No Buying Toiletries in March Challenge

Mags30

I'm up way too late

Jacks_xxx

juliebunny wrote: »

Over time though, I am learning that offers come along aaaaalllll the time so there is really no need to panic buy. And there have been lots of good bits of advice on here that have really helped me -and lots of links to yummy products that have NOT ,although with some lovely free sample links! :T
My favourite is that if I have a years supply of something, then no matter how much of a bargain I DON'T NEED IT !!

I think that might be one of my favourite mantras! :T:D

mcculloch29 wrote: »

One thing that has crossed my mind a few times since I joined this thread, is how little a year's supply can be.

If I am economical, I will just need 800 ml of shampoo and 1 litre of shower gel (1000 ml) to see out the year, and that's with washing my hair 4x a week and showers 6x. Many books and articles I've read point out how little shampoo you actually need to get your scalp and hair clean. I've got it down to 5ml.
With a body puff just 5 ml of shower gel - a teaspoonful- is also enough to give me a thorough clean

I know mine is a very modest stash but it will last me the year in most things.

You may use substantially more shower gel than me - I know my son does - or far more shampoo. Any thoughts?

Going on what I've seen of some stashes, many of you literally have enough for the next decade but that's at my use - up - rate, not yours.

:wave: Absolutely! I'm often amazed by how long things last. My use up rate varies a bit depending on whether the family is using the same products or if they have bought something or been given something of their own to use.

But for example: I have a 150ml Ren Facial exfoliator, I only use it once a week, and I reckon it will last me the rest of the year and then some!
So I didn't buy any Mir Exfoliating Cleanser because I already have something that does the same job that is is no danger of running out any time soon.

I think I have at least 9 months, and probably over a year's supply of shampoo. (More if my daughter buys her own - less if she's using mine. ) So I have resisted blandishments by my hairdresser to try their new in salon range, kind offers from ladies on here, and a new haircare range or three on QVC and haven't acquired any more.

I'm trying to retrain myself to apply some logic to my purchases - and logically if I have a years supply, then I don't need to think about buying any more for quite some flippin' time!

I don't like having a big Stash of things waiting to be used, it weighs on me and I find it a burden.

If My Comedy NO! post it taped in my purse over my cards doesn't seem to be doing the trick, thinking where the flippin' heck I'm going to put this thing if I buy it often will.

I just really want my shopping decisions to be under my own control and logical, not out of control and emotional.

Kaz2904

celebrate wrote: »

ok here goes

hi guys i am a newbie! It has been suggested to me on various threads (esp lloyds pharmacy sale that I fess up and get help)

I have always knwon about MSE but never really looked properly at the forums until january when i wanted to double check dates for the boots sale. Since then I have been addicted to the site and to shopping.

I have to say I had a bit of a problem before , as I have a good job (am comfortable) I don't really have to watch too much what I spend but have always been tight and never really part with my money unless soemthing is at least 75% off.

Since joining the forums I have become aware of sales I previosuly would have never known about or not taken an interest in.

Looking at the posts other people have posted made me giggle and quite embarrassed, if I were to list my stash of stuff it would be several pages (if not more) long.

Places I have gone crazy and bought more than I need (list is from top of my head, i daren't look in the cupboards as it will all fall down onto my head):

1. Boots sale couple hundred pounds spent, and more recent temptations-loads of no 7 sets, gift sets, frontcover sets, gok sets, loads jewellry, recent JF offer bought 4 and lee stafford hair products offer bought 2(NEVER would have bought these before), minis 5for 4 and 3for2 bought 15, dove deos and shampoos/shpwer gels

2. Claires accessories spent over £140 in the 10 for £10 ( sorry i know no toiletries)

3. lloyds pharmacy sale -4 orders online 2 for over £100, another 2 for £60 each, did another two around £60 thank God one cancelled by lloyds as not in stock, other i cancelled last minute just after placing order as i felt i was overdoing it and soooo guilty. Spent over £100 in lloyds while visiting rels in manchester, today been to a lloyds about 20miles away and bought another £100 worth of fragrances

4. Tesco sale-duvets, asda toy sale clearance-have stacks of mini robots at 75p

5. A local store in my town sells cut price make up bought tons lip glosses and other make up when i pass

Although i have a big family and loads of poor rels abroad who i love sending gifts for I still feel I have a problem, it makes me feels good to get bargains, if i don't take everything that was there i can't rest and feel v agitated unless i go back and clear the shelves, generally most shops i will go backa few times. its kind of like a fix, i know i'm describing an addiction.

