No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries January 2024

pinkfluffybabe

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.

Thanks to @ruby_eskimo for starting last month's thread.

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

Also, why not reward your efforts by banking and recycling your use ups/throw aways with Boots scan2recycle points at participating Boots stores: Recycle at Boots - Get rewarded for recycling - Boots 

Alternatively, simply drop them off at Maybelline Recycling points: www.maybelline.co.uk . Unfortunately, you won't be rewarded for the latter but the earth will thank you :-)

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 this month 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!

pinkfluffybabe

Back in for 2024, January PP list:

Faith in Nature Coconut Shower Gel
Ren Evercalm Cleanser Mini
Drunk Elephant Protini Refill
Fresh Grapefruit Shower Gel
Ren Evercalm Omega Barrier Oil
Aveda Nutriplenish Conditioner
Laura Mercier Handcream
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
Paula's Choice Gel to Cream Cleanser Mini
Chanel Coco Noir
Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C Moisturiser mini

Have sorted out my stash and am starting the year with 53 products.

I've taken out a couple of categories from 2023 where I don't have an issue with a stash, e.g., dry shampoo, hair treatments.

Good luck everyone!

FlacosFloozie

Can I join please? I used to do this challenge when I was clearing debt and it was really good at keeping me on track. I've definitely slipped off the waggon and have far too many products that aren't being used and are just clutter to clean.

Starting today with a use up on some champneys calm body balm. I think this was part of a gift set. It smells nice but the texture is a bit odd so don't think I'd buy again.

VALM

Thank you for the new thread @pinkfluffybabe and welcome @FlacosFloozie. Happy New Year everyone. My PP List:-

Carried forward 

Nip & FAB wipes

Skinsense Mask

Skin Doctors Hyaluronic acid mask

Maybelline Fit Me Primer

Lacura eye cream 

Pure toner

Added

Q&A Snow Algae cream

Q&A Grapefruit cleanser 

Marseille Patchouli soap

The Fragrance Society Handcream

Ive removed the makeup itens as it is going to take me longer to finish them than anticipated.  

pinkfluffybabe

FlacosFloozie said:

Can I join please? I used to do this challenge when I was clearing debt and it was really good at keeping me on track. I've definitely slipped off the waggon and have far too many products that aren't being used and are just clutter to clean.

Starting today with a use up on some champneys calm body balm. I think this was part of a gift set. It smells nice but the texture is a bit odd so don't think I'd buy again.

Welcome! Feel free to post any lists if it will help. 

ruby_eskimo

Morning all.  Thanks for the new thread @pinkfluffybabe

Totalled up everything that came in and out last year: 328 UU at £3006.18 (🤯) and purchased 80 at £843.19.  Was the most successful year ever since I started tracking.  Don't think this year will see as many UU's but hoping for less IN's!  All I know is I don't think I'll need to buy any shower gel until about November / December thanks to Christmas gifts 🤣

Already have a few UU's to report:

SKIN1004 Madagascan Centella SPF50: really like using this but my replacement order is lost in the post, so repurchased my favourite La Roche Posay Anthelios before Christmas instead.

Soap and Glory Vitamin C Sheet Mask: this was part of a Christmas present and was pretty OK.  WNBA as want to move away from sheet masks this year.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: this was ok, probably wouldn't buy again though as love the Nuxe Reve de Miel instead.

Still working on organising my PP list for the year so will be back with that later in the month.

Watty1

UU  Mella Hyaluronic Acid Serum   Wanted to love this as a great price but (1) the dropper broke off into the serum leaving a couple of bits of glass in there and it didn't sink in very well and moisturiser floated on top.  Ended up using on legs that were dry and itching and it was most helpful  WNBA tho'

UU Laura Mercia Eyeshadow in topaz. Not sure when this was used up but empty when I went to use.  Really want to replace but I have similar colours in others that are not as nice but need using up.

Love these threads as they do make me think before purchasing.

1 in as someone gave me a travel size Molton Brown Conditioner.   I really don't need another condition in the stash so might donate.

FlacosFloozie

Hmm, I think I'm at the stage of not even knowing what I have so making a list is still I bit beyond me

I've thrown out 2 maybelline cream eyeshadows. Really liked the colours but sadly they dried out too quickly. I've since got some of the Trinny ones which I'm using regularly and haven't dried out so far.

ruby_eskimo

Having a list can be scary @FlacosFloozie because you suddenly realise just how much stuff you have but it does help you start to think about what you need and don't. 

Another UU of Sensodyne Deep Repair Toothpaste - have replaced with another one from the stash.  

Think I might almost be out of moisturiser so might have to order a replacement today.  Oh and I finally hit pan on my UD Last Call eyeshadow this morning so hoping that I can actually have this finished at some point this year 🤣

VALM

I have thrown away a lipstick this morning - Bobbi Brown Sandwash Pink. Its gone off. I think ive come to the conclusion that i dont like BB that much. I have 2 x lipsticks, 1 blush, 1 liquud lipstick and 1 eyeshadow stick. The lipsticks are the oldest. I love the blush (Clementine - looks very bold in the pan but looks natural when worn).  The liquid lipstick is nice but so are others i own from other brands. I got the eyeshadow stick in a Glossybox this Christmas and havent tried it enough to give an opinion.

ruby_eskimo

I've never been a big fan of Bobbi Brown lip products @VALM but their eyeshadows are amazing formulas and last a very very long time.

Have finally come up with my PP list for January:

Rolled Over UD Last Call e/s

Bobbi Brown Longwear Concealer

TBS Mango Hand Cream

Chanel Mademoiselle lipstick New In UD Grifter e/s Boots Foot Cream 1 Perfume sample 1 glamglow mask Garnier Bodyfood Erborian red correct CC Cream