How do you afford your MAC addiction?

[Jennifer Mcfly]

Hahaha, good paying job! yeah...right. I spent over $1000 in a year on my credit card when i first became obsessed with MAC. Now, i'm in a slump (MAC slump, not financial slump) and haven't really bought anything b/c I refuse to use my credit card for anything, so unless I have to extra cash I don't get anything. Also, I'd been so let down with all the collections lately (expect these last few) that I'd only get maybe one or two items from each.
But, I did recently get a second job working @ Dillard's, so now I get 25% off MAC so I'm starting to buy a little more again!

 

[LineausBH58]

I have a Husband.... enough said...

 

[siam84]

I have just decided I have to go to rehab and quit my MAC addiction. I can afford it fortunately, but have decided that there are other things my money can be better spent on.

 

[prsfynestmami]

I am a property casualty claims adjuster by day. And a college senior by night. But I am a PPID member because I do MU Freelance. Without PPID my kit would be 10xs smaller than it is.
I pay all of my bills first (I have a 2br apt w/a roommate and a brand new car) then I spend a little on MAC. I spend about $100 - $150 per month, but u figure that's with a 40% discount.

 

[saraa_b]

I work @ my dad's office and try to earn as much as I can

but my parents HATE to spend money on cosmetics for me... my mom just yelled at me today for ordering a $85 haul from MAC and NARS

I can't wait till I get a full time job

 

[mrsvandertramp]

I've been working part time since my GCSE's finish
I get a pretty good monthly allowance from my parents (which is meant to be for school books & stuff but I usually have a tenner left over for an e/s at the end of the month)
I sometimes do car boots/yard sales with my uncle which is horrid but I can make £20 or so.

Plus, friends know how much I love MAC and get me stuff for birthdays & christmas.

 

[Janice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by siam84 I have just decided I have to go to rehab and quit my MAC addiction. I can afford it fortunately, but have decided that there are other things my money can be better spent on.

When we bought our house that's pretty much what I did (went to MAC "Rehab") besides, I have an extensive collection and I need to focus on using what I have. Now I funnel most of "my" money that I usually spent on MAC into decorating. I still pick up the occasional LE items that I can't live without.

 

[Kels823]

This is a good thread.. Ive always wondered if I was the only poor, unmarried chick on this site..

I live alone, I have an okay job and I get no extra money coming from newhere. So basically I get MAC when I can and find alternatives when I cant. Sometimes I stretch my budget to afford stuff but I try not to becuz Im learning self control (something I have a prob w/). Sooooooooo... yah. Thats my story.

 

[mybeautifulface]

I save $100 a month just for MAC and it helps I get the Pro discount

 

[IcePrincess2250]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinostars I use the money I get filling out online surveys haha. That way I don't feel as bad spending the money.

Wait wait, explain please!!

 

[gateauauxfraise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by siam84 I have just decided I have to go to rehab and quit my MAC addiction. I can afford it fortunately, but have decided that there are other things my money can be better spent on.

seriously, is there a rehab for MU addiction? if so, I need to get on one..

 

[_trimm_trabb]

I'm a university student. My tuition and part of my rent is taken care of by the scholarships I've received from my university (a full tuition scholarship, a merit scholarship, and a few other odds and ends). My parents then give me a monthly budget of $500.00 for rent, groceries, and gas. I work about 30 hours during the summer and a few shifts during the school year as a hostess at a restaurant. I also teach private music lessons which is actually quite fun and pays well! So the money I make from work and from doing extra stuff at school (I'm a music major so I get paid to be the music librarian, to accompany the dance department recitals, and to perform in student composer concerts) is mine to spend on what I wish. My boyfriend also works two nearly-full-time jobs as a chef and so he is always buying me things, even though I tell him he shouldn't. He always encourages me to take a look at the MAC counter when we are at the mall, so how can I say no?!

 

[sewpunk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LineausBH58 I have a Husband.... enough said...

me too but he has his own vices (electronic, car stuff, ect) So we play fair and get a set spending limit for personal stuff each month. (Basically we spend our personal $ on stuff the other doesn't enjoy)

We also have a house mortage and plenty o' bills. Luckly we both have good jobs!

 

[pugmommy7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by siam84 I have just decided I have to go to rehab and quit my MAC addiction. I can afford it fortunately, but have decided that there are other things my money can be better spent on.

The hell you say!

bite your tounge!

 

[pugmommy7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cno64 This is probably one of the more bizarre stories: I'm 42, disabled, and of necessity live with my mother. I get a small Social Security income each month, and I budget carefully to buy the MAC products that I feel that I can't live without.

And if that makes you feel better, then it is all worth it.
hugs,
Jen

 

[pugmommy7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by queenofdisaster i sell stuff on ebay for extra money... like old clothes, purses, jewelry, baby stuff etc.. and i have a loving hubby... lol!!

ME TOO! I do that as my "karmic spending" that way no new $ gets into the mix

i sell old shoes on ebay and have $$ toward new ones etc.
when i bring stuff into this house, i feel better if I am taking something out- either by selling or donating

 

[YvetteJeannine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzcelaneous My DF just glanced over on my screen a few seconds ago and said "You're on Specktra again?! STILL discussing make-up?". LOL. When can your hubby talk some sense into him??? Hehe

Send 'im over here...we'll both ambush him...lol....a MAC ambush!!!!!!! Instead a' gun, grenades and rocket launchers, we'll use Turquatic, MSF, 187 brushes and Viva Glam!!!!!!!!!

 

[Shanneran]

im fortunate to have three really cool, decent paying jobs, one very tiny rent bill, no boyfriend or husband to object and dear, dear best friends with the very same obsession....

 

[merleskaya]

Both my husband and I have good jobs....I buy what I want within the realm of "does this fill a hole?" and "how much will I use it?" Much tempts me, but I have so much makeup (from buying and collecting over *cough* many *cough* years) that now I just buy what I know will work for me. There's too much competition for my $ (trips, clothes, home, savings) to get caught up in every single LE item.

merleskaya

 

[Shimmer]

Well, husband has a fairly decent job that allows me to stay home and take care of home and family, and I watch a little girl M-F, which gives me 'my' disposable income (I hate asking anyone for anything). If there's something I want, I'll get it but I'm finding that while I enjoy MAC and the variety it affords me in regard to makeup and quality, I don't want, nor do I NEEEEEEEEEED every single little thing. That's kind of nice.
Even when the LE collections come out, I find what I like and work it from there, instead of buying the whole set. I also have really stopped with the whole buying backwards thing as I figure that in the future the company will release something just as good, if not better than, the original.
*parrot and MSFs are exempt from this, however I've just about filled my MSF desires with the ones I have plus the one that is on the way. Pigments are also excluded,to a point*
I would never dream of spending every spare dime on makeup, as we do have a household to maintain, and four kids to take care of

Luckily, I have no vehicle payment (though husband is paying on his car...) and that helps a LOT!