Ok everyone, this is going to be a super duper long post, but I wanted to respond to everyone!!! I love my 'low buy' family, who understands and is smart with their money! You guys rock and you are inspirational!!!
We all have to do a little of this:
Here goes!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
saycrackagain /img/forum/go_quote.gif
April:
New Years resolutions continue to apply (it's getting hard!). They were: 1) aim to go more natural, and 2) only buy replacements for the whole year! It is taking forever to use stuff up and I don't want to hoard or have items get rotten so this is the year of downsizing. Plus, this year my goal is to focus my spending on the house and only things I need, with a couple pre-determined exceptions.
This month I will definitely need to buy primer, and possibly a hairbrush, hair conditioner, body lotion, and night cream. I'll see when those things kick the bucket. If a certain collection shows up I can snag that too, but will wait until May if possible.
Wow, your goals are amazing.
I hope you find it not too much of a challenge, and that it strengthens your 'willpower muscles' so much! I like the idea of going natural too. I haven't gotten quite there yet, but I'm trying to be cruelty-free this year, and it's going really well. I'll tell you guys a secret- going cruelty-free only, and probably the same goes for going natural, it really limits what you can buy. In a way, that's a really good thing, because if you really believe in what you're doing, you won't even want to buy the stuff you're limited from, but it puts a limit on what you buy, so it's a good thing to do when you're doing a low-buy anyway. It keeps you from wanting too much stuff!
Quote: Originally Posted by
meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Ack! It's almost That Time again! I actually liked not buying as much stuff as usual in March, so I'm going to give that another shot for April. My plan:
- Glamour Doll Eyes -- one small order of sample jars (maybe four, maybe eight. I need to sit down and map out a plan for the rest of the year!) at the beginning of the month. I don't think there is anything else new on the horizon for April, so that will probably be it, although if there *is* another as-yet-unannounced collection, that will be allowed.
- One Geek Chic Cosmetics -- one order, contents to be determined. I had been planning an order for March (samples of the Superneutrals collection), but they did a sneak preview of one of their upcoming collections, and it's a doozy for me: To start with, there's a four-piece Fire Walk With Me nail polish set. *thud* I have no clue what else they're unleashing upon my wallet, but I'm just going to assume I will be ordering it all.
- essence cosmetics -- Eh, not sure what they have coming out, but I haven't seen anything on the international upcoming collections lists that is particularly memorable. The trend edition page on the US site only lists two collections that are already out in my area, not anything upcoming, so I'll just set a $20 limit just in case something amazing does show up here.
- Shampoo/conditioner -- I've been saying this for, what, four months? If I run out, I can get more. I do have some samples that I am kind of working my way through, but I tried one of them and *hate* it, so I think I'll save that one for OH SO VERY DESPERATE times instead of making sure I use it all up before I can get something-new.
- Sephora -- Despite the 15% discount, I probably will *not* buy anything. Except maybe some Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil shampoo and conditioner. That stuff is a huge splurge, but I loved the sample I tried. If they have an amazing GWP or point perk, I can place an order to get it, but I have a feeling that's just not going to happen. I'm just getting jaded and annoyed with the whole Rouge program, and it's making me just not want to bother buying *anything* there. Note to Sephora: Don't promise exciting and thrilling perks if you're not going to bother to come up with any!
- Subs -- Birchbox, GDE, LMdB, and Starbox are prepaid (Birchbox is set through February, GDE runs through December, LMdB ends in July or August, and my first Starbox on the annual plan will be the April box). I can keep Square Hue and Dollar Shave Club. Julep and Scratch... Don't know. I have a feeling I'll probably skip both. I have enough points with Julep to get a free box (or two), but they haven't really put out much stuff lately that I desperately want. And I haven't been very impressed with Scratch's collections the past couple of months. I want to love them, but I am not big on transparent nail wraps, and the colors for the newest collection are very much Not Me. I'll just have to wait and see what the next round brings. (And I keep forgetting I'm subscribed to LMdB! The March box arrived on the day I had oral surgery, and it's *still* in the box. I should just toss it up on eBay one of these days.)
- Fortune Cookie Soap -- I just got a jar of sugar scrub, but if I run out by the end of the month, then I will order two or three more in Garden of Good and Evil scents with one of my discount codes. I love this stuff for shaving my legs, and it's that time of the year! Two or three jars would get me through until the summer stuff comes out, and then I will order jars of those scents since I'm super seasonal on this sort of thing for some reason.
