Your rules for ballin on a MAC budget?

[mandirigma]

I hope this isn't too dumb a thread.

According to my calculations, I've raked up easily over $450 in makeup in the last month alone. To my credit, it included gifts and gift cards, and it was sort of a homecoming since I stayed off the MAC for nearly all of 2005. I just had to make up for lost time, you see.

But honestly, I can't go on living like this!

MAC is making me absolutely batshit with all these collections and LE items. There are things I will never pass up (ie., pigments and MSFs), but I had to start making some ground rules to downsize my existing wishlist and continue keeping it at a minimum.

I was curious as to how many of you guys were doing the same, and what are your strategies for ballin' on a budget?

Mine as follows:
1. Under no circumstances am I to buy any lustre-formulated eyeshadows, no matter how many people in the communities are sweating them. I am far too lazy to get these to work on me so it'd just be a waste of money and space.
2. No purchases from the permanent collection until I've moved back to CT after grad, where the MA's know my face and are far more friendly and helpful to me than the ones here at my local mall!
3. No more straying from my comfort zone of color, no matter how tempting it may be (ie., greens and blues). It only becomes a pain in my ass to swap them away later on.
4. No more lipglasses or gooey lip stuff. No more getting tempted with the pretty colors and then never wearing them because the texture makes me feel icky.

Any strategies for self-control that you guys might have?

 

[karen]

I would give you some help, but my rules all go out the window everytime I see new collection pics.

*looks at empty wallet and smoking credit cards and cries silently*

 

[user3]

Love to help but I have no rules and I can't even stick to a no buy. I cheat!

 

[MACgirl]

I just made up some rules about a few months ago...its actually helped me alot by saving money on things that would just otherwise sit in my case.

1.Lustre eyeshadows....everything you said, so the two new ones out with culturebloom will be skipped...i hope...lol

2.i take ALOT of time getting lip stuff, makeing sure i cant get a similiar affect or color from the perm line. usally get a lipglass or two maybe a lipstick.

3.pigments,msfs are a must have no matter what.

4.set a limit...have your boyfirend, husband or fiance shop with you if you can, trust me he'll stop you from overspending!!

 

[blueyedlady87]

I don't let myself buy colors that pretty in the tube/jar/compact and like shit on me. For intstence, I have lots of pretty blue eyeliners (some l/e) that i bought and never wore, b/c i have blue eyes and it contrasts them in an ugly way. I make myslef try before i buy. also, unless i'm *super* in love with a pigment, i don't buy. because they are just too much of a hassle for everyday.

 

[litlaur]

I don't buy anything that looks fairly similar to another color I already own.

I don't buy any e/s that wouldn't go with anything e/s I already own. I generally don't wear a single color.

I buy e/s in pans.

If I haven't touched something but once or twice, I'll sell it.

I generally don't buy items like glitter liner or glitz glosses. They're pretty, but I know I'd never use them.

But the best rule for me: don't buy something unless you absolutely love it. That's one of the reasons I love Specktra. I hear about new collections and see pictures a while before I come out. The "ooh-pretty-new-stuff" effect wears off, so I know what I really want buy the time it comes out.

 

[mima]

OMG, we share almost the same rules! here are mine!

1. ABSOLUTELY NO LUSTRE E/S, no matter how wonderful they look. the only lustres i got to work for me are swimming and sensualize, and that's it. i don't even let myself test any new LE lustre e/s just in case i get tempted.

2. Only buy permanent products when I get giftcards! Only get l/s with back to mac

3. No nailpolishes since I never use them & no MAC mascaras

4. Stay off MUA when a new collection comes out b/c everyone's hauls make me buy more than I mean to. I wait till the hype dies down, and even better, after honest/helpful reviews start appearing!

5. Always compare new LE shades with my existing stash so i don't buy duplicates.

6. Always wait to buy permanent stuff in pro pans wherever possible. there's no mac store where i live, only counters, so this is hard one. it was really painful but i managed to do this with the idol eyes veluxe pearl collection and the blushes from the madam b collection. i waited months befor ei got to purchase them!

7. Make sure something looks good on my skintone/lips. it may look wonderful in the pot and on other people, but be awful for me.

8. see and test everything in person as much as possible before buying. that's why i hate the SAKS/Asia/US exclusive stuff.

9. remember that there's always a wonderful new collection in just a few weeks, so i need to save some money for that rather than spending too much on the current one

EDITED TO ADD:

10. take at least a day or two to really think about whether i want something. for example, i only bought flirty number e/s today, weeks after it was released.

that being said, I've given myself permission to buy any and all veluxe pearl e/s, MSFs, LE pigments, lipglosses that i love.

i also prefer to buy an LE product i am sure i really want immediately rather than wait, have it be sold out, and then pay exhorbitant prices on ebay.

 

[mandirigma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by karen *looks at empty wallet and smoking credit cards and cries silently*

LOL, I know that feeling.

Some of you guys have more self-control. I probably should put a rule in place that says I can't have any similar-looking e/s or l/s, but it seems like all these new colors that come out are just different enough to not be identical. And I'm so bad when it comes to that.

