No Buying Toiletries in March Challenge

mcculloch29

I can answer that one -a holy grail - it's any product that meets all your needs. One of mine is Mitchum deodorant, it works brilliantly, doesn't sting, doesn't leave white marks and is easy and pleasant to use.

Triple cross there!

bohemianrose9

Hey,

Welcome Celebrate, good luck with the challenge. That was a fantastic post Kaz! Very inspiring! :beer:

One very extravagant in for me today: Chanel Translucent pressed powder. I've been planning on upgrading my powder when it completely runs out (currently it's 2 thirds bare pan) and when I popped into John Lewis today they were running a 10% off all make up day. I couldn't resist!

On the plus side, I also went and checked up on some products that I had been reading great reviews about: Clarins hand cream, Aveda hand cream and Chanel hydramax cream. I didn't like the smell of the Clarins and Chanel creams and the Aveda cream made my hands very greasy. Very productive anti-shopping!

I second the comments about how long products last. My 250 ml shampoo and conditioner have already lasted about 3 months, and are still going strong.

Catslovelycats

Finally another UU.
The S&G spluttering hand wash has finally finished.
WIBA? Yes. Like the smell.
BUT: I have several other handwashes to use up first! Now which one to open next....?
Off to update siggy

Kaz2904

Aw celebrate, you are in a bit of a pickle aren't you? Why not have a day with the family tomorrow?
You sound like me when have something that I really need to do, avoidance shopping someone the other month was supposed to be revising for exams and they spoke about how they were procrastipampering! I lurve that term .
It was me that suggested selling things through work. I don't mean you do it all in one go, rather drip feed it through the system. That way, people won't neccesarily realise how much you have. You could just put a thing in to say that you're clearingout unwnted Christmas/birthday gifts. (just don't tell them whos ).
I'm with you on the not knowing us enough to care about having to come on here and confess to your ins. This is a gradual process. You'll get there in the end.
BTW, where are you going to put all the stuff you put today? Does it not stress you out to think about where you are going to put all of this stuff?
Why are you buying things for your sister? Surely she can buy them herself? Sanitary products are regularly on offer.
Maybe she's not grateful because she doesn't see it as an issue? She may think that she's helping you out by buying stuff that you so clearly don't want. She can probably see how stressed out it is making you. You say that she pays you cost price. Do you mean you're making money from it or she's paying you what it cost you? If she's only paying you what you paid, then you're still paying out for petrol or delivery. You are also stressing yourself out with the 'thrill of the hunt' which you and your family don't enjoy.
Keep posting if you feel able, hopefully we can help you through it

celebrate

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Aw celebrate, you are in a bit of a pickle aren't you? Why not have a day with the family tomorrow?
You sound like me when have something that I really need to do, avoidance shopping someone the other month was supposed to be revising for exams and they spoke about how they were procrastipampering! I lurve that term .
It was me that suggested selling things through work. I don't mean you do it all in one go, rather drip feed it through the system. That way, people won't neccesarily realise how much you have. You could just put a thing in to say that you're clearingout unwnted Christmas/birthday gifts. (just don't tell them whos ).
I'm with you on the not knowing us enough to care about having to come on here and confess to your ins. This is a gradual process. You'll get there in the end.
BTW, where are you going to put all the stuff you put today? Does it not stress you out to think about where you are going to put all of this stuff?
Why are you buying things for your sister? Surely she can buy them herself? Sanitary products are regularly on offer.
Maybe she's not grateful because she doesn't see it as an issue? She may think that she's helping you out by buying stuff that you so clearly don't want. She can probably see how stressed out it is making you. You say that she pays you cost price. Do you mean you're making money from it or she's paying you what it cost you? If she's only paying you what you paid, then you're still paying out for petrol or delivery. You are also stressing yourself out with the 'thrill of the hunt' which you and your family don't enjoy.
Keep posting if you feel able, hopefully we can help you through it

hi kaz,

thanks for that, yes she just pays what i do, i don't make any profit, she has a habit of looking at me with her big eyes saying "awwww i wish i had some fragrances " or "while you were there you could have got me some sani pads " which is why i got her some today. last time she said when i rang her from manchester she said you should ahve got me some sani pads i felt so bad i nearly drove all the way back to the lloyds i had seen them in.

