No Buying (Un-needed!) Toiletries in JULY Challenge!

EssexHebridean

AND HERE WE GO AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH! As usual this initial post has been shamelessly copied from the many previous months! Thanks for much to xoxo for running last months challenge!

Welcome all newbies and regulars to this very friendly and chatty thread where we give lots of lovely tips on how to use up your stash and lots of :grouphug: if you need them.
Keep up the pampering and keep down the spending. Let’s make the naughty step an empty and lonely place this month (rather than one so long that it can be seen from space! :doh: ) - will this be the month when the "usual suspects" rein it in a bit? Let's see.....

If you want to be added to the roll-call please shout your intentions out in
GREAT BIG COLOURFUL LETTERS!!!

We are eternally grateful to Katie Clampet who set up this fab challenge in January 2010.

Here's her original challenge post:

"No buying any new toiletries, cosmetics, perfume etc... until I have used up ALL the ones I already have. I got a huge amount of (really nice) stuff for christmas but I am going to resist the urge to browse Boots, Asda, Superdrug etc, and pop another tub of cream, face scrub, shampoo or conditioner into my basket. I reckon the stuff I have will last me until possibly June. I have decided that the money I save I will put into my special holiday account.
Anyone else?"

Lots of us have taken part in the challenge over the past few months and are making great progress in reducing our stashes and unnecessary/excessive spending.

Regulars ignore this, but a quick resume is always helpful for newbies;

Why not add the challenge to your sig as a reminder?

We have a "Swaps Group" on Facebook when you can swap god condition items with other like-minded addicts. PM Sarah*a or xoxo for more info on joining.

How about taking a bit of time to do a stock-take and see if there are any gaps in your stash that you might need to spend on this month? Some of us set a budget for the month for essential purchases or to help with withdrawal symptoms, others like to go cold-turkey!! Other ideas which some people find useful: Listing everything out so you can cross things off as used to increase the sense of achievement, and putting a sum of money in a pot each time you use up an item to save for something you really want, or simply to assist in making future essential purchases "cash neutral".

Remember the challenge is about making the most of your money, enjoying your products, finding which products really suit you best and are worth buying, giving yourself a well-deserved pampering and breaking the habit of buying for the sake of buying. In money-saving tradition, it should also be about making your products l-a-s-t as long as possible (although the temptation of using an unloved shower gel extravagently to finish it off is sometimes too much to bear!)
Brand new products (or opened perfume) sell well on ebay
Unsuitable products can be used for other jobs (shower gel/shampoo as handwash etc)
Some items can be returned to certain stores for exchange (for essential items or gifts!!) without a receipt
Unwanted items can be recycled as gifts or for gift hampers (saving the money you'd have spent on gifts)
Unsuitable items can be donated to charity as mentioned earlier.
It helps to avoid the places where temptation lurks for you; be it QVC, Boots, Bodyshop, the supermarket toiletries aisles, grabbit board, online toiletries browsing, seductive department store beauty counter offers etc. Remember retailers are making offers and promotions all the time, so there willl always be another deal!*

*Honest!

Good luck all for July and remember to keep popping in for inspiration and support, and to report your UU's and IN's.

Welcome to all newbies - the more the merrier . Please introduce yourselves so we can welcome you properly!

Oh - and anyone thinking "OMG my stash is FAR bigger than all of theirs, I cant possibly join" - believe you me, we have been doing this challenge for well over a year some of us - you wont scare us, and I can almost guarantee that someone somewhere will have had more and survived.... we are very supportive (and protective - so dont be scared !!) oh - and we are nosey!!

