Tag Archives: ballin on a budget

Nov24

Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

Posted on November 24, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Howdy!! In a mere handful of days it will be my favorite holiday of Thanksgiving because FOOD… and family, of course. 😉 And, with Thanksgiving just around the corner means that Black Friday will be coming in hot on its heels. I, personally, have never gone Black Friday shopping before because I suffered through five years of working on the day during my time in retail.

It’s no surprise that I have no desire to be within twenty feet of a mall on Black Friday. But, Lil Red lives and breathes shopping so allow me to grace you with these pro tips for a successful Black Friday haul:

Be Nice:

Although this has nothing to do with scoring the best deals, it has everything to do with being the best person. Please, please, PLEASE be kind to your retail and restaurant workers on Black Friday and every day. Those who have never worked a Black Friday before honestly have no idea how stressful it is and a rude customer can be enough to completely ruin someone on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Say please and thank you, try not to leave destruction in your wake as you shop, and be mindful of the other shoppers. And, always remember, you literally just spent the day prior celebrating all you have to be thankful for so if you don’t get what you wanted, there’s no need to punch someone in the face about it. Je-sus!

Do Your Research:

Now, having said all of that, the first step to a successful Black Friday is to do some research. It’s a mixed bag of which stores reveal their deals before the day and which don’t, so try investigating by either calling the store or going online. This will help you to decide the best order in which to shop. If there’s a hot deal going on right at midnight for something you have your eye on, then twenty-five percent off at your favorite store can wait.

Often times, stores repeat the deals that they had in year’s past so also bear that in mind when you are making your preparations.

Make A List:

Once you have a general idea of where to go and when, it’s time to make a list of what you would like to purchase. I know I always mention list making – but, damnit, it’s helpful! If you have specific things in mind that you want to buy on Black Friday, you cannot hit the stores willy nilly. It’s important to coordinate your wants with the deals happening so that you can create the best course of action for the order of stores you want to visit.

Time Is Of The Essence:

So you have a plan of what you want, the deals happening, and where you want to go. But, the thing is, so does everyone else. It’s all in the timing when it comes to Black Friday shopping. If you are shopping for specifics, you can’t spend too much time in one store or you might jeopardize getting the other things you want. Get in, grab your item, check out, and head to your next location. Then, once your shopping is complete, feel free to revisit anywhere else you want to spend more time in.

However, if you are going shopping just for the fun of it, take all of the time in the world. But, remember, if you do shop at a leisurely pace, a lot of the stores will be pretty picked over by the time you get there.

Know When To Say When:

Black Friday shopping is awesome for nabbing a big electronic for a song or doing your Christmas shopping. But, don’t be crazy about it. If you find yourself spending way too much money or shoving other people to get to the next place or hot item, then you’ve probably had enough Black Friday. Go home, take a chill pill, and try again on Cyber Monday when you’re not in the general public. 😉

Speaking Of Cyber Monday…

If you’re not keen on the craziness that is Black Friday, Cyber Monday is just days away and you can enjoy the deals from the comfort of your own home. Just remember to do your research prior. This might involve signing up for emails, which could notify you of the deals ahead of time (The same goes for regular Black Friday shopping!).

Get ready, get set, and shop with Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips!

Have you been Black Friday shopping? Do you have any crazy stories from working or shopping a Black Friday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Sephora Haul

Posted on November 17, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hi!! Whenever I need to restock my Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced, I always shop Sephora online to get the best deals. With free shipping with a fifty dollar purchase (Which isn’t hard to do!), two free samples, and an option for more freebies with a coupon code, it just makes sense to do – especially if you know exactly what you want. And, if I ever did want to play around with new products in store, I would definitely go home and order the goods online to bank in on all of the great promotions! 😀

This time around, I scored an amazing goodie bag filled with trial sized products to try out and I am looking forward to testing them all and sharing my findings with you. Check it out:

The Haul:

2 Better Than Sex mascaras
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Replica perfume
Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
Ouai Leave In Conditioner
Bite Beauty Lip Crayon in Glace
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
Laura Mercier Lipstick samples
Atelier Vanilla Incense perfume

For fifty dollars total, I got all of the products seen above and I consider that a steal. There is nothing better than getting a lot of bang for your buck and I feel like I get that every time I shop with Sephora. I also love being able to try out beauty products without having to commit to them and, who knows, maybe I will find a new favorite in the sample sizes.

