No buying unnecessary toiletries May 2019

pinkfluffybabe
pinkfluffybabe Posts: 2,989 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
edited 30 April 2019 at 10:24PM in Health & beauty MoneySaving
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 sstevo19 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 some of us even years!!) and are making great progress in reducing our stashes and unnecessary/excessive spending.

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

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

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, email newsletter, 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 April 2019 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! Do de-lurk if you are lurking, this is one of the friendliest threads on MSE.

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
7. Fiasco55 - graduated with honours May 2017


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
April 2015
May 2015
June 2015
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2016
February 2016
March 2016
April 2016
May 2016
June 2016
July 2016
August 2016
September 2016
October 2016
November 2016
December 2016
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
April 2017
May 2017
June 2017
July 2017
August 2017
September 2017
October 2017
November 2017
December 2017
January 2018
February 2018
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018
June 2018
July 2018
August 2018
September 2018
October 2018
November 2018
December 2018
January 2019
February 2019
March 2019
[URL="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75762092#Comment_75762092[/URL]
Not buying unnecessary toiletries 2024 26/53 UU, 25 IN
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Comments

  • pinkfluffybabe
    pinkfluffybabe Posts: 2,989 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
    edited 29 May 2019 at 8:45PM
    I'm in again for May :D Am away on holiday for two weeks so hope that will put a good dent in the stash.

    PP list:

    [STRIKE]L'occitane shea butter shower gel[/STRIKE]
    [STRIKE]L'occitane lavender shower gel[/STRIKE]
    [STRIKE]Emma Hardie body lotion[/STRIKE]
    L'occitane almond body oil
    [STRIKE]Astral cream[/STRIKE]
    Aveda cherry and almond shampoo
    Aveda cherry and almond conditioner
    Emma Hardie balm cleanser
    [STRIKE]Dr Haushka rose day cream light[/STRIKE]
    Algenist gentle rejuvenate cleanser
    Trilogy eye cream
    Elemental Herbology night cream
    Nuxe lip balm
    Burts Bees vanilla lip balm
    Not buying unnecessary toiletries 2024 26/53 UU, 25 IN
  • First used up- Lidl cien wild rose shampoo. This range is amazing. I love their CALENDULA lip balm. The range is so inexpensive but excellent as the shampoo is SLS free and softened my hair. Next time I see it I will get more two bottles.
  • dolly84
    dolly84 Posts: 5,851 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks for the new thread pinkfluffybabe. I'm in. My lists are as follows:

    May PP List


    Philosophy Pure Grace Shower Gel 500ml - b/f from April
    Philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion 500ml - b/f from April
    Liz Earle Skin Repair 50ml - b/f from April
    Charles Worthington Diamond Shine Treatment - b/f from April
    Dermol Lotion 500ml - b/f from April
    Philosophy Cinammon Buns Shower Ge 500ml
    Lee Stafford Grow Longer (something like that) Shampoo 250ml




    My '7 by Summer' list


    1. No17 Brow Pencil
    2. Givenchy mini mascara
    3. Rimmel Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Keep Mauvin
    4. The Balm Down Boy blush - would like to hit pan
    5. Smashbox Full Exposure mascara - full size
    6. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation
    7. Benefit Champagne Pink Eyeshadow single from Big Beautiful Eyes Palette.

    Will not need to buy in 2019

    Shower gel - one can of Rituals foaming shower gel bought January, and one that came with my Liz Earle order.
    Body moisturiser - set of 3 Sanctuary Spa Body Butters bought March from the CS
    Hair conditioner/hair masks - one Bumble & Bumble styling cream bought January
    Foot cream
    Nail polish - 2 BN Ciate polishes bought for £1 each from a CS
    Hair serum/oil
    Makeup (except maybe foundation) - eye primer bought March.
    Perfume
    Bubble Bath

    May need to buy in 2019

    Shampoo - we have lots but everyone is using the same ones now
    Cleanser - will need to buy in Spring - already purchased Liz Earle
    Eye cream - only have the one which is in use
    Day cream - already bought Liz Earle
    Curl cream - have one in use and one backup
    Deodorant - will be good for quite a while
    Hand cream - 2 from Avon in January.
    Debt Free and now a saver, conscious consumer, low waste lifestyler


    Fashion on the Ration 28/66
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,513 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    Thanks for the thread pinkflufybabe

    My PP list month is:

