Brand identification is a powerful marketing tool. If I can make you relate to a particular product, I may have a customer for life. By 2015, the market for men’s grooming products will reach $33.2 billion. Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, and Unilever all have a hand in this growing segment.
In the process of creating brands we love, these businesses have capitalized on directing us to more and more expensive beauty/grooming-related items. Every day, we meet purchasing decisions that require a frugal eye. Here are 3 grooming mistakes I was making for years and how I’m saving hundreds of dollars by changing my brand identification.
1. Buying the first deodorant you know, see
The average price of deodorant costs $4-8 (DailyFinance). Approaching the aisle, and you’ll find these sticks screaming at you with bright labels and translucent containers. Sometimes there are twin packs that advertise a deal. Don’t fall for the first available or the twin pack – these aren’t deals.
Axe sprays have become popular options for adolescents. These powerful coverups double as cheap colognes. Comically, Axe products are advertised to attract women and cover up the bad natural scents, but some natural pheromones are important in the attraction game:
For that reason, excessively masking your natural scent could become a detriment (Lifehacker).
A day without my deodorant is scary – it’s a must. But unlike the movement towards gels, liquid, and spray deodorant, the classic stick is still your most frugal option. Oftentimes, I can find clearance deodorant at Target stores for under $1 per stick.
2. Washing with liquid soap
Demonizing the old soap bar has been a crafted, effortful, and deceitful advertising campaign conducted for years. Companies realized that liquid soap could be sold for more money, used more frequently, and dispensed inefficiently. The combination is a boon to business.
I spent years buying into these wasteful products before I realized this err in thinking. Nowadays, buying bar soap is exceptionally affordable. I purchased 12 bars of Dial for about $3. That’s a steal compared to the $3 bottle of body wash.
Savings: ~$2 per bottle.
3. Shaving with razors
Buying refill blades/cartridges for an inexpensive Gillette razor can cost you over $30. Most everyone knows that these razor refills are a complete rip off, but the solutions can seem circuitous. The simple answer is changing your shave, style.
By opting for a trim versus shave, you’ll be saving your skin and budget. Shaving is incredibly tough to that outer epidermis, and often moisturizers and post-shave creams are advised. This should all be included in the price of shaving.
Instead, use a beard trimmer and select an appropriate length. Most trimmers offer a baseline standard for the popular shadow look. For a $20 trimmer, I have saved literally hundreds of dollars in shaving over the years.
Savings: At least $300.
If you can grow a beard, that is.
Adam,
Haha. Fair point!
This is a Great article. However, I would like to add a few points. You should buy a natural deodorant/antiperspirant. The Crystal is a good one. Look for a deodorant that has potassium alum in it and always apply your deodorant at night and also after you shower. It may be a little bit more expensive but the aluminum in common deodorants is bad for your health. I agree with using bar soap but Dial and many popular others have sulfates and parabens in them, which aren’t good for your health. I would go with an all natural glycerin bar soap. Whole Foods has a great one under their 365 brand that’s about $1.50 a bar. Your saving money and using a healthier alternative. I also don’t shave with a razor but I would recommend something more sturdier than a cordless Norelco. I would get a plug in model such as a Wahl beard trimmer (their Peanut model is great for beard trimming). Plug-ins have more power and you will use less energy versus a beard trimmer that needs to be constantly charged and plugged in.
Bryan,
Thanks for your comment and thoughtful, natural ideas. Being frugal is always a challenging business between what’s cheapest versus the best value. It’s a difficult balance to strike.
Again, thanks for your suggestions.
-Sam
Nice post. I actually need to change my ways in terms of deodorant myself!
As far as the bar soap is concerned, this little doohickey can help get just as good of a lather as body wash and prevents your soap from getting soggy:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GXZOEO/ref=gno_cart_title_2?ie=UTF8
Dave,
Thanks for your comment and great saving idea! 🙂
Sam
I found another way to save. 🙂 I will now switch from using liquid soap to bar soap. Love your tips!
Do it! It’s a quick, easy way to save. Nothing wrong with the good ol’ bar soap! 🙂
I was recently forced to go on a months long search for hairspray. They put “Climashield” in my wonderful Unscented Rave hairspray and turned the best (and very cheap) hairspray on the market to the very worst. Reviews all over the internet back up this opinion. No one likes it! It’s awful. Anyway, after spending all these months trying different brands and probably spending over $50 (and I’m being conservative in this estimate) and getting various breathing and scalp problems (not to mention they just don’t work), I went online to see if there were any ideas for homemade hairsprays. BINGO! Who knew? So now I look for homemade everything – shampoos, deodorants, etc. CHEAP, healthier, less dependence on corporate greed and apathy (they really don’t seem to care what the customer wants anymore). I think your posts are what led me in these directions. You, Sam, are a gem! 🙂
Kay,
Glad to be inspiring some frugal, healthy changes. 🙂
Thanks for your kind post.
Sam
Any recommendations for how ladies can save on razors? I think the alternatives- waxing, etc are more expensive :/
Stefanie,
This is a great question! We need a post like this. 😉
I’ll be thinking of some ways…
Sam
Hi Stefanie. I’m not sure if this is cheaper than what you spend, but here’s what I do. It’s the cheapest I’ve come up with anyway without sacrificing quality. I used to use Gillette disposables, but they got really expensive! So now I use Wilkinson disposables. They look just like the Gillettes, but they are WAY cheaper. I get a package of 12 for $2.37 at Walmart. That lasts me almost 2 weeks. They are just as good as the Gillettes. I’ve tried other disposables, but none ever worked as well and would nick a lot! I don’t think beauty should have to involve Bandaids. 🙂
I’m not sure trimming vs. shaving relates that well to the ladies ;o) But plenty of your other points do – especially the deodorant one. I’ve actually developed a brand that I’m pretty fond of (Dove), and have found that since you have a little bit of time between when you realize the stick is getting lighter till when you actually have to buy it, that deodorant is a pretty easy thing to find coupons for. I’ve been lucky and each time I’ve Googled “dove deodorant coupon” I’ve come up with plenty, although if I didn’t, I’m pretty sure other brands would pop up and work just as well.
I usually buy the least expensive Suave deodorant/antiperspirant at my local grocery store for about $1.65, it usually takes me a few weeks to go through it.
As far as shaving goes…I generally buy the store brand women’s razors that come 5 in a box. I have sensitive skin and the female razors are the only ones that keep me from getting those fun little razor cuts on my face.
Deodorant: A second what the commenter said about aluminum, BE VERY CAREFUL. I don’t wear deodorant anymore. In extreme cases I work up a funk, but for the most part i just smell like sweat. I work by myself outdoors. When I worked with other people once a month or so they would yell at me. Usually it came down to what I ate. If you use soap in your pits, when you shower you will be more likely to smell. If I worked up a sweat and have to go out I will usually leave a stick in my car in case I leave the house forgetting I have been working. I guess it pays to be a mountain farmer man. lol. Other than diet the other thing that will make my smell, bad is stress. I don’t usually have any stress. Sometimes I smell worst a couple hours after my shower, thats probably because of bacterial genocide.
Soap: I try not to use it in my pits. I use Dr. Bronners purchased in bulk quantity. Its may not be the most frugal, but Dr. Bronners is one of the few non-poisoning ethical companies I know. I wouldn’t hesitate to spend a bit extra. I also wash my hair with it.
Razors: I’ve been using the same electric one for years. I’ve only had 2 in the last 12 years. I grow my facial hair until it gets long enough to itch my lips. Sometimes I just shave the stache but then I look amish for 1-5 days. In general I sport untrimmed face, but this again is a benefit of being mountain farmer man. When my razor craps out (its in the process) I will buy a straight razor. I’m surprised no one mentioned this. I see everyone suggesting participation in the throw away economy. No reason we can’t resharpen razors. I don’t really understand how people ever let them be deceived so thoroughly. Now there is plastic everywhere. sigh
P.S. By far my biggest grooming expense is the oil it takes to heat my water. Short showers equal hundreds of dollars, probably more. In the winter when I’m not working up a sweat outside, I need far less showers. In the summers they are necessary to check for ticks. Eventually I will be hooking up a wood stove to my hot water heater. Then it will be free. Can’t wait.