I wouldn’t be a good sister or daughter if I didn’t share the wealth and have given my mom the perfume samples because she’s a fragrance gal and the Tarte mascara and Bite lippie to my sister. I already have both of those and will not be using either up any time soon. Sharing is caring and it’s nice to be able to enjoy all of this awesome stuff together. Both of those very special ladies in my life always know how to make my day with something as simple as a text message so I take every opportunity I can to treat them, too!

How do you score the best deals at Sephora? What did you get in your most recent beauty haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

Sunny Side Up

Posted on October 30, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Salutations! One of my favorite “treat yoself” items to get while shopping is a new pair of sunglasses. Or, in this case, three of them. I just couldn’t help myself! Sadly, my favorite pair of Lucky sunglasses broke during the car accident. I was really upset about this and once my boyfriend and I were up and moving again he bought me a similar pair at the mall to replace them. And, sadly, the pair he bought me broke too! So, I just had to fill the Lucky Brand shaped void with these little beauties. Check it out:

The top and bottom pair seen above were actually both from the Dollar Tree and I was astounded to find such cuteness there for one whole dollar. I loved the funky 70s flower pattern and I can never have enough tortoise shell hued shades, either. As always, will they be of the best quality? No, definitely not. But, were they cute enough that I didn’t care? Obviously!

I also totally swooned over the Crayola indigo colored aviators at TJMaxx. I *shockingly* only own one other pair of aviators and they are on the fritz so I figured it was time for an upgrade. The unique color and gold detailing creates an amazing contrast with my hair and skin tone and they feel so posh while still being totally badass. Will these be of better quality? I sure fucking hope so!! 😅😅😅

What is one of your favorite treat yoself things to buy? How often do you buy new sunglasses? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

Dollar Tree Beauty Haul

Posted on October 28, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Salutations! So, I know what some of you are thinking from the title of this post… “What kind of beauty products could they possibly have at the Dollar Tree?” Lol, well, you’d be surprised! On top of my new Halloween glasses, I ended up with a bunch of fun little beauty goodies to take home during my last Dollar Tree shopping excursion. I didn’t mean to go so hard but WHAT CAN YA DO?! Blog about it, obvi. Haha, take a look and let’s discuss:

I have never been one for fake eyelashes and just opt for my Better Than Sex mascara to give me big, bold lashes. However, as soon as I saw the fun green, red, purple, and blue lashes I was instantly enamored and needed all of them. With Halloween around the corner, the red ones will be perfect with my sexy Raggedy Anne costume and I’m sure I’ll find use for the other three when my boyfriend’s band plays a show. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will they last at least one night? Here’s to hoping!

And, of course, I couldn’t say no to the darling new lip balms in the cherry and red lip containers. I shit you not, I have had the same chapstacks in my purse for literal years so it was definitely time for an upgrade. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with a great big red lip container since we all know that that’s my signature. :*)

Finally, I snagged a few bath bombs because I thought it would be interesting to see how they worked. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will it be on the blog tomorrow for a new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz? You know it!

There is nothing like getting some treats for yourself to perk you up during the work week and this little haul did just that. I’m excited to experiment with all of my new goodies and I’m even more excited that they didn’t break the bank at a dollar apiece. 😀

How do you treat yoself? What is your favorite discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Dollar Tree Halloween Haul

Posted on October 26, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hi! One store that I grow increasingly fond of with every passing trip is the Dollar Tree. I always seem to find the best deals on food, apartment supplies, and little add ons for gift giving occasions. And I do literally mean the best deals considering that everything there is one dollar! This past trip to the Dollar Tree left me with a big haul of Halloween (And every day of the year supplies!), beauty goodies, and sunglasses. You will see all of the other purchases later but, for now, check out my new Halloween glasses perfect for sipping on your favorite potion:

I have had my eye on these plastic Halloween themed glasses for a while now and I finally caved and took a few home with me during my last shopping trip. And, because I live every day like it’s Halloween, they will all definitely be a year round staple at my apartment. I love the orange and grey skull cups but the purple and orange skeleton hand stemmed wine glasses are my absolute favorite! The funky colors and the spider web detailing on the bottom of the glasses are pure spooky fun and I can’t wait to break them out. 😀

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? How do you prepare your house for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

Trail Blazers: Kasper Pt. 2 Edition

Posted on October 9, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Howdy! I honestly can’t think of a time when shopping has made me feel bad. Lol, I know such a shopaholic – but seriously. When I’m happy, I shop. When I’m sad, I shop. When I’m indifferent, I shop. But, hey, there’s a lot worse things that I could be doing and at least everything in my Trail Blazers series was from a Goodwill in North Carolina so it definitely didn’t break the bank!

I will admit, that I was not in my normal happy go lucky state of mind during this particular shopping trip. However, purchasing four blazers for twenty bucks in total perked me right up! Lol, check it out:

Now, I am well aware that this olive green cheetah print number by Kasper is super old ladyish. Believe you me, I am the first to admit it. But, I just feel like I can do something cool with it especially because the color is divine. Because fifty shades of green is so flattering on me, it took the old lady element out of this jacket and turned it into a piece that’s quirky and unique compliments of the velvet animal print and slouchy fit.

If I wear this blazer before my boyfriend gets to it for a concert with his band, the plan is to keep things really young and fresh. So, I’m thinking of pairing it with shorts with tights underneath, a sweet crop top, and all of the chunky gold jewelry. And, of course, a cool pair of boots!

When shopping secondhand, it’s easy to just search for the things that are more suitable to your age and bypass all of the other options. Unfortunately, this means that you’re turning up your nose to eighty percent of what’s in the store. When thrifting, you have to use your imagination to turn something seemingly “not your style” into a new wardrobe staple. I felt like I could do that with this Kasper blazer and I’m looking forward to seeing how it works. 😀

Which sections do you love to shop in at your local thrift stores? How do you get creative while secondhand shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Travel To In The Fall

Posted on September 3, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello, hello everyone and welcome to a top ten travel countdown brought to you by one of my darling fall guest bloggers, Lexie. Miss Lexie is the author of Living Like Lexie, a blog focused on travel on a budget. And, as a baller on a budget myself, she is truly a woman after my own heart! Today, Lexie is going to talk about the most stunning places to travel to during the fall around the world. Read up, pack your bags, and head off on your next adventure!

The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Travel To In The Fall

Every season has its own unique type of beauty. The fall is when the air gets a little crisper, the trees start to shed their leaves, and all of the Pumpkin Spice Latte lovers come out. The fall can have a special look and feel to it based on where you are. There are so many beautiful locations around the world that bring a whole new reality to what the season of fall is.

Here are 10 of the most beautiful places to travel to that provide the ultimate “fall” experience:

1- Bavaria, Germany

The southern region of Germany is known for its rolling alps, the birthplace of Oktoberfest, and the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty’s palace. It’s a beautiful place to go to during any time of the year, but it’s especially stunning in the fall.

Imagine being able to take a train ride through the mountains while the foliage of the leaves changes color. It’s like a painting coming to life before your eyes. With all of the surrounding beauty, it’s also a great time to party at Oktoberfest. What could be a more appealing fall experience to have?

2 – Alberta, Canada

The Canadian National Park of Banff is flocked to by tourists at all times of the year. With its towering mountains, ever flowing forest, and emerald lake – it’s definitely a sight worth seeing. In the fall, this view is flourishing with color as the trees start to prepare for the winter months ahead. And a bonus: you can get out of the chilly fall air by taking a dip in the hot springs.

3 – Napa Valley, California

Fall colors and wine anyone? Going to Napa Valley during its off-season means that the hotels prices go way down, making it a great affordable option. You might not think of California as a top destination to view the warm tones of fall, but what you will find is that the already stunning wine vineyards are where the season’s colors appear. They display rows upon rows of the unique orange and red autumn colors.

