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October 28, 2017

Top Tips For Women Purchasing A Car

Top Tips For Women Purchasing A Car, By Barbie's Beauty Bits and Cars.com

Buying a car can be intimidating to a lot of people, especially women. But it doesn’t have to be, being prepared is the key. While you can’t know everything, coming across confident and knowledgeable, will help give you the upper hand or at least be on the same playing ground, especially if you are going to a car dealership.

I know this, as there was a brief time in my life where I sold cars, so a lot of this is from my own experiences.  Unfortunately, at that time, there were not a lot of public resources for women or men for that matter to educate themselves. But nowadays, many resources can help you get your ducks in a row, like cars.com for instance.  This online company can be a great resource to help you navigate every turn of car ownership, from purchasing to selling, as well as service and repair.

So if you want to find out my top tips for women purchasing a car, continue reading.

Budgets
This is so important, and some people do this last, I suggest doing this first as you need to know what you can afford.  And when determining what you can spend, you also need to consider your car insurance as this will go up with the purchase of a new car. Even gas is an essential factor, as well as car service and repair.  All of these are things you need to evaluate when determining what you can or can not afford. Once you have that in mind, you can start playing around with cars.com affordability calculator to see what vehicles will fit in that price range.

Tips to budgeting for a car purchase by barbies beauty bits and cars.com

Finances
You need to start with your credit score, as this plays a vital part (unless you are paying cash) as to what your payments will be.  Your credit score is yours and is your responsibility and will impact your monthly car payment and what you can actually afford.

Shop around when it comes to getting a rate. There are some great offers out there, but make sure you read all of the fine print, like what is your monthly payment, length of the term, prepayment penalties, is it a fixed or variable rate, etc. That best option for most buyers is a fixed rate with a short-term loan, and payments that you can afford, comfortably.

IMPORTANT: Although some lenders have recently started offering car buyers variable loans, personally I would not do it, get a fixed loan instead.  The only benefit to a variable rate would be if you planned to aggressively pay down your car loan. But if you lose your job or something happens financially you could get screwed! So, I always consider the what ifs!

Lastly, I prefer to get pre-approved for a loan, and this can be your negotiating tool at the end of your sale at a dealer, as you can tell them, "Oh I will be paying cash, I got a loan from my credit union for ___%, unless you want to BEAT it..." Dealerships make money from financing as well, so some may be willing to offer you something through one of their approved lenders.

Rebates and Incentives
A lot of car manufacturers out there offer manufacturer deals and discounts. Do your research on these as not all dealerships will share these with you. I suggest calling a few dealers around the area and asking and look online at the car manufacturer to see what is available in your area.

Keep in mind most rebates have nothing to do with the price you have negotiated.  This is important as some dealers may say that the rebate is taken off the full invoice price to benefit them, so do your research.

Rebates for new cars by barbies beauty bits and cars.com

Don’t Show Your Cards
This is the most crucial step when negotiating!!! So, what do I mean by not showing your cards?

This statement relates to if you have a trade-in, a budget, or an already approved loan, do not share this until AFTER you have negotiated the price of the car. I am not saying to lie, but be evasive.

What is your budget? If you are asked what your budget is, I would focus on a particular car you already know you can afford based on the pricing you've found in your research, and respond with something like…“I know what my budget is, and I’m looking for a (name of the car) as this is in my price range."

Don’t discuss a payment or down payment either. Your goal is to get the price of the car locked in first before revealing any of your other cards. Salespeople always focus on the amount per month to sway you away from seeing what the actual purchase price is. For instance, let's say your budget is $550 per month, and you share this information. The dealer will work to get your payments within your budget, but to do so, they may spread out the payments over a long term such as 72 or 84 months and at a higher interest rate. The result is that the car will be a lot more expensive at the end of the term.  They will also use this as a closing tool, for instance..."What is the problem Miss Ritzman, your payment is where you want it to be", while all along the price of the car is too much, and my interest is higher than I what I should be getting based on my credit score, as they are hooking up their F & I people too! SO NEVER REVEAL YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT GOALS before agreeing on a purchase price.

Don't let them know you have a trade upfront. Once you negotiate the price, then you can come back and say: "Well, maybe I will trade my car."  KEEP in mind; you will get less then you think.   However, cars.com has a great car price estimator that will let you know how much you can get for a trade-in, to sell yourself, or just to find out the value.  IMPORTANT you will notice the trade in value and resale will be different, and you will be getting less if you are trading your car in, PERIOD. If you need a specific price to afford your car, then sell it first.

Got a damaged car you need to get rid of? Well, most dealers are not going to help you out here, but some services can offer you cash for damaged cars.  So make sure to check those out prior to getting your new vehicle.

Bottom line, you want to focus on each part of the transaction separately. (the car/budget, trade in, rebates, and financing).

Car buying tips for women by barbies beauty bits and cars.com 
Don't Be Impulsive And Make Sure To Shop Around
If you have done your research, some may think, well I am not impulsive, but I beg to differ. Always look at all factors, including reviews and never come across as needy. I usually say to a salesperson: "I am happy with the car I have." I don't let the dealership know that I need or want a new car, more that I am just shopping. 

Shopping around is crucial as you can use it as a negotiating tool yourself. I always share the price from another dealer, and if the new dealer wants my business, they need to offer me a lower deal. I do that at a few locations before making my final purchase. And remember you can always walk away.

Shop At The End Of The Month
Car dealers have goals and budgets, and if they have not met their quota for the month, they are better to work out a deal towards the end to get that number of cars sold.

The Car Salesman (person)
All car dealers are not dishonest, they are, however making a living, AND THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND. They need to pay their bills too and are just doing their job and so do you, by being educated on the car buying process. Considering you make the final decision, you do have the ability to walk away and believe me, I have many times! You are ultimately responsible for your purchase decision, and nothing irks me more than a person blaming someone else for their ignorance. So take responsibility by educating yourself.

Tips for women to purchase a car by barbies beauty bits and cars.com

So there you have it, tips for women when it comes to purchasing a new car.  As you can see, like anything in life, you need to do your homework. While not all car dealers are crooks, you need to be prepared by doing research, and this is why I was excited to partner up with Cars.com for this post as they can be a helpful resource.

Top Tips For Women Purchasing A Car By Top Beauty Blogger Barbies Beauty Bits
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October 25, 2017

IT's More Than A Makeup Brush With Itcosmetics Love Is The Foundation Brush

IT's More Than A Makeup Brush With Itcosmetics Love Is The Foundation Brush By Top Beauty Blogger Barbie's Beauty Bits

As most of you know, the month of October is breast cancer awareness month. And there are many beauty companies out there that have a limited edition pink product that they sell whereas a percentage of these sales will benefit breast cancer research and more.

Before I get into the brand and pink items, I wanted to share with you some statistics on breast cancer as 1 in 4 women are diagnosed daily, and 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of it.

Overall about 1 in 8 U.S. women (approx. 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

As part of my ITcosmetics series, I am going to share with you this beautiful makeup brush by Itcosmetics.

IT's More Than Just A Brush with itcosmetics. This limited edition ITcosmetics makeup brush, "Love is the Foundation Brush" is here help with a good cause during breast cancer awareness month!

For every makeup brush sold, IT Cosmetics will donate one to look good feel better to help women face the appearance-related side effects of cancer with confidence.

Itcosmetics Breast cancer awareness makeup brush by barbies beauty bits

This pink, glittery makeup brush features a unique heart-shaped head and is a fantastic brush! Itcosmetics makeup brushes are the best out there, and this lives up to their brush quality we have all grown to love!

The densely packed, cruelty-free hair makeup brush provides a flawless makeup application for all of your liquid, cream and powder foundations.

So what are you waiting for? You can get these PINKtastic brushes at Ulta today!
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October 13, 2017

Get Your Mask On This Friday The 13th With Double Dare Spa And Octoly

Get Your Mask On This Friday The 13th With Double Dare Spa And Octoly By Barbies Beauty Bits

Move over Jason as I have my own way to my “MASK” on this Friday The 13th with Double Dare Spa & Octoly.  These facial masks are OMG! wonderful.  I have been using these Double Dare Spa masks for the past few weeks, and I am in love and would love to give you a few quick beauty bits on these amazing masks!

The Mask Set
This Premium Mask Set is a 5 Piece Bundle. Not only does it come with a cute headband (6 colors to choose from) to keep your hair out of the way. But it comes with three different masks, each with its own purpose, depending on your skincare needs. And let’s not forget about the brush for application!

Bubbling Mask
First up is the 2 in 1 kit detox bubbling mask and a microfiber mask. One mask will cleanse and detoxify the skin while the other will feed the skin with various nutrients!
OMG! 2 in 1 kit detox bubbling mask and a microfiber mask review by Barbies Beauty Bits
Bubbling Mask Love

3 In 1 Peel Off Mask
2nd Mask is the OMG! 3 in 1 kit peel off mask that also includes a finishing moisturizer. This bad boy is infused with 24K gold and is multi-functioning which is excellent for anti-aging as it instantly boosts the skin. There is a mask for your face, neck and under eye area and when you peel it off, complete your treatment with the hydrating finishing cream!
Double Dare Spa 3 In 1 Peel Off Mask review by Barbies Beauty Bits


4 In 1 Kit Zone Mask
Last but not least is my favorite mask the 4 in 1 Kit Zone mask system. I love this kit as it contains charcoal which is fantastic at reducing the pores and helping your complexion not only to appear younger, but it leaves your skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!! Plus, it targets all areas of your face, improving your overall skin appearance!!!!
4 In 1 Kit Zone Mask Review By Barbies Beauty Bits


So what are you waiting for? I double dare you to try out these masks for yourself today by clicking here!