Yes i do have a lot of family and self esteem issues, my OH CHOOSES to work and live away and i resent him for it so when he comes back all lovey dovey at the weekend i just have to find something else to do, i can't stand it but i can't leave him ....thats another story. I like to do nice things for people but feel put out when i don't get the same back and I just don't learn.

My mum does put alot of pressure on me, she loves whoopsies from asda and i feel obliged to go most days on way jome from work to "check for her" and find it hard to say i'm not going. I am beating that now and have told her (and myself ) i am busy and have not been for the last week!

Re selling things at work in dribs and drabs I like the idea but i work in a gp surgery such close knit with LOTS of gossip and backbiting, I just don't want to be in the centre of lots of gossip.

I have NOOO idea where i am going to put eveything yet, I have sorted a space in my wardrobes for my 1st lloyds delivery that arrived but my husband is in over the weekend so yesterdays and todays shops have been shoved under my clothes at the bottom of my wardrobe. i still have 3 deliveries pending. I agree with one of the other posters about returning stuff, once kits all come through (and its free retruns which helps) i will TRY to return alot of the kids stuff i overdid it on.

I LUUURVE the term "procrastipampering"!!!:rotfl:

Now I have so many products I also love the idea of getting some out and USING them!:) My mum and sister are always having a go at me to treat myself and buy myself some fragrances and stop buying for others. I will deffo open some of the body butters i got in the boots mini 3 for 2/5 for 4 (got 15!!!:eek:) and sort out my skin with some pampering (after doing some revision for my online exam tomorrow)
x

thevicster

Mags30 wrote: »

At any of the make up counters in store, Clinique/Clarins/Lancome, etc, take your pick. Then when you have the card you register it online. You get the plastic card straight away in Debenhams unlike Boots who post the cards.

I need to get me one of these!

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.

I'm sure I use far more than I should! I've got into the habit (passed on from my Dad) of washing my hair twice with shampoo and I know I don't need to do that, it's just a really hard habit to break (and I'm anxious that people might think I'm dirty - I used to work with a REALLY smelly person and I was so paranoid that people would think it' was me! I went through a lot of body spray...!)

Mags30 wrote: »

Is that the "youth as we know it" cleanser? I got one in Debenhams around a month ago for €10 and it's really good. I think it was reduced because they've changed the packaging.

QUOTE]

That's the one! Am all excited about using it now!

Off to catch up on the rest of the thread now

juliebunny

Goodness, I feel like I've had an online (free :money:) therapy session on here tonight reading everyone's advice to Celebrate! Thank you to everyone.

I remember when I went to get my Boots half price Christmas sale order with my boyf - he was shocked when they brought out 2 huge packages! I think he was a bit embarassed too....it didn't help that a lady came over and asked me where I got the S&G sets from! Any thoughts I had of returning stuff vanished because it suddenly gave it the 'oooh I've got what everyone else wants and can't get feeling'. Like dur, it's just toiletries!!

I like the 3 day rule - if it wasn't for the Grabbit board - although I am pretty restrained on that (yes honestly.)

I tend to use 'present buying' as an excuse for shopping. I have this really bad habit of buying 2 of everything 'one for me, one for someone else.' I'm struggling to break that one even now.

I too have a sister in a low paid job. I love to treat and spoil her with stuff but even she was shocked at how much I got in the sales (for her!) so that has embarassed me into cutting back.

I have also now found that people don't know what to buy me for birthdays and Christmas because there is nothing I need, due to my shopping habits. So me and a good friend (yes she's on here!) have agreed that when we see something we want - unless it's a dire emergency - we are going to start up a wish list. Then come our birthdays etc, we will share this list with our family and friends.

This thread has encouraged me to use up lovely stuff I have, to break open gift packaging and enjoy my stash! I had some rough stuff last year and this year just wanted some frivolity so am having lots of pampering.

I have to be honest though, for me, the only way not to buy stuff is to simply not go to the shops - and my boyf also loves to shop. This is hard in winter when shopping centres are such a haven from the bad weather. But it's Spring now. Planned are more walks, feeding the ducks, visiting friends etc - any more suggestions welcome??

mcculloch29

Tracey2609 wrote: »

Hi All,

I have 3 INs to report - but they were won in a charity raffle... (so is that just one foot on the naughty step?)