    Soltan Protect & Moisturise Active Suncare Stick SPF30 5g
    Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo 400ml
    Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid 10% Serum 30ml
    La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume 40ml
    Melano CC Concentrate Sheet Mask (20 pack)


    Not many this month but I'm going to focus on these items in particular, whilst also trying to consistently use any open products I have.
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,513 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    I've been out shopping today so I have a few INs today:

    Lush 9 to 5 Cleanser 95g
    Lush Tea Totaler Skin Cleanser 15g
    Lush Black Rose Bath Bomb
    Lush Goddess Bath Bomb
    Child’s Farm SPF50+ Sun Cream 50ml
    Garnier Eye Sheet Mask Hyaluronic Acid and Orange Juice
    The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey Body Lotion 250ml
    The Body Shop Mango Body Yogurt 200ml


    And one UU from this morning:

    Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream 15ml WNBA. This is lovely but I could only use it on my neck as it has Dimethicone in it which breaks me out. Lovely though.
  • getmyacttogether2016
    getmyacttogether2016 Posts: 276 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic
    edited 2 May 2019 at 8:40AM
    Evening all

    Would like to join in for this month please.

    Recently had a bit of a wake up call so need to rid myself of some things either by using, throwing or giving away.

    My PP for May

    Elemis quiet mind temple balm 15ml
    Liz Earle eyebright lotion 150ml
    Elemis pro-collagen cleansing balm 50g
    Daisy eau so fresh body lotion 75ml
    Daisy edt 50ml
    Feet detox patches x15 (lots of these left)
    Elemis soothing apricot toner 200ml

    Samples
    Kiehls daily reviving concentrate 4ml
    Elemis eye/lip make up remover 25ml
    Elemis exotic cream moisturising mask 15ml
    Marc Jacoks Decadance edp 5ml
    Decleor satin softening dry oil 5ml

    GMAT
    Lost my way for far too long but now back on board to lead a more simplistic lifestyle

    Mar PP - UU 24 (£279.46), TA 2 (£ 13.99) IN 12 (£89.81)
    Apr PP - UU 27 (£324.94), TA 3 (£38.50) IN 53 (£216.65), GA 6 (£40.97)
    May PP - UU 0 (0.00), TA 0 (0.00), IN 0 (0.00), GA 0 (0.00)
  • ponypal
    ponypal Posts: 417 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    May PP List:
    Lush Eau Roma Water
    Urban decay Naked Skin foundation
    Want to paint my fingernails 3 times and toenails once and wear eyeshadow once this month with what I have

    Today:
    IN: Original Source Banana shower milk - a whim in B&M as I am a bit fed up of the soaps I have been using for months so this will break that up a bit
    UU: Lush Eau Roma Water - I have kept the spray bottle and may try and make some DIY toner... watch this space.
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,513 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    One UU from last night:

    Garnier Eye Sheet Mask Hyaluronic Acid and Orange Juice WDBA. This was lovely. Really helped cool my eye area like it promised and my under eye area felt hydrated afterwards.
  • VALM
    VALM Posts: 5,943 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm back too. Thanks for new thread ssteveo.


    Items cCarried over:-

    Elemis Sea Lavender and Samphire Shower milk
    OPI Original Nail Envy

    The Body Shop Chamomile Cleansing Butter
    ABC Tea Tree body lotion


    Added:-
    Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser
    Lacura Q10 night cream
    Lacura Q10 night serum
    Primark Mandarin & Basil perfume
    Bath and Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel hand cream
    Philosophy Purity cleanser (deluxe sample)


    Finish 7 by Summer:-


    Benefit Lemon Aid
    Urban Decay Darkhorse
    NARS Outlaw blush
    NARS Gilda blush
    [STRIKE]MAC Lost Invite mini lipgloss[/STRIKE]
    OPI Tickle my Francey
    Philosophy Pure Grace


    I did order a new Elemis cleanser last night from John Lewis as I was buying a gift for someone and wanted to spend enough to qualify for free click and collect. Used a gift card for the majority of the order.
    Back for the No Buying Toiletries challenge. I pledge to only buy when I run out of a product that is not already in my stash no matter what wonderful emails land in in my Inbox or threads I read on MSE re: glitches!

    SPC Member 046
    £2. Challenge member 55
  • sstevo19
    sstevo19 Posts: 1,513 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    One IN tonight:

    La Roche Posay Hydreane Legere Moisturiser 40ml

    My HG moisturiser, always need a back up.
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