No buying unnecessary toiletries March 2014

sjprmc01

Ok, the 3 x nail polishes plus my lush haul:

The comforter
Karma bubble bar
Melting marshmallow moment
Brightside bubble bar
Rose bubble bar

= 8 INS for March already, and no outs

emsjune78

Hi All,

I'm in again for March, thank you for starting us off Babafette. Frugral Feb didn't turn out too badly - grand total of 5 IN and 18 UU/TA/GA - I've done much worse!! I've had 1 UU in March so far and 3 IN, UU is Boots Extracts Coconut Body Wash - lathered up nicely but the fragrance was a little too subtle really, I could hardly smell it and its not an old product. IN were L'Oreal Everpure Colour Care and Moisture Shampoo x 2 and a matching Conditioner (3 for 2 and a planned replacement IN). Shouldn't need much else this month, only hairspray that I can think of at the moment.

I've just used Eyelure Dybrow (see what they did there...) to tint my own brows and I've got to say I'm really impressed how quick and easy it was - my brows are already dark I just need a bit of extra definition - was pretty MSE as local salon charges about £7/8 for a brow tint whereas this was £7.50 and the packet says it does upto 12 applications :money:

pleasedelete

i thought that I would write about my experience. I read this thread to keep me on track and to stop me returning to the dark old days.

In December 2012 we had 3 new bathrooms fitted. Lovely- but as the cupboards were emptied the true extent of my toiletry buying became very obvious. Added to that those in cupboards, cellar, bottom of the wardrobes.

I am not a big toiletry or make up fan. I don't go mad over the latest lipstick or must have hair oil. But I did have a major shopping issue and more importantly not being able to miss a bargain- because well it was cheap and so a bargain and so why not?

To set it in context I had 48 unused original source shower gels (the rationale- my teenagers use them and with a double bonus multi points offer coupon at Boots they were only 60p each). Of course i now see that these so called bargains actually come along all of the time.

Enough was enough. I had to take action. I had dozens of samples, loads of clinique, Lancome, elemis- all bought at bargain prices with free gifts etc etc

I took all of the cheap stuff to a car boot. I sold them at £1 each- some I made a profit on- some a loss but they had all been cheap at the time. I think that was about £200. I took the few unsold ones to the homeless shelter with loads of samples ( I mean I need to bring back all of the cheap shampoo from dozens of hotels dont I- its free- so why not? Did it make my hair great- hmmmm)

I sold all of the premium stuff on ebay. I think it was about £800 in total. With the various free gifts this about broke even I think.

I kept all of the open items and I spare of basics like shower gel. The only thing I kept multiples of was deodorant (I am unfussy about deodorant). Saying that a year later I still have 6 unused- so that was a mistake.

I then set about using up all of the part items. It took almost a year. I dont think I bought anything except foundation and cotton wool.

Last week I had the greatest thrill. I ran out of shampoo. Before I would have gone through my stash looking for something to fit the bill (all bought because they were a bargain). I went to Boots and I bought a shampoo- 1 only- not 5 - not the most reduced/biggest bargain. I chose a shampoo that was right for my hair this week. It was an amazing sense of relief.

I own 1 bottle of shampoo. I own 1 premium bath gel and 1 cheap bath foam. When they run out I will go and buy another one (just 1 not 10). It is very liberating.

I know this thread is about not buying. If I had just not bought it would have been 5 years maybe with the stuff hanging about and possibly going off. I had to get rid and I really don't regret a single item.

mcculloch29

What a fantastic post, pleasedelete. Your issue being with shopping, I'm glad you were able to sort it so practically. I don't have a massive stash so won't be doing the same.
My issue was allied to my signature; I had beautiful things that I wasn't using. I've used them up now and really enjoyed them.
This year hopefully I will manage to avoid the Avon rep and work through my stash of nice but relatively ordinary stuff and have a bathroom with half a dozen items in it.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I know others here do sell on eBay, premium stuff does seem to go well on the whole.

wondercollie

pleasedelete, you are what I am aiming to be when I get a grip on things.


I've almost got the shower gel under control. I tend to like citrus scents because they will get used by the men in my house.


GWP promotions are a huge thing for me. But I've learnt a few things along the way. The makeup/perfume costs the same BUT different department stores have different gwps. So now, I hold off for Holts events because their bag has the more expensive products in it, ifyknwim.


I may never, ever have to buy mascara or makeup remover again. But my sons gfs love me. When they look down, they get a new mascara and eyemakeup remover.


We are pretty non-judgmental and not brand specific here. Even those of us who loathe Lush are welcome here.


Oh, and roll on deo is the work of the devil as far as I'm concerned. I like the solid sticks. I had to buy a deo when we were in Spain last month and wound up with a roll on. Life is too short to stand around flapping your arms to get the pits dry! I confess, I left it behind.