Useful abbreviations!
WIBA? - Will I Buy Again?
UU - Use Ups
IN - Self explanatory - stuff you've gained into your stash - warning, lines may be given out for unnecessary purchases or you may be sent to the naughty step!
WNBA - Will Not Buy Again!
Glitch - when a shop/online store make a pricing mistake so you end up paying less or even get freebies!
PYN(M/T/W/Th/F/Sa/Su) DELETE AS APPROPRIATE! - Paint Your Nails Monday/Tuesday...... it allows everyone to try and finish those dastardly nail varnishes with group support! You can never be too groomed for this thread Also see PY(T)N... - for toenails!
Splutterer - the stage where an item is nearing the end of it's life and spluttering - also the most annoying and seemingly never ending stage!
GWP - Gift With Purchase - a sample or mini sized item
HG - Holy Grail - this is the product you would go back for time and time again, it does the job brilliantly, and is either economical, or so fantastic price becomes no object!
NPI - Near Purchasing Incident (OMG we all have those!)
LHJ - Long Haul Job - for those products - love 'em or hate 'em - that never seem to end no matter how often you use them
PRCP -Pink Rose Candle Philosophy. From Erma Bombeck who said, 'If I had my life to live over again I would have burned the pink candle sculptured like a rose that melted in storage'. Don't keep things 'for best' or 'for a special occasion'. That day never arrives. Give the best to yourself now and enjoy it. (Thanks to McCulloch29 for introducing this thought provoking sentiment to us)

If anyone can think of any more we can add to the list so newbies won't be intimidated by our jargon!

Graduates

Here is a list of our lovely, fragrant ladies who have polished and pampered their way through their products and managed to get their toiletries stash under control. Ladies - congratulations :j You are an inspiration to the rest of us, xx . Thanks also to Inapickle who suggested we start the Graduate list. To join the list of graduates let us know by posting that you are graduating in big colourful letters, that way the OP can easily spot you and add you to the list, or better still - pm the OP as the thread can move really quickly! You may also wish to add how many products you have used up during the challenge, good luck ladies xx

1.mineallmine - graduated with honours March 2011
2.Bronnie - graduated with honours March 2011
3. lostinrates - graduated with honours around June 2010

JULY
Come on ladies :beer:

Good Luck Everyone!

EssexHebridean

1. EssexHebridean
2. Lynseydee (one of the original gang?)
3. Willow92
4. Lostinrates (Returning Graduate!)
5. Bev97
6. Seasidedreamer
7. Sarah*a (As And says - one of the nicest people on this thread!)
8. xoxo (Queen of the Nail Varnish!)
9. trudij
9a. RED! - Honourary member!
10. Frittered Away
11. mad_scientist
12. LittleVoice
13. Flirtini (can she make No.13 lucky for her & not add to the stash?)
14. Lemon Tree (usually referred to as LT)
15. sawan82
16. karen is trying (Is a NEWBIE!)
17. Carolyn12
18. mcculloch29 (known as And or Andrea)
19. kaz2904 (Another original member!)
20. Phoenix_dragon
21. maggirl
22. Minerva Windsong
23. xshootingstarsx
24. Sunshineyday
25. pinkfluffybabe
26. InaPickle (well she is so far as toiletries are concerned or she wouldn't be here!)
27. fru-gal
28. mrs.butler
29. sd91
30. charlie792 (is going to get a job this month - Go get 'em Charlie!) Woon Hoo! Told you so!
31. littlepinkstars44 (She's back!)
32. vivh
33. fiasco55
34. flutterbyuk25
35. adilade (Who's starting off with a LOT of IN's!)
36. MoneyQueen
37. Alton Towers
38. PudseyDB
39. ma-ri-ella
40. thevicster
41. ACCA Girl
42. xshootingstarsx
43. Marzipan Fish
44. hanval (Who has to resist the Body Shop!)
45. Jacks xxx (Owner of the BEST stash on the challenge!)
46. Absinthe Fairy
47. bunnykins
48. Scrappie
49. noelphobic
50. VALM (Hurrah! 50th Member! Have a gold star!)
51. Becky 2
52. bohemianrose9 (has already fallen off the wagon, and it's only day 3!)
53. asset2004
54. esmf73
55. London baby
56. alamaya
57. rosemary54 (is CERTAIN to succumb to either L'Occitane or BS this month!)
58. mrsrobertson
59. hollylangman37
60. LadyMorticia
61. IlonaRN (Another original member I think?)
62. Dr_Roberto (At risk of being lead astray by a friend...or is she?!)
63. fixx (Who tells us that Body Shop is VERY expensive in Switzerland!)
64. youngone90
65. Alanis
66. footymadgal
67. Amy0x - Thread NEWBIE and Avon fan extraordinaire!
68. Alioth
69. Welsh Mummy - Thread NEWBIE
70. picklednut - Thread NEWBIE
71. paula74
72. iamsalt - Thread NEWBIE
73. shjo558 - Thread NEWBIE
74. skintscotslass - Returning to the fold....!
75. AvaBelle

