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No buying until I’ve used up ALL my stashes
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I am a sucker for skin products and make-up, esp when on offer!
As a result I have a massive stash of various skin products guaranteeing me eternal youth, countless lipsticks (over 60 of which are part used), 10 unopened bottles of foundation, plenty of powders, blushes, mascaras etc. I will use it all up eventually but could not have predicted in my 20s that I would be wearing so much less in my forties (and now 50s!). As an interim measure it would be prudent to delete the Boots app from my devicesNo man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.5 -
Those should last you a month or two, @Rosa_Damascena!
All else being equal - which it never is - perhaps have a savings account and every time you resist buying something you've not run out of, put the cash in the account?I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/226 -
I used to have a virtual Chanel handbag account.To reduce consumption I used to ask myself - would I rather have this eg coat or would the cash be better stashed away for a Chanel bag. I had a virtual 248 stashed away when I realized that I would rather have the cash.it did cut clothes buying for a bit…….7
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@Rosa_Damascena I used to have quite a few lipsticks, too, and then as I got older, I wasn't too keen on the colours anymore. I chucked all the half-used ends into a small jam pot (as you get for christmas deals or in hotels), heated the pot au bain marie and stirred well. The new colour has lasted me quite a few years now and suits me.
Are you wombling, too, in '22? € 58,96 = £ 52.09Wombling in Restrictive Times (2021) € 2.138,82 = £ 1,813.15Wombabeluba 2020! € 453,22 = £ 403.842019's wi-wa-wombles € 2.244,20 = £ 1,909.46Wombling to wealth 2018 € 972,97 = £ 879.54Still a womble 2017 #25 € 7.116,68 = £ 6,309.50Wombling Free 2016 #2 € 3.484,31 = £ 3,104.598 -
Remember that women's shelters might take partially used products (both beauty products and cleaning products). They do here.5
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Good Morning chums , being probably on the .... older side of the spectrum I seem to accumulate goodness knows how many pairs of slippers. Yet another pair arrived at Christmas. They are lovely but I seem to have around 9 pairs now and I will never wear them all out.
My stashes are definitely
slippers
Cleaning products (cupboards under the sink seem to have every product on the market)
Wool (but I do knit for charity so it does get used)
Books ( I get through a good few, but I have lots passed on to me, and my eldest DD keeps sending me texts about different authors she recommends, plus I'm a sucker for the library as well. )
Its finding the time to read them all
I am going through my stash today to see what I can possibly take to the CS, Trouble is I look at the blurb, and think 'Oh I've got to read that one before it goes'Plus I belong to a book club so there is the monthly one from there to read
and I had some as Christmas presents . Also the ones I couldn't possible part with as they are favourites.
My tinned stash I am at least working though this month and staying away from shops as much as possible
Definitely stationary and books that I have been given that I think 'Oh I can't throw that away it will come in useful'. Then put it back in the drawer or cupboard until the next time I try to declutter.
Lots of stuff given as presents that I know I'll never use ,very kind of folk but Body lotion is something and hand cream which because of very sensitive skin I have to be careful what I use. I have so much shampoo and conditioner I could open a hairdressersPerfume id do use as my eldest DD buys something uses it a few times then says oh you can have this Mum I've bought a new one .So I do smell quite amazing at times
the amount of body spray she's changed her mind about and gives to me I and up using it as air freshener spray, so I suppose it does save a bit . But i often prefer just to open the windows for a bit of fresh air even for a short time in the winter.
But basically I think I shall just have to be sterner with myself I am hoping to move this year and a lot of it will have to go.One of my friends is lovely, and at Christmas will buy edible goodies rather than smellies as presents which is great, as I often get something like a nice unusual jar of mayo or jam
I had a lovely jar of mango chutney this year along with some chilli oil as she knows I like spicy stuff. Far more interesting than body lotion that will probably end up in the CS as its a boxed up gift. So if you have an older relative try to see what they would actually like and use rather than the gift set that has always got body lotion in it I have more hand cream than I'll ever use as well
One of my grandsons bless him bought me some fiery ginger biscuits from Borders which are delicious, along with a little hot water bottle with a lovely William Morris cover, and it fills with about a litre of hot water and is great for keeping my back or feet warm when I'm sitting knitting, he's a thoughtful chap and said 'I got you something I knew you would use Nan' and I use the bottle most days even sitting watching tv. The biscuits are half gone, but they are jolly nice ones so an afternoon treat.
JackieO xx7 -
Hi All
I'd love to join you if I may?
I have stashes of stashes! Toiletries, clothes, shoes, bags, books, food, you name it, I've got it!!
I am trying to make changes, I have bought a kindle, after years of saying I prefer reading a 'real' book, and have to say I am partially converted, especially for taking on holiday or reading at night when DH is fast asleep, so I need to tackle my book mountain.
I need to have another sort of my wardrobe, there are items that I never wear and will never wear, I feel that anything 'high maintenance' needs to go, I hate ironing and some fabrics crease like mad, so they are going! To stop me buying more I have cancelled my Next subscription as it was far too easy to order items with free delivery and putting the cost on to my account, especially when the sale was on! I have been listing items on V!nted and sold quite a lot, shoes and bags have also been culled and listed but there is more to be done.
Toiletries and make-up, I have an Ike@ unit full of these, the items in use are at the top and my stash below, I am a sucker for a bargain, even though I know I have ample at home! I need to prioritise the older items and use them up, I have heaps of body and hand lotions, need to make a concerted effort with those. There are several lip balms, mascaras etc all partially used, I need to use one of each until it's done and then on to the next. I do have a tin and every time I use up an item I pop £1 in the tin, either to use for treats, trips etc or to eventually replace an item I don't have stashed!
Food, we have 3 freezers and bulging cupboards, I think this comes from years of struggling and having 3 children to feed, I've always been a sucker for Yellow stickers and BOGOFs, there is only the 2 of us most of the time now so we really don't need this amount and it would be good to empty one freezer and turn it off.
One thing I don't have a stash of is cleaning products, don't get me wrong this used to be a huge issue but I now get toilet rolls delivered every 3 months, so I don't even think about buying those and other items are under control, just buying when we are getting low.
So 2024 is a year of using up, donating and discarding and hopefully saving some money in the process.
MvTMMMortgage (Nov 20- NOV 39) originally £130,999 (Interest only) NOW £102,732 (approx 78% equity)
Over payments 2020 £750/£750 (Mortgage payments only start Dec 2020)
Over payments 2021 £9,000 /£9,000 Over payments 2022 £7,629/£9,000 (£1,371 short of target)
Over payments 2023 £2,620/£9,000 (£6,380 short of target) Over payments 2024 £5,406/£11,000
Over payments 2025 £2,862/£5,600 (fix rate exp Dec 2025)
Loan £12419
Total Savings £4376
Premium Bonds - £963
YBS Xmas Regular Saver - £12008 -
I have been through my underwear drawer after re-reading Marie Kondo.
I have enough for the rest of my life, I kid you not!No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.10 -
Rosa_Damascena said:I have been through my underwear drawer after re-reading Marie Kondo.
I have enough for the rest of my life, I kid you not!
The key seems to be that when there are lots of items, no individual item gets a lot of wear so they seem to last forever. A possible solution might be to give yourself enough for say a couple of weeks and put the rest out of reach for a while. The ones you use will get worn more and when they get beyond use, you can 'shop at home' for 'new' ones - so you still get something of the feeling of buying new!
I've followed this thread for a wile but I can't remember if I posted so I might have a look. @London_1 's mention of slippers enough to last a lifetime also resonated with me. Off hand, I have too much in the way of clothes, yarn, books, baking supplies, stationery, seeds, unfinished projects, weight to loose, toiletries, garden centre vouchers and houseplants. The toiletries have been being whittled down for a couple of years and I've politely asked gift givers not to give toiletries or ground coffee as I can't use all I have!I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/228 -
jackieblack said:Welcome, Caramac (I used to love Caramac bars as a teenager 😁)
I’m the same, I bought this stuff because I liked it and wanted to use it - I plan to declutter it by using it for the purpose it was purchased for!3
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