SmarterNotHarder

Wow I really am late to the party!! I'd like to join in again this month

Welcome to the newbies, and thanks to Babafette for starting us off

I have 2 UUs to report:

Toni & Guy Daily Style conditioner 250ml WNBA this was nothing special and was a stash relic. Probably would have been a bit more special had I used it earlier and it hadn't fallen prey to the pink rose candle effect.

Have replaced it with a TBS rainforest mini conditioner to see me through the last of the matching shampoo before moving onto my Aussie "set".

Also a Wilkinson sword disposable razor - WBA, I use a refillable one at home but the disposables get taken with me if I stay anywhere overnight. Mainly so it's not as big a deal if I forget it anywhere

I also have 2 more OUTs. The Botanics eye roll on I got in a really good deal last month? Having read the reviews which weigh heavily against using if you have sensitive skin, I decided that good deal or not, was not worth risking and I took them back with the reciept. Thats both of them out and £6.00 back. As its not really a UU/GA/TA, I'm just going to deduct them off my Ins and total spend. Oh and this is a breakthrough for me. Usually there is a devil on my shoulder telling me it was a bargain therefore I must struggle through using it. This is a real sense of relief! :A

PS Pleasedelete That really is an inspirational story!

noelphobic

mcculloch29 wrote: »

2. Avon FootWorks Beautiful XXL Glycerine and Cocoa Butter Foot Cream.
WIBA? Don't think so. It rubbed in fine when I used it solely

mcculloch29 wrote: »

no pun intended?

asset2004

Pleasedelete that really is some inspirational story! you are what I am aiming to be when I get a grip on things.
I'm afraid though it's not just toiletries, it's clothes and handbags, shoes and sport accessories. I am in despair, trying to shift them through preloved and gumtree.
Car boots are a waste of time, people look and want things for tuppence :mad:
I have one UU - hair dye. Supposed to be light copper brown, looks like dark brown :eek:
Dyed my hair before Christmas, light golden brown and it turned out almost black :eek: but then frustratingly washed out, even though it was permnant :mad:

kadison

noelphobic wrote: »

I always try to resist the urge to do that. I do try to give some of these sets as presents. However, I don't do it with the really large sets that I got in Boots 75% off sales usually. I don't want people to think I have been ridiculously generous and then feel the need to return the favour - especially if they buy me toiletries for my birthday in return!

However, at Xmas I gave a lovely hanging toiletry bag that I'd bought in Boots when it was reduced to a ridiculously cheap price. It didn't come with any products so I took a couple of Ted Baker items out of one of the sets and made the present up with that.

I know that once I open the boxes I will end up using the items myself or forgetting whether they've been used and I therefore won't be able to gift them.

I should clarify, these are the gift sets I bought for me and was always going to keep for myself, I have other ones that will maybe be gifts and I haven't opened those :money:

Sophie165 wrote: »

I need some advice. I have quite a few Nails Inc products. I find that they chip so easily. I asked the lady at the stand for advice and she said because I wasn't using the nails inc topcoat/base coat that is why they chip so easily. So I bought that but still have problems. I've been wearing nails inc for 24 hours and it has started to chip along the top of my nails. However, when I wore Barry m last weekend, this last 3 days before chipping! Does anyone else have this problem with nails inc? I feel that Barry M is much better and cheaper too!

I love Nails Inc, I have almost exclusively their products for my nails, I find using base coat, two coats of colour and top coat keeps the colour more or less perfect for at least a couple of days.

KT2802

Amazing story please delete and well done :money: I too am aiming to do this, although by using stuff up that I have as I don't really have loads of toiletries, not anymore anyway thanks to this thread! I do have loads of make up though and that is a newer problem.

Time to declare my latest INS, still no more UU, things are very slow but I do have 4 splutterers so hopefully won't be long.

49-51 - 3 mini products that I received as a gift

52 - Primark Blackboard nail art set - I really wanted the Ciate version of this which was originally about £17 :eek: I bought this one instead as it was reduced to £2, however I have since seen that the Ciate one is now reduced to £7. Bit annoyed but not sure I would want to spend £7 on this sort of thing as it will probably just be a bit of a novelty. More than 1 item is in this but am just counting as 1 in.

53 - Model co Lip Enchancer lip liner - free with Glamour mag, first mag I have bought in months. Mainly bought for this and the 25% off H&M voucher

54 - Rimmel Stay Matte Primer - current primer is spluttering and wanted to try this

55 - Barry M Silk nail paint in pearl
56 - Seventeen Gel colour polish in long island - free on 3 for 2

57 - Botanics Hydrating Night cream all bright 50ml - bought with points, I don't have any night creams at all. Thanks to the person who recommended this. Will let you know how I get on!

58 - Batiste Cherry Dry Shampoo 200ml - current one is spluttering

The only things I need to buy this month now are conditioner (current is spluttering and none stashed) and lip balm (need a more intense one).