lynseydee

Can I say count me in now as I probably won't get a chance to post on here at the weekend.

EssexHebridean

Sneaky post so I can stick my list where I can find it......:p There has to be SOME perks to being "housekeeper" for the month!!

Right - stash list where I can find it then....

Hair:
Shampoo: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette ; Charles Worthington Results (In use); Avon Advance Techniques (HG: ?)
Conditioner: 1 x John Frieda Brilliant Brunette; 1 x Charles Worthington Results (in use); Avon Advance Techniques (HG: ?)
Intensive conditioner: Tresemme (in use), Avon Planet Spa hair mask. (HG: ?)
Serum: 2 x John Frieda Frizz Ease (1 in use); [STRIKE]John Frieda Frizz Ease heat protecting [/STRIKE](HG: Avon Lotus Shield)
Heat defence spray: 2 x Toni & Guy Iron It (Part used) (1 in use)(HG: ?)
Styling: 2 x John Frieda Shine Shock (1 in use); 2 x John Frieda Simply Sleek (1 in use); Avon Ultra Smoothing Balm;

Want to try: Alberto Balsam Shampoos, Supermarket own coconut shampoo, Timotei & similar "old school" stuff.

Body:
Shower gel: Avon Senses Sunset 500ml, S&G Clean, Girls!; BS Moringa ; BS Sweet Lemon (in use); BS Satsuma, BS Mango, BS Shea, BS Pink Grapefruit (HG: ? Maybe S&G iFoam, maybe BS gels)
Bath foam: S&G Calm one, Calm All (in use); Palmolive Naturals Milk & Honey (HG: S&G Calm One, Calm All/Sanctuary Spa Mande)
Exfoliator: FCUK Polished (in use); [STRIKE]S&G The Breakfast Scrub[/STRIKE] ; S&G The Scrub Of Your Life; Clinique Sparkle Skin (in use) BS Moringa (HG: Clinique Sparkle Skin / S&G The Scrub Of Your Life / The Breakfast Scrub)
Body Butter/Lotion: Sanctuary Spa (in Use); [STRIKE]Avon Planet Spa[/STRIKE] (OUT! Given away.); S&G Righteous Butter; S&G Daily Smooth; BS Vitamin E; BS Moringa; Johnsons Holiday Skin (In use) (HG: ?)
Deodorant: 3 x Mitchum Roll-on (2 in use); 3 x Mitchum Spray (HG: Mitchum)

Want to try: Superdrug Body Butter, Primark Body Butter, Poundland Body Butters; NSpa Hot butter Fudge bath foam, Tesco Discount Brands Vanilla Bath foam

Hands Lips & Feet:
Hand cream: S&G Hand Food(in use)
Intensive hand cream: NONE!
Foot Cream: Avon Footworks Invisible Silicone Sock cream (in use); Avon Heel Softening Cream
Foot spray: NONE!
Lip Balm: 1 x Avon Dry Skin SOS; Mini Clinique Superbalm Tinted x2 (Glamour/GWP freebie) (1 in use); Softlips; Carmex; Neutrogena (HG: Avon Dry Skin SOS - now discontinued )

