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

[Alysse011]

Ok guys! I did it! I just finished organizing my makeup and I feel so happy! I am giving away tons of things to my mom and to the wonderful lady that cleans my house. I am sure they're going to take advantage of all that makeup much more than me. I took some pics so I can stay focused. I have enough things and I don't need to buy more. I really encourage everyone to organize and declutter their stashes. Its so liberating and eye opening! We can do this!! I am sharing my pics like Serenityy did because I think it's really helpful for everyone! She is the one that encouraged me to do this

And what I am giving away

Good for you! It's kind of a cathartic process haha. I know your mom and the lady who cleans your house will greatly appreciate their gifts - it's so nice of you

 

[LouGarner]

I got 3 lippies (5 total with the b/u's) from FoF and I'm holding off from buying anything til Playland comes out, depending on the swatches of course. The fact that alot of the stuff Mac is putting is LE makes me impulse buy ALOT. But I guess that's Mac's plan. I swear if half the stuff they put it was permanent I'll save so much money lol

Ok, so I skipped FOF however I think I am going to pick up stereo Rose. I didn't get any of the lippies. which lippies did you get? DD and HH looks so pretty. I am waiting to pick up Viva Glam RiRi but it's so pretty as well.

 

[lipstickaddict]

I know the feeling... it's the inner addict in us. Tomorrow is my only sister's 2nd anniversary. She died young and beautiful of miserable cancer. I don't condone what I do because of the pain I have felt over the years .. I just think it's time I finally took charge of my life and emotions. And I am working on that goal.

so hang on, hang tough.. and plod.

I am so sorry HerGreyness. Although different circumstances, I can identify with what you have been going through. My son passed away just over two years ago now, and it has been a devastating and really tough go. I also don't condone my spending habits and am making a serious effort to make changes to my life as well. It won't happen over night I know, but at least I am trying.

I really appreciate your candor and encouragement of others. Thanks for sharing.

 

[KGeezy]

Ok, so I skipped FOF however I think I am going to pick up stereo Rose. I didn't get any of the lippies. which lippies did you get? DD and HH looks so pretty. I am waiting to pick up Viva Glam RiRi but it's so pretty as well.

 

[LouGarner]

HH looks so beautiful. awwww.....

 

[novocainedreams]

Well I think I did *OK* this month. I spent very little but didn't completely get nothing. One of my favorite indie co. closed down so I got one last order from them, 4 pigments. And I got the 5 shadows from Sugarpill I have been wanting at IMATS(well my friend did) so I got a huge discount. Both of the purchases I had been planning since December so I put aside money for them. No other purchases, I even skipped the ULTA 20% off I had, every time I got one. I also paid off my Nordstrom's card and my Visa, so now my bills are very minimal, just the basics. Proud of that! Now my extra cash I would spend on makeup can go in my savings account!

I'm still wanting to get the two fluidlines from FoF and Perfect Topping, however I think I am going to go in store and look at the PT to chose one with veining I like, and if I don't like them I will skip, since people seem to be saying the one this time around looks different than the previous release.

I'm altering my low-buy slightly from what I had decided previously, mainly because the way I did it before just isn't fitting my lifestyle and time right now. So I am just allowing myself a certain allowance each month and am trying not to go past that. So far I am doing OK. We'll see how it goes the next few months, not too much I want from MAC which is good. The only other thing I need to do is set up my de-stash which I'll try to get up this week. I've been so busy!

 

[Glitteryvegas]

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!

Thanks for sharing ladies! Very inspiring stuff for me to read. I like it!

I thought about FOF but I think I'm just skipping it entirely. Resisting feels good - I also declined another item in the clearance bin that I had inquired about.

I have found that over the last few years, my anxiety has grown - anxiety about a lot of things. I think it's all connected - our buying habits, our self-esteem, our ability to save and resist (self control), our will power. I figure that if I can reign in the parts of myself that have escalated a bit out of control, I can start to feel better about myself, save that $$, and find the things that really matter in my life. I love our thread and our community! It feels good ladies - it feels awesome!

 

[Glitteryvegas]

I am so sorry HerGreyness. Although different circumstances, I can identify with what you have been going through. My son passed away just over two years ago now, and it has been a devastating and really tough go. I also don't condone my spending habits and am making a serious effort to make changes to my life as well. It won't happen over night I know, but at least I am trying.

I really appreciate your candor and encouragement of others. Thanks for sharing.

So sorry for your losses ladies. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

 

[Glitteryvegas]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It is so easy to take measures to dull the pain, but it ultimately doesn't go away. In those cases, it just lingers beneath the surface. That's exactly what I'm trying to do- take charge of my life and my emotions. I've given myself so many excuses over the years, and I always manage to find more. I will hang tough! I just have to stay accountable and realize that as long as I let myself slip and let myself make excuses, it'll be another ten years and I'll still be in this same position.

I feel ya girl - I understand and feel the same struggles myself. Sometimes it feels like a never ending treadmill of disappointing myself. It's time to get off the treadmill now - so we won't be on it in another 10 years!!!

 

[ILoveMakeup84]

Well I think I did *OK* this month. I spent very little but didn't completely get nothing. One of my favorite indie co. closed down so I got one last order from them, 4 pigments. And I got the 5 shadows from Sugarpill I have been wanting at IMATS(well my friend did) so I got a huge discount. Both of the purchases I had been planning since December so I put aside money for them. No other purchases, I even skipped the ULTA 20% off I had, every time I got one. I also paid off my Nordstrom's card and my Visa, so now my bills are very minimal, just the basics. Proud of that! Now my extra cash I would spend on makeup can go in my savings account! I'm still wanting to get the two fluidlines from FoF and Perfect Topping, however I think I am going to go in store and look at the PT to chose one with veining I like, and if I don't like them I will skip, since people seem to be saying the one this time around looks different than the previous release. I'm altering my low-buy slightly from what I had decided previously, mainly because the way I did it before just isn't fitting my lifestyle and time right now. So I am just allowing myself a certain allowance each month and am trying not to go past that. So far I am doing OK. We'll see how it goes the next few months, not too much I want from MAC which is good. The only other thing I need to do is set up my de-stash which I'll try to get up this week. I've been so busy!

You are doing a great job! Its important that our low buy expectations fit our life style so having a monthly allowance is a good idea

 

[Yazmin]

I returned the Hourglass blushes to Sephora Saturday. It hurt a tiny bit to do so, but it had to be down. I did an exchange for some items on my Loves list: 3 Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Creams and an Anastasia's Dipbrow and still got a few dollars back.

As for FoF, I'm having my SA hold one HH so that I can see it person. If I end up liking it, I will B2M for it.

 

[Sylvia60]

Quote: Originally Posted by novocainedreams ... I also paid off my Nordstrom's card and my Visa, so now my bills are very minimal, just the basics. Proud of that! Now my extra cash I would spend on makeup can go in my savings account!...The only other thing I need to do is set up my de-stash which I'll try to get up this week. I've been so busy!


Savings account and de-stash!
Way to go!

 

[charlotte366]

Now going through my mac eyeshadow palettes, I have 42 shadows depotted or in pro pans and although there are some favorites in here slit are severely neglected! I have Retrospeck Trax Banshee Sumptuous olive Smoke and diamonds Steamy Silverthorn Olive groove Glamour check Night manoeuvres Femme fi Warming trend Green smoke Bamboo Copperplate Naked lunch Modest tone Cross cultural Sable Mineral Wedge Satin taupe Phloof Shale Ego Soba Era Magnetic fields Grain Patina Time and space Moth brown Vex Romotely grey Go Soft brown Omega Brule Kid Orb Saddle And 2 other neutrals with no name! Trying to decide what to keep, I have a 15 pan palette a 30 pan double palette and a quad Would like to limit it to the 15 pan and the quad but not sure I will manage it, in this first purge, any help appreciated ladies!!

 

[Calla88]

So many are doing so well with their low buy goals which great to hear. I'm not on a low -buy per se my situation is similar to , HerGreyness, I have some extensive travel plans with my cousin , a 2nd time cancer survivor, so she's doing an all round the world tour and I'm slotted in several trips which means I rather spend the money on travel than just gather more Mac LE items. Plus I want to be free from bills so I'm paying down certain things so I have the freedom to work when and how I want. I still love my make up but I have tons , and shopping my stash will help me get rid of clutter. I totally skipped the 20 % of coupon at Ulta because I would have been buying just because of the discount. I did get a few items from FoF but that was my list and didn't stray from it. I also want the Too Faced chocolate bar palette but I'm waiting a few weeks to see if I really want it or is the hype sparking my interest.

 

[Audrey C]

Would like to limit it to the 15 pan and the quad but not sure I will manage it, in this first purge, any help appreciated ladies!!

Eyeshadows are the one item I don't mind having more of, because I wear eyeshadow every day and usually use 4-5 colours each time. What is it that's making your collection feel overwhelming to you? I'd definitely keep the quad because they're portable and great for travelling.

Why not put the colours you use most into your 30 pan and see how you do with that. If you don't miss the other 15 after awhile, then maybe you can let go of them. If 30 still feels like too much at that point, you could go down to the 15 you use the most and see if that's too limiting.

 

[Calla88]

AudreyC, great idea of filling the 30 pan palette. Charlotte336, Ilike Audrey, I like to have a wide variety of eye shadows and usually use a minimum of 4 but often more on regular day. Plus eye shadows last for years. Another idea is to use a different eye shadow combination every day for a month and try to track the ones the you constantly use of the 40 plus you own. I'm doing a similar thing but I have ways more eye shadows due to my love of palettes.

 

[kanne]

I would start by cutting any that are hard to work with or have poor colour payoff. Then, I would follow Audrey C's advice and see what I was actually using regularly, and start working it down like that (maybe culling similar shades etc).

On that topic, I am thinking of putting Yoghurt in my B2M bag. I've had it forever and it might actually be the worst eyeshadow I have ever used. I have a very similar shade from Inglot now that is actually soft enough to get colour onto the brush without literally scratching the pan to loosen it up. Still annoyed at the SA for suggesting that

product (and myself for buying without swatching!)

I also managed to stop myself from purchasing a bunch of products from Bobbi Brown this week - which meant I had the money to buy new curtains for my house, which I have been wanting to do since I moved in!

 

[LinenWhite7]

So sorry for your losses ladies.  Thank you for sharing your stories with us.  :support:

Ditto this. So sorry for your losses. Hugs.

 

[hippychic823]

Well, I'm on a no buy for Feb and my first test came yesterday when my best friend (who is also my biggest makeup buying enabler, haha) went shopping. I swatched a few things at Sephora but bought...NADA!!! At first it was tough watching her grab up all kinds of amazing NARS lip pencils but after she checked out, I felt better knowing that even though I didn't buy anything, I saved over a hundred dollars that I can use for other things (Playland collection...haha). Heres wishing the rest of you lovlies good luck with your low buys/no buys this month!!! *stay strong*

 

[SleepingBeauty]

So sorry for your losses ladies. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

Yep, stay strong, ladies.


I completely failed January. I don't even wanna add my spendings because I'm really afraid of the total. However, I'm quite positive for February because there is absolutely nothing that is interesting for me. There are no MAC collections coming out this month in Germany except for Viva Glam but I can also get the gloss in a few months. I'll only buy staples.