, you run the risk of losing it.

Shop online

Shopping from the comfort of your own home means you miss out on the crowds and the rush to grab what you want. However, you’ll still need to get in quickly as items will sell out fast, especially if it’s a good offer.

Dress appropriately

If you’re going to be traipsing around the shops all day you’ll want to be comfortable. Wear flat shoes, if you’re after something to wear with heels you can always take a pair with you or try some on in the shop. It might be cold outside but if you’re wearing a thick coat in a busy shop you’ll soon warm up so make sure you wear layers.

Guest post contributed by Emma Beecroft, a fashion and beauty writer at Café La Moda. She loves writing on makeup and beauty trends and hopes this article will help you shop for makeup products and holiday gifts with ease.

If you are looking for a gift for your mom, your sister, your grandmother, or your best friend, you can’t go wrong with a beauty-related gift. The women on your list probably already have more scented candles and lotionsthan they know what to do with, so you will have to think outside the box a bit if you want a gift that will be truly appreciated. Here are 10 top beauty gift ideas for the holiday.

1. MAC Dazzlesphere Ornaments

These limited-edition ornaments are filled with miniature versions of MAC’s crush metal loose eyeshadows and lip glosses in coordinating shades. This is a fun gift for any beauty lover and a great way to try some new colors.

2. Pedicure Gift Certificate

This is a gift that is appreciated by nearly everyone. In particular, pregnant women and older women who have trouble reaching their toenails are always delighted at the idea of getting a professional pedicure. It’s also great for women with a hectic lifestyle who could use an excuse to get out of the house and have some time to themselves.

3. Benefit Brighter Badder Set

This set is perfect for the women on your list who are fun and hip – or the ones who wish they were! The sassy makeup line Benefit has chosen two popular products, Bad Gal Lash Mascara and Eye Bright Instant EyeBrightener, for this set. Like everything from Benefit, the packaging is almost as exciting as the products themselves.

4. Urban Decay Naked Palette

This palette contains twelve eyeshadows that look great on everyone,cementing its status as a cult favorite. The shades all work nicely together and can be used to create a multitude of looks, from neutral everyday eyes to smoky nighttime looks. The colors have different finishes including matte, shimmer, and glitter. A brush and a travel sized tube of UrbanDecay’s popular Primer Potion are included to help your shadow stay in place all day.

5. Philosophy Marshmallows for Toasting Trio

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the fragrance of toastedmarshmallows evokes a warm and comforting feeling. That’s why Philosophy has chosen this scent to infuse its trio of lotion, lip shine, and their famous 3-in-1 bath gel, shampoo, and bubble bath.

6. Sephora Deluxe Fragrance Sampler for Her

If you would like to buy a fragrance for someone but aren’t exactly surewhat her tastes are, this is an excellent option. This pretty pink box contains sample vials of twelve of Sephora’s top selling perfumes. The recipient can try them all out and then redeem the included voucher at Sephora for a full-sized bottle of whichever perfume she likes best. Therei s also a refillable atomizer so she can carry her favorite fragrance with her on the go. You don’t have to worry about quality-the perfumes come from top names in beauty such as Versace, Prada, and Gucci.

7. Stila Lip Glaze Set

Stila is perhaps most known for their lip glazes, a type of lip gloss that imparts exceptional shine and delectable flavors to boot. Some holiday sets can seem like ways for manufacturers to unload their underperforming shades but in this set, there isn’t a dud in the bunch.

8. Spa Gift CertificateY

ou probably have someone your list who seems to have everything. Even if her vanity is well-stocked, she could always use a trip to the spa. Give awoman who is hard to buy for a spa certificate so she can enjoy being pampered however she prefers- a facial, mud wrap, or massage is always well-received.

9. Goody Spin Pins

This clever hair accessory is a novel way to keep your hair out of your face. These easy-to-use  pins help keep long hair up in a tight bun all day. It’s the perfect gift to use as a stocking stuffer but great enough to be remembered long after the holidays have passed.

10. OPI Muppet Mania!

Polish OPI polishes are among the best on the market, known for their flawless finish and long wear. Their Muppet Mania! Collection offers a number of festive shades that make great stocking stuffers.

Cindi Lewis writes for glossy.com a natural skincare and beauty products online retailer.

Our sister sites are running a list of holiday sales and Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and coupon codes. Below is the list of posts on those sites

Black Friday Beauty

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales

Ulta Black Friday Sales

Beauty.com Black Friday Deal

Target Black Friday

Elizabeth Arden Black Friday Sale

Swarovski Cyber Monday Coupons

Gemvara Black Friday

Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays and Anniversaries; there are so many occasions throughout the year when we give each other gifts! Giving gifts can be a lot of fun and is a great way to express how much another person means to you. However, what if you want to make a loving gesture but you can’t afford to spend a lot of money on a gift?

