Tag Archives: ballin on a budget

Dec10

Outstanding Ornaments

Posted on December 10, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Howdy! An obvious but always effective Christmas gift is presenting some ornaments for your giftee’s tree. I usually use ornaments as an add on gift but they are also super handy when you just need a little something for your work colleagues or a Secret Santa. For my client’s families this year, I went with a chocolate assortment and some darling ornaments that I snagged from Target and Amazon. Check it out:

I got the Bicycle Santa ornaments from Target and the felt Christmas characters from Amazon and I’m really happy with all of them! The felt ornaments came in a pack of eight with two of each little friend, which is perfect for mix and matching. With a pretty hefty list of people to shop for, I always am looking for cost effective but quality pieces and you can never go wrong with some holiday decor. What’s more, it will make your giftee think of you every time they hang your ornament on the tree. 🙂

How do you get the most bang for your buck with your holiday shopping? What are your favorite add on gifts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

Posted on December 6, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

Decorating a home from scratch can be really expensive, so it’s worth knowing the best places to save money and where it pays to spend a little more. Maybe you’ve just moved into a new place or perhaps you want to do up your existing home, either way, here are some places to save and where to splurge:

Splurge: Mattress

As humans, we spend a huge portion of our lives in bed. We might not all be lucky enough to get a full eight hours, but even if you’re only getting six that’s still a quarter of your day. A good mattress is essential for good health, it supports your back, hips, and neck. It keeps you comfortable and allows you to get the highest quality of sleep.

However, mattresses are expensive, and it might be tempting to look for a good quality second hand one – but it’s best not to do that if you can. Not only will a used mattress show signs of wear but it could also be hiding bed bugs which you’ll then bring into your home. Exterminators like Bed Bug Inspector recommend that you don’t purchase second hand items that could harbor these pests, as it’s a common way that they get into peoples homes and spread.

Save: Dining table

A solid wooden dining table will last you for a lifetime if you look after it well, and if you look around chances are you’ll find people selling old and antique tables simply because they do stand the test of time. Don’t be put off by old fashioned looks, as long as it’s in good condition you can always upcycle it. Sand down the top, add some new legs, and you could stain it or paint it and really bring it up to date.

Splurge: Dining chairs

Saving on a dining table gives you more money to spend on the chairs, and it’s often worth buying some more luxurious, comfortable dining chairs. Once you’ve upcycled the table you can go about choosing some nice new chairs that suit the overall look. It could be some modern fabric chairs, some cool perspex ghost chairs, an industrial style – whatever it is you’re going for.

Save: Accessories

Accessories make a house a home, but you don’t need to spend a fortune here. Some plants from Ikea, some vases from TJMaxx, some frames from the Dollar Store, and other little accessories from charity stores and boot fares can all come together really nicely.

Splurge: Sofa

A good quality sofa will cost you a fair bit of cash, but it will look great and last you for many years. If you don’t have the funds up front, lots of companies offer finance options allowing you to spread the cost. The best sofas will be made from good quality fabrics and materials so they won’t go saggy and uncomfortable after a couple of years.

When decorating your home, shop smart with the saving tips above so you can have more moolah towards your splurge worthy purchases!

Dec2

Trail Blazers: Jones New York Blazer Dress

Posted on December 2, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Trail Blazers: Jones New York Blazer Dress

Hello everyone! It’s no secret that Lil Red loves the Goodwill – a spark which has burned brightly since doing a majority of my apartment shopping there when I moved in. Similar to TJMaxx, shopping secondhand feels like a treasure hunt. You literally never know what you’re going to find. Sometimes the shopping trip is fruitless and other times you walk out with a bagful of things you didn’t know you needed until you laid eyes on it.

For example, the last time I was at Goodwill, this amazing Jones New York dusty pink blazer dress was just hanging out on one of the end caps and it was instant love. With vintage vibes and a color I rarely wear, this purchase felt exciting and I am so looking forward to sporting it this holiday season. Take a look:

The very cool thing about this little number, aside from the fact that it looks fresh out of the 1950s, is the options that it comes with. Yes, it could be worn as a dress, which I plan on doing for at least one holiday get together. But, it also can be thrown on as a trench style coat, which will look particularly becoming in the spring. Buying pieces that can be worn a multitude of ways helps the garment continue to feel exciting with every use and it always makes me feel like I’m getting a lot of bang for my buck.

I spent a whopping five dollars on this dress and I’m sure that the original price tag was at least twenty times that. And, that’s the beauty of secondhand shopping. For five dollars I got to treat myself with an old piece of clothing that feels brand new to me and there is really nothing better than that!

What has been one of your favorite secondhand finds? How do you shop secondhand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov26

Dollar Tree Haul

Posted on November 26, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone! If there’s one thing that Lil Red doesn’t believe in, it’s paying full price for just about anything. So, it’s pretty shocking that I really didn’t get into shopping at the Dollar Tree until this past year. One of my clients loves that store and I always end up there at least one time a week. It wasn’t until I took a closer look around until I realized that the Dollar Tree is friggen awesome and I have had much success shopping there, especially since moving into my apartment. Don’t believe me? Check out this big ol’ haul for yourself:

For twenty items I paid twenty dollars altogether and I am confident that if I purchased all of this at a normal grocery store it would easily be over fifty dollars. The Dollar Tree pulled through in the clutch for me at just the right time because after all of my holiday shopping this month, my credit card bill is going to be huge. BUT, I also have no food in my apartment. This will definitely tide me over until my bill turns over in December and I can do a bigger grocery shopping trip.

Also, can we please talk about the potato gnocchi and Arizona nacho trays?! They are both SO freaking good and the only thing that isn’t pictured is the nachos that I already ate, lol. They are a perfect snack for when I get home from work and I was so stoked that the Dollar Tree that I was at had them that I just had to get six, lol! The gnocchi is also a quick, easy, and delicious meal that my boyfriend and I both love and will be a perfect, simple dinner after we’ve both had a long day.

I have never quite understood the people that considered themselves above discount shopping but I, for one, will never be. Compliments of shopping at TJMaxx and Marc’s (a discount grocery store in my neck of the woods), I am sure that I’ve saved over thousands throughout the years and that ballin on a budget train isn’t going to end any time soon!

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

Nov24

Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

Posted on November 24, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Lil Red’s Black Friday Shopping Pro Tips

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

	lifewithlilred on Wish Me Luck!
	mallikabooks on Wish Me Luck!
	lifewithlilred on How To Be There For A Friend W…
	Chantel Keona on How To Be There For A Friend W…
	lifewithlilred on Happy Birthday To Me!!