No buying new toiletries etc until.....

Happy_shopper

I'm loving this thread and I'd like to join in with the support and encouragement for those of you that are going 'cold turkey' on the toiletry and cosmetics buying. It's so nice to know that I'm not the only one who stockpiles toiletries / has several things on the go at once / feels a sense of relief when something is finally used up, only to get really excited when it's replaced with something new and probably equally non-essential. :rolleyes:

I hope nobody minds if I also hijack this thread for my own purposes. I'm being realistic in that I don't intend to give up on spending money on cosmetics or toiletries altogether but I'll perhaps use this thread to allow me to focus on using up what I've got already and limiting or spending wisely on new things. I often try to win cosmetics and toiletries through competitions, which I highly recommend. You still get the excitement of being interested in a new product and at best, you receive it in the post for free a few weeks later and at worst, you don't receive it and realise, after the first flush of excitement, you probably didn't want or need it all that much anyway. I'm also a sucker for buying magazines if they include a product I want which is worth more than the cover price. I see it as a way of justifying buying a magazine (which I rarely do otherwise) whilst getting I get to try a more expensive product than I'd usually buy.

What I'm proposing to do is to set myself a spending limit for the year - I'll include the price of any magazines I buy that come with free toiletries etc. but obviously not count any competition wins or freebies. I'll still add these on to an inventory though, when I get around to doing that (I'm loving reading all your lists too). There are some things I see as 'basics' which I'll not include and which I don't tend to stockpile anyway: toothpaste, mouthwash, kitchen handwash, unscented deodorant, aqueous cream (super-cheap basic body moisturiser - I probably have enough to last me the year anyway), Eucerin urea cream (practically medicinal for me at this time of year and, again, I probably have enough to last the year), nail varnish remover, cotton wool and baby wipes (basic make-up removal - if I include these, it may discourage me from spending too much on more expensive make-up removing wipes ). So, bearing all this in mind, I'll set my personal maximum spend targets at £25 on toiletries for the year (although I expect I'll still want to spend £20 on the usual December Lush stash - maybe I could ask for this as a gift from someone?) and £25 on cosmetics for the year. Let's see how I get on. Good luck to us all for our challenges.

mooomin

I can't remember who suggested this but this morning I moved the S&G stuff out of the shower and put "normal" shower cream and facewash in to use up first. I am only going to use S&G at the weekend, thus making it last for longer.

moggylover

Highland_Lass wrote: »

mineallmine wrote: »

Hia HL - maybe see if there's a homeless shelter (or Salvation Army shop) near you that may welcome deodorants.
QUOTE]

There's 3 men in the house so it probably won't last that long really but thanks for the idea. Youngest sprays about half a can each time, lol. Sprays his body and then sprays his whole self as he's walking out of the house!!!

I've got one of those:D

I must admit that reading this thread has thoroughly shocked me: I thought I was bad with having a few bits and bobs that never get used but the sheer volume that some are posting has me shuddering at the thought of all that money:eek:

It has, however, made me determined to get everything out of the cupboards and work my way through it all (or throw what is just too old to be used:o).

TBH - I find myself going back to the plain old favourites: vitamin e capsules for the skin area around the eyes and the neck, plain old palmolive soap (sensitive variety as it smells nicer) witchhazel as a mild toner and Avon dry skin relief for whatever else gets dry (oh and Boots intensive foot softener for heels) and only use fancy bits and bobs when someone buys them for me:o. Skin is still fairly oily despite old age and I seldom use a facial moisturiser (despite using palmolive on my face:rotfl:) because it rarely needs it:o.

Happy_shopper

moggylover wrote: »

witchhazel as a mild toner

I too 'downsized' my toner, a few years ago now. Toner was never particularly great for my skin anyway and I discovered that ordinary water worked best of all for me.

Happy_shopper

Gah! No sooner do I publish my statement of intent on here, than a mailing from Boots pops through my door, tempting me with lots of lovely offers and extra points. Never mind, I'll use some of the vouchers when I buy credit for my mobile and put those extra points towards my next tube of (expensive but great) Avene face moisturiser.

Bronnie

Happy_shopper wrote: »

Gah! No sooner do I publish my statement of intent on here, than a mailing from Boots pops through my door, tempting me with lots of lovely offers and extra points. Never mind, I'll use some of the vouchers when I buy credit for my mobile and put those extra points towards my next tube of (expensive but great) Avene face moisturiser.

LOL was just about to post the same.

It's a particularly dangerous bit of subversive literature; sickly pretty pink images with cynical marketing slogans such as "treats, treats and more treats" and "spoil yourself again and again".

Keep your heads and handle with care ladies! They want our money!

InaPickle

I've just thrown out a tub of what seems to be very gone-off eyecream. One down...:)

Happy_shopper

Bronnie wrote: »

LOL was just about to post the same.

It's a particularly dangerous bit of subversive literature; sickly pretty pink images with cynical marketing slogans such as "treats, treats and more treats" and "spoil yourself again and again".

Keep your heads and handle with care ladies! They want our money!

Lol, maybe they're watching us! :eek: Ha! to you, Boots - I managed to resist the S+G special offer hatbox (but that was mainly because I wanted to spend £20 in the Lush sale instead. )

Happy_shopper

InaPickle wrote: »

I've just thrown out a tub of what seems to be very gone-off eyecream. One down...:)

Lol, I love the 'what seems to be' - there's a sense of 'well, who knows what it really is...'. Well done to you.

InaPickle

Happy_shopper wrote: »

Lol, I love the 'what seems to be' - there's a sense of 'well, who knows what it really is...'. Well done to you.

:rotfl:It was given to me by a woman who I could well believe would give something a bit past its best rather than throw it out. I never opened the box before last night, and when I did there was 'LCT 1996' stamped on the bottom. I have no idea if that is a best before date or something, but it it is that means that the eye cream is FOURTEEN YEARS out of date! :eek: No wonder I didn't dare use it!