Remember the old cliché that “it’s the thought that counts?” Here are a few clever thoughts that will help your struggling savings account and still be able to make your friends and family feel special next holiday.

• Watch for sales and buy things when they are at their cheapest, even if it means buying some Christmas gifts several months in advance because the price is right.
• Pick up cute little items throughout the year, such as small gift packets, bubble bath, candles, and bottles of wine whenever you spot them at a great price. They will come in handy later because you will always have something on hand to give to teachers, coworkers, and others.
• Look for coupons online! You can find a lot of discounts and deals that will save you lots of money off the normal retail price. You can use discount codes when shopping online, or print them off to use in the stores as well.
• Buy used items. You can find wonderful gems on Craigslist, eBay and at auctions and car boot sales that would make great gifts.
• Bake your gifts! If you are handy in the kitchen, why not bake cakes, cookies and cupcakes to give as gifts? You can wrap them in pretty bags and even personalize them for the occasion. Your sweet treats are sure to be appreciated.
• If you have any artistic skills you can make your own gifts and save a lot of money. You could knit a scarf, make some unique jewelry, paint a picture, frame one of your photographs, or sew a unique item of clothing. The gift will be even more special because you invested your time into it and it is one of a kind.
• Instead of spending money on a gift, why not think outside the box and give the gift of your time, skills, or effort? If you have a certain skill such as playing the guitar or speaking a second language, you can give free lessons to someone who wants to learn. You can volunteer your time to landscape someone’s backyard, clean their house, wash their car or help with their renovation. This is a way for you to give them a valuable gift by spending your time but not your money.

These are just a few ways that you can give thoughtful and meaningful gifts without spending a lot of money. Happy gift giving!

Jim Dean is a money blogger who loves to save money. He also works for Ulster Bank who offer regular savings accounts.

Your man doesn’t have to be a collector to appreciate fine collectibles. Men never outgrow the childhood fascination with gadgets, weapons, watches and pens. With this in mind, you can make almost any man happy buying him a collector’s item in one of these categories.

Writing Pens

There is nothing more cool and basic, than the ability to pull out a really classic writing pen and use it to put your signature to paper. It is a device that makes an impression in a second and can appear from nowhere on command .

Wrist Watches

It is natural for men to be fascinated with timepieces. The more internal special features it has the better, but anything will do. Waterproof, solid gold, weird hands, unusual numbers or glowing in the dark, all wrist watches have their own personality. If your man already collects, think about leather jewelry boxes to display his collection.

Pipes and Cigars

For those men who smoke, a very well-crafted pipe or a smooth tasting cigar is a status symbol. They also are much more fun to smoke around friends, because you can accent whatever you talk about as you hold the pipe or cigar.

Knives and Blades

Sharp metal objects are wonderful for the hunter, the martial artist, the biker, the hippie or just about any style of man. They are collected both for personal self-defense and for the sheer looks. Swords, knives and blades of all kinds are fun things for men.

Guns and Weapons

Guns, shotguns, rifles, machine guns and even silly things like water pistols have held male attention since they were invented. Men like shooting things and seeing things shot.

The last 5 items on the list are well known and for the interests of being brief, they shall be described in more basic details.

Money and Currency

From small denominations of foreign currency to collectable coins, men like money and coins. They are small symbols of worldliness and mystery.

Video and Camera Equipment

These new gadgets are the top shelf toy of the digital era, but taking pictures has been a male hobby or art for some time now.

Guitars and Musical Instruments

Well what can be said about music that is not already obvious, men love listening to music, drinking to music and rocking out.

Motorcycles

A man on his motorcycle is the raw energy of manhood incarnate. The motorcycle is an ultimate symbol of masculine power.

Automobiles

The last item on this list is the one collectable toy that all men can agree to. The car collector loves the feel of the greatest phallic symbol ever invented and the more cars the better.

Collecting usually begins during the early childhood years, but that marble or baseball card collection eventually turns into something more expansive. All men are not created equal and neither are the things they like to collect. But even non-collectors can agree, this stuff is really cool.

About the Author: JewelryBoxshop.com is a retailer of jewelry boxes for the collector to store his favorite pens and watches.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of family togetherness, gratitude and relaxation but too often they turn into a mess of trying to do too much in too little time and wishing it were all over. This year, start your preparations early so that by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, you can enjoy the food, family togetherness and festivities without wondering how in the world you’ll be able to get it all done.

1. Get your extended family on-board with your plans now. Chances are good that they’ve been feeling just as stressed and over-extended as you and will welcome the chance to put the focus back on family togetherness. Somethings that you can suggest include:

?     Drawing names instead of everyone buying for everyone else.

?     Giving presents only to the kids.

?     Exchanging family gifts instead of individual presents.

?     Making holiday gatherings potluck instead of sticking one family with all of the hosting duties.