It is totally ruining my life, my sister has nicked half my stash of perfumes and didn't seem that grateful. I am spending less and less time with my family, am irritable with the OH if he bothers me while I am engrossed on the comp. I have exams to revise for and updates for my job i am just not keeping up with.

Not really sure what to do. I know I couldn't hack going cold turkey.
Any advice appreciated:) Sorry I know this is a no buying toiletries not a no shopping general thread (but i have spent hundreds on toiletries recently hope i qualify!!)

Hi celebrate :hello:. Your post sounds like a real cry for help....
Rightyho, grab a :coffee: and take a deep breath.
Firstly, you need to find some way of controlling your internet time. It is very easy for the minutes on here to just roll away without noticing. So perhaps next time you come on here, set an alarm for 30 minutes and then when it's up, turn off the computer.

So then you need to tackle what you have bought. Try to sort it out into piles of types of stuff. If you still have reciepts for anything, could you return some things? This gets it out of your house and removes the guilt.
If you get rid of enough stuff so that you can open up the cupboard, you will then be able to arrange your stash apropriately.
Next, I would suggest writing out a list of people who you need to buy gifts for throughout the year. Look in your stash for suitable presents. Label them against their names and the occasion they'll be used for and put them in a separate present box. If you like, you could wrap them now but I prefer to put them into a carrier bag for each as I can wrap and unwrap without damage.
When you have everyone gifted up for this year, take another look at your stash. When I first did this, I had to bring it all down into the lounge and split it into separate piles which then spread across my dining room too. This will mean that you can accurately assess the damage.
Is there anything there that's already open? This needs to be stored in the bathroom so that it can be used first. Is there anything there that you hate? So how can you get rid of it? Lotions can be used on feet. Shampoo can be used for cleaning everything in sight and unloved conditioner can be used for shaving or repurposed as fabric conditioner.
So what's left? Can you bring yourself to try and sell any of it? You will need to investigate ways of doing this as it is quite heavy though. Yorkshire lass put all of her unwanteds and unloveds onto her works sales board. We have an intranet at my hospital which we can stick things up on a sale board with a contact number.
Then, get to pampering.
Employ Pink Rose Candle Philosophy. Don't save things for a rainy day, it's raining now. Treat yourself now, you could be dead tomorrow.
Post pics for us [STRIKE]nosy[/STRIKE] helpful people to [STRIKE]drool at[/STRIKE] advise you on.
How about having a look at the decluttering thread on the old style board, it may help you out too.
Try to set yourself studying time so that you don't waste it by shopping because then you'll feel doubly guilty.

Make time for your family too! Your OH would probably love it if you ran him a nice deep bath (you could use that 1/2 hour for your internet time or study time) and then when he gets out, you could pamper him and give him a lovely back massage. You'll UU some products that way too :rotfl:. He may even do the same for you.

Don't worry too much, it will take a little while but the grim reality is, you've accumulated all teh stuff so it needs to go, by UU's or returns or selling. You may even consider making up a box to donate to your local refuge or hospital. We regularly get patiennts in who have brought nothing and don't have family members locally. Deodorant and body spray is the thing we can never get hold of but shampoo and conditioner is always welcome and shaving foam is super welcome!

Kaz2904

Mags30 wrote: »

I'm up way too late

Mags, go to bed! Don't trip over the people who are sitting on the naughty step. Some of them will still be sitting there in the morning :rotfl:. Not me cause I is an :A .

VALM

ma-ri-ella wrote: »

ok so i have an uu today went to use my avon supercurlacious diamond mascara that i got free with something in november and had left sealed and in a dark place to find it was completely dried out!!well annoyed its not even on the website anymore so i cant even get another..ive had mascaras in the past for years opened and never dried out :Pserves me rite

I've had this happen recently with a 17 mascara that I was keeping for when I ran out but probably as a stop gap as I wasn't expecting much from it. Didn't even get to try it as, like you say, the brush came out dry.

The only IN I'm planning today is a bottle of nail lacquer remover which I'll pick up from Sainsbury's with the groceries. May still have another week's work in my bottle at the mo but can't do without it as I paint my nails about 3 times a week plus Emma has to remove hers before school on Monday. Am planning another IN tomorrow but am not counting it as it will be a bottle of LE Cleanse and Polish for Emma. She's tried the S&G wipes that were in the tote but they're drying her skin out so it's back to C&P. The cleansers I have open won't suit her skin either I don't think (she's only 12). I have a Decleor foaming wash (which dries my skin out) and Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel on the go (this one could be too oily for her).