There's no way I'll run out of shower gel, so that's still on the banned list. And... I think everything else is on the banned list as well. Unless Birchbox comes out with a stunning LE box, I don't think I'll even get stuff from there with my gift cards ($80, all flipped from points). I want theBalm's Apples cheek/lip palette, but I have so much cream blush already that I can't justify it. I have to put a dent in what I already have before I can get something new.
I wanted to get a drugstore brow powder to keep in my bag for days I forget to do them at home because I've realized I really prefer my brows to be just a shade darker than they are, but all I really want is the *powder*, not the powder and wax or a gel/pencil product, and all of the dark brown powder shadows I've been able to find are shimmery rather than matte, so my mere pickiness there is helping me to not buy it. I guess I'll just deal with having not-as-dark-as-I-would-like brows on the days I forget to do them at home. I'm lucky because my brows don't *need* anything. Even when I had them waxed a few weeks ago, I could barely tell anything had been done unless I looked *really* closely, so I won't bother with that expense any more.
And my comic con is this weekend, which means it will be over by the first of the month, and *that* means I now have to start focusing on planning/saving up for the next one in September. Fortunately, that one is local, and I already bought my pass, so I just have to save up for food and dealer room stuff. I don't even have to pay for parking if I need to shave that cost because I'm a bus commuter, so I can take public transit to the con if it comes down to it.
Finally, it will be time to get back on the routine of shopping one weekend a month and staying home getting my apartment in order the other three weekends. Surgery and ECCC really threw a wrench in those works! (And now, time to go clear out my car's hatchback so I can fit my suitcase in it! I love my car, but the hatch is much smaller than I'm used to, and I'm not sure my suitcase *and* all of the goodies I plan on buying this weekend will fit in there unless I take *everything* out of it. Well, it will be time as soon as Ed stops snuggling and nuzzling. How can I possibly dump a cuddly kitty on the floor? Answer: I can't!)
(ETA: The actual answer turned out to be "Pretty damned easy when he decides it's time to BITE MY EAR.")
Hahaha, oh cats! I feel you on that. My cat is a biter. Big time. My hands show for it.
/emoticons/
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Ok, I'm freaking impressed that you're going to bypass Chic week. Good on you, lady!!!!!
Also, I LOVE TWIN PEAKS OH MY FREAKING GOD OH MY GOD !!!! That was the best show, and so scary! I love Agent Cooper so much!
I love the idea of Geek Chic Cosmetics, but I'm no good at powdered loose pigments, so I will have to pass, but I love that they celebrate so many great shows/movies. The Walking Dead, Sherlock, Twin Peaks, Harry Potter.
Quote: Originally Posted by
BSquared /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Ok plan for the month!!
1. I can buy a bottle of face wash and it won't count against no buy since I'll run out this month.
2. I can buy conditioner if I run out. Edit: running out includes all samples gone.
3. One $25 sephora or ulta order for whatever. Preferably during chic week so I get the discount, with the following stipulations: no eyeshadow, no blush.
That's it! Everything else is off limits. We don't have a payment on our new car until 5/11 but I'm making us "pay it" this month so I have a better idea of how it feels to pay it monthly. Good luck everyone!!!
Good idea about putting aside money to 'pay it' this month. I hope it isn't too much of a shock. Do you know how long you'll have to make payments? Good plan! You are going to do well this month.
Quote: Originally Posted by
usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Alright here we go!
-no eyeliners, blush, mascara, or lippies
-swaps ok
-birch box : I have 2 now for some awful reason. I gotta cancel. No point in getting more crap to clutter up my apartment just because it's "free with points"
-foundation/tinted moisturizer is allowed. I'm thinking Big Easy (got another sample) and maybe the Balm's Balmshelter tinted moisturizer? I have like 3 tm or foundation samples from sephora right now to test out
-real techniques flawless face brush
-birchbox order with points (I have about $100 and this is after my $50 spree!)
-haircut after I finish all my term papers and before I graduate. Gotta look good for my hooding ceremony! (End of April haircut maybe early May)
I hope I can handle it!
Whoa, good luck finishing your term papers! I hate writing papers, it's so hard for me. You can do it- you're freaking smart! And I'm so excited about your graduation, you awesome, smart lady! What kind of haircut are you going to get? YOU CAN HANDLE IT!!!
Quote: Originally Posted by
lorizav /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Ok, really have to get serious about this. I just got out of the hospital where I ran up some major bills. Soooooo...cancelled ipsy, little black bag, next month after I spend points will cancel a BB, the other is annual so I will keep.
