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

[walkingdead]

Finally organized my make up but I still have a lot more that are in boxes. Although I organized it I felt sick to my stomach seeing all of it. It's too much. How and why in the world did I buy all this? I was actually kind of depressed after.

 

[PixieDancer]

GOOD JOB @walkingdead! I recently did (and went through) the same thing! (I will post my pics as soon as I'm able to take some!) I definitely understand how you feel! But realize it needed to be done.... hiding all your makeup away from your sight doesn't make it non-existent. It was there all along. And now that you can really see it all, use it all, and visualize what you actually have... it should make low-buying SO much easier for you! I know it will me! How can it NOT!? Just because you feel you may have made some mistakes with purchases, that doesn't mean it has to keep going down the same path. You can change your patterns and your habits. And you've started at the best place possible! Until you really assess what you have, you can't realistically expect you'll be able to stop buying more. I'm super proud of you hun! GOOD JOB! GOLD

STAR(SSSSSS)!!!!

 

[walkingdead]

[@]PixieDancer[/@] thanks! Yes, it had to be done. Hiding the makeup was trying to hide reality. I can move forward from here. Thanks everyone for the support! ️

 

[Beautybuyer]

[@]walkingdead[/@]looks good! Is that a muji 3 stacked with a 2!? I need to buy another but I think the 5 is too shallow. Those look bigger

 

[walkingdead]

[@]Beautybuyer[/@] Thanks! yes, it's a 2 on top of a 3 drawer. The middle one is just a 2 drawer and then another 2 on a 3. The 2 drawer ones are thicker. I'm happy with them.

 

[texasmommy]

I love Muji drawers! I like how you can see everything better and they have them in various sizes. I have mine in a cabinet in my closet that I keep open all the time, though my 3 year old recently reached up and got into some stuff

Nothing too bad though lol

 

[ma146rina]

I just booked our flights for a two week trip to the UK this summer. Not many lipsticks are more important to me than enjoying dinner at a pub with my 17 year-old son while he has his first beer (legal to boot)! I'll buy memories over stuff any day.

I remember a lot of the trips i had with my mom when i was younger.Definitely the best memories

 

[Beautybuyer]

I love Muji drawers!  I like how you can see everything better and they have them in various sizes.  I have mine in a cabinet in my closet that I keep open all the time, though my 3 year old recently reached up and got into some stuff :wtf2:   Nothing too bad though lol

The struggle is real!! Lol my two and one year old BOTH try getting my stuff they team up lol

 

[LinenWhite7]

The struggle is real!! Lol my two and one year old BOTH try getting my stuff they team up lol

Same here! I have a 3.5 year old and a 20 month old. They just want to touch EVERYTHING. The little one can say "eyeshadow".

 

[Naynadine]

Same here! I have a 3.5 year old and a 20 month old. They just want to touch EVERYTHING. The little one can say "eyeshadow".

Aww, that's so cute!

 

[Naynadine]

Finally organized my make up but I still have a lot more that are in boxes. Although I organized it I felt sick to my stomach seeing all of it. It's too much. How and why in the world did I buy all this? I was actually kind of depressed after.

I felt the same way organizing my collection. But this is a great step in your low-buy, like Pixie said it helps a lot seeing all of your stash in one place. Realizing how much you actually have will help you make better purchase decisions in the future and will also make it easier to let go of some things.

 

[Ajigglin]

Hey chicas! It's been a minute. I'm on the grind looking for this new job and the lil bit keeps me busy. I feel like I'm getting close-I'm on a few lists for federal government jobs and I got a call from Nemours. I'm loving these posts. You all are very wise. I do have to admit I did slip up. I put Naked Bud in my cart while I was ordering replacement face cream from Macy's. The sheerness appeals to me now when it didn't before. I probably will return it because I did promise not to buy anymore lipsticks unless I made a serious dent in my current collection. A moment of weakness, but I can still rectify the situation. I lost my aunt to breast cancer on the 15th. The funeral is on Saturday. She was a sweet lady. I'm sad for her family, but relieved she's no longer in pain. She fought a good fight. Right now, I'm trying to enjoy the present. It's not easy to do sometimes, but there's beauty around you if you look. Right one, I'm getting that beauty from the hubs and the lil bit. Hugs and kisses to all of you. I know I've been AWOL lately, but when I log in, this is where I come first. This thread is everything, and so are all of you.

 

[GoldenGirl]

I'm still around! Still low-ish buying. Actually I've set a rule for myself that for the most part, if I want something new, that's relatively expensive, I have to sell off something I don't want and/or am no longer using. I've got a tidy little sum in my paypal account now, so I'm just gonna let that simmer for a while until I see something I MUST HAVE and right now none of the upcoming collections are really CALLING to me. I *may* pick up that gorgeous obmre orange blush from the Proenza collection, but that's really about it. I'm just replenishing staples as I go through them and trying to organize everything into palettes if I can so I can actually SEE things and USE them, and just overall trying to be really frugal about my purchases, not so swayed by the hype.

Now let me read back a few pages and see how everyone's doing...

 

[kerry-jane88]

Finally organized my make up but I still have a lot more that are in boxes. Although I organized it I felt sick to my stomach seeing all of it. It's too much. How and why in the world did I buy all this? I was actually kind of depressed after.