4 – Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is known for its Cherry Blossoms in the spring, but it is also a sight to behold in the fall. The red pagodas around the city are highlighted by the changing leaves of the season.

5 – Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

The Shenandoah Valley is the perfect place to take a road trip through. You can watch all the fall’s foliage pass you by like a movie. The landscape allows you to take in the incredible show that mother nature is putting on. The valley and hills present a new perspective at every turn, which will keep you captivated for hours.

6 – Paris, France

Paris is already romantic from the mystic it has surrounding it. The beauty of fall’s warm tones contrasting with the cool blue and gray tones of the city’s landscape give it a vibrant breath of life. Take a trip to the city of love with your love this fall to take in the city’s beauty in a whole new way.

7 – Iceland

Iceland is full of color for a land named after ice! There are many incredible sights to see in Iceland like its waterfalls, black sand beaches, and the Blue Lagoon. These places become even more surreal with the accent of the fall tones. Make sure you bring a warm coat and your camera along to this breathtaking country!

8 – Scottish Highlands, UK

Calling all Outlander fans! The Scottish Highlands in the fall takes you on an incredible journey that will make you feel like you are living out the show yourself. The highlands are gorgeous at any time of year, but they have a certain vibrancy to them specifically during the fall.

9 – Duluth, Minnesota

The city of Duluth is located right on the tip of Lake Superior. Duluth is full of hilly roads, unique shops, and often the well-known Minnesotan accent, don’tcha know? If you’ve ever pictured what a chilly fall day would look like spent relaxing in a log cabin while overlooking the warm fall tones surrounding the largest lake in North America, look no further than Duluth, MN.

10 – New York City, New York

New York City is great for those that love the fast-paced life of the city, but still want to have the opportunity to walk through Central Park with your Pumpkin Spice Latte and chunky sweater on. The fashion capital of the world is the place to be if you want to rock the fall trends and take in the atmosphere; while admiring both the fall colors and NYC’s skyline.

Are you ready to take off to one of these ten stunning destinations this fall? To make sure you are prepared and have everything you need packed up, download this free Ultimate Packing Checklist!

About the Author:

Lexie DeVries is a full-time college student from Minneapolis, Minnesota who is seeing the world one trip at a time – and doing it on a budget! Her blog Living Like Lexie shares her travel journey, as well as the tips and tricks she has found to make travel affordable. She is passionate about inspiring others to make their travel dreams into a reality, as she knows what an incredible impact traveling can make on someone’s life.

I’d love to connect with you!

Blog: Livinglikelexie.com
Instagram: lexie
Pinterest: Livinglikelexie
Facebook: Living Like Lexie

Thank you so much to Lexie for sharing her travel expertise with us and do be sure to check out her blog and give her social media a follow! Where is your top destination to travel to this fall? What are some other great travel locations this season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug18

Fall Is In The Air

Posted on August 18, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Okayyyy okay, so fall technically isn’t in the air yet but that doesn’t mean that my apartment can’t smell like it! Because my dumbass thought that burning cigarettes out into some of my candles was a good idea, I needed to restock because none of them will light now. But, lucky for me, Michael’s was having a three for ten dollar deal for their fall scented candles. And, at six dollars apiece originally, I just couldn’t pass that deal up! Check it out:

I never quite understood people’s obsession with candles until moving into my apartment. And, now, I can definitely see why because the first thing I do when I get home from work in the evening or have a free afternoon is light one up. There is just something about the soft glow of the flame, the delicious scents, and the general atmosphere that is so relaxing when combined with your quiet time reading a book or watching a movie.

I always thought that giving a candle as a gift was kind of basic but OMG would I love to get all of the candles as prezzies now. But, until gift giving season is upon us, these fall scented delights from Michael’s will do just fine. I like all three fragrances that I picked out but the Butterscotch Spice is divine and I’m looking forward to having it lit on my coffee table as a scary movie plays and the crisp autumn wind howls outside.

