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No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries May 2015
dolly84
Posts: 5,851 Forumite
Here we go again for another month! As usual this initial post has been shamelessly copied from the many previous months. A big thank you to Deleted_User for starting us off last month.
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 support and encouragement 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)! Will this be the month when the "usual suspects" rein it in a bit? Let's see..... (but I doubt it!)
Remember - those products do nothing for you while they are stashed in drawers, boxes and cupboards!
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 years!!) 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 signature as a reminder?
We have a "Swaps Group" on Facebook when you can swap good condition items with other like-minded addicts. PM your email address to Trudij, Tokkiandoliver or luvlycake and they can add you to the group.
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 extravagantly to finish it off is sometimes too much to bear!).
Brand new products (or opened perfume) sell well on eBay.
Unsuitable products can be repurposed and 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 or a local women's refuge as mentioned earlier
It helps to avoid the places where temptation lurks for you; be it QVC, Boots, Body Shop, 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 will always be another deal! Honest!
Good luck all for March and indeed the coming months, and remember to keep your stash lists updated, keep popping in for inspiration and support and to report your UU's and IN's, especially any sales bargains - we want a nosy!
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 don't be scared !!) oh - and did we mention that are nosy??!!
Useful abbreviations and jargon!
WBA - Will 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!
NBI - A non-bought item such as a present, gift with purchase or free sample
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 inspired by Erma Bombeck who said: 'If I had my life to live over again I would have burned the pink candle sculpted 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)
GA - for an out that was given away to charity, as a present, or "just because" rather than binned or UU
TA - for an out that was thrown away due to going off (generally as it has been lurking at the back of a stash since time immemorial) or for any other reason such as a broken container or spillage
PP - Project Pan: a list of specific items targeted to be used up
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, 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
2. Bronnie - graduated with honours March 2011
3. lostinrates - graduated with honours around June 2010
4. Ruby_Eskimo - graduated with honours June 2012
5. Seaside dreamer - graduated with honours October 2012
6. InaPickle - graduated with honours September 2014
Previous threads
In case you need to refer back to a previous stash list or product review, here are links to past challenge threads. Click on the date to take you straight to it:
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
March 2015
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 support and encouragement 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)! Will this be the month when the "usual suspects" rein it in a bit? Let's see..... (but I doubt it!)
Remember - those products do nothing for you while they are stashed in drawers, boxes and cupboards!
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 years!!) 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 signature as a reminder?
We have a "Swaps Group" on Facebook when you can swap good condition items with other like-minded addicts. PM your email address to Trudij, Tokkiandoliver or luvlycake and they can add you to the group.
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 extravagantly to finish it off is sometimes too much to bear!).
Brand new products (or opened perfume) sell well on eBay.
Unsuitable products can be repurposed and 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 or a local women's refuge as mentioned earlier
It helps to avoid the places where temptation lurks for you; be it QVC, Boots, Body Shop, 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 will always be another deal! Honest!
Good luck all for March and indeed the coming months, and remember to keep your stash lists updated, keep popping in for inspiration and support and to report your UU's and IN's, especially any sales bargains - we want a nosy!
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 don't be scared !!) oh - and did we mention that are nosy??!!
Useful abbreviations and jargon!
WBA - Will 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!
NBI - A non-bought item such as a present, gift with purchase or free sample
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 inspired by Erma Bombeck who said: 'If I had my life to live over again I would have burned the pink candle sculpted 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)
GA - for an out that was given away to charity, as a present, or "just because" rather than binned or UU
TA - for an out that was thrown away due to going off (generally as it has been lurking at the back of a stash since time immemorial) or for any other reason such as a broken container or spillage
PP - Project Pan: a list of specific items targeted to be used up
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, 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
2. Bronnie - graduated with honours March 2011
3. lostinrates - graduated with honours around June 2010
4. Ruby_Eskimo - graduated with honours June 2012
5. Seaside dreamer - graduated with honours October 2012
6. InaPickle - graduated with honours September 2014
Previous threads
In case you need to refer back to a previous stash list or product review, here are links to past challenge threads. Click on the date to take you straight to it:
January 2012
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
March 2015
Debt Free and now a saver, conscious consumer, low waste lifestyler
Fashion on the Ration 28/66
Fashion on the Ration 28/66
0
Comments
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Thanks dolly - I'm in!
Hoping to reduce my stash by 15 in May and have no INs.MFW 2017 #123 2018: £1,852.64/£39,200 (4.7%)0 -
I have a PP to UU my Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser. Couldn't finish last month!
Also have couple of shower gels I want to go through, 2 half-used bottles.
