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

[Serenityy]

Good for you Serenityy! I always think that I have less than I probably do....haha! Likely it is NOT the case. Thanks for sharing!

See this is exactly how I would think! I would tell my self "oh I don't have a lot", lay them all out and BOOM it ends up being wayyy more than expected!

 

[Glitteryvegas]

Because it isn't special packaging, you should be able too, but unfortunately not all stores allow this. Erin suggested in another thread that you should call various stores and ask, and take the name of the person you are talking to. Hopefully you will find a store that says no problem! The Mac store I frequent has always been great about this. Good luck!

Awesome - Thank you!

 

[Alysse011]

I am making my ONLY purchase of February today. There, I said it. Now i *have* to stick to it! Y'all hold me accountable haha. When y'all make your monthly budgets do you include the cost of restock items or is the budget purelyy for new-to-you stuff?

 

[veronikawithak]

When y'all make your monthly budgets do you include the cost of restock items or is the budget purelyy for new-to-you stuff?

I did a 12 item limit for the year rather than a budget, but I did include restocks. I know many others decided not to include staples in their limit/budget though!

 

[Naynadine]

So I don't know how to go about my planned purchases for this month. I really wanted at least one of the Clinique Cheek Pop blushes and one of the Hourglass ones. But it's not that easy to get my hands on them, which is frustrating. I wish I could just order them online here, have them like two days later and be done with it.
The Hourglass one I can order from SpaceNK, but the shipping is pricey, so I don't really want to order there. There's only one Hourglass counter in Germany, allegedly I could order via phone when they get them. But I don't know the german price for these, I'm guessing at least €40 plus shipping. And I'm not even 100% sure which shade to get.
From the Clinique blushes I know for sure I want the Ginger one and I want it bad. But if we even get them in Germany apparently they will be really pricey. €30, that's almost twice the US price.
So I'm kinda annoyed and don't really know what to do. I posted a CP request for the Clinique blush in the Clearance Bin, so hopefully a US Speckrette will help me out.

Being on a low-buy, the fact that the items I do want to get are not easily accessible and more expensive than in other countries is a bit demotivating.

 

[Starlight77]

i have the Clinique cheek pop in plum. i love it. it goes on so super smooth and i havent worn anything else since (about a week) i also want ginger pop. they are $21 US dollars if you want help buying them i can help you as long as you pay for all shipping costs. see how much it is from NY to germany

do you have cream soda? i'll buy you a brand new ginger pop to trade if you do.

 

[myfavoritePA]

I think it's great that you're taking an honest look at your collection. Good for you!

On another note, I had a low-buy victory today. I was at Nordstrom to buy a mascara (le Volume de Chanel...on my pre-approved list to buy for February lol). I ended up trying on a bunch of lipsticks at Chanel and was about to buy one, but somehow I talked myself out of it and left with just the mascara. On my way home, I realized I already had almost an exact dupe of the shade I was considering anyway, so I felt good about it.

 

[veronikawithak]

I think it's great that you're taking an honest look at your collection. Good for you!

On another note, I had a low-buy victory today. I was at Nordstrom to buy a mascara (le Volume de Chanel...on my pre-approved list to buy for February lol). I ended up trying on a bunch of lipsticks at Chanel and was about to buy one, but somehow I talked myself out of it and left with just the mascara. On my way home, I realized I already had almost an exact dupe of the shade I was considering anyway, so I felt good about it.

Wooooooooooooo! Low buy approved!

 

[PixieDancer]

So I have come to a drastic conclusion that I really need to invest in storage for me makeup. I keep everything in drawers, purses, and makeup bags. There is no organization to my madness. Also I finally took all my blushes, bronzers, and highlighters and laid them out together. I took pictures and I was humbled. I'm not sure if I should be proud or ashamed...

Never be ashamed. That isn't helpful! You are doing all the right things to move forward in a more productive way! I do highly recommend organizing though. I was in the same boat as you... Makeup in different train cases, bags, boxes... I knew what I had but not seeing it all together made it easy for me to deny just how large it was really getting. I just ordered Muji drawers and elfa storage (Container Store annual 30% off sale going on until 2/11) and plan to start my crusade as soon as I get home from work on Monday. I think it will be the final eye opener I need to keep myself on track the rest of the year!! Let us know how you're going to organize! I love that kinda stuff!!

