One-year spending ban?

At the beginning of January I floated the idea on Twitter of imposing a one-year spending ban on makeup. My favourite response was this one:

I went through (and still am going through) what I imagine every beauty enthusiast goes through at some stage, the thought that I might possibly have enough makeup.

Then it became a bit of a fascination, could my stash take me through a whole year without needing to buy anything? I seriously think it could. As it is I haven't actually purchased any makeup since October when I was back in London. Even that I haven't touched yet, although that is, in part, because I need to take blog pics first (I know #bloggerproblems). So that's three and a half months already.

I have just finished my favourite concealer (Nars creamy concealer), and my CC cream, which I use daily is on its last squirts, as is my Benefit Brow. For all I either have alternatives or back-ups already.

I know myself though and as soon as I make this a formal ban I will have nothing but the urge to buy something, anything, beauty related.

So for now I will just continue to see how long I can go without a purchase. How long do you think you could manage? Would your stash see you through a year?

Spending ban empties

I am so glad I can finally throw these empties into the recycling. Having them piled up over the last three months was very frustrating, but there is a weird satisfaction now looking through the pile of the rubbish.

Minus a few bottles of shampoo, shower gel and a cleanser, this is everything I finished since the new year. I made a point of finishing products that were near the end of their life as well as travel sizes of products I had been saving for trips away. Not only do I not go away very often but when I do I tend to take what I know and like to use.

In total I used up 7 skincare products, 8 shower and body products, 8 hair products, 2 lip products and 1 alcohol gel.

There are only two products in the pile that I was disappointed to finish. The first was Liquid Gold. Having had a series of break outs and a rather bad spot disaster resulting in quite a serious scar I could do with the benefits of glycolic right now. Although I have the Nip + Fab pads, I can now see there limits and for me they are suited to maintaining good skin rather than helping to create it.

The second product was Rimmel’s Exaggerate waterproof eyeliner. I actually ran out of this quite early on and surprisingly don't have any other black waterproof eyeliners. I've tested out a few others in my collection since but I've been disappointed and instead I've started using liquid eyeliner more and leaving my waterline bare.

Products I was glad to finish we're the Bioderma micelle solution, which is something I don't understand the hype for, and the Coconut body cream from Bath and Body works, after so many months of using it I got sick of the scent!

I finished three makeup products, four if you count BB cream as a makeup rather than a skin care product, which based on my new rule, means that I can buy two makeup products. But other than repurchasing the Rimmel eyeliner, nothing I want springs to mind although a good review of any of the new CC creams may tempt me.

Spending Ban COMPLETE

So 100 days since the new year have passed and the spending ban is finally OVER! I didn’t quite make it through without spending, which I am disappointed about, but I know that even with that slip up I have saved money and I have managed to reduce my pile of products. The fact that in 100 days I didn't need to make one essential purchase just shows how many products I have multiples of.

I'm going to do a separate empties post showing everything I finished in the last 100 days, what I struggled to go without and what I plan on repurchasing, so this post is about what I learnt and what next.

If you didn't see my original spending ban post you can find it here, as well as my one month and two month updates and you can also read what purchase lead me to breaking it!

What I learnt:

I'm an emotional spender

This was my biggest lesson. If I have a bad day I want to treat myself. Usually it is something small and inexpensive and that is where beauty comes in. That being said a lot of times browsing in store or just filling up a basket online and not clicking buy is enough to cheer me up, but to save myself from temptation I wasn't doing that, which was frustrating.

I like to eat

I realised that taking out beauty and clothes makes my biggest expenses travel and food. I can’t do anything about London transport prices but I buy lunch most days and eat out a lot. I don't necessarily want to change that, because all my social activities revolve around eating, but the spending ban certainly opened my eyes to it.

I always use the same products

I'm referring to makeup when I say this. Over the course of the last 100 days I've reached for the same makeup and I really need to make the most out of my collection. I'm better at not hoarding skincare and that generally gets used up quicker anyway.

What now?

I've decided to extend the spending ban a little longer, probably until the end of the month, partly as a penalty for breaking it but also just to keep saving money. I am going to relax my conditions though, originally I banned myself from using vouchers and points I have and I even didn't activate a subscription to Birchbox I won at Christmas. I've now activated my subscription and if there is something I really want or need I'll buy it from wherever is cheapest and will save my vouchers for something special.

