2025 - THE NO-BUY, LOW-BUY, BUDGET-BUY ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THREAD

[ElleElleG]

WELCOME TO YEAR 11 OF THE NO-BUY/LOW-BUY THREAD HAS ARRIVED

There's been quite a buzz around starting no/low-buys for 2025. I'm excited about the growing interest and hope this thread can help everyone achieve their respective goals.

The original threads were created by @lnum , here's how she described the purpose of this challenge:

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.

Additional insights from @lnum (circa 2016, Challenge Year 3):

Spoiler

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 Other Challenges/Threads that may help your no/low-buy goals? Check here:

Spoiler

Pan It! - 2024 Challenge
Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge
What are you wearing today Pt2
Love At First Sample!!! 🥰
Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022/2023/2024

*Feel free to PM me if there are additional challenges that should be added*

Curious about past threads? Links to all here:

Spoiler

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...

2021 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2021-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

2022/2023 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2022-amp-2023-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACC...

2024 https://community.sephora.com/t5/Beauty-Confidential/2024-THE-NO-BUY-LOW-BUY-BUDGET-BUY-ACCOUNTABILI...

I'll share my personal goals in a follow up post.

[itsfi]

My initial plan was to start my "no spend - low/no buy" in May but I hit "pause" on it far more often than I expected (oops), so now I'm going to try to make it a spend-free summer. Basically, with the exception of household expenses (e.g., groceries, mortgage, utilities, etc.), gifts for others, and a handful of items on my lists of exceptions or "permitted purchases" the goal is to minimize or refrain from purchasing anything but necessities or a limited number of allowances, from June through August or Labor Day. 

My "permitted purchases" includes a list of small handful of products (aiming for 6-8) that fall outside the spend-free summer - there are a couple of products I'm expecting will be released during the summer months that I'm interested in. Even with those items, I'll aim to purchase them with gift cards, reward points that I've been saving. I like @danielledanielle's approach (see a couple of posts below) towards limiting the beauty buys and one other exception I'll add in addition to the permitted purchases is that I can purchase one beauty related item per month during my spend-free summer.

[Cissy63]

I’m working on my low buy/no buy plan.  
I am likely not going to buy shoes or sandals for spring/summer.  
But Talbots sales are a weakness for me.  I have made it past most of the winter sales so far.  But my weakness is always the spring/summer lineup. Especially the Pima cotton tees.  The first catalog for spring is out and I was already in the store looking around.  No buys so far 
But I wreaked my summer crossbody so I need a new one.  But I have gift cards for Boscovs and I am going to look there

But makeup is a BIG problem.  I am out of space.  I have already bought one of the new YSL blushes and I also bought one of their eyeshadow quads.  But I had a Rouge Reward which covered most of the cost. But I need to limit my purchases to less than 4/5 a month.  And NO nail polishes unless I declutter.  I’m totally out of space to store them 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Titian06]

@Cissy63 - Because of the return to office mandate, I have to pickup a few clothing items I hadn't planned to.  This morning I ordered the spring Charming cardi and ivory ribbed tank, both on sale for 25% off.  Too my surprise Talbots had free S&H (how rare is that) and I had a $25 Reward that I wasn't aware of.  I thought about ordering another pair of trousers due to these last two savings items, but decided my low buy was more important.

As a petite, the store doesn't carry a very good selection.  The clothes I'm interested in, they generally don't have.  It's like "why even have a petite section?"

[itsfi]

@Cissy63, your plan sounds like it strikes a good balance with making some purchases but not going overboard.  Impressive that you went into the store and walked away without picking up anything. 

[Cissy63]

Thank you @itsfi 😊.  One of reasons why is that Talbots has stopped carrying Women’s Plus Petite in stores.  The clerk at my store told me that only a few stores across the country carry them anymore.  It was a business decision.  But I wanted to see what the pieces are like and how they feel.  Especially as all of the prices have gone up ⬆️ 

[itsfi]

Smart to go in and check out the product in real life @Cissy63; especially if you will have to order online to get what you need. I hope they have some sales coming up soon, so you can pick up your essentials at a good price.

[danielledanielle]

I finally figured out a structure to a low buy that might work for me, but facing a challenge as of today 😂🥲

I am going to try to limit beauty related purchases to 1-2 for the week, essentially 8-11 for the month.  Not necessarily a low buy, more like a reduced buy 🤣🤷🏽‍♀️.  I used January as a "let's see what happens"/litmus test.  I feel like a spend limit sets me off in an odd way.  Anyhow, it kind of worked.  I only made 4 purchases at Sephora, 3 at Ulta and 3 at Beautylish.  There were 2 specific ones that were an OOP.. HOW DID I GET THIS IN BASKET situation, so not too bad.

I had some items that I wanted and got fully swayed into ordering twice already.  So, two OOPS.  This week is a test of resolve and it's only Tuesday 🥲. 🙏🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

[Cissy63]

@danielledanielle  Hang in there!  This is definitely not easy 🥹

[danielledanielle]

There was another purchase, so it's 4-0 now.  Your girl is struggling🤣 @Cissy63 

I'm not kicking myself though, trying to go with the mentality that there's nothing I need for the next 11 days (trying to average out)... There are sales coming up, and the things I ordered are on the way, so chill

I might have to actually unsubscribe from newsletters.  This is a strategy used by others in past threads. Maybe I can unsubscribe and then resub in a few weeks...I dunno.  I like knowing what's out there.  Decisions. Decisions.  Eep.

[danielledanielle]

Man, never count your chickens...

PMG Glass skin back in stock. Makeup 3. My Resolve 0. 🤣🥲

[AMK721]

I just came across something that many of you probably already know about. This is not exactly for low/no buy, but for those of us that want a good deal, I thought I would share.

Costco and Sam's Club carry some big-name products at a decent discount - online only, usually. Specifically at Costco, I found several Tom Ford eyeshadow quads, Gucci lipstick and serum, Korres, Jo Malone, Maison Margiela, Creed, Drybar hair products, etc.

Sam's Club has Oribe, Charlotte Tilbury, Anastasia Beverly Hills, as well as Gucci lipstick. They also have Kylie, Tarte, Stila, etc. Sam's has gift cards for Sephora and Ulta that cost less than their value ($48.48 for $50 or $23.98 for $25).

[Cissy63]

@AMK721  Oh thanks for this information!  I have never checked out the website of these warehouses!  Appreciate it 😃

[danielledanielle]

I've gotten better at abandoning carts.  Currently not buying the latest Sonia G because I don't like the price and I'm not drawn to any of the shapes.

[Titian06]

OK, so I avoided buying any retiring nail polishes from Mooncat because they are full price!  I don't care if they're being discontinued--they're full price...period.  One polish is between $14 and $16, depending on the formula.  Four colors are on my wish list.  I would have been willing to buy any 2 on sale; all 4 if a really good sale.

On the other hand, today is What's Up Beauty's last day of they're clearance.  I bought six items, all What's Up brand--2 nail polishes, 2 stencils, 1 stamping plate, and 1 stamper & card set (their stamper and full-size card are my fave!)--all between 20% and 80% off with an extra 20% off site code for less than $23.00 counting S&H.

I wasn't looking to spend money, but this sale and the well over 50% savings couldn't be beat.

Thanks for listening. 🤗

[Cissy63]

@Titian06  You did really, really good!  It’s so hard to resist nail polish.  All of the colors and formulas.  It gets to me.  But I resisted the What’s Up Beauty sale this time.  Mainly because I am out of space to store them 🤷‍♀️

[Titian06]

I know what you mean, @Cissy63 !  I keep buying more and more storage containers.  Now I'm thinking maybe it's time to buy a couple of Hjelmers! 🤣

[AMK721]

@Titian06 Good job at resisting the full priced discontinued polishes. I'm the same way about full price vs. sale price. I can justify the purchase if it's something I've had my eye on and it's at a really good price. I hardly ever pay full price for things these days. 

[Titian06]

Thanks, @AMK721 !  I agree--full price really isn't an option anymore.

[WinglessOne]

@Titian06  I hear you on the Mooncat dearly departeds. It hurt my soul to not buy a backup bottle of Dark Side, and I’m very surprised I didn’t cave. I’m proud of both of us! And you got a great deal at What’s Up Beauty! 

[Titian06]

Thanks, @WinglessOne !  Congratulations to you for not giving in! 🥳