Cringe… a lot. Since I started my own blog in 2012 and reading others, the influence it has in my recent (and future) purchases is dramatic. The fact that I no longer buy a product without browsing for swatches or reviews online first, should state the obvious.
Shopping has never been easier with it being a click away at the comfort of your home. So whenever we see a great review on a product just right up our alley, what’s the next thing we do? Hunt it down and put it in our virtual cart and days later, it’s on our doorstep.
Convenience and not having to put up with traffic are just a few of the reasons why I love to shop online plus you do find some very good deals!
But has blogging made an advantageous effect or quite the opposite to your wallet?
If you ask me, it has its pluses and minuses. Reading blogs have raised my awareness on what to and not to buy and at times, I feel that I’ve become a savvy shopper and have always tried to weigh up my choices in terms of prices, quality and necessity. The only problem these days, I now feel makeup has joined my necessity category, too. LOL. Who’s with me?
In 2012, my biggest skincare/ makeup splurge was almost $100 or more by hoarding all Mizon products (here & here) — from their popular snail cream to their new range of lipsticks. In fact, I was one of the firsts to try their CC cream and it was because I felt the ‘need’ to own one.
And while we’re at it, lipsticks and nail polishes are now the norm on my CVS receipts. Uh-oh. And it’s all because of the beautiful swatches you see from your favorite blogs. And the way things are promoted these days on Instagram or Facebook, we might as well just hand over our wallets because they really suck you in to buying, don’t you think?
So yesterday, after a stressful organizing and throwing stuff I haven’t really used, I finally said to my hubby that I NEED TO GO ON A SPENDING BAN… dun..dun..duuuun.
I mean, it’s ok to love the trend and once in a while dip in and treat yourself with products worth loving, but I think there’s should be a limit, no? Say 60 lipsticks? How on earth am I supposed to use them all up? I’m sure others might disagree, but at the end of the day, it’s all about making smart choices.
What about you? How has blogging, or online media in general, influenced your shopping lifestyle or decision-making on what to buy next?
Has it helped you become a smart shopper or a shopaholic instead?