What is your favorite fall scent? What is one of your favorite “basic” presents to receive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug17

Accessory Story: Claire’s Haul Edition

Posted on August 17, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Helloooo everyone! This past week, I took a client to the mall to do a little shopping and, unfortunately (but not really), I was the one who ended up buying something AS PER USHE. But, I just couldn’t help myself, because I got an amazing deal – six pretty accessories from Claire’s for a whole eighteen dollars thanks to clearance shopping and a buy three get three free deal. I am super happy with my new earrings and headbands and I know that without the promo and marked down prices I would have paid well over fifty bucks for everything I got. So, I guess it isn’t all bad! 😉 Check it out:

^^^ And, yes, the flower headband DOES light up!!

Buying accessories like earrings and headbands is usually pretty low on my fashion priority list. I have a few of each at home that I wear exclusively and that’s about it. I don’t know if it’s the price of them that bothers me or what, but I’d always rather buy shoes… obviously lol. So, when I found such a good deal for some new treats, I couldn’t pass it up.

I love, love, love my new earrings and am looking forward to wearing all of them, especially the gold circle ones – I think those are so cool! I’ve never owned a pair of feather earrings, either, and the black ones spoke to me, no surprises there. And, the cherries were too cute and the drop ones with the translucent pearls were too classic to not add those to the bag, too.

Although I adore the earrings, I am most excited about my headbands! I haven’t bought new headbands since high school I think, so that was definitely a purchase that had a long time coming! The light denim faux suede with the embroidered flowers is SO pretty and it will be a great way to accessorize a collegiate chic OOTD come fall time.

And, can we PLEASE talk about the light up floral one?! So. CUTE! I had no idea it lit up until the girl who was ringing me up told me and that just made the find even sweeter because it’s basically the coolest thing ever. I have never seen anything like that that I would actually want to wear and I cannot wait to style an OOTD and MOTD around it.

Was this little haul necessary? Not necessarily! But, I got a great deal and found some pretty little things that I wouldn’t have bought otherwise. Plus, there is nothing like refreshing your outfits with some new odds and ends that didn’t break the bank!

Where do you like to accessory shop at? How do you refresh old outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

Trail Blazers

Posted on August 9, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! I have been really lucky at the Goodwill lately. Not only have I got a new air hockey table, but I recently bought two gorgeous blazers for a whopping ten dollars total. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my TJMaxx to death BUT ten dollars for two blazers that appear to be brand new is a deal you would never get at one of your favorite discount stores. Especially when one of those blazers is from Express, which usually runs for about one hundred dollars, minimum. Check these out:

The total cost for both of my new finds would have been on the better half of two hundred dollars and paying ten for them felt like hitting the jackpot. I love the clothing at Express, but would never consider paying for any of it because they are way over my budget. So, getting a sleek blazer that looks barely worn from there was super exciting! And, I have wanted a retro plaid blazer for quite some time now so finding one by Sag Harbor complete with shoulder pads was a major highlight.

I think that blazers are a fantastic piece of clothing and I regret not owning more of them. But, I am happy to start increasing my collection with the ones above. Not only are they the perfect business casual staple but blazers are also an amazing option for fall, creating a cozy, studious chic look.

Of course, I love my more form fitting black blazer from Express and anticipate on wearing it for meetings for work or a night on the town. But, I am particularly looking forward to styling the Sag Harbor one. I plan on doing an OOTD photo shoot tipping my cap to the British punk scene by sporting black leather skinnies, my Union Jack platforms, a hat with a veil created from my tulle purchase, and the plaid blazer over top. I have always been enthralled with the punk fashion scene from across the pond and my Sag Harbor blazer gave me such heavy vibes from that wonderful style and I can’t wait to show all of you. Be on the lookout! 😀

How do you like to style your blazers? Which era of fashion gives you inspiration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	Adventure Friendship on Uber Safety
	lifewithlilred on New Hair, Who Dis?
	Dear Quiet on New Hair, Who Dis?
	lifewithlilred on Wedding Party OOTD
	lifewithlilred on Travel Turmoil In New Orl…