Resolution "LOW-BUY" 2014! Who wants to play?

[Glitteryvegas]

Oh no I didn't mean to enable you. Don't look! Lol

Hehe. Nope, no worries. I'll probably skip it, even though it's so, so pretty.

 

[janette9687]

ugh day 3 of the year and i already broke, so i had said i was going to stick to 3 items but for Magnetic Nude i slipped silver dawn and the was on the nordies luanch day and then dangit some said Magnetic Appeal was not like Double Def and there it went with Sweet Heat, which now that I checked is close to Superb but idk if edsf are eye safe so thats how i told myself it was okay so i went from 3 products of the MN to 5. Holding head in shame. But i did resist 2 Gucci perfumes today so i was proud of that because i just got 2 new purfumes for xmas... Rome wasnt built in a day ight? but exactly how long did it take hahah well going to work harder and stay outta th spring collections, i have everything I could possibly need!

 

[SleepingBeauty]

I just got home from my drugstore 'haul'. I only bought what I needed: shampoo, conditioner, a new mascara (I also got rid of three other mascaras which have been open for approx. at least 5 months), pressed powder, a nail hardener, and an intensive hair treatment. Oh, and a hair peeling. That was still about 20€. Anyway, not once was I tempted to look at the drugstore makeup. It's just not attractive to me anymore which is a big success since I couldn't leave the drugstore without anything makeup-y a few years ago.

 

[missboss82]

So I purchased Steel Kiss and stone lip liner, but only after I looked through my collection and made sure I had nothing like it.

 

[lyseD]

So I purchased Steel Kiss and stone lip liner, but only after I looked through my collection and made sure I had nothing like it.

I have avoided steel kiss so far, didn't even swatch it when I was at the counter the other day. Hopefully it will sell out soon.

 

[Ajigglin]

Here is more sobering truth for my ass-I spent 827.28 on MAC last year. Mind you, this is just from MAC's site. I should go add up my Nordstrom and Macys MAC purchases. That's almost a G, ladies. Absurd. I'm just going to repeat that number to myself whenever I feel weak. I'll post my complete number once I add the amounts from the other two stores.

 

[thefbomb]

Here is more sobering truth for my ass-I spent 827.28 on MAC last year. Mind you, this is just from MAC's site. I should go add up my Nordstrom and Macys MAC purchases. That's almost a G, ladies. Absurd. I'm just going to repeat that number to myself whenever I feel weak. I'll post my complete number once I add the amounts from the other two stores.

Wow! That's a collection i would love to see!

 

[Audrey C]

Wow! That's a collection i would love to see!

$800 doesn't go as far as you'd think. If the average price per item was $15-20, that would only be 40-50 items. It's not hard to haul 6-8 from a single collection and if backups are involved, it's easier still to get there. Special packaging takes a bite out of budgets too.

 

[thefbomb]

Well, I'm no better; I reached Rouge at Sephora and most of my collection is MAC. I managed to hit VIP status at the Bay (also $1000 in a year) and I that doesn't count what I bought in MAC stores or online. Sobering, isn't it? It seems so harmless when it's $50 here and $100 there, but it adds up to a big number before we know it. Thanks for being candid enough to share.
$800 doesn't go as far as you'd think. If the average price per item was $15-20, that would only be 40-50 items. It's not hard to haul 6-8 from a single collection and if backups are involved, it's easier still to get there. Special packaging takes a bite out of budgets too.

Hmm youre right, very true

 

[IHughes]

Even though 1000 dollars isn't much in expensive makeup, unfortunately it doesn't change the fact that it's 1000 dollars spent on makeup. I was shocked to have spent 400 dollars just before Christmas (because of the GWP offers and other offers) and I feel so bad about it.
We must take the positive aspect from this: whenever we feel like splurging crazily we can look back at the amount we spent and it will help us think twice. It will help me at least!

 

[Ajigglin]

It gets worse. I didn't realize that Nordstrom was my go to for MAC the way it is. $951.35 for 2013. Total is $1778.63 and I have Macys left. This could easily be $2500.00 when this is all over. That is disgusting. I am genuinely disgusted with myself. I can't even justify Maleficient anymore unless the color story is beyond unique. I encourage everyone to do this exercise.

 

[Ajigglin]

Macys was 178.38. So, I spent $1957.01 on MAC in 2013. I bought some nyx liners, a couple of bite beauty items, and some Illamasqua lipsticks and glosses. I'm going to use $2200 as my number for 2013 for all makeup purchases. Never again. I do notice that my pattern seems to be to not get anything one month and then OD the next month. Therefore, starving the beast may not work for me. Moderation is key.

 

[SleepingBeauty]

Wow, this is a lot. But who says you would've saved it and not spend it on something else? Don't feel too guilty. It has happened and you cannot undo that. You can only learn from that and not make that mistake again.