 

[mandirigma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mima 4. Stay off MUA when a new collection comes out b/c everyone's hauls make me buy more than I mean to. I wait till the hype dies down, and even better, after honest/helpful reviews start appearing!

oh man, this is a good one too, but it feels like everything sells out in like 2 seconds here in OC, even though there are like 30 MAC locations in the area. =/

 

[aziajs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by litlaur But the best rule for me: don't buy something unless you absolutely love it. That's one of the reasons I love Specktra. I hear about new collections and see pictures a while before I come out. The "ooh-pretty-new-stuff" effect wears off, so I know what I really want buy the time it comes out.

This is my rule. I only buy what I can't live without. When I go to MAC I check things out and then if I MUST have something I buy it. If there are things that I am unsure about I leave. If those things stay on my mind after I have left the store and I keep thinking about them I go back and get them (Naked You & Petticoat). If they are things that I don't give much thought to after I leave, I don't get them.

I also never buy things that I have to convince myself to buy. For example, products that don't really work for me but I think that they have potential. Leave those suckers in the store (Porcelain Pink).

Also, if there is something that is permanent that I want but can put off for a while (#187) as hard as it is I DON'T BUY IT! It will be there later so there is really no rush.

 

[pumpkincat210]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aziajs This is my rule. I only buy what I can't live without. When I go to MAC I check things out and then if I MUST have something I buy it. If there are things that I am unsure about I leave. If those things stay on my mind after I have left the store and I keep thinking about them I go back and get them (Naked You & Petticoat). If they are things that I don't give much thought to after I leave, I don't get them. I also never buy things that I have to convince myself to buy. For example, products that don't really work for me but I think that they have potential. Leave those suckers in the store (Porcelain Pink). Also, if there is something that is permanent that I want but can put off for a while (#187) as hard as it is I DON'T BUY IT! It will be there later so there is really no rush.

ditto.

 

[mymymai]

I don't have many rules, but I
1) Always test things out
2) Stay away from brown, uber dark lips since I'm a NW 15-20
3) No MAC compacts (face powder)
4) No MAC liquid liners (Wet and Wild works just fine)

Other than that, I buy what I really like, esp. any and all pigments

 

[angela]

Its kind of hard to not limit myself because I freelance on the side, but msfs are absolute musts, no lustres, and I only use B2M for lipsticks.

 

[72Cosmo]

I so agree with the no lustre e/s. Taupeless looked so wonderful but I am proud to say I didn't purchase it. Sunday's Best looked a lot like dazzlelight so didn't purchase however it is pinker than dazzlelight but I am trying to be strong. I have more make-up than I can ever use even if my collection can't begin to compare to some of the members on here. It's very hard when MAC comes out with a collection as often as they do.

 

[Chelly]

i have absolutly no rules and its so dangerous and then i end up buying something i already have and hten i get pissed and give it to a friend or something. but yeah. i want it all - i want the damn stand that the eyeshadows are on - lol ok not really but that'd be fun

 

[Chelly]

also i'm gonan say that your doin pretty well if you only spent 450$ within the month i think i hit 320 @ the pro store in vegas in one night

i guess now is a good time to admit my shopping problem lol

 

[joytheobscure]

I'm actually shying away from some LE products by staying out of the store at that time. I've decided to focus on not buying shades too similar. I'm working on diversifying my collection, although; I'd prefer to own every eyeshadow ever made. I try to avoid quads because it seems like I swapped a lot of them already. I mainly limit myself by "losing" my check card and avoiding towns with mac counters. Its worked well for a month. But, I am going to try to have my makeup budget match my husband's cigarette budget (vices). I think my first year will be my worst. I hope.

 

[bluegrassbabe]

i have a set amount I allow myself to spend per month and stick to it. I have so much stuff right now that I am not tempted to buy as much as I have before. My general guidelines are...
1. no similar colors. I have so many blues and browns that not much tempts me anymore. I am still looking for my perfect greens and yellow

2.No new lipsticks unless they are B2Ms, no more lipglasses for a while either, I talked myself out of Chromeglass, even though I really wanted sunmetal. I still have 25 LGs that need to be used up
3. No products like I look at and think "I could wear that going out" as I am now and old married person who only goes out with my close friends and husband. It took me a long time after college to stop buying makeup just for going to a bar or club
4. Absolutely no charging, If I don't have the cash in my pocket, too bad

Things that I will never turn down, Any pigment or skinfinish!

 

[jpohrer]

As soon as photos of a new collection come out, I like to see what colors I already own are similar to the new shades. Then, I make my own substitute collection. For example, the Sweetie Cake quad reminds me of Zinc Bar/Forgery, Pale Out/Pinkling, Tease 'N' Teal/Meadowland/Blue Absinthye, and Plum/Mystical Mist/Stila's Mambo. The lipglasses remind me of Crystal Beach/Fool for You, Flashmode/Pink Poodle, Wonderstruck/Tartlette and Rayothon/Flusterose. Next, I gather my substitutes and start playing! If I do not have a substitute, I know that the color is either a) unique and I must look at it, or b) one I have avoided in the past because it did not look good on me. I look at the new collection for inspiration--how to use what I already have in new combinations! Try it! It's super fun!

 

[MAC_addict_77]

I usually go crazy when I first see pics of new collections coming out. When they actually hit the stores I find myself inspecting the colors and am only getting stuff that I really love and know that I will use.
I also stay away from lipgloss pots and lip palettes, simply because I don't like to use my finger or a lip brush.
MSF's are a must but I am not too fond of piggies so those are not too tempting to me. I wanted the piggies from the new collection but knew that I would never use them.
I usually stay away from neutral colors that come out in new collections cause there is always something similar that is permanent.