Double Dare Spa Mask Review With Barbies Beauty Bits
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October 7, 2017

It’s Time To Fall In Love With ITcosmetics

It’s Time To Fall In Love With ITcosmetics and Barbies Beauty Bits

I so love fall, it by far is my favorite season! Not only is it gorgeous with the leaves changing colors, but the boots, pumpkin lattes and trendy hats making this season FALLtastic.  What isn’t so FALLtastic, is what the fall air can do to our skin.  Hence with the change of the season also comes the change in our skincare and even some of our makeup.

And that is why I was so excited to partner up with ITcosmetics to bring you not only some fantastic skincare products but also some makeup.  So grab your pumpkin spice latte, sit back and relax as each week throughout the month of October I will sharing with you some products from Itcosmetics.

Now before I get into the products, if you are not familiar with ITcosmetics, I will share with you a bit about the company, so you to can “Discover IT, Love IT, and Believe IT.”

About ITcosmetics
Itcosmetics works with plastic surgeons to develop beauty products that are clinically proven, innovative, problem-solving products that harness cutting-edge, anti-aging technologies and skin-loving ingredients to help you to be you! Whether you have rosacea, oily, dry or combination skin, their skincare along with their makeup can help you to achieve as they say "The most beautiful you."

To kick this series off, I am going to share with you IT’s two newest products. Secret Sauce™ which is an advanced Anti-Aging Moisturizer that instantly hydrates and transforms your skin. And Miracle Water, which is a 3 in 1 Tonic that transforms your complexion and maximizes the results of your skincare routine, which is such a must, especially during these cooler months!

Itcosmetics Miracle Water 3-in-1 Glow Tonic and Secret Sauce review by barbies beauty bits

Miracle Water™ 3-in-1 Glow Tonic
Our skin is exposed to tons of environmental aggressors that are continually assaulting our skin. Factors, like pollution, dirt, oil, debris and even makeup can settle into our pores, dulling our skin's radiance and blocking our serums and creams from absorbing correctly. Hence, having a product like ITcosmetics Miracle water is a fall skincare savior. This lightweight no-rinse Micellar cleanser helps to balance the complexion and boost the look of radiance. Plus, it helps rid your skin of those pore-clogging impurities.

This tonic is also infused with their Secret Sauce™ Fermented Complex, a clinically advanced combination of penetration-enhancing fermented ingredients that work to increase absorbency and maximize the efficacy of your moisturizers and serums!

What makes this a 3 in 1 formula?  Well simply put it delivers 3 products in one…
  • Skin-brightening radiance booster
  • Anti-aging treatment essence
  • Skin-softening micellar cleanser
Itcosmetics Miracle Water 3-in-1 Glow Tonic results by barbies beauty bits

Secret Sauce™
This paraben free anti-aging moisturizer is excellent for all skin types. The secret is the seven key fermented ingredients that help to hydrate and transform your skin over time.
  • Fermented Sugarcane and Fermented Rice work to plump the look of skin, helping to improve bounce and elasticity.
  • Fermented Coconut Water is rich in minerals and amino acids to help provide antimicrobial benefits.
  • Fermented Sea Kelp, fermented Green and Black Tea, Fermented White Ginseng and Fermented Pumpkin intensely moisturize, delivering powerful antioxidants and concentrated nutrients to your skin.
Itcosmetics Secret Sauce results by barbies beauty bits
This Secret Sauce™ is also infused with anti-aging collagen, peptides and hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and licorice root.  This to me is so amazing as amino acids and collagen go hand in hand, as one of the most important proteins is our collagen. Collagen is what gives the skin its thickness and firmness. Unfortunately, the collagen breaks down in the skin, whether from aging or those darn environmental factors I mentioned earlier along with sun and stress, and with these, wrinkles and sagging can start.  However, incorporating a product like the IT’s Secret Sauce into your skincare routine, can not only help with the formation of new collagen but can also give us the appearance of a more youthful complexion!

Fall skincare tips with itcosmetics and barbies beauty bits

So there you have it beauties, two great anti-aging products. But as with all anti-aging products, these two are not the only products you need to help your skin to look healthy and radiant this fall. So make sure to stay tuned as I discuss some other Itcosmetic products to help you look and feel your most BEAUTYful!

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