To make more out of my makeup I’ve also set a rule that if I want to buy something new I have to finish two makeup products first. I'm not sure how well I'll do with this but we'll see.

In all the spending ban was a positive experience and I'm glad I took part. It was good to read the updates from other bloggers and have that support at weaker times.

If you took part or are thinking of starting your own spending ban let me know, I'd love to hear how you are getting on.

Ideal Home Show 2013 haul

So with 13 days left, it happened, I broke my spending ban. BUT it was worth it.

In my original spending ban post I mentioned that I would be visiting the Vitality Show and Ideal Home Show this year and that I would allow myself those days to spend but only if there was a really good deal to be had.

I resisted the temptation at the Vitality Show, opting to buy food instead with the aim of achieving good skin and beauty from the inside out. However, when I spied my favourite makeup up brand at the Ideal Home Show, it was going to be hard to resist, especially when I was planning on buying something after my spending ban anyway.

I recently visited the Bella Pierre counter at House of Fraser for an updated colour match after noticing that my foundation was making my face look darker, almost orange, compared to my neck. I’ve never changed my foundation between summer and winter, so it didn’t really occur to me that I might have to.

I was matched the shade Nutmeg in the pressed compact, which in theory is a darker shade, but the compact formulation and my current undertones make it suitable for me to use in the winter. If I do happen to see any sun this year and get a tan, I can then go back to using my original shade cinnamon.

So in theory this was a needed purchase, as for the bronzer and primer I picked up too, I have no excuse! I have never used the compact version of the foundation, so I will have a review up as soon as I have tested it.

Other exhibitors at the show were Beautiful Brows and Tropic skin care, which I have purchased and reviewed in the past. Benefit were also at the show and were offering 10% off and a free gift with any three product purchases, so my sister took advantage and picked up the goodies above. They also have a product of the day, which is at further reduced price.

The Ideal Home Show closes on Monday and if you are heading down I recommend you check out Bella Pierre and come back and let me know what other bargains you found!

100-day spending ban update #2

So the second month of the spending ban is over. At 59 days in I have to admit that I am finding it more and more tricky.

The temptation of Oxford Street, the new makeup reviews I keep reading and the words ‘sale’ and ‘special offer’ in so many email headings are bringing me close to cracking!

But I know I don't need anything and I'm actually weirdly pleased with myself and the growing pile of empties on my bathroom floor. I've mostly used up shower gels, shampoo and skincare but I have finished two makeup items too. I've started using sample packets, which has meant that I still haven't needed to make any essential purchases, and that I am freeing up space in the cupboard.

That said I know next month will be a little harder. I have already planned to go to the Vitality Show and Ideal Home Show but I'm going to reserve any spending to things that are really unique or a one off amazing bargain.

Interestingly it turns out that my spending ban has stopped my sister shopping too, I’m not sure how they are connected, but at least now we are both saving money and getting through what we already have. So I suppose I should feel glad that my ban is having a positive affect on others?

If you are on a spending ban, let me know how it is going and we can make sure we get each other through the last 41 days!

100-day spending ban update

So the first month of the 100-day spending ban is over!

So far I haven’t found the ban too much of a struggle and I’m actually enjoying using up the products I have. I’ve decided that, instead of doing monthly empties I am going to collect everything I have used up for one mass empties post in April!

I have three main tricks that I have used to make the ban easier. 

1. I’ve deleted all emails starting with sale, special offer, exclusive…..you get the idea. Sale time is generally the hardest for me, because that it when I usually stock up, so I hope that after this month my temptation will be limited. 

2. Avoided the shops. I haven’t stepped inside Boots or even travelled down the beauty aisle at the supermarket. If I don’t look I can’t be tempted. 

3. Stopped reading/watching haul posts. I know that when it comes to clothes there is a chance that I will think, ‘but that won’t be in the shops in April!’ So its best not to know what I am missing out on.  

The ban has been made slightly easier because, last month, I quit my job and started a college course. This means that I won’t have any income for a while and what money I have needs to be spent sensibly, plus classes full time, four days a week, and a minimum of two hours revision a night means that I am far too tired to shop!

Being on the ban has made me realise how much of an emotional spender I am, the days I’ve struggled have been when something at home or work as got me down. I never usually splash out much, but a lipstick or nail polish purchase would usually be my pick-me-up and a distraction from whatever is going on, so it has taken a lot of will power not to cave.

So now there are *only* 68 days to go, it will be interesting to see if I am as positive at the of February!