2. Do as much of your shopping online as possible. Not only can you do it in your jammies, you’ll be able to make smarter choices since you’ll have time to carefully read descriptions without the pressures of being in a crowded store.

Getting an early start can help you stay within your holiday budget as you can spread your purchases out over several months, spending just a bit each week until your shopping is done. This will help you avoid spending too much in a panic as you rush to cross everyone off your list.

3. New toys are a very important part of the holiday season for children, but that doesn’t mean that you have to buy into all the holiday hype to get this year’s hottest craze. Instead, look for toys that will provide hours of fun for years to come instead of being quickly abandoned for the next trend. Here are some timeless classics that are sure to be hits:

?     Building block sets.

?     Wooden dollhouses or castles.

?     Toy kitchens, food and serving pieces.

?     Wooden tool sets.

?     Dolls, stuffed animals and puppets.

?     Easels and other arts and crafts supplies

Why drive yourself crazy looking for this season’s impossible to find toy when there is a wealth of time-proven favorites to choose from?

4.  Reconnect with your family by looking for activities that everyone can do together. Cozy evenings with mugs of hot chocolate and a good board game or puzzle will provide warm memories for years to come. Build a snowman in your backyard or take a walk around the neighborhood to look at the neighbor’s holiday decorations. Don’t discount the value of these kinds of low-key activities!

Instead of packing your schedule full of recitals, parties and other formal activities, pare it down to just a few this year and enjoy more relaxed time with your family instead. You’ll not only get to spend quality time together, it will also make the other activities you choose to do more enjoyable as you won’t be exhausted and overwhelmed.

5. Spend your time doing the things you love instead of the things you think you “should” be doing. Make the decision to not feel guilty about not conforming to what the media has convinced us that the perfect holiday should be.

?    If you’re not keen on baking, don’t feel bad about store bought cookies.

?    If elaborately wrapped presents isn’t your thing, stick them in plain gift bags and call it good.

?    If you’d be just as happy ordering a ready made dinner from the deli, do it!

?    If the thought of caring for a live tree makes you want to weep, fake can be fabulous.

?    If you’d rather give your children a few carefully chosen, high quality toys instead of mountains of trendy ones, don’t apologize.

?    If the thought of going to the mall and big box stores drives you mad, shop online without regret.

The holidays are ours to enjoy, so don’t worry about meeting other people’s expectations. Spend them doing what you enjoy with the people you love instead of stressing out.

Authors Jacob and Carol Maslow are the proud parents of five preteen children who have learned from experience that real toys don’t require batteries. Carol works as a therapist, specializing in integrating developmentally delayed preschoolers with their classmates. Jacob works at online retailer Today’s Concept, where parents can find the classic Melissa and Doug Toys.

The following gift guide is syndicated by Total Beauty. It features beauty products and  is organized by various interests or types, such as for the preppy type, or for the foodie, which is kind of cute.

Holiday Gift Guide

Beauty product gift ideas for any budget

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article This guide has a little something for everyone on your list and offers limited edition gift sets in a range of prices. See gift guide

Not sure how much to tip for beauty services during the holidays? This guide, syndicated from Total Beauty, provides some tips.

Holiday Tipping Cheat Sheet

Is it essential to give a little extra to your hairstylist, manicurist and other beauty service providers? Read on to find out

This year, we’re all feeling the money crunch and this tipping guide takes that into consideration — so don’t stress. The bottom line is our hairstylists, manicurists, massage therapists, etc., work hard for us and deserve some thanks during the holiday season. Read on to see how much is appropriate to tip and creative alternatives to say ‘thanks” to your beauty gurus. See tip guide

The following is syndicated from Total Beauty. Take the quiz to find what stocking stuffers are best for everyone on your list. Also be sure to check out the stocking stuffer shopping category here on Holiday Makeup!

Stocking Stuffer Quiz: Find Perfect Gifts for Everyone On Your List

Answer a few quick questions and get ideal recommendations for the loved ones on your shopping list

Everyone has that someone (or someones) on their list that are practically impossible to buy for. Rather than wander the mall aimlessly for days trying to come up with a gift they’ll like, just take this quiz to find gifts they’ll love. It’s almost too easy. Take the quiz

The following article is syndicated from Total Beauty and  contains some great holiday shopping deals. Some are Black Friday specials and some are for Cyber Monday. Others are ongoings.  Also take a look at my list of holiday shopping specials, which I will keep a the top of Beauty and Fashion Tech and Holiday Makeup through Cyber Monday.  I will also put up a few other helpful total Beauty articles over the holiday period.

Save Cash with these Holiday Discounts

Check out these great deals, beauty freebies and free shipping offers that’ll last the rest of this year

We could all stand to save a few bucks while holiday shopping this year, and these deals will be a major help! We found tons of stuff, from sites offering free shipping, to discounts, cool gifts-with-purchase and more! See deals