2019 - THE NO-BUY, LOW-BUY, BUDGET-BUY ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THREAD

[ElleElleG]

updated 12/31/19* The 2020 Thread is here 2020 - THE NO-BUY, LOW-BUY, BUDGET-BUY ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THREAD

Hey all!  Welcome to Year 5 of the No/Low Buy thread 😲. 

Since 2019 is LITERALLY around the corner so I figured it was time to get this thread started.  The 2018 thread can be located here: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2018-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

For reference here's the purpose of this thread (from lnum):

This thread is a support system for all of us who are trying to maintain a budget and keep our beauty spending limited. Post here when you have a weak moment, post here to hold yourself accountable, post here when you just need someone to talk to, post here when you have advice for all of us, and post here when you make mistakes but also make gains! Many of us post here to keep track of our monthly purchases. Anything you need to say, we are all here for each other. There's no judgement here.

Feel free to share your goals, items that tempt you, missteps (we don't believe in failures), and any successes.  Above all else, encourage and support one another.

The 2017 OP and link:

Spoiler

lnum wrote:

Welcome to Year 3!

My motto for this thread is that I strongly believe, even on a budget, you can have the things you want that make you happy without feeling like you're limiting yourself. 

This thread is a support system for all of us who are trying to maintain a budget and keep our beauty spending limited. Post here when you have a weak moment, post here to hold yourself accountable, post here when you just need someone to talk to, post here when you have advice for all of us, and post here when you make mistakes but also make gains! Many of us post here to keep track of our monthly purchases. Anything you need to say, we are all here for each other. There's no judgement here.

I am so excited to spend another year with you all. If it wasn't for the first two years of this thread, I would never have been able to cut down my beauty spending. My goal for this year is to maintain low spending on beauty, and cut down my clothing purchases. I will be funneling that money into traveling, which is what I have done in the past and it's a great goal that truly motivates me. 

I'm still so proud of everyone for making it through 2015 and 2016, limiting ourselves in the beauty product area in order to improve our lives in other areas. We all did great and here's to another year of learning and saving!

Here is a link to the 2015 thread: http://community.sephora.com/t5/VIB-ROUGE/2015-The-No-Buy-Low-Buy-Budget-Buy-Accountability-and-Supp...

2016 thread: 

http://community.sephora.com/t5/VIB/2016-The-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILITY-AND-SUPPORT/td...

 2017 thread: https://community.sephora.com/t5/VIB/2017-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILITY-AND-SUPPORT/m...

Challenges to Help You Use Your Stash:

Spoiler

Pan It! 2018 Challenge: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/Pan-It-2018-Challenge/m-p/3604337#M317498

Use Your Foil Samples Challenge: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/Use-Your-Foil-Samples-Challenge-January-2018/m-...

The Perfume Challenge: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Perfume-Posse/The-Perfume-Challenge/m-p/2633976#M18939

Mask of the Week Challenge: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Mask-of-the-Week-Challenge/m-p/3615125#M44343

**are you participating in a challenge that I failed to mention?  if so please let me know I can link it here**

[sockmagnet]

So, at the end of November I was trying to commit to not buying a few things for the next three months as follows:

face cream (except replacement day cream)

hand cream

sheet masks

eye products of any kind

buying random things just to try them

I think I totally managed to stick to this for December, but then in January I sort of fell off the wagon a little bit (but still bought far fewer things than I was tempted by).

Spoiler

I bought one travel size face cream from Ole Henriksen that I'm using at the moment, and I caved in and bought the Farmacy eye cream that I've been wanting for at least four months now. I bought a selection of different sheet masks from Ulta and also restocked the Aloe masks that I love from My Beauty Diary... but I feel kind of justified on this one because I have been doing a lot more masking and enjoying it. I bought a tiny tube of hand cream but this was ultimately a restock because the ones in my handbag were used up and I just hadn't realised. 

I didn't buy any lipsticks or lipstick sets, and I didn't buy any lucky beauty bags, or any other beauty items that I haven't already listed above (I don't include things like shampoo, conditioner, or body cream).

If I can get through the rest of February without buying anything else then I will be pleased.

[Buootiful]

Good for you! @sockmagnet . The hand cream is justified since you ran out.  Good luck in Feb!

[curlychiquita]

I avoided the lucky bags, too, @sockmagnet.  Good luck in February!

[eshoe]

@ElleElleG thank you for starting another year of this thread, it's the first I've been involved in and coincidentally the most involved I've been in this forum 😄

Total for Jan: 

Rather than separate my beauty products, I've chosen to lump them altogether. What I learned on my first low buy was that I need to categorize impulse purchases and restocks separately. I think I meant to do this initially, as I purchased a BU of my favorite YTTP moisturizer in November in anticipation of the challenge as I knew I would run out. Then I ran into another hump when purchasing sheet masks, on the issue of whether or not they are really a 'need' and how they should be categorized. I sheet mask almost every night, to me, it's just part of my routine and it doesn't feel complete without it. 

Then I had an inner battle with the beauty gifts for my daughter; they aren't necessary by any means, it's just part of Valentine's Day. But I find reasons to celebrate her every month, so...time to re-evaluate my budget again.

Totals: I was over by $17.17 for personal impulse buys, but on the plus side, my return was much more than normal. I realized I need to budget for restocks as well as gifts. I do not view it as a failure at all, because I am learning and my personal purchases have been well thought-out (despite me calling them 'impulse' purchases, I actually thought about them beforehand, they were just-for-fun buys).

I don't have a set budget yet for the latter 2 categories, and I may not include one. Reining in my spur of the moment buys has been extraordinarily satisfying and I am hoping to just continue improving.

[ElleElleG]

Welcome in @eshoe ; you're more than welcome! This thread has played a significant role in maintaining my low/no buy.