Aaaaanndd a PRCP Smashbox Photo Finish Make up Base. Gonna UU this rather than keeping to see it is never used.ally.0 -
Thanks for starting us off dolly84! I am of course back for another month!0
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Thanks for starting us off again, Dolly
I'm in again and hope to be more active on the thread. I'm collecting things up to do a PP this month
0 -
Thanks Dolly, I'm in. Need to buy deodrant, not sure about anything else thoughDebt free and busy treating myself:)
No more toiletries/make up until I've used what I've got stashed since Jan 2011, graduated October 2012. Restocked Dec 13..damn those sales0 -
Thank you Dolly84, April seems to have passed so qucikly.
I will be away from home for 23/24 nights in May, so not posting a PP list. I need to pack basics that should be OK for sensitive skin and not take up space with anything that could potentially cause problems, also not taking mega sized shower/body/hair stuff that is currently in use.
Goodness only knows what clothes I need for a long trip to Scotland in May:eek: lots of layers I guess:(The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. (Abraham Lincoln)0 -
Goodness only knows what clothes I need for a long trip to Scotland in May:eek: lots of layers I guess:(
At least you're going in May and not August, otherwise you'd need layers AND midge repellant! (I'm Scottish so it's ok for me to poke fun at our native insects
)
I am back in this month, thankyou Deleted_User for April and to Dolly for kicking us off all over again
I'm working tomorrow morning but will scrape together a few products for a PP list in the 'noon. I need to call my car insurance first, seriously thinking about trading my motor in for a bus pass. Grrrr!0 -
At least you're going in May and not August, otherwise you'd need layers AND midge repellant! (I'm Scottish so it's ok for me to poke fun at our native insects)
that's one of the reasons we decided on May:DThe best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. (Abraham Lincoln)0 -
Okay, this months project pan:
Clinique cc cream
Benefit ooh la lift
No7 mini mascara
Nuxe rev de miel lip balm
A lip product - haven't decided which!
An eyeliner - maybe no7 or Charlotte Tilbury
Body shop oil cleanser
Lush Santa lip scrub
Elemis papaya enzyme mask
Ren clear calm 3 mask
Ren flash rinse
No7 eye cream
Body shop almond hand cream
Soap and glory body cream
Lush rub rub rub body scrub
Body shop sleep spray
This looks a lot but a few items are on their last legs!
Anyone else doing project pan this month?No buying unnecessary toiletries!
March: UU 46 April: UU 35 May: UU 36 June: UU 46 July: UU 20 August: UU 41
September: UU 160 -
Thank you for the new thread
hope everyone is well and managing to UU more than they add
would like to be below 250 by the end of the year
first full count list done for a while was at End of Feb 2014 had 358
now have 318 items
Perfumes - 20
Sexy Amber michael kors
vivienne Westwood boudoir
Thierry Mugler X2 8ml
Thierry Mugler Angel 25ml
Narciso Rodriguez for her X2
Hugo Boss Deep Red
Lacoste pour femme
Agent Provocateur X2
Tresor in love
Viktor&Rolf flowerbomb
Jimmy Choo
Doir poison
Nina Ricci RicciRicci
Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely
Jean Paul Gaultier classique
Lush Gorrilla perfume karma
lush solid perfume honey i shrunk the kids
face care - 23
aldi face mask x2
Anew clinical eye lift pro
Anew clinical defence deep recovery cream x2
ren rosa centifolia hot cloth cleanser
skin doctor instant face lift
skin doctor instant eye lift
skin therapy eye make up remover
simple toner
Aveeno cleansing lotion X2
Anew ultimate age repair cream cleanser
dead sea magik gentle cleansing face wash
balance me pure skin face wash
No7 skin spritz
dead sea magik mild exfoliant
dead sea magik super night cream
body ultimate skin care face & body polish
body ultimate skin care collagen therapy gel
Doctor organic Vitamin E oil pure complex
Lacura CA restorative day cream
Lacura Q10 renew multi intensive serum
Body butters - 9
S&G the righteous Butter 300ml
salonniere body butter
Elle Macpherson nourishing honey butter
sanctuary body butter X 4
sanctuary mande lular body souffle
champneys moisture miracle body butter
scrubs & polishes - 11
sanctuary mande lular body scrub
champneys citrus glow sugar scrub
spa O2 revitalising body scrub
sanctuary body scrub
bhs brazilian lime sugar cane and basil body scrub
Gok gorgeous body polish with almond oil
Busy but beautiful smooth body polish
B&h skin spa body polish
B&h sweet mandarin & grapefruit body polish
Salonniere body polish
no7 cleansing body polish
lotions and creams - 28
Royal jelly body lotion X 2
B&H lemon blossom and white rose hand & body lotion
cerise tube of GW body lotion
