We hear about the $700 face creams and $1000 jeans that some swear they just can’t live without. The rest of us either laugh at the thought of dropping that kind of cash or wish we could. Then there are the much more economical creams and jeans and cosmetics and accessories that most of us scrimp to keep on our shelves. Then there are those who have made an art of finding the things they love most without spending a fortune, or more than $2 in most cases. Here’s how they do it.

It starts with a love of shopping, says one self-proclaimed bargain shopper. You really have to invest time into trying different items and returning the ones that don’t work or don’t satisfy you. Everyone sees the bargain items in the stores, but there are few times when we’re willing to risk them being as “cheap” in quality as they are in price. After years of sampling the difference between the name brand or just plain more expensive version and the off-brand or less expensive version, here are the best deals for $2 or less and where to find them.

Nail polish is a great place to save money and still have nails that look salon quality. Although there are expensive buffers (the rectangles with a different buffing pad on each side) they all do the same thing, some just last longer than other. A $1.99 version will do what a $15 buffer will for $13.01 less. Nail color is another way to save big. The $.99 nail colors went head to head with the $12 polishes and in 9 out of 10 head-to-head manicures, there was no difference.

How many lip glosses do you have in your bathroom drawer? While lip gloss really is subjective to what you enjoy wearing, there are quite a few $2 glosses that have a wide variety of color choices, go on smooth and aren’t sticky. Look for glosses without bubbles and those in a creamier version that you apply with a lip brush.

Mascaras claim to be able to do everything but wash the dishes, but their purpose is as easily fulfilled with a $2 brand as a $20 brand. As long as the mascara isn’t dry when you open it and doesn’t cause any irritation, your lashes will look great.

Name brand accessories are always on-hand at consignment and thrift stores. You’ll be amazed what you can find in perfect condition at home stores for less than half of what you’d pay in a department store. Many times you’ll find accessories that have never been worn. Think of it like shopping a sale at your favorite store.

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