I probably buy 6-10 TSVs a year, almost all beauty. I have a rule, if I use or want to try over half the items in a TSV, I'll buy it, if I only want 1-2 items in a TSV, I'll buy those speicifc items on Ebay a week or so after the TSV. I am very disciplined about always selling the items that I don't want on Ebay. As soon as I recieve my TSV, I take out the items I don't want and put them in my "Ebay" box. As Ebay is usually flooded straight after a TSV, I usually wait a couple of months before selling (but sometimes don't need to, if the item is new and there are lots of peeps wanting to try it) but the items are put in my box and get listed on Ebay at the appropriate time. I find that this makes the TSVs I'm interested in extemely good value.
A few years ago, I went through an extremely lean period financially. That year, my presents for my friends and family came from TSVs, but were only selected items from the TSVs. If the TSV had 5 items, I kept 2 for gifts and sold 3. My average gift spend after what I had recouped from selling on items was under £5 per person, but everyone had lovely items that were still luxurious treats. Yes, it was a faff, and I did start in October but I would do it again should I ever have the misfortune to be in that position again.
A few years ago, I went through an extremely lean period financially. That year, my presents for my friends and family came from TSVs, but were only selected items from the TSVs. If the TSV had 5 items, I kept 2 for gifts and sold 3. My average gift spend after what I had recouped from selling on items was under £5 per person, but everyone had lovely items that were still luxurious treats. Yes, it was a faff, and I did start in October but I would do it again should I ever have the misfortune to be in that position again.