Have a good weekend everyone. x

vivh

Thanks for the get well wishes, am hoping antibiotics kick in soon, must be bad because I don't even want to eat chocolate, every cloud and all that.

Welcome newbies, welcome celebrate, you are in good hands, I know what you mean about getting fidgety if you haven't got something, just thinking about them sitting on the shelves drives me mad. I've got quite an addictive personality I think and I move from one obsession to another, maybe you are the same and need to find another obsession but one that doesn't involve spending, it could be clearing out all your stuff and selling them on ebay, or finding a new author you like and reading all of their books or getting hold of a walking book for your area and working your way through the walks as a family - hope this helps.

seasideDreamer

Another UU S&G Girligo WIBA probably not, not very keen on these spray moisuriser things.

Right I'm off shopping with my mum:eek: I've already convinced myself I need a Face mask....I don't actually have one but have various face wash type things I don't like much and should probably use first so I'll have to see how strongly Lush is calling.

sunshineyday

morning all, gosh what a busy thread!

Firstly, welcome all newbies, you've joined one of the nicest threads on MSE :beer:

celebrate - I really feel for you, your post really sounds like a cry for help, I second the really good advice given by Kaz and others here and don't really have any words of wisdom to add to what has already been said, just want to say welcome and good luck,

Vivh, hope you feel better soon, tonsilitis really is miserable, xx
OK I suppose I better 'fess up to my INS

3 copies of that magazine resulting in:
eye cream
7 day scrub
mascara - came in post with subscription copy -I can't use this so have given to DD - does that count as an out?

Caudalie vinosource cream - free gift for subscribing to Glamour

Aussie heat protect conditioner

Pantene colour protect intense treatment - got this for 75p in Sainsburys last night - I definitely didn't need this but couldn't resist at that price!

Revlon photoready foundation x 3 (on 3for2)- this is my everyday foundation and the one in use is spluttering.

Right I'm off to the naughty step for what I hope will be the only time this month

to those that need them

Nitty_2

mcculloch29 wrote: »

One thing that has crossed my mind a few times since I joined this thread, is how little a year's supply can be.

If I am economical, I will just need 800 ml of shampoo and 1 litre of shower gel (1000 ml) to see out the year, and that's with washing my hair 4x a week and showers 6x. Many books and articles I've read point out how little shampoo you actually need to get your scalp and hair clean. I've got it down to 5ml.
With a body puff just 5 ml of shower gel - a teaspoonful- is also enough to give me a thorough clean

I know mine is a very modest stash but it will last me the year in most things.

You may use substantially more shower gel than me - I know my son does - or far more shampoo. Any thoughts?

Going on what I've seen of some stashes, many of you literally have enough for the next decade but that's at my use - up - rate, not yours.

mcculloch29 you are so right!

I worked overseas (in the back of beyond) for a couple of years a while back and initially I estimated that I would need one standard sized bottle of each shampoo/conditioner/hair styling product every month I was out there. On my first trip out I took six months worth of products and my bags weighed a tonne:rotfl:.

I obviously hadn't put enough thought into it:o......each bottle lasted 2-3 months on average :eek:.

Yes....it's going to take me a long while to use my stash:(

2 UU's to report, my first, so I am on my way and have taken my first steps along this path

1 x Elvive Royal Jelly Shampoo 400ml - WNBA it was nothing special and I have so many other shampoo's in my collection to use.

1 x Sanex Bath Cream 650ml - WBA - If it was on offer and nothing else was at the time that I fancied trying, but I prefer the smell and bubbles of Original Source Bath Foam

hollyh

Hi,

I think i need to join you guys again. I did it for most of 2010 and i managed not to buy any conditioner at all, i still haven't and there's loads left.:eek:

My problem is bargains too. Wilkos were selling off their own brand face wash and face scrubs for 25p each so i bought 16.:eek: I just can't resist a bargain. Despite my massive stash of S & G from Christmas i'm still itching to buy the new sets they've got out for £40 each.:o

I need to do an inventory again, i'd love to find the list for 2010 and compare.

ETA I've found my list from last year so it'll be interesting to compare with what i've got now.:cool: