I don't usually get many beauty products for Christmas, but this year I ended up with quite a payload (above). I also made VIB at Sephora for the first time in my life, mainly because my mother-in-law gave them my account information when she bought my gifts. Normally I would not feel particularly good about spending enough money for that status and, as I understand, it doesn't get you much anyway. But I'll take it and see how it goes.
I'm at the point now where I just have too much shit and I need to stop for a while, so I'm declaring a No Buy for the first part of 2017. I have a credit from Dermstore because I returned something, and I can't think of a single thing I need/want to spend it on. Not a good sign. So I'm not going to buy anything else until conditions improve.
This is my first time doing an official No Buy, because I have been wary of them in the past. I think sometimes they become a different way to obsess about products and consumerism, and people start anticipating all of the things they will buy at the end of the designated period, which can be worse than just shopping moderately all the time. For that reason, I'm not imposing a specific end date for my No Buy. We'll see how I manage with a fuzzy deadline. Instead, since I tend to buy things at least partly because I want to blog about them, I'm not going to buy anything new until I have written posts about all the shit I have laying around already. That means the first step is to make a checklist of post topics and to start working through it. It just doesn't make sense to buy new things for the blog when I have a backlog--and when I don't make back anything close to what I spend for my blog from affiliate links, etc.
I am allowed to use up various credits I already have ($30 to Dermstore, about $12 at Sephora, and also some at Paula's Choice). I'll keep getting So Choix until my subscription runs out, which I think is soon. I might be allowed to sign up for Sephora Play if it opens up again. We'll see how I feel about that when the time comes. And I can accept free shit if it comes my way, like if Influenster sends more stuff out. The point is really not to spend money on beauty products. I guess I can replace necessary skin care products that run out, like sunscreen, but I don't think much of that is going to happen.
Any other rules I should put in place or precautions I should take to make this work from you veterans out there? I don't feel like I am a particularly compulsive shopper, so this is more of a budgeting plan than rehab.
I guess this is a sort of New Year's resolution. It's the only one I'm making, anyway. How about you? Any beauty-related plans or projects lined up? No Buys, Low Buys, Project Pans, etc.?
Happy New Year!
I am doing an unofficial low-buy. I have too much stuff to use up (mostly skin-care related samples and deluxe samples) and I want to just spend less on skin-care and makeup this year. It will be a bit hard in the first part of this year as all the new drugstore stuff comes out and I love trying new things, but waiting through all the hype is always a good decision, IMO.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love the satisfaction that comes with finishing something, so I will focus my energy on that and in really using the makeup that I do have. I want 2017 to be the year I put a lot more into savings and the year I really analyze my shopping habits to try to make better choices for myself. So we will see how it goes!
I've thought I was immune to hype for a long time, but I got sucked in my a few things last year. Normally I like to wait until there are good reviews before buying something, which means that LE products are usually not coming to me. I plan to go back to doing that.
DeleteI love watching declutter videos on you tube. It always inspires me to stop buying and get rid of stupid stuff I don't even like, but feel like I should keep!
ReplyDeleteI know what it's like to hold on to things because you think you should use them, even when they are no good.
DeleteOn a low-buy for sure, though I haven't imposed any specific rules about spending or number of products. Like you, I'm kind of winging it. I do want to keep track of my spending for the first time this year, though. I'm also focusing on using some things up, though I haven't set myself an official challenge (yet - I might). I'll be moving overseas in September so obviously I want as light a load to transport as possible!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your no buy and happy 2017. :)
Thanks! Happy new year to you too, and good luck with your plan.
DeleteSounds reasonable. There's no reason to not try new things either through so choix or pr stuff. Especially if it's something small enough or useful enough that you can actually burn through it, but big enough that you can form a solid opinion. That much said, I have so much Influenster envy right now so I look forward to reading those updates.
ReplyDeleteInfluenster has been pretty good to me the last year, even though I have rarely given a glowing review to something they've sent me. I don't know if they actually read the reviews! But we'll see if that continues.
DeleteI should definitely stop until I make some progress using things up (so satisfying!).
ReplyDeleteBut mainly I'm posting because I don't have instagram and I wanted to tell you I bought the Palmer face oil on your recommendation and so far I like it! Something comparatively inexpensive that helps my exfoliation last longer - I get weird face dandruff-y dead skin buildup and have to exfoliate pretty hard to get it off, so anything that means I can do that less often/more time to recover is a good idea. Anyway, I would probably never even have considered it if I hadn't seen your review, so thanks!
I'm glad that was useful! I was impressed with how well it worked. I just wish the scent wasn't so strong.
DeleteI like the idea of No Buy (or Low Buy). To me it's an exercise in distinguishing between needs and wants. Almost a spiritual practice. At least when it's done right (and obsessing over stuff to buy as a reward is not the right way of doing it IMHO).
ReplyDelete