Do economic conditions affect your makeup buying?

[cno64]

Do economic conditions affect your expenditures on makeup?
That is, if your budget is tight, do you spend less on makeup, because you consider it a "luxury?"
Or, are you so hard-core that you'd rather sit in the dark with a growling stomach than pass on the latest fabulous new LE collection?
Personally, I'm spending about the same amount as usual these days.
But, if things got tight, meeting the needs of my kitties would definitely come before cosmetics.

 

[ClaireAvril]

i try to spend little money in gas and eating out.. that's how I afford my mac cravings.

 

[flowerhead]

Funnily enough, I've read many articles that say lipstick sales increase in times of economic struggles! It's a (relatively) affordable luxury.
Personally, I'm quite broke at the moment so I can just afford to live, let alone buy expensive cosmetics. But I always find a way to buy essentials like MAC powder and eyeliner...Because I'd rather use no makeup than cheap makeup!

 

[M.A.C. head.]

Like flowerhead said, make up sales tend to go UP in times like these. It's historical. In times of stress, we have to be sure to make ourselves look and feel our best.

I've wanted to haul with the newest collections, but I haven't. But that's more so because I've been overspending at MAC, and not because of the economy.

 

[MacPinkFlamingo]

My makeup is more than a luxury to me. It my sound selfish or foolish or whatever-ish but it is the one thing I do to make sure I prioritize myself on my own list of important responsibilities. So so so so many times I have convinced myself that I should not allow myself to indulge in my hauls and I have found the price is far greater than the dollars I spend. I know that much of my burnout/stress/depression/overwhelment stems from putting everything and everyone above myself. After the last two years of devastating personal losses, I finally am beginning to see that a large part of my suffering was directly related to being emotionally bankrupt for so long. I spend an hour to an hour and a half every morning with my makeup. Some people meditate or exercise, I do my makeup. It makes me relax and it makes me feel confident and excited for my day. I realize that I have very few of the responsibilities that must take priority over makeup (children, ailing parents, mortgage, etc.) and for now I am thankful I just have myself to care for. In comparison with those things, the amount of money I spend on my makeup would be excessive. I hear so many women say that they miss the time when they were single and only had to worry about themselves. I used to be so ashamed that I have never had a boyfriend (and sometimes I still get those feelings) but I am trying to see this time I have now as the time to indulge in selfish pleasures. So hopefully, sometime soon, when someone special comes into my life I will not have let this time pass by unappreciated and unsavored. I will be ready to move towards those responsibilities that bring so much of another kind of joy and contentment.

 

[Glimmergem]

I've definitely curbed my spending on make-up around these times. Of course, I buy more than the average consumer, so I guess I'm really just getting down to a "normal" level. For example, I would have loved to buy the entire Starflash collection, but I ended up with just a couple of the e/s. Bummer. I can't wait until things get better! For now, I'll live with gas being cheaper!

 

[andrrea]

Unfortunately not

 

[TISH1124]

Nope....It should but my dh is my greatest enabler...he buys me MAC gift cards whenever he is in the mall or near it....Oh and we live 2-3 blocks from the mall...hummmmm that helps too...NOT

 

[malteze_bubbleg]

i have slowed down on buying makeup recently..but thats only because ive realised ive been buying more makeup and very little clothes in the last months!! so now i wanna buy clothes instead!

 

[lulabelle]

nope - I am trimming other areas though. for example, lunch at a restaurant... lasts about 4 hours. mascara? 3 months! eyeshadow? a year!
and I just figure... i'm helping to stimulate the economy!

on a serious note though, I do feel fortunate to be able to continue to afford this luxury, as there are so many others who do not have this choice.
although I would give up new makeup purchases before the comforts of life.

 

[mdjmsj]

I haven't cut back dramatically, but I have stopped buying certain items just because they are 'LE' if I have a similar shade already-for example, I'll probably skip Aquavert from Sugarsweet because it looks really siimlar to Warm Chill, which I already own. I still find a way to afford my MU though-it is a rather affordable luxury, all things considered.

 

[SolarWhite]

Not having a job affects my makeup buying. I try to do little things here and there just to get some extra cash for a makeup budget (I am a SAHM).
I would rather skip eating out a few times a month and use that saved money on a few good pieces of makeup.

 

[K_ashanti]

no, but i really only use MAC face products ( foundation, powder) everything else is from the drugstore, i budget my money pretty well, i try to live with in my means so i can have the nice little extras, lately i brought alot of mac but that was christmas, surplus income tax refund, and my school refund which i alway plan to spend on myself cuz i work hard, othe rthen that i try to only by when i run out of somthing, and when i have the money i mutiples of the things i use on a regular (like foundation)

 

[HeavenLeiBlu]

I ain't gonna lie.... I've tried to reign it in, but I've spent more money on cosmetics during these tight times than I've ever spent in my entire life. Of course, I'm not neglecting my responsibilities, but I know I've spent a lot.

 

[Vixxan]

The worse it gets the more I spend. I'm still shocked at the amount I spent on makeup in the last two months. I hope things get better really soon.

 

[kyoto]

Make-up is my one little luxury, so I'm not willing to give it up completely. I do however try to really look at what I'm purchasing when collections are released. There's no stopping me from purchasing a MSF, but I will eliminate unnecessary eyeshadows, lippies, etc., if I feel that I'm not really going to use them. I didn't purchase anything last September, October and November. Partly because I was ill and partly because I just didn't see anything that I had to have. In this economy we are all being bombarded left and right with bad news, so I think its important for all of us to have something that makes us feel good.

 

[aggrolounge]

I'm below a healthy weight because I spend money on makeup :x.. and I don't even usually buy HE. I always say it makes me happy, but I'm not sure the pit in my wallet and my stomach actually does make me happy. Haha. The economic times have been hard, in addition to my own personal reasons for being short on money (got kicked out, can't find a second job, have a car on it's deathbed, only 19! etc. etc.). But I second what others have said - the worse it gets the more I spend!
I defend myself a bit in telling myself that it is an artistic medium. I don't really paint any more because I don't have a place to do so.. so I get all of that creative business out of my system on my face!

Ah, what can ya do!

 

[xxAngelxx]

Nope. I cut back in other areas instead. First, I pay my bills. Then I buy my son stuff, usually books. We love to read together. And of course, clothes for him as he grows so fast. Lastly, I buy my makeup. But I eat out less, I drive less, etc.

 

[LMD84]

honestly i've not been holding back the amount i spend because of the current economic climate. i guess i'm very lucky and have not seen a massive difference in my life yet. my husbands work is very safe and still gets paid double time if he does overtime (usually an extra day a week). and my job.... well my job is very safe and also even though i'm not meeting targets every week, my store is still 2nd or 3rd best on the whole company. people are silly though because at my store people are putting lots on credit agreements and stuff. it's fine if they know they can pay... but if not you get stung with 28.9% interest.

i've cut down on my mac spendings because i'm saving for our holiday in paris in september and also florida next year!!

 

[kaliraksha]

I guess it's about priorities. I personally can't have all this gorgeous make up and no where to wear it to. So, I strike a balance of things I really love vs still leading a fun and exciting life. I still want to go out on dates with my boyfriend, downtown with my friends, and a vacation once in a while. So, I have to exercise control when I go to MAC now, but I don't deprive myself if it's something unique and very me.