I am selling stuff on EBay because I went a little Memebox crazy so at least I can sell some things to pay for that. I will keep my weight watchers membership. I can request free samples from companies. Cut back on swapping (postage). No purchase of anything that I am not completely out of. Sephora orders under $5 are ok on occasion. Gotta do it because I don't know how long before I can go back to work
Give me strength to resist all the good deals
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry about your hospital stay and the bills that resulted. Good on you for cancelling ipsy, I did that last month and it wasn't easy, but it's less painful now that it's been a month and it's over.
Good luck selling on Ebay- I need to do that too, and I'm going to start soon.
You can resist, you're strong. Don't read the 'deal' emails, just delete them. Don't walk around Sephora or Ulta, and stay weary of the other threads on this board, you might find yourself wanting something! But you are strong and you can do it for a little while until you can pay off a good bit of your bills, and then maybe you can start treating yourself again. Good luck!
Quote: Originally Posted by
magicalmom /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Oh yay there's an April thread up!
Allowed for April:
-Ipsy and ONE Birchbox. (I can get a second birchbox if 1)I really like the stuff that's in the boxes and 2) I can use a code to get points or a nice GWP)
-My usual $25 splurge budget for all other beauty purchases. I *may* pick up a full-size gel cleanser. I have combo skin and recently switched to a milk/cream cleanser. I mainly like it, but I do still like using a gel cleanser occasionally because I feel like my skin gets cleaner. If anyone can recommend a good drugstore-level gel cleanser for combo/sensitive skin, you'd be my hero!
Non beauty, but kind of necessary for MUT - I need to get my laptop's screen replaced. I was quite stupid and left my laptop closed on the floor, and during a kid/dog chase through the living room, SOMEONE stepped on my computer. There's a huge spiderweb crack radiating out from the right side, and whole portions of the screen around the cracks is black. It's kind of funny, because the pattern looks like a dinosaur footprint on my screen, but really not, because I have to grab my screen and scoot it around to see every word/image. Has anyone ever had a similar situation and knows approximately how much it is to get the screen replaced at a Best Buy - type location? (Neither my hubby nor I are good at fixing computers, and we haven't lived here very long and don't know any good local computer repair shops.)
I was quite good in March, and really hoping to carry it forward through April! Cheers to us!
That really sucks about your laptop, I'm so sorry! I hate when stuff like that happens. I hope you can get it replaced with a good deal.
Good on you for your March goals! And best of luck this April!
Quote: Originally Posted by
trustlust /img/forum/go_quote.gif
April No-Buy Guidelines
- Subs (Birchbox x 3, ipsy, Beauty Box 5) - Allowed to keep. Will cancel one of my Birchbox's after this month and use it for promo-use only. Unless I use 3 of my ipsy products, it gets cancelled as well. Fortune Cookie Soap box is already paid, so I'm good on that.
- If I run out of 'staple item', I can re-purchase to replace it.
- Two 'oops' buys - cash only!
- If I'm not out of a staple item, but they run a seriously stupid good deal on it, I can buy it, but I have to take away an 'oops' purchase.
- Things I know I have to replace - body wash, face wash, & e-liquid oil for my vaporizer.
- 50$ shipping budget for swaps.
- Can only eat out once a week.
- Completely 100% off limits(except for swaps) - hair dye(*sigh* is grunge back in?), clothes, shoes, perfume, lotion, blush, lip products
Good luck with your goals this month! I like the idea of your 'oops' buys- will you have a budgeted amount for that, or just two purchases? I like the idea of allowing yourself to take advantage of good deals, but still lowering your 'oops' purchase amount.
Quote: Originally Posted by
PeridotCricket /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'm going to try a low-buy for April.
Things I Can Get:
1 Sumita Eyeliner in Lime Green if I don't get it in my Birchbox.
1 Orange Lip Product. Must be purchased online & it has to be from a company I absolutely know is cruelty-free.
Indie Nail Polish. 1 Order. $35 or Less. Probably ILNP or Del Sol brand, but I can't make up my mind.
Things That Are Off Limits:
Coffee! I have been spending over $30 a week on coffee.
Shampoo & Conditioner
Shower Gel
Room Sprays/Candles/Difusers
Drugstore Nail Polish
Eyeliners (Except the 1 Sumita)
Drugstore Lip Products
Face Cleaners
I have enough of everything that off limits to last 3 months to a year (longer if I count lip products), so it's not like I need more.
I need to spend money on clothes. Ugh. And Shoes. Ugh, Again.
Birchbox does not count, at least for April. Both my accounts are already pre-paid because 1 was gifted with points and the other they charged me $10 immediately when I resunscribed after my March box was sent.
Good luck with your low-buy this month!
I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot of unexpected expenses come up the next few months, so I want to take advantage of chic week and then be finished with buying stuff, or at least until I run out of necessary products.
Quote: Originally Posted by
lioness90 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Starting April 1st, I'm on an extreme low buy until August 1st. I can replenish items that I use daily when they run out. I might cancel my birchbox sub once I get my 13 month code in April. I have to cut back and save up for my move to another state.
Wow, you're awesome! Actually, I might try to do a similar thing, now that I've read this. I am buying some stuff for Chic Week, but maybe, just maybe I'll tell myself no more purchases until the 20% VIB thing in November, because apparently, I'll be a VIB instead of just a BI after I make my chic week order.
Thanks for the inspiration, and stay strong! We will do our best, and we will succeed!
Quote: Originally Posted by
MIKAGlam /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I was doing so well on my no-buy and then I just caved. Last month, I bought a NARS blush, I bought ridiculous things during the NYX 30% sale (Yellow eyeliner? Orange blush? I love colors, but come on! I won't use that!), etc stupid things that I absolutely do not need. I LOVE that NARS blush though.
I am going back to my I do not need anything no-buy! Like nothing! Not even chapstick (Hello! I have a life supply as it is)
I'm a college student, I work one day a week, I am not drowning in any debt thanks to scholarships, but school supplies are killing me! Luckily, my parents help me out. I feel selfish that I go and spend $30 on a blush, but then I have to ask them to help me buy printmaking supplies. Art supplies are freakin' expensive! I need them more than a blush so from now on I need to keep that in mind.
Can I paint/draw on a canvas with that? That is what I need to keep in mind. I could say I could paint my face with it, but I have an insane amount of makeup. I do not have an insane amount of canvases. I need money for that!
I will keep my Birchbox and Ipsy for this month. It is my birthday month. I am thinking of cancelling my ipsy after this month. I will miss it and I do love ipsy, but I need to focus on the stash I have.
Since it is my birthday month, I also have to keep in mind that I may splurge on one or two things that have been in my wishlist for awhile. I will see how I feel though, I may be too invested to purchase something. Who knows? I will wait and see.
Happy Birthday!!! We've missed seeing you around the forum, girl!
Also, I LOVE PRINTMAKING OMG! I hope you have a great time doing that!
It's really strong to realized you don't need anything and follow through by not buying anything. I'm proud of your willpower!
Quote: Originally Posted by
jesemiaud /img/forum/go_quote.gif
April plans:
- Cancel all subs except Birchbox (although I cancelled one of the four I had coming in and another one will be cancelled after April) and Nina Garcia and NOT resubscribe because of a deal. Oh and I won't cancel Julep or Square Hue, but I can only purchase one or the other.
- No makeup purchases not even for chic week. I need NOTHING. I was trying to figure out something to purchase, but after doing an inventory, I just can't find anything I need at all. If there are fabulous Sephora samples, I can buy some cotton rounds, but that is it! Max total allowed to spend $10.
- I can buy conditioner only because we need it for the girls' bathroom.
- I can buy one new outfit for running.
- I can buy a new top OR skirt for Easter (but not both...I have to use something from my closet).
Ok...I think that will do!
Wow, you're doing good! I think that's awesome that you're able to realize you don't need anything. Good for you, you're amazing! Keep it up, you will be proud of yourself this month!
Quote: Originally Posted by
ZeeOmega /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Lots of "that's life" expenses happening in April. I don't even have the estimate on one of those yet and I'm already cringing in anticipation of the quote. Among other stressors, I'm preparing for a licensing exam that I will take at the end of the month. Because of this, I keep wanting to buy myself some happy, but it's pointless because it's not like I'm going anywhere but work and then straight home to study until the day of reckoning.
So, not really allowed to buy makeup. The only exception is finding a summertime foundation, which will be a bit more matte than my current one. However, I'm a lot happier with my skin than I've been in years, so maybe I'll give that a pass or look for a tinted moisturizer.
I need to find a spf moisturizer that I like, but again, it's not like I'm actually seeing the sun while I hole myself up studying. So while I really want one, I should wait until I'm sure about some other expenses. That also goes for my sudden desire to pick up stuff from Paula's Choice. It can wait a couple of more months.
I need a new primer, but I think I'm actually doing better without one recently, thanks to my skincare, so that can also wait?
I'm allowing myself a Birchbox as a treat to break the doldrums. I haven't decided yet if I'm allowed to buy myself something after the test or wait until I get the results back a month later.
I buy a few things from Paula's Choice, and let me say they tend to have cyclic deals, so if you are signed up for their emails, just wait until they have SPF moisturizers on sale. I use the Skin Balancing one, and I like it, but the only thing I don't like about it is that it isn't as moisturizing as my skin needs in the winter. I think this summer it'll be perfect.
I don't ever use a primer. So maybe you should try going without for a while and seeing how it goes? I don't know... maybe in the summer it's more necessary?
Good luck with your goals this month!
Quote: Originally Posted by
Jen283 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
My rules for this month:
- Keep ipsy. This is currently my only makeup sub. After recieving this bag I'm going to decide if I want to keep subscribing. I like it, but I don't LOVE it.
- Stop buying clothes! But forreal I need to go through everything I own and determine what I still want/need/actually wear and what I can maybe sell to Plato's closet or give away to charity. Same goes for shoes.
- Chic week: -sigh-, I may just have to buy my NARS TM and hold off on the other things I was planning on buying because....
I'm buying my grandmother's old car from her. She's probably going to give me a great price, but it's still a lot of money that I don't NEED to be spending. But the opportunity arose and my car is kind of unsightly to look at, and I figured out that I can actually get car insurance cheaper on my own policy rather than on my parents'.
Overall I had a pretty successful month of March with buying very little makeup, but I more than made up for it with clothing purchases. I also need to work on bringing my lunch to work
I know what you mean- sometimes when I successfully avoid buying one thing, I end up spending money on another that I don't put a limit on. It's so annoying!
Congratulations on getting your granny's car. And good luck with your low buy this month!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
page5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Spring Cleaning Time!!
Mini de-stash this month. Also planning on a whole house purge - wish me luck
I'm working my way through my shampoo samples but I don't have enough to last the month.
Only purchases I'm planning this month are my 1.5 subs, shampoo, hair treatment, hair spray (nearly out and no back ups), lip brush (current one is getting wonky), and possibly the Allure box if it has enough items my daughters and I will use.
Any suggestions on a good hair mask or treatment? I did some googling but there are so many options . . . I don't have a preference between store bought or DIY but I prefer to not do anything overnight. My hair is dry and color treated and I use heat styling products a few times a week.
Good luck with your Spring Cleaning!
I have no hair masks, but immediately for some reason a DIY avocado mask came to mind, so I did a search and this one is one you can do in-shower so you don't have to leave it in overnight.
Got avocados? Turns out they're a great ingredient to use when your hair is in desperate need of a deep conditioning treatment. One recipe Candice recommends:
Yolk and avocado hair mask: Whisk one egg yolk, one teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil, and one teaspoon of honey together in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash in 1/2 of an avocado. Then, while you’re in the shower, apply the paste first to your ends and then all over your hair. Let it soak into your strands for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse it out, shampoo, and then rinse again.
---
Now for my April goals!!!
(Ok, so, I will post in the March thread about my March goals. I think I did very badly.)
1.) For April, I'm going to take advantage of Chic Week to get some new things for myself. I'm still in the process of finding the right products for me. I've been doing lots of research and testing in stores and online, and now I think I have some products that will work really well for me!
2.) After I make my purchase getting the 15% off, I'll be a VIB at Sephora. Because of that, my goal will be to make no more purchases until the 20% off November deal that comes with being a VIB. I'm going to try very hard at this, and only repurchase items I NEED that I run out of.
And that's it. That's my April goal- a Chic Week purchase, and no more. I won't run out of anything probably until June or July, so I probably won't even need to make a purchase like that until then.
I'm allowing myself the Chic Week purchase only because I'm going through a divorce right now, I'm having a really difficult time, I'm feeling really down on myself and I've been finding it hard to even see the reason to try to make myself look nice. See my post here from last week that is really depressed-sounding :
https://www.makeuptalk.com/t/141988/divorce-and-self-esteem I want to get myself some make-up so I can start trying and get myself feeling better about myself. So, I don't feel bad about it... and especially considering I'm going to attempt not to make another purchase until November. I'm excited!
Ok, I'll check back in later.
Oh, before I go, some expenses I'll have to deal with this month:
1.) Multiple therapy sessions
2.) Hotel and food during my weekend in Chicago
3.) Ugh traffic ticket
4.) Anxiety workbook
5.) Higher gas bills when I move out
6.) Probably some unexpected stufff... like new car insurance or something
7.) Lawyer fees for the divorce
I'll try to keep my head up!