Well, I've just looked at T's swatches and I can say that the fluidlines are a MISS for me. I was considering looking at the lippies, which weren't part of my shopping list, and then I thought to myself well if I wasn't planning on them before, why am I planning on them now?  I kind of like the sheer formula, I think it would work well for me and I still might check them out but I would only get one at the very most.  Hmm.......Snapdragon is very pretty! I wonder if I could just dupe it with a drug store lippie?  Can you B2M for a LE lippie? I didn't think so?

You are supposed to be able to B2M for any lipstick that isn't in special packaging. Do a MAC chat and print it out to take into the store so you don't have any issues. It is supposed to be cut and dry. I think some stores just try to get away w saying no because they know the LE stuff is going to sell.... And they think the average consumer isn't aware of the policies. If you have a print out they'll be worried they'll get in trouble. And they should if they don't let you... Also, I'd skip any drugstore duping... It always backfires on me. I end up reaching for my higher end stuff and the dupe just sits. I only seem to reach for a drugstore item if I bought it because it was great on its own merit. Not filling a whole for a LE item I skipped. It never seems to really replace the item I wanted it to in my mind.

I am making my ONLY purchase of February today. There, I said it. Now i *have* to stick to it! Y'all hold me accountable haha. When y'all make your monthly budgets do you include the cost of restock items or is the budget purelyy for new-to-you stuff?

We have taken note! Haha As for restocks... That's all up to you & the goals you've set.

 

[myfavoritePA]

When y'all make your monthly budgets do you include the cost of restock items or is the budget purelyy for new-to-you stuff?

You can do it!

I do include the cost of restock items in my monthly makeup budget, but I'm sure there are others who don't.

 

[ILoveMakeup84]

I think it's great that you're taking an honest look at your collection.  Good for you! On another note, I had a low-buy victory today.  I was at Nordstrom to buy a mascara (le Volume de Chanel...on my pre-approved list to buy for February lol).  I ended up trying on a bunch of lipsticks at Chanel and was about to buy one, but somehow I talked myself out of it and left with just the mascara.  On my way home, I realized I already had almost an exact dupe of the shade I was considering anyway, so I felt good about it.

Woohoo! So happy you didn't cave! We can do this!!

 

[ILoveMakeup84]

I am going to try and limit myself to 2 products per month, excluding restock products. I can totally do this! Yaay

 

[KiKi Kontour]

Ran out of Fix + today -- any cheaper products that work as well?

I like the mineral charger water one better n im just about out of my fix + too so I've been using ELF mist spritzer thingy in place of and for $3 its pretty dmn good.

WELP LAYDEEZ...today is the FIRST of Feb so I am officially NOT buying makeup awwwwwl month long

and the real test was when I went to target today n didn't get not nere single thing from the beauty section!! NADA!! I felt good walking away with nothing **deep sigh** I honestly dnt need shyt no ways so im just gonna work with what I have n get back into blogging!!

 

[veronikawithak]

As a level 2 nordies expert lol I save my nordy notes normally until a huge mac collection or random spring shoe buy! but I have 2 that don't expire til oct so im gonna TRY n hold on to those until I get up to $100 then turn it into a gift card. If u return something u got with a nordie note they'll either put it on a gift card or give u the cash. I think I go on nordies site like every day and those new dooney n burkes

I had this pink medium size HOT PINK duffle bag type bag in my cart n it was SOLD OUT in like a week then it popped back up last month n I just said awwww phk it. im not even a designer bag type chick and I have a DB from an outlet that gets NO LOVE...i'll bring it out for the spring since its basically new lol. we have all year for riri vg

I like the mineral charger water one better n im just about out of my fix + too so I've been using ELF mist spritzer thingy in place of and for $3 its pretty dmn good.

WELP LAYDEEZ...today is the FIRST of Feb so I am officially NOT buying makeup awwwwwl month long

and the real test was when I went to target today n didn't get not nere single thing from the beauty section!! NADA!! I felt good walking away with nothing **deep sigh** I honestly dnt need shyt no ways so im just gonna work with what I have n get back into blogging!!

February is a NO BUY ZONE for me too (and March lol). On Tuesday I get my MAC lippie and on Thursday I get my hourglass blush (both bought in Jan) but after that I think it's gonna be tough! I'll be spending a lot of time in this thread.

