Happy Haul-idays #1: Holiday 2015 Gift Sets, Special Offers and Buying Stuff on 'Easy Pay' (L'Occitane via QVC.com)

I am frequently reminded of something that I was told while I was working in retail: the stores are usually 3 months ahead in their planning/shipping. (This explains why you'll start to see sandals, and beach wear, in the stores, and we're still in the throes of winter.)

Around September, I start to keep on the look out for the holiday gift sets that most cosmetic companies put out - and believe me, some of these sets are ENTICING. I already discussed the Lancome Holiday 2015 Mega Makeup Gift Sets, and how the Estee Lauder Holiday 2015 Blockbuster was already available for sale in October (but in Australia). But there are other sets, and I'd like to tell you about them:

Sadly, this one is already sold out. I know, I know - you're thinking, 'Why is she telling us about this then? WTF?' I'm telling you about it so that when this kind of deal comes along again, and while it won't be this exact configuration, deals like this do come along every so often. I don't want anyone to hesitate about jumping on the deal. This was from our friends at L'Occitane and was available, exclusively, at QVC.com : L'Occitane 5-pc Gifts of Luxury from Provence Collection (QVC # A270261). 

It also comes with different sized gift boxes!

 I don't know how else I can tell you about this value - if you went into a L'Occitane store, and bought these by themselves, The Almond Shower Oil, by itself, is $50. (It's the larger sized bottle - 16.9 oz.) That tube of Shea Butter Hand Cream is $28 by itself (It's the larger sized tube - 5.2 oz). That's $78 right there, and you still get (2) of the 1 oz tubes of hand cream ($10 each), and the Ultra Rich Body Cream is $44 by itself, too. It also came with 3 gift boxes, in sizes to fit the Almond Shower Oil, large hand cream and the Ultra Rich Body Cream. It really was an excellent deal!

This set sold on QVC.com for $77.98 - at full retail prices, it would sell for $142. 

It was available using QVC's 'Easy Pay' payment system. What is that? OK - when you order something on QVC, you might hear something about '4 payments on Easy Pay'. (Or something along those lines.) We'll use this item for an example: This set was $77.98 on QVC - or, 4 payments of $21.51 (That includes taxes, and shipping/handling.) You can have QVC take out the entire $77.98, all at once, on your credit card, or you ca have them take out the payments, over the next 4 months. There are no additional fees to use the 'Easy Pay' feature - and you still get the item sent immediately, regardless of whether or not you pay for it all up front, or use the Easy-Pay function. It's just a way for you to spread out the payments over months. (In fact, it's my favorite way to pay for larger items - like a new laptop, for instance.) If you decide to do so, you can cancel the Easy-Pay at any time - you'll just pay the remaining balance all at once. 

Keep your eyes out - as we edge closer to the end of the year, other gift sets (and great deals) will be available! Don't be afraid to pounce on them - deals like this make great gifts, or keep them for yourself!