I don’t know about you, but this is what my trips to Target typically look like. I need just a couple of items so I make what I think will be a quick stop. “Get in, get out” I think to myself. “You can do it!”
The Dollar Spot
In reality it never really works this way. First you have to get past the “Dollar Spot” that they conveniently place at the front of the store. We all know that we don’t really need any of it, but I usually end up walking through this aisle anyway. Have you ever noticed that most of the stuff in the “Dollar Spot” is actually three dollars? I have about a 50/50 chance of making it through this aisle without something I don’t really need jumping into the cart.
Shopping with Kids
Typically when I hit Target I have one or two kids in tow. If you shop with kids like I do there’s a good chance that one of the first questions out of their mouths will be “Can we look at the toys?” Most of the time I’m a softy and let them look, but I usually say “we need to keep this detour short”. Twenty minutes later I’m trying to get them out of the toy aisle while my daughter tries to convince me that she really needs just one more stuffed animal (even though she already has 100 of them). More often than not we manage to make it through the toy section without any extra items, but occasionally an unplanned item makes its way into our cart.
Shiny Distractions
We then head for the one or two items that we initially came for. We wind our way through the store while trying not to get distracted by the clothes, kitchen stuff, decorations, electronics, and books. How many of you can make it all the way to the item that you came for without stopping to look at something that wasn’t on your list? I’m usually distracted by some shiny object at least once or twice.
Reading Labels
Eventually we find our way to what we came for. In our house we try to use non-toxic products as much as possible. If it is a new bodywash we came to Target for the process usually goes something like… pick up a bottle, turn it over, and start reading the ingredients label. While I’m trying to decipher all of these words that barely resemble English my children are playing tag up and down the aisle. (Please tell me I’m not the only one whose elementary school age kids sometimes forget that stores are not playgrounds no matter how many times I remind them.) I find that Target tries to carry some brands that are more on the natural side, so I can usually find something middle of the road that works in a pinch. It might have 75-90% natural ingredients with a few questionable items added like synthetic fragrance. (“Fragrance” is a big toxic offender in most products, but that will need a whole blog article of it’s own to cover.) We settle for these types of items if we’ve run out of something we really love and just need something to get us by for a few days, or if we haven’t found a completely non-toxic replacement that we love yet.
Once I’ve finally grabbed those couple of items we came for we head towards the checkout lane. Usually we have to walk past the grocery aisles, and a box or two of granola bars mysteriously makes it into our cart along with one or two other food items. They always put their Annie’s brand products on sale and put them on the end caps. It gets me every time.
My total is HOW MUCH?
When I make it to the checkout area there are usually only 1 or 2 cashiers, so I often use the self-checkout to try to save time. I scan my dozen items and pay my $100 total. I carry the bags of stuff to the car while wondering how my 2 items turned into twelve. Can anyone relate? If so, I’ve got a solution….
Everyone LOVES subscription boxes
I’m starting to see why monthly subscription boxes are all the rage. Doesn’t it seem like everyone is talking about their favorite one on Facebook? I keep hearing about Thrive, Prime Pantry, Stitch Fix, Kiwi Crate, and FabFitFun. Everyone keeps sharing their subscription links because the love what they are getting in their boxes. Well I too have found my favorite box, so I’m going to join the crowd and offer you my subscription link for a box that I know you are going to love.
Essential Rewards is my top pick
My favorite box comes from Young Living and is called Essential Rewards. When you hear that name you might think, “oh, they just do essential oils.” While that is partially true (they have been industry leaders in the field of essential oils for over 20 years) they are actually a wellness company.
They carry most of the types of items I used to get at Target, but better. The products from Young Living are non-toxic and only use ingredients I can trust. This means I no longer have to spend hours reading labels. I did my due diligence on the company upfront, and now I can just add items to my monthly box without worrying about what ingredients I might be giving to my family. I also love that it comes right to my front door which means no more extra items that I didn’t really need, and no more dragging kids to the store with me. As if that wasn’t enough, Young Living gives me bonus free gifts each month and 10-25% back in credit for each box I purchase. Target’s 5% back on the Red Card pales in comparison.
Getting the best deal
So let me tell you how to get the best deal on this. You choose a starter kit for your first order (choose from oils, makeup, household items, or nutrition) which gets you a huge box full of goodies, plus a bottle of Stress Away essential oil, and a wholesale account with 24% off all future purchases. (Just a warning: Stress Away smells like a tropical vacation in a bottle and you are going to want to smell this one all day). While I love all of the starter kit boxes, I highly recommend getting the Premium Starter Kit w/ Dessert Mist Diffuser for $165. It includes a beautiful diffuser and 12 essential oils. This kit retails for well over $400 if you buy all of the pieces separately, so you are getting an amazing deal by purchasing it this way. You will also be earning a free oil of the month and $10 in essential rewards credit.
Only the items you want
Each month following that initial purchase you log into the Young Living website, and YOU get to choose the items you want in your box. They have some premade kits you can chose from, or your can hand pick each item. I recommend adding at least 100 pv (approx $100) each month so you get the free monthly oil, but you only need to add a minimum of 50 pv (approx $50) to your box each month to maintain your subscription. On your designated day it ships to your home. It’s that simple.
If you find that it just isn’t for you, you can cancel the monthly box anytime (but I doubt you will want to), and you still keep your wholesale membership discount to shop whenever you want.
Rewards!!!
You accumulate rewards credits in the amount of 10% for the first three months and then move to 20% starting in month four. You can spend your rewards anytime starting in month four. Also starting in month four you receive a bonus free oil every quarter that you keep your subscription for the first year and then annual oil gifts after that.
It is always super easy to find items to fill my box with because Young Living carries:
- Supplements that are oil infused for increased effectiveness,
- Non-toxic personal care items to replace everything in your bathroom and shower,
- Pure mineral makeup and skincare (that doesn’t break out my sensitive skin),
- Cleaning products for every room of your house that you can feel safe letting your kids use,
- Personal care items like shampoos and lotions formulated specifically for kids and babies,
- Products and oil blends specifically formulated for your pets,
- Weight management products,
- Cereals and pastas made from naturally sourced Einkorn grains,
- Essential Oils that we use daily to keep our family above the wellness line,
- and lots more.
Get your box today!
If you’re excited, but still have some questions please feel free to reach out to me. If you are ready to get started head over to the Young Living website. On step 1 you choose your starter kit. On step 2 you select “yes” you want essential rewards and select “yes” you want the starter kit to count as your first order. On step 3 you select the pre-made box you want to ship the following month or select “customize your kit” to hand select what comes in your next box. Then just proceed through the rest of the check out screens. (When it asks for sponsor and enroller number it should be filled out from my link but if not enter 11769194 in both fields. By using me as your enroller it allows me to provide you free extra goodies plus access to training as well as access to a Facebook community for incredible support.)