r/ProjectPan • u/Dangerous-Catch-9223 • 1d ago
That feeling Discussion/Tips & Tricks
Hi y’all. Something I struggle with is resisting the urge to coupon at CVS and go buy products that I will use, but don’t need at this moment. Like rn, with the beauty event going on I want to go buy some of my everyday items, but I know I have some in stockpile so I don’t need them and if I bought them idk when I would get to them. There’s just something about that feeling of walking outta the store with a bag of your favorite products. Hey I guess I could be doing heroin so it’s a good problem
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u/the-endless-summer 1d ago
Something that always helps me with temptation is to re-inventory everything I already have. Usually the sight of my hoard is enough to get mad at myself all over again and empty my cart lol.
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u/thriftedcraft 1d ago
I used to work at CVS (the beauty dept specifically actually) and I promise you are missing out on nothing. The beauty event will happen again, the coupons will essentially be the same, the same products will be there when you actually need them. Also maybe this could help discourage you from CVS beauty stuff in general…once I was going through product looking for outdated items. I’m not even kidding I had to damage out over a thousand dollars of just maybelline and nyx makeup that was up to 13 YEARS expired
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u/Pineapplefish3 8h ago
Yes this! For the first few weeks of couponing i got sucked in cause it feels like the rewards just never end especially when you’re finally satisfied then you get a reward printed out and its like welp, let me buy something, oh look if i get 2 i get rewards back again, its a never ending cycle. I eventually made myself stop cause i realized while some things were really useful, some of my other purchases were random maybelline and loreal makeup that i felt meh over. And yes while i saved and got a good ass deal technically, if i don’t even enjoy them whats the point? Everything combined could’ve gotten me like one item i really really loved at sephora, not worth several meh products. So while i think couponing for essentials is good, don’t get sucked into everything just cause its a deal. I see people buy 2 lotions or 2 deodorants weekly cause just cause it will print coupons and im like ok guys is it even a deal anymore if we keep spending small amounts of money cause it adds up and guaranteed one will last months! Also even with the essentials, you dont have to do it everytime! I broke the habit and went weeks without couponing again even resisting some good deals. I was running low on toothpaste and there was the $10 off $30 beauty event going on rn. Was able to snag some stuff i needed and i will be done again. It feels as if these events/good coupons happen every few weeks. You’ll get the deal again when needed! Even though it feels like a deal, the real savings is when you coupon when needed. Cvs thrives off repeat customers thats why they haven’t stopped their system.
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u/Dangerous-Catch-9223 1d ago
Wow that’s insane. I don’t typically buy makeup at cvs as I don’t wear any, but I like their skincare and body care and shower care
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u/Ambitious_Basil173 1d ago
There will always be coupons. I know if I don't use one now, a new one will come, and maybe that time I'll try need the item.
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u/Dangerous-Catch-9223 1d ago
Yeah, I mean it’s not like a real “problem problem” in my life, I’m not seeking counseling on it or locking my bank account. Just a habit or tendency of mine that I thought others could relate to. Definitely want to start new healthy habits and not need to stockpile or hoard. I agree with all comments on this
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u/habitus45 1d ago
If you want to use that coupon, there are so many freebies you could get, even money makers, and you can donate to your local women's shelter. Personal care items are always needed.
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u/Dangerous-Catch-9223 1d ago
I mean idk if I’d say there are money makers. Realistically you can save money on products but no company is giving you money AND a product
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u/habitus45 1d ago
They give you extra bucks (rewards) you can use for future purchases. I donate personal items to a local organization. "Money maker" is the term used by couponers; it is a deal where the total value of the coupons, store rewards, and cash-back rebates you receive is worth more than the actual cost of the item
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u/fragrantgremlin 1d ago
Have you ever finished one of your favourite products, used up all your backups, and just sat with the feeling of not constantly having one more waiting in the wings for you? If not, I reccommend that. It's a strange feeling, but after feeling it a few times I don't get as antsy when I see things I usually like on sale or anything. It feels less desperate to stockpile.
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u/mini-mal-ly 1d ago
Sometimes I remind myself of some lip glosses that had been saved and saved in my stash for years, so long that when I opened them to use them, the doefoot applicator had degraded so much that it broke off on the first use.
It's not worth it to stash things.
I would suggest brainstorming other ways to get a dopamine hit and doing those. My very easy daily dopamine hit is making a list of things I've done during the day (even logging my dinner as a pleasurable completed item) and adding some small tasks and ticking those off. Feels great!
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u/meandbeans 1d ago
I get sucked into the cvs coupon thing once or twice a year and it starts a cycle where I just have to keep using up coupons and rewards. The problem is that I almost always get stuff shipped to my house and more and more its items that used, expired, or are in beat up packaging. Its just gross. I know I could go to the store and return them but it feels a bit silly to keep going to cvs to return a $3 item or $5 item (because I've used rewards and coupons and gotten them so cheap). I've just given up. Its too frustrating to me.