 

[ILoveMakeup84]

Yeah I spent too much on makeup this past month so I will try and not buy anything for at least 2 months! Lets see if I can do it

 

[LinenWhite7]

Congrats to both of you on cancelling your appointments!! They are an absolute mine field if you want to avoid impulse purchases.. :nope: These are all known contributors to impulse buys and retail stores like MAC exploit all of them!: - time limits which encourage emotional rather than logical decisions - associating products with positive emotions (like having someone apply your makeup and tell you how absolutely gorgeous you are - even if that product looks terrible on you, the lighting is so washed out you won't notice and just take their word for it) - the exclusivity of limited edition products and the status associated with tracking them down - the social pressure from sales associates and other customers ("the woman who just left bought that same lipstick and a backup, it's going to be such a hot color for spring!")  - the $50 purchase requirement.. you've already committed to spending $50, so once you've decided to make that initial purchase it's easy to add things on.. especially those travel size items by the checkout counter! Remember, employees of these companies, from the designers to the sales associates, have been training for their entire careers to encourage maximum purchasing behavior.. If you don't feel like you can compete with that (and who can?), don't play! Make a list and stick to it, delay purchases until you've had time to really think about them, set rules for yourself, stop thinking of possessions as a collection and instead think of them as tools. Time to take back control!  :boxing:

Thank you for reminding me of all of this!!! You guys, gather round: I AM SKIPPING FANTASY OF FLOWERS. I'm not even gonna bother B2Ming for a lipstick. I have a dupe for every color I was interested in. In other #teamlowbuy news, I went to Ulta today with a 20% off coupon and bought two replacements for staples of mine and then I had a nice time browsing and chose two beautiful items that I am already wearing and loving: an Essence blush in Life's A Cherry ($2.39 - I mean can you even believe that price?!?) and a Revlon nail polish in Girly. I spent under $40, leaving me $30 for my favorite LUSH cleanser, and the rest isn't obligated to MAC!

 

[veronikawithak]

Yeah I spent too much on makeup this past month so I will try and not buy anything for at least 2 months! Lets see if I can do it

YAY! So glad there will be others on a no buy month or two! We can be no buy bananas together!!

 

[User38]

Good for you! Keep up the good work!

I totally skipped the FOF debacle -- and yes, some products may have been lovely, but only if you don't already own another 22 of a similar shade or texture. I did not even bother -- the fluidlines are similar to a few I already own, D.Diversion, a plum LE paint pot, and plummy violet from Shu which is also disc... the green which I liked, is similar to a green chromaline I have, with a bit of tweaking with my MickeyContractor Siahi, or my CD cream es, I am set if I even want this colour. I think if we get more creative, it might help us to avoid spending on products which we don't really need.

I am not looking to save as much as I want to re-direct my thinking to my future, my future long long vacation and other investments. So all this makes me, just a bit happier and that's where I'm at now.

a little bit happier -- every day

 

[Audrey C]

Good for you! Keep up the good work!

I totally skipped the FOF debacle -- and yes, some products may have been lovely, but only if you don't already own another 22 of a similar shade or texture. I did not even bother -- the fluidlines are similar to a few I already own, D.Diversion, a plum LE paint pot, and plummy violet from Shu which is also disc... the green which I liked, is similar to a green chromaline I have, with a bit of tweaking with my MickeyContractor Siahi, or my CD cream es, I am set if I even want this colour. I think if we get more creative, it might help us to avoid spending on products which we don't really need.

I am not looking to save as much as I want to re-direct my thinking to my future, my future long long vacation and other investments. So all this makes me, just a bit happier and that's where I'm at now.

a little bit happier -- every day

What could possibly be a more important goal? In the end, it's not our stuff that brings us happiness. Often it's just a burden that must be maintained. Every time I get rid of the clutter in my life (outgrown kids' clothing, abandoned toys, stuff I thought I wanted but really just added weight to my life) I feel lighter.

My makeup drawer isn't completely stuffed for the first time in quite awhile. I love it - it keeps making me want to get rid of more!

 

[shellygrrl]

I think if we get more creative, it might help us to avoid spending on products which we don't really need.

Definitely! :nods:

Every time I get rid of the clutter in my life (outgrown kids' clothing, abandoned toys, stuff I thought I wanted but really just added weight to my life) I feel lighter.

I know that feel. :yeah: