2021 - THE NO-BUY, LOW-BUY, BUDGET-BUY ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THREAD

[ElleElleG]

Hello, hello! Welcome to Year 7 of the No/Low Buy Thread.  

        *Many thanks to all who have participated over the last few years.  While I don't

         post often I do read the notifications sent to my email and I cannot say it enough,

         You all are truly amazing!  Thank you for your dedication and support!!

For reference here's the purpose of this thread (from Thread Originator, @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.

A note from lnum (2016):

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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!

Interested in past threads?  Check Here:

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Past Threads:

2015 https://community.sephora.com/t5/VIB-ROUGE/2015-The-No-Buy-Low-Buy-Budget-Buy-Accountability-and-Sup...

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

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

2018 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2018-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

2019 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2019-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

2020 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2020-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

Challenges to Help You Use Your Stash:

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* Coming Soon *

[SAlyFitz]

Thank you so much❤️

[lmaster]

Awwwww @SAlyFitz so so happy for your family!! Glad you are all doing well

[SAlyFitz]

Thank you❤️💕👶🏻🥰

[itsfi]

Ohhhh!!!! Congratulations to you and your family @SAlyFitz! 😍 What wonderful news! So happy to hear everyone is healthy and at home! 🥰♥️👶🤗 

P.S. Outstanding work on your budget! 👍🏼 

[SAlyFitz]

Thank you!! X2 😍☺️💕👶🏻🥰💪🏼💰

[lmaster]

17 days with no buying actually feels pretty good 🙌

[itsfi]

It sounds like we are no-buy buddies this month @lmaster! 🙌🏼 I love that you’ve tracked the days you’ve been on it. ♥️ I’m counting down the days I have left. 😉 9 more sleeps!! 😆 

[lmaster]

@itsfi that's too cute!

[danielledanielle]

Not 100%  successful in my low-buy, exceeded my monthly budget.  I adjusted my budgets for Feb and Mar, so we'll see.  Resisted some temptations, but not all.  That being said, I feel pretty optimistic.

[lmaster]

@danielledanielle good job!!! Trying is all you can do 😉

[danielledanielle]

Thanks @lmaster 

[ather]

@danielledanielle  I think that’s still an awesome start. It’s a marathon not a sprint! I was allowed to spend for my birthday month but I over spent to get the 10$ off and just spent again to redeem my $10 off. And I’ve bought more clothes. Which all my purchases I definitely didn’t need anything but I’ll try harder this month!! 

[danielledanielle]

@ather , exactly!  I feel optimistic, and I feel like a month to month approach works for me.  It was working for me last year, but I know I just tossed it aside with everything happening.  In hindsight, if I felt calmer, I would have likely stuck with it.  Even if I go over my intended budget for the year, it still helps me be mindful.  I also want to make sure I track all my purchases this time.  Last year I didn't factor in certain sales or restocks, but this year I am.

[eshoe]

Woohoo, clocking in and ending the first month of the year with a successful no-buy! This is the first time in maybe five, or six years that I have accomplished this so I am pretty stoked. For lack of a better term, I guess?  

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It’s been incredibly exciting to watch the empties go out the door with nothing coming in. Anything can be exciting, as long as you are interested in it☺️ 

[ather]

@eshoe  Wow great job!!!! I love watching my empties go!!

[eshoe]

Me too, @ather! I haven’t decided yet if I am going to post them. It takes up a considerable amount of time noting each product (which is helpful, no doubt!); I just think my goals this year are different. This month has been a little slower as I still have some lagging samples. The setting powder just won’t quit😂

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I kinda don’t know what to do with with water ampoule in the Beauty Blender sachet. Is it distilled water to clean the mini sponge? Am I supposed to absorb it into the sponge before using? I guess my confusion about it is why I haven’t opened it yet.

[Samtian]

@eshoe The water is to activate the sponge and make it bigger.

[eshoe]

@Samtian 10-4 👍🏼😊 it just seems weird to me that they included a little pod of water, but that’s just me lol🤷🏻‍♀️ 

[Samtian]

@eshoe Lol gimmicky. 

[danielledanielle]

@eshoe , you know, at first I wasn't sure about the sample bb either.  If you use q-tips for tidying up eye makeup it can be a really useful replacement.   Then I rinse it out - soap & water.  I'm not going through q-tips as quickly now.

[eshoe]

Did you figure out what the liquid was, @danielledanielle? I would be surprised if it were distilled water, though if it were micellar- there needs to be more notice because I could really use that!