B&H french lavendar and cassis body balm
Doctor Organic vitamin E skin lotion
dead sea magik silky smooth body lotion
pure poison body lotion
secret obsession body lotion
jean paul gaultier classique body lotion
tresor in love body lotion
agent provocateur body glamour lotion
B&H white mulberry & marshmallow body lotion
B&H sweet mandarin & grapefruit hand &body lotion
O2spa hand and body lotion
sanctuary body lotion X2
Lush dream team hand and body lotion
cowshed grumpy cow body lotion
ArranAromatics shimmer gel
Hypnose senses body lotion
Lush potion body lotion
B&H silky hand and body lotion
Boots oriental floral mimosa body cream
nivea soft X2
boots royal jelly body lotion
Natural extracts body lotion with vitamin E
Oils - 10
bodyshop sensual bath and massage oil
bodyshop body oil spray mist
source of purity massage oil
sole to soul herbal oil
botanics essential massage oil
Avon SSS dry oil body spray X2
Agent provocateur body massage oil
Aromatherapy massage oil
Dr organic organic vitamin e pure oil complex
bath and shower - 29
Avon 1000ml mandarin & white jasmine bubble bath
Avon 1000ml White Lily bubble bath
Avon 1000ml romantic rose bubble bath
Avon 1000ml soft rose bubble bath
Avon 1000ml White tea & jasmine bubble bath
Avon 500ml mandarin & white jasmine bubble bath
Avon 500ml lavender bubble bath
Avon 500ml strawberry sorbet bubble bath
Avon 500ml soft pink bubble bath
Lush snow fairy
Sanctuary body wash X3
Royal jelly shower gel
S&G Sugar Crush Body Wash
salonniere body wash
salonniere bath creme
BS chocomania shower gel
BS pink grapefruit shower gel
fenjal luxury shower oil
Angel perfume shower gel X2
tresor in love shower gel
hypnose senses shower gel
bhs whitetea and gojiberry bath salts
bhs olive sage and cocoa butter bath and shower gel
B&H French lavender & cassis luxury shower creme
B&H French lavender &cassis calming body wash
Champ nets skin comforting bath soak powder
spa bath petals
feet - 11
Elle Macpherson pedicure in a jar
the rectory softening foot cream
the rectory smoothing foot polish
body blitz revive foot scrub
body blitz revive foot lotion
sanctuary soothing foot lotion
sanctraury intensive heel rescue balm
scholl revitalising gel
carnation anti blister stick
carnation cracked heel cream
SpaO2 foot lotion
Hands - 6
30ml tube of sanctuary hand cream
salonniere hand cream
champneys vitamiracle hand & nail cream X2
champneys skin loving rose hand and body lotion
Anew ultimate Hand cream
bath bombs - 13
7 bomb bath bomb
6 lush bath bombs
deodorant - 4
nivea double effects
impluse hint of musk
Charlie Red body spray
Sanctuary body spritz
hairspray and hair - 12
aldi hair spray
Vo5 heat protect spray
Lee Stafford dry shampoo
Carina hair culture deep cleaning shampoo 1lt
phytologue phytoctrus soin hair mask
paul mitchell colour protect locking spray
catwalk frisky scrunching gel
Argan oil conditioner
Natural extracts shampoo
Hair and body shampoo
Pantene expert age effects shampoo
Pantene expert age effects conditioner
talc 3
3 assorted
sachets and samples - 5
advance7 X2
avon clear skin blemish treatment
Maybellene superstay better skin tester
L'occitane gentle moisturiser
soap - 17
carex liquid soap x2
apple tango hand wash
imperial leather chamomile care liquid soap
sainsburys antibacterial hand wash X3
so fruity fresh mandarin hand wash 750ml
lush snow fairy bar
lush coalface bar
bomb cosmetic soap in a sponge
Bomb cosmetic lime sublime handmade soap
Chocolate mallow soap
Handmade soap
Teddy bear shaped novelty soap
Old Bear and friends novelty soap
shield bars soap
Massage bars - 3
assorted Lush ones
random items - 3
L'Oreal solar advanced sun protection
L'Oreal nutri summer tone up
Clarnis sun wrinkle control cream
Nail stuff - 26
polishes assorted X20
collection 2000 2in1 top coat
nail attraction top coat
nail attraction strenghtener
avon exfoliating expert manicure gel
boots holy grail nail and cuticle cream
cutex nail polish remover
skin and face - 84
nivea tinted day cream
maybellene dream matte mousse
rimmel stay matte make up
anovia BB cream
rimmel double act foundation
Elizabeth Arden let there be light compact
No7 intellegient colour foundation
estee lauder lucidity
benefit show off
benefit sun beam highlighter
ritz loose powder
olay loose glitter powder
candida beauty glow loose powder
candida beauty glow powder compact
blushers assorted X4
eye pencils assorted X14
lip pencils assorted X4
body shop choc lip butter
lip sticks assorted X 27
mascara assorted X3
eyeshadows assorted X17
i think that all of it.
i havent bothered counting the toothpaste & mouth wash products as they are essentialsSPC~12 ot 124
In a world that has decided that it's going to lose its mind, be more kind my friend, try to Be More Kind0
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