Well done on the organisation!
I was the same when I started doing mine, i felt really saddened by how much i had amassed.
But it's like pixie said, just because that's the way we had been going with our purchases doesn't mean we need to carry on that way.
I'm taking small steps with my stash as its so overwhelming, but i'm slowly getting there.
I've sold a few things, decluttered in other areas too, it catches on!
And i've made better skipping decisions too
So dont be too disheartened 'cause im in your boat too!

And i also put a load of stuff up on the low buy swap and sale thread, so feeling proud!

 

[Knope2012]

walkingdead, your collection is organized so nicely! I only have mine half organized right now. I have a lipstick holder that holds 50 and I'm embarrassed that it's completely full and I have maybe 25 in a drawer. I may set a lipstick limit for myself that I can't go over. I also have my eyeliners organized, but all of my powder products live in drawers. I'd like to get some muji drawers so that I can see more of my collection.

 

[Audrey C]

I'm still around! Still low-ish buying. Actually I've set a rule for myself that for the most part, if I want something new, that's relatively expensive, I have to sell off something I don't want and/or am no longer using. I've got a tidy little sum in my paypal account now, so I'm just gonna let that simmer for a while until I see something I MUST HAVE and right now none of the upcoming collections are really CALLING to me. I *may* pick up that gorgeous obmre orange blush from the Proenza collection, but that's really about it. I'm just replenishing staples as I go through them and trying to organize everything into palettes if I can so I can actually SEE things and USE them, and just overall trying to be really frugal about my purchases, not so swayed by the hype.

Now let me read back a few pages and see how everyone's doing...

I have about $100 in my Paypal account from recent sales/returns as well, even after paying for swap shipping costs. I also returned a bunch of empty MAC palettes and the last couple of items I decided I wouldn't use, so I have nothing left lying around waiting to get gone. I moved my swap items out of my stash to sit with my few backups and so far I don't even notice that they're gone. I've kept the few items I have left in the swap thread and they're slowly tricking down.

I'm really enjoying my new swap items and exchanges; it didn't hurt at all to let go of items I wasn't even using. I've been wearing Bareness a lot and I absolutely adore my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Fresh Melon. I've never worn cream blush before and I'm surprised by how much I like it.

My spend for the year is very low:

Superb (birthday gift - no cost)
Dim Infusion - bought at 10% off
Luminous Flush - bought at 10% off (might exchange this - it's just ok)
Stereo Rose (need to try this a couple more times to be sure I'll wear it before it's too late to return)
Clinique Neutral Territory 2 Palette

My recent return to MAC was enough to pay for both Stereo Rose and the Clinique palette, so that's a wash. I got two lippies (Heavenly Hybrid and Dreaming Dahlia) through BTM, so I don't even count those. I'm considering purchasing Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Antigua; I'm not much of a bronzer person but this is more peachy-pink than brown. Now that I've found a BB cream that actually covers my redness, I'm liking a bit of warmth more than I used to. I'm also waiting to see swatches of the new BB Pot Rouge in Hibiscus, but that might be too red for me. If I decide to get one or both of them, I'll use my paypal balance so I won't be out of pocket.

All I've paid for is the two HG blush, so I'm around $80 for the year. I feel pretty good about that. Even with my swaps and exchanges, I have a smaller stash so I feel like I'm on track. I was more focused on the number of new items acquired at the beginning of the year but I've shifted on that. If I sell or swap away a few items and replace them with something I like better at no additional cost, I'm fine with that. My collection is no longer growing at a ridiculous rate; I'm just editing it.

 

[jennyap]

I have been swamped with work and home life "stuff" but I make sure to "like" every post to let you all know that I've read every single one! There are WAY too many posts to quote because there are just so many I would want to respond to... but above all the things I'd want to say... I am so happy we all have this place to come and be a support system for each other. It's amazing to see the support go far beyond makeup and surface complaints. It goes much deeper, and I think that's what makes this such a special place. Even though we may be separated by miles or even continents, even though we will most likely never meet face to face... we are all connected. And for many of us, this is the place we go everyday... just to feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. A place we know we share a common bond. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to you all. Those celebrating victories, those going through transitions, and those suffering through pain and hardships. Know you are cared about, even if I can't give you a hug in person! :hug:

Yes yes yes! Especially the bit in bold. We have such wonderful and wise ladies here. Hugs to all those with difficulties. I've never really had many friends - always a bit of a loner (could easily be a bit of a hermit TBH). I would love to have the kind of bond I hear others have, even with one person, and I'm so much more self-aware and self-confident now that I think it would be possible, but it is so so hard to meet new people. I guess that's partly why I love my online friends so much

 

[Bcteagirl]

I missed last months challenge, so I look forward to hearing about the next one.

Went out to look at my first 'limited edition' items ever (MAC springtime,and NARS thinkpink). Went to look at 5 items, came home with only one (NARS pink illuminator). Granted, some of them were sold out, but I still think it counts.

I also returned one item to Sephora. A price difference, but at least it was 1 to 1.

 

[Starlight77]

I forgot to mention it here but I went to back 2 Mac some items at my local department store (macys). The lady looked at me like I was crazy because a few of them were only swatched once and not used and she told me if I had the boxes, which I did, that I can still return them for full credit. I wouldn't return something I actually used a few times but these but literally swatches once or twice. What would you guys do? I feel guilty returning makeup especially 4 items. I could use my credit and buy more makeup but it kind of defeats the purpose. Would love opinions. She said not to feel bad because some people return lipsticks after using like 75%. Craziness!

 

[Audrey C]

She said not to feel bad because some people return lipsticks after using like 75%. Craziness!

If they're recent, return them.