I spent about 220€ on MAC only last month and I don't know how much I spent throughout the whole year because I got fed up with my list of what I bought and what I used up, so I deleted it. It was probably about 800€ alone on MAC. Plus other makeup and cosmetics.

 

[kimanhtruong]

Even though 1000 dollars isn't much in expensive makeup, unfortunately it doesn't change the fact that it's 1000 dollars spent on makeup. I was shocked to have spent 400 dollars just before Christmas (because of the GWP offers and other offers) and I feel so bad about it.
We must take the positive aspect from this: whenever we feel like splurging crazily we can look back at the amount we spent and it will help us think twice. It will help me at least!

I agree! Taking a step back and looking at how much I've spent and taking a HUGE breath reminds me to think twice too!

 

[kimanhtruong]

I do notice that my pattern seems to be to not get anything one month and then OD the next month. Therefore, starving the beast may not work for me. Moderation is key.

Thank you for being so honest! I know that it's a tough number to look at it but 2014 is here and it's time to put that money in the right place for you!

 

[mommyluvsmac]

Wow, this is a lot. But who says you would've saved it and not spend it on something else? Don't feel too guilty. It has happened and you cannot undo that. You can only learn from that and not make that mistake again. :sigh: I spent about 220€ on MAC only last month and I don't know how much I spent throughout the whole year because I got fed up with my list of what I bought and what I used up, so I deleted it. It was probably about 800€ alone on MAC. Plus other makeup and cosmetics.

Every time I cut down on makeup...I start spending on handbags...then when I cut on handbags...I start spending on clothes...then when I cut on clothes...it's back to U GUESSED IT MAKEUP...so this year I'm low buying on everything that I have excessive amounts of.

 

[mommyluvsmac]

It's all relative - if you are used to buying the majority of a collection or many pieces from each collection, then 2-3 items for a large collection is doable.  It's all about being realistic and cutting back.  It seems like common sense that completely eliminating purchases may drive people to 'binge' so to speak and over purchase from collections to compensate.  I think 'low buy' is whatever is going to work for each individual.  Also, you really have no way of knowing how much product a person uses (or if they are purchasing for work, etc), so saying that someone can't use up 10+ items in one year seems like a blanket statement.  Some people reapply a product every few hours (gloss, lipstick, etc) or change looks depending on events, time of day, etc.   Sorry, I'm not meaning to be direct, but it feels like you came here to criticize/judge (?) and that's not really the point of the thread - it's all about a community of support & to do what works for each individual.       

I agree that comment WAS hurtful bc this is a LOW BUY NOT A NO BUY.. my low buy maybe different then the next person..

 

[PixieDancer]

Even though 1000 dollars isn't much in expensive makeup, unfortunately it doesn't change the fact that it's 1000 dollars spent on makeup. I was shocked to have spent 400 dollars just before Christmas (because of the GWP offers and other offers) and I feel so bad about it.
We must take the positive aspect from this: whenever we feel like splurging crazily we can look back at the amount we spent and it will help us think twice. It will help me at least!
Yep! Think of all the other ways we could've spent that "x" amount of money! Damn, $1000 + would get you a nice little weekend getaway! Figuring what the number is would help ALL of us I'm sure!
And those end-of-the-year "sales" suck a lot of us in! I probably double my yearly total in that 2 month window. So, maybe we do a yearly total AND a separate "end-of-the-year sales" total. THAT would help me cut back in the first part of the year.... remembering how much I like to splurge and "stock-up" during the end of the year!

Quote: Originally Posted by Ajigglin

It gets worse. I didn't realize that Nordstrom was my go to for MAC the way it is. $951.35 for 2013. Total is $1778.63 and I have Macys left. This could easily be $2500.00 when this is all over. That is disgusting. I am genuinely disgusted with myself. I can't even justify Maleficient anymore unless the color story is beyond unique.
I encourage everyone to do this exercise.

Don't be disgusted hun.... it's in the past. Just learn and move forward. That's all any of us can do. And your self-awareness has helped a lot of other people too!

 

[missboss82]

It gets worse. I didn't realize that Nordstrom was my go to for MAC the way it is. $951.35 for 2013. Total is $1778.63 and I have Macys left. This could easily be $2500.00 when this is all over. That is disgusting. I am genuinely disgusted with myself. I can't even justify Maleficient anymore unless the color story is beyond unique. I encourage everyone to do this exercise.

I did and I also was disappointed with the total, though the amount was significantly less than years prior, which I'm kind of happy about. My biggest problem is drugstore items as, sales matched with coupons, equals a great deal in my head.

 

[LinenWhite7]

I also made VIB Rouge at Sephora, probably spent $1,000 between Ulta, CVS, Walmart, Target, plus $420 at MAC. Yep. I think I'm going to write down every single beauty purchase of 2014. Haircare, skincare, Chapstick, everything.