Face:
Face wash: Clinique Mild liquid facial soap (in use); Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing bar (in use); Olay Total Effects; S&G Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser, Santuary Spa (mini) x 2; (HG: Olay Regenerist Daily Thermal Skin Polisher)
Exfoliator: S&G Greatest Scrub of All (In use); S&G Scrub Your Nose In It (HG: ?)
Wipes: No.7.; 2 x Tesco Sensitive (1 in use)
Eye Cream: Nivea Visage Natural Beauty Radiance Boosting Eye Cream (In use); Avon Anew Rejuvenate 24 hour eye cream; Avon Anew Reversalist eye illuminating system
Moisturiser: ; Clinique Dramatically Different (In use); Avon Anew Rejuvenate Day (mini) 14 day trial of Garnier Ultralift Moisturiser (In use) (HG: ?)
Serum: 1 x Olay Total Effects; (HG: No. 7 Protect & Perfect/Olay Total Effects)
Night cream: Avon Anew Rejuvenate Night (mini); Avon Anew Reversalist Night Emulsion (In use)
Eye Makeup Remover: 9 x L’Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup remover (1 in use) (HG: L’Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup remover)
Face Masks: 3 x Avon Planet Spa (Moisturising, Peel off & Deep cleansing) (2 in use) (HG: ?)

Want to try: Avon Solutions day & night cream, Avon ANEW facial wash

Makeup:
Foundation: 2 x Avon Cashmere Finish (1 in use) (HG: Avon Cashmere Finish);
Tinted Moisturiser: Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser (In Use) (HG: Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser)
Powder: Clinique Blended loose face powder (in use) (HG: Clinique Blended loose Face Powder)
Blusher: Bourjois (in use); Clinique Cream Stick blush (GWP size) (HG: )
Mascara: Clinique High Lengths (GWP Size) (In use in travel kit); No 7 Natural Definition(In use); No 7 Intense Volume (GWP Size); Avon Superextend; (HG Clinique Naturally Glossy)
Eyeliner: Clinique Cream eye pencil (In Use); Avon In A Blink Eye Pencil (Espresso) (In use); Avon In A Blink Eye Pencil (Steel) (In use); Avon Glimmerstick (Plum) (In use)
Lip Gloss: Hard Candy Pallette, 2 x Clinique Glosswear "Air Kiss" (GWP Size); Clinique Glosswear "Nude Nectar"; Max Factor Silk Gloss Tube; Estee Lauder High Gloss "Honey"; Chanel Levres Scintillantes (GWP Size); S&G Sexy Mother Pucker
Eyeshadow: There is not enough paper in the world for me to list them all…..!

Want to try : Avon Supershock Gel eyeliners

Perfume:
Cerutti 1881; Lagerfeld Sun, Moon, Stars; Calvin Klein CK1, Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise (All in use) plus various minis

TRAVEL STASH:

All these products are mini-sizes - Sachets listed separately:



Shower:
Sanex Dermo-Moisturising
[STRIKE]Molton Brown Toko-Yuzo[/STRIKE]
Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod
Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily x 2
Molton Brown fresh Bushukan Citrus bodywash
Molton Brown Recharge Black Pepper bodywash
BS Moringa
BS Satsuma
Hotel freebie Wood & Brown x2
Hotel freebie Scottish Fine Soaps
Hotel freebie Gilchrist & Soames

Body:
Molton Brown Coco De Mer Body Lotion x 2
Molton Brown Naran Ji hand wash
Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi body cream
Nivea Soft x 14 single use :eek:
Dove Visible Effects body lotion
2 x Nivea Sensitive Calm & Care Deodorant (1 in use)
BS Wild Cherry BB

Hair:
Molton Brown Lilli-Pilli Conditioner
Molton Brown Instant Indian Cress haircondition
Molton Brown Radiant Lilli-Pili hairwash x 2
[STRIKE]Toni & Guy Frizz Smoothing Curl Shampoo[/STRIKE]
Hotel freebie Gilchrist & Soames Shampoo x 2
Hotel freebie Wood & Brown x 2
Hotel freebie random x 2
Hotel freebie Scottish Fine Soaps x2
Tresemme Shampoo
JF Brilliant Brunette Shampoo x 2
JF Brilliant Brunette Conditioner
MOP Mixed greens Shampoo
MOP C-System shaping serum
BS Rainforest Brilliance Conditioner
BS Rainforest Moisture Conditioner x 2
Pantene Shampoo
Toni & Guy Iron It Heat defence spray
Umberto Giannini Sleek & Chic blowdry cream
JF Frizz Ease Wind-Down relaxing creme

Face:
2 x Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap
Clinique Mild facial soap
BS Seaweed facial wash x 2
BS Tea Tree facial wash
No7 Time resisting day cream
No7 Uplifting day cream
No7 Advanced Hydration Day Cream
Olay Total effects Wake Up Wonder
Olay Regenerist 3 Point Super-Serum x2
Olay Regenerist Flawless Skin Cream
Olay Total Effects touch of foundation
Clinique 7 day Scrub
Clinique Moisture Surge
Avon Clinical Derma-Full Cream

Sachets:

Avon Lotus Shield (lots!)
No7 Advanced Hydration Day/Night (2 part sachets)
Nivea Purifying Facial Wash / Oil Free Moisturising Fluid x3 (2 Part Sachets)
Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash / Light Daily Moisture Cream x3 (2 Part Sachets)
Nivea natural Beauty Scrub/DEye Cream/Moisturiser x 20 (3 part sachets)
Nivea Visage Young Scrub / Wash off cleansing gel / Control It Moisturiser (3 part sachet)
Nivea My Effect rich firming body lotion x 20
Dove Moisturing Milk Shampoo
L'Oreal Nutrisummer body lotion (2 part sachet)
Elvive Body Boost Shampoo
Dove Care & Radiance Shampoo & Conditioner x2 (2 part sachets)
Wella Vitality Shampoo / Conditioner x4 (2 part sachets)
Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Shampoo / Conditioner (2 Part sachet)
Garnier Fructis Shampoo / Conditioner (2 part sachet)
Timotei Copper radiance Shampoo

Willow92

I'm in again!

lostinrates

Hello. I was on the original threads..not sure if there ar elots of people left from them? Anyway I graduated (I should be on that list ) to have a controllable amount of cosmetics and toiletries. I tried to keep up with the thread after moving, but its such a wonderfully fun, friendly and busy thread I found it impossible.

Its still controllable, my cosmetics/toiletries drawers, and I'm not splurging on stuff now BUT I could do with a go through of old stuff. Tonight was my first ''rash'' purchase of ''stuff'' for a long time, only three items but expensive ones, and it could be argued I didn't need one of them.

I also got a goody bag (it was a SpaceNK evening) and I suddenly realised this could be the start of a slope! So, I want to rejoin for the month. During this month I'd like to give my cosmetics box a big clean out.

Also, Its been occuring to me that some of the stuff I consider ''valid'' might be best ''bished'' these days but I'd like feed back on this. e.g. is it ''ok'' for women in their thirties to wear green nailvanishes? I'm guessing sparkly stuff from clubbing years is best gifted to neices, I'm not likely to use it again, but I hang on to it out of fondness.

Also, part of not spending on unneeded stuff is because I'm not as good at routine these days. e.g. I forgot sun cream yesterday then spent a day gardening and going brown.

I'm hoping a month is all I need to get back in the swing of MSE toiletry usage!

bev97

Hi everyone

Count me in!