Trevor Sorbie Straightening Addict Shampoo, Conditioner and Blow Dry Spray. Not bad for 3 strips of raffle tickets at a pound a strip for a good cause and making them £1 each...

I started the year off with 224 items in my stash and I'm now down to 207!

I'm glad it's not just me who has raffle prize ins! Congrats!

A UU 50ml Aldi Lacura Q10 Day Moisturising Cream. This got accidentally lost at the back of a cupboard, yellowed and had to be used up as foot cream.
WIBA?
Yes, next year - it's a lovely product and staggeringly good value. It's made gorgeous foot cream, I was really miffed when I found it had yellowed.
I bought another Lacura last year that is a little too heavy for my skin so that might be next in line as foot cream.

mad_scientist

I have snuck in late on a Saturday evening to confess my INs when there are not too many witnesses! :cool:

Today I went looking for the Barry M shatter effect topcoat after some naughty person posted a picture on here of their nails looking lovely! Another product I wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for this thread!

Anyway when I got to Boots it was 2 for £5 on Barry M nail varnish so I got the nail effects topcoat and a new shade called Indigo, its a lurvely purpley blue. I'll spend my time on the naughty step painting my nails!!

celebrate wrote: »

so why did i do it if i knew i had to tell everyone here?

1. you guys are virtual and although your opinion counts probably don't know you all well enough yet for your disapporval to be a deterrant

2. mys sis took off with half my stash yesterday, paid cost price, although i felt good about letting her have bits (she is not well off and totally non savvy with sale shooping) i still felt i had to recoup my stash as if it were lacking now

3. I feel as if i have a "catch" bit like the hunter gatherer who sits and admires what he has caught

4. I LURRRRRVE FRAGRANCES!! I went to dubai and gave away all but one of my 12 odd fragrances that i bought and was so devastated after i gave them away, just kept an eternity and givenchy irrestible for myself (a year ago and still going strong) never really allowed myself to indulge in fragrances even though i can afford it.

I now feel so moody and angry and guilty for racing around today I am like a bear witha sore head with my kids and OH. I can't get this nagging thought out of the back of my mind about one other looyds whom i rang and they said they have kate moss in stock (love her perfume)

One thing I will try is to try keeping busier, since I reduced my hours I have had more afternoon to spend wandering around town wasting time. i have taken on a few extra shifts and hopefully I will be too busy to go shopping. Distraction has been a good remedy in the past.

If anyone ever saw how much stuff I had I would die of embarrassment which is why I could never have a sale at work like one of you guys suggested-I do hold a certain position at work and when you employ staff you don't want them to see your weaknesses. If my husband saw what/how much I have bought he would kill me.

Pls don't think i have listed all the fragrances to show off, merley to reflect how silly i am and how many i have got WHICH I DON'T NEED BUT LOVE TO KNOW THAT I HAVE(the list is just from today, I have about the same amount bought yesterday and same amount from manchester trip) I couldn't bear to part with them even to sell them. That IS bad! pls don't tell me to get medical help I kind of am in that field

Welcome to the thread celebrate, well done on taking a first step to dealing with your stash.

Don't worry about us being disapproving, we are all very friendly and to be quite honest, just plain nosey about all the lovely toiletries other people own!

There has already been good advice in other posts, which I am taking note of myself. From what you have said, I think you deserve to spend more time on yourself, not shopping for your relatives! Starting with a big pampering session to start using up some of your products

It seems like the bargain hunting is taking up so much of your time, perhaps you could wean yourself of it by thinking of what else you could get done in the time you are spending just now searching for deals. I know personally that I have lost hours catching up on this thread and on the internet and the housework has definitely suffered for it. But then I really don't like housework so am easily discouraged.

Anyway good luck and keep posting so we know how you are getting on!

teabythesea

*hands head in shame whilst walking in*... I gave up, I hit a bad patch in life - well I just felt fed up and nothing was going my way so I started to sneak to the odd bit in here and there and tonight was the final straw! I am nearly in tears I feel so fed up, and then I look at all my health and beauty products.. ARGHHHH!!