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No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries October 2015

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dolly84
dolly84 Posts: 5,851 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
edited 30 September 2015 at 9:06AM in Health & beauty MoneySaving
And 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 Babafette 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, seasideDreamer 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
April 2015
May 2015
June 2015
July 2015
August 2015
September 2015



Debt Free and now a saver, conscious consumer, low waste lifestyler


Fashion on the Ration 28/66
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Comments

  • maddiemay
    maddiemay Posts: 5,093 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    dolly84 -thank you for the new thread, I wish that the year was not passing so quickly though. Need to do a PP list, I seem to have so many things open in all categories (the joy of super sensitive skin:()
    The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. (Abraham Lincoln)
  • rdone
    rdone Posts: 570 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks Dolly, I know this is a very adult thing to say but how has October happened already?!

    On a more positive note I should have a good few UUs to report within this month, there's many splutterings on my dressing table.
    My debt free diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6348513/large-renovation-tiny-budget-lets-go/p1?new=1

    Debt: £14,896.33 @ 21/04/2020.
    Down to: £4,982.12 @ 08/06/2022
    Today: £9,799.52
  • rdone
    rdone Posts: 570 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ooo also, Mac have started testing on animals again. I found out this morning, I do not understand why these days this would be done!?
    My debt free diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6348513/large-renovation-tiny-budget-lets-go/p1?new=1

    Debt: £14,896.33 @ 21/04/2020.
    Down to: £4,982.12 @ 08/06/2022
    Today: £9,799.52
  • asajj
    asajj Posts: 5,125 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    edited 1 October 2015 at 11:42AM
    rdone wrote: »
    Ooo also, Mac have started testing on animals again. I found out this morning, I do not understand why these days this would be done!?

    I thought they never stopped doing that!

    Thanks for the new thread Dolly!

    My short PP List for the month:

    1.No 7 Protect&Perfect Day Cream
    2.The Body Shop Wild Cherry Shower Gel
    3.The Body Shop Wild Cherry Body Butter
    4.Neutrogena Blackhead Scrub
    5.Samples x 10
    ally.
  • Plumpudding
    Plumpudding Posts: 168 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 30 September 2015 at 12:29PM
    Thanks Dolly.

    My new PP list
    1) Olay 30 second wrinkle filler 7ml
    2) Origins starting over facial moisturiser 15ml
    3) [FONT=&quot]Elemental herbology cell plumping facial hydrator 15 ml
    4) Keratin conditioner 250ml
    5) Sanctuary mandelular body scrub 200ml
    6) Organic Surge sugared almond shower gel 250 ml
    7) Organic Surge sweet orange body cream 200ml
    8) Ren rosa centifolia exfoliating scrub 100ml
    9) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Bee Good propolis and honey 2 in 1 cream cleanser 100ml
    10) Origins GinZing for tired skin 7 ml
    11) Maddie Alexander rose bath oil 20ml
    12) Molton Brown lip saver 10ml

    [FONT=&quot]I [FONT=&quot]counted m[FONT=&quot]y [FONT=&quot]full list up - I have about 1[FONT=&quot]65 products (not all f[FONT=&quot]u[/FONT]ll size) and would like to get [FONT=&quot]it firmly b[FONT=&quot]elow 150 before [FONT=&quot]I get tempted by the beauty advent cal[FONT=&quot]endars.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
    [/FONT]
  • Thanks for the new thread dolly84!

    I'm off on holiday next week so won;t be posting much. I am hoping to achieve a few UUs because I know I'm going to come home with a tonne of stuff from CVS, Walgreens and Bath & Bodyworks. Hopefully I can justify them all as my HG cleanser is less than half price in the States and I know I won;t be going there next year (going to Iceland instead!) so I'll be stocking up on my favourite things and some new bits to try!

    Also, happy birthday indiepanda!
  • dolly84
    dolly84 Posts: 5,851 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 6 October 2015 at 4:49PM
    My PP list for this month:

    1. Elemis Lavender Toner
    2. Tigi Moisture Maniac Conditioner
    3. Emma Hardie Moringa Balm
    4. Weleda Citrus Body Oil
    5. Philosophy Summer Grace 3 in 1
    6. Philosophy Summer Grace EDT
    7. ]Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Day Cream
    8. Body Shop Vitamin C Reviver
    9. Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath Oil
    10. Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser
    Debt Free and now a saver, conscious consumer, low waste lifestyler


    Fashion on the Ration 28/66
  • OMG October already?! :eek: yay, can get out my B&BW pumpkin body lotion in honour of Halloween!

    Soo, pp list:

    1. Swizzles fizzers body butter
    2. TBS blueberry lip butter
    3. Imperial leather fruit salad shower cream
    4. Katie's kouture eau de toilette
    5. Avon on duty light bloom roll on
    6. Sure bright Bouqet spray deodorant
    7. Loccitane vanilla Bouqet hand cream
    8. Elvive nutri gloss shampoo
    9. Elvive nutri gloss conditioner
    10. Argan oil conditioning hair mask
    11. Soap and glory girligo spray
    12. Boots fresh strawberry body cream (using as foot cream)
    13. TBS vitamin e night face cream
    14. Lush lip scrub bubblegum
    No Buying Unnecessary Toiletries 2015/2016/2017/2018

    UUs for 2016: 513 In's: 447 UUs for 2017: 207 Ins: 161
    UUs for 2018: In's:
    Self Confessed Lush Addict!
  • OCT PP

    1.Garnier Fructis repair and shine shampoo
    2.SKIN organic massage oil
    3.Derma 10 anti aging hand and nail cream
    4.Derma 10 derma serum
    5. Isadora mascara
    6. Essence Mineral foundation
    7.Lypsil cherry blossom lipbalm
    8. Astor 'perfect stay' liptint 'berry nude'
    9. Puig bath soap
    10.BS 'Ananya' eau de toilette

    An unexpected UU already ' Hennara henna wax intensive conditioner' - visiting DD used it up to treat her hair after dying.
    No buying unnecessary toiletries 2014. Epiphany on 4/4/14 - went into shop to buy 2 items, walked out with 17!


  • LunaL
    LunaL Posts: 46 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary
    My October PP list:

    Clinique CC cream
    Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner
    Benefit high beam
    Charlotte Tilbury primer
    Clarins mascara
    Bobbi Brown blusher
    Emma Hardie moringa cleansing balm
    No7 eye serum
    Olay regenerist luminous serum
    Ren AHA concentrate
    Clarins hydraquench lotion
    Body Shop hair serum
    L'Occitanne hair oil
    Clarins tonic bath and shower concentrate
    Lush lip scrub popcorn
    No buying unnecessary toiletries!

    March: UU 46 April: UU 35 May: UU 36 June: UU 46 July: UU 20 August: UU 41
    September: UU 16
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