[sonnydee]

So my January on my Sephora lower buy is going good. I peeked at the figure that I thought I spent last year but when I looked again to figure out the percentage...I was looking at 2017! 2018 was much higher which was a shock & awe! at the same time. Anyways...my spending was 41% less than 2017 and 59% less than 2018. I have noticed that I'm having a hard time  not wanting to buy anything I deem "fun" though. And my fun is eyeshadow palettes......🙄🤔even if theres not one that I'm interested in. 

[eshoe]

@sonnydee  It sounds like you are doing a phenomenal job on your low buy. Gotta have a little room to breathe, sounds like your palettes are it 😉

[sonnydee]

Sadly @eshoe  eyeshadow palettes are my weakness (you saw my MJ collection & I reorganized my UD & too faced palettes BUT I have more than those...) it's what I really need to reign in, so very lil breathing room.  Literally Im running out of space!😁I dont even wear makeup everyday. I think I'm going to practice quality over quantity as much as I can with that. Too faced pretty mess palette easy skip. the new MJ palette in steelitto (it was a sneak peek on the direct site.) Hoping it will get to sephora so I redeemed a gc from ebates & I'm going to put it towards that. Still have to count it though I could've put it on a cc balance or something ....ughhhhh! Adulting bites sometimes! But overall pretty happy with Jan need to play with my palettes when I get the urge I guess 

[tastelikewater]

I should have known that a lip product no-buy was far too restrictive! It was going great until Bobbi Brown released her Crushed Liquid Lip line, and I saw that it's kiiiiinda everything I want in a lipstick, and I couldn't help myself. To be fair, I had a gift certificate from Christmas, so it technically didn't cost me anything! I also went back through my other lippies and did a small declutter, so at the very least I'm doing a "one in, at least one out" process. I regret nothing 😄

The next hurdle: in that same order, I managed to cash in my points for the $100 Rouge reward. It's burning a hole in my inbox! I'm currently trying to determine if I want to save it and use it for restocking, or go for a big-ticket item I'd never normally buy, like a Natasha Denona palette. The temptation is STRONG.

[CC3616]

If you have the extra wiggle in your budget to restock necessities, I love the idea of treating yourself with the reward! 

[ShortErica]

Not to be a bad influence @tastelikewater but I'm a fan of using a reward for something special/that you wouldn't normally treat yourself to out of your budget. Seems like you are figuring out what works for your no buy and making thoughtful choices.

[eshoe]

I have been saving my points for that too, @tastelikewater ...in case I want something soooooo bad it can't wait! Kudos to you for holding on to it, I hope what ever you decide to buy with it brings you much joy:)

[infinitebrevity]

I have only placed 2 makeup-related orders so far this year, both from budget brands: 1 colourpop order (about 111$) and one elf cosmetics order (~$65). This is more than I would have liked to have spent in the first month, but it is still significantly lower than last year where I was spending 400-800/month no cosmetics (ouch).

Things that help me stay focused include setting a year limit of $400 and thinking about savings goals. right now my spouse is unemployed so unfortunately my partial, disability income is what we are living on and that is barely enough to cover the bills, so I do regret my high spending on makeup last year.

[ShortErica]

January is off to a wonderful start. My only struggle was making my Sephora return - the Bite Beauty 4 lipstick holiday kit was on sale and seeing it look amazing on Jozkid I was tempted. Luckily there were none left but that was my only flirtation with messing up my goals.

Totals for January 2019:

   Makeup (no buy) - $0

   Skincare (low buy) - $11.70*

• Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt - Soothe & Sleep - Lavender
• Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt - Restore & Replenish - Pink Himalayan
• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Jelly

   *$4.26 of it for the Clinique when I returned a Christmas gift and used my exchange

   Haircare (low buy/smart buy) - $0

Since my no buy started in November, here's my November/December tally:

Spoiler

   Makeup (no buy) - $0

   Skincare (low buy) - $67.35

• CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
• CeraVe PM (2 pack)
• CeraVe Baby Lotion
• Nivea Sunprotect Water Gel SPF 50 PA+++

   Haircare (low buy/smart buy) - $111.75

• John Frieda Leave-In Conditioner Spray
• John Frieda Curl Styling Spray
• DevaCurl Wave Maker
• DevaCurl Light Defining Gel
• DevaCurl SuperCream
• DevaCurl B'Leave-In

This is slightly updated from my post in the 2018 no buy, low buy thread to include a couple skincare items that I missed.

Totals for my year (November 2018-October 2019) to date:

   Makeup (no buy) - $0

   Skincare (low buy) - $79.05

   Haircare (low buy/smart buy) - $111.75

Hope everyone else is staying on track too!

ETA: $7.44 added to skin care for Dr. Teal's items.

[curlychiquita]

This is really good, @ShortErica!

[ShortErica]

Thank you @curlychiquita! I think trying to participate in panning and empties is a great distraction as well as being busy at work and browsing the internet less. 🙂

[eshoe]

Sounds like you are doing a great job so far @ShortErica! It's really interesting to see what niche people are more forgiving of themselves, and which areas we tend to rein in. This is such a good exercise for me!

[ShortErica]

We could create surveys for this topic too @eshoe and analyze the general trend. I agree that I love seeing everyone's rationale and how they handle their goals.

[eshoe]

Hmmmm @ShortErica can you PM me a question to pose next week on the masking thread? If that’s what you are thinking about anyway, not sure...I see where you are going but need some direction, would love to include it!

[ShortErica]

@eshoe - it says I've hit my limit for private messages. I think I've only sent 1 today so I don't know why. I'll try again tomorrow. Ugh..frustrating!

Okay, nevermind - you should have a message now!

[eshoe]

It used to do that for me a few days prior to leveling up, maybe it’s on the horizon @ShortErica 🤔