Kaz -thanks for the info on airport hotels and parking - am looking into the best option and pricing things up.

erm.....first in's of the month
L'occitane
Rose Jardin Delice Hand Cream Gel 75ml

Ultra Rich Body Cream Vineyard Rose 100 ml

Orange Honey Shea Butter Body Balm 30 ml

Ultra Rich Body Cream Orange Honey 100 ml

Summer Protection Hair Gel Mask & Conditioner 250 ml


Feel these were needed and I was generally quite restrained as I was deperate to multibuy in the sale as I also got an extra 10% off and free delivery.:D
Still had more UU's in June than IN's but as this order won't arrive until July I will count it as an IN for July.


Welcome back lostinrates - and well done on keeping your stash down!

EssexHebridean

Lostinrates you're right - you should! Can you remember (roughly) when you stopped posting and I'll add the detail! welcome back anyway! There are still a few folk lingering around from the early days!

lostinrates wrote: »

Also, Its been occuring to me that some of the stuff I consider ''valid'' might be best ''bished'' these days but I'd like feed back on this. e.g. is it ''ok'' for women in their thirties to wear green nailvanishes? I'm guessing sparkly stuff from clubbing years is best gifted to neices, I'm not likely to use it again, but I hang on to it out of fondness.

I flipping well hope so! Not to mention blue, gold, silver....etc etc. As for the sparkly stuff - use it up on toenails - t'will look fab!

seasideDreamer

I'm in again:) Not many UUs coming at the mo but then again I've nowhere near as much to use up:)

sarah*a

I'm IN

Thanks EH :T

Updated List
The number in red bold is the TOTAL of each item I have and the number in black bold are ones I am using:

Face Cream Day 1 / 1
Face Cream Night 1 / 1
Eye Cream 3 / 1
Face Serum 2 / 2
Shampoo 1 / 1
Conditioner 2 / 1
Hair Treatment 1/ 1
Dry Shampoo/Hair Refresher 1 / 1
Showergel/Body Wash 6 / 1
Cleanser 6 / 2
Toner 2/ 1
Toner Tabs 4 / 1
Lipbalm 6 / 3
Handcream 6 / 3
Footcream 1 / 1
Cooling Foot Spray/Gel 1 / 1
Face Wipes 6 / 1
Hand Scrub 1 / 1
Pkts Wave Pads 1 / 1
Face Scrub 1 / 1
Body Scrub 0 / 0
Body Butter 1 /1
Body Lotion/Moisturising Mist 2 / 1
Face Masks 1 / 1
Body Spray 3 / 1
Spray/Roll-on Deo 3 / 1
Toothpaste 2 / 1
Perfume 2 /1

Total Items 63 / 33

My goal is to get everything down to 2 / 1 or less

Three items up on my May totals - which considering I've had a Birthday (and got that HUGE S&G box and lots of BS stuff) and splashed out with Lotto winnings today isn't tooo bad (Honest )

I've a few bits coming mid-month from Avon - and will need Body Butter - but am going to try really hard to keep it at that this month. Fingers crossed :rotfl:

I'm all packed and ready to go off to my Brother's tomorrow for the weekend - to see my gorgeous nephew and to shamelessly poke my SIL's tummy to feel the baby kick

Behave yourselves while I'm gone - stay away from all the 'payday' offers and lets see if we can make the naughty step cobweb covered through lack of use this month :cool:

lostinrates

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Lostinrates you're right - you should! Can you remember (roughly) when you stopped posting and I'll add the detail! welcome back anyway! There are still a few folk lingering around from the early days!



I flipping well hope so! Not to mention blue, gold, silver....etc etc. As for the sparkly stuff - use it up on toenails - t'will look fab!

I think about a year ago, just before we moved house! I moved with only one box of ''bathroom'' junk. DH had three. :rotfl: (ok, mine was a big box though


I used to where nail varnish a lot as a kid. I guess some of my varnishes are almost 20 years old :eek: I ddon't feel much older than that! I'm going to go through them for separated and dried up ones and have a bishing session, and then paint my toenails a fabulous colour next week....they are gold tonight, which seems more ''adult'' than green/purple/sparkly.:D:o