2022 & 2023 - THE NO-BUY, LOW-BUY, BUDGET-BUY ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THREAD

[ElleElleG]

Hello, hello! Welcome to Years 8and 9 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):

Spoiler

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!

Curious about the past threads?  Check 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...

Community Challenges (These Can Help You Use Your Stash):

Spoiler

Pan It! - 2022 Challenge
Makeup Challenge of the Week 2021/2022
💕😌Mask of the Week Challenge 😌💖
100 Days of Lipstick Challenge
Show Me Your Nails 2.0
100 Shades of Eyeshadow Challenge

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

[furbie]

I'm posting again and bumping this thread because I have NOT been following my own advice. 

Yes, I still have my lists and have been following them. I've even gone into one of them and removed some things. My problem is that life has lately been looking like a bad scene from Confessions of a Shopaholic (minus a Derek Smeeth) 😆

Avoiding the siren calls of stores...

This Sephora sale was only supposed to be like a little treat for myself, but this morning I realized that I'm only 1,013 pts away from the 2,500 pts needed for another Rouge Reward. I've been going through my purchases on Sephora, and...

I've blown the rest of my beauty budget for the year 😭 I'd just gotten a reward + I know that I only had around 50 points left!!

I know that you all can't help, but I'm posting to vent and for accountability so I won't spend another dime. I have the audacity to have 3 more items in my cart right now!!! I'm going to remove them.

[danielledanielle]

@furbie , it's ok .  We all have been there.

Don't spend for a Rouge reward.  Look for sales at direct brands and wait for multiplier days, too

Or, if you haven't, sign up for the points challenge.  There are a couple that don't involve spending.

[furbie]

Thank you @danielledanielle ‌😊‌ My goal wasn't to quickly get another Rouge Reward, I just wanted stuff. I normally try to wait on the point multiplier days and for Sephora to have a multiplier on something I actually want to buy, but this has been a crazy week. It is hard to believe that I spent that much in one week. That lack of control tells me there is a bigger issue that I need to address 😥 

I live in the boonies, aka hours away from the closest Sephora store, so I cannot finish the 2nd challenge. It's okay. There isn't anything else that I'll be needing for quite some time. Plus, I'll have packages rolling in for another week. 

I'll post here if I'm about to give in to my urges.

[furbie]

Trying to buy things for loved ones and being wooed by the sales and gift sets of things you wanted for yourself can be challenging. My Sephora cart was $796 a few days ago. Now, it's under $200 😅

I often look for ways to save money when I'm going to be doing a lot of shopping. I've posted a thread: Sunday Riley DISCOUNT 

Over the weekend, I grabbed enough items at Macy's for an aunt, uncle, 5 cousins, my last living granny, and mother to all have multiple gifts. I cannot believe that I'm almost done!

This will make it much easier to stick to my monthly budget for the rest of the year. Writing things down helps. I have a note on my phone with all of my gift recipients' names and each item I plan to buy for them. This note/list is saved to my home screen so that I'm always cognizant of what I'm spending dinero on.

"...making his list, checking it twice..." 🎄

I'll continue to cross off items as they're bought.

Lists are sooooo important for accountability.

[Guessgal]

@furbie That’s super impressive that you have your holiday shopping nearly finished this early! 👏🏻 I mean, it’s not even Halloween yet 😯 and that’s a great way to organize your shopping list to specify a gift for each recipient. Thanks for sharing these tips 👍🏻 

[furbie]

Thank you @lmaster & @Guessgal 💕

I'm someone who gets distracted easily and is sometimes forgetful, so I make lists as a reminder of where I am regarding a goal. In this case, my top list is titled the "Nice List" 😆

This is something I'll try to keep up in the upcoming years: buying things when I see them on sale at random times throughout the year. Try it out!

[lmaster]

That's a great idea!! @furbie 

[Margalee]

I see Sephora is putting the squeeze on me with 19-69 on sale. That is something I was thinking to purchase on the sale.

[faeriegirl]

So far I am doing so much better than the last few years. I haven’t re-rouged yet and probably won’t until Nov/Dec. My Ulta spending has went up a little but not too bad. I’ve been shopping a lot less at direct brand sites. Overall I’m happy with my progress this year and hopefully next year will be even better!

[caitbird]

@faeriegirl  that's awesome, good for you! Wish I could say the same 😅

[lmaster]

Ooofff @faeriegirl I'm glad one of us is doing good!! I really need to get it together

[faeriegirl]

@lmaster  I think it’s because I’ve been so focused on my daughter’s wedding. I’m afraid next month when it’s over I’ll go back to my old habits.

[lmaster]

Awww congratulations to her!!! @faeriegirl how exciting!! (I know what you mean though)

[Mellmars1185]

I definitely need to go on a low buy after September until the next sale. But I don't think I really need anything. The only thing I want is the Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Electric Blue .

[Margalee]

@Mellmars1185 I saw @WinglessOne post about blue mascara and thought, ooh. Must get some. I think the brand Uoma? had like 8 colors. I haven't had fancy mascara in a long time.

[Mellmars1185]

@Margalee When I was at Sephoria they did an ombre effect with the blue mascara on the outer lashes over top of my black mascara. Unfortunately Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Electric Blue is not availble in Canada. I will have to find another one. It never hurts to have another shade in your collection, I figure.

[WinglessOne]

@Margalee @Mellmars1185  UOMA released an electric blue version of their Drama Bomb Mascara last year; it was part of their limited edition Salute to the Sun collection. It’s my favorite blue mascara in terms of color. Also last year, Pat McGrath released an electric blue version of PAT McGRATH LABS Dark Star Volumizing Mascara 0.43 fl oz / 13 mL . It was one of the limited edition “Colour Blitz” mascara shades, along with pink and turquoise. 

Trying to think of blue mascaras that are still available… In addition to YSL’s, there’s an electric blue version of Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara 090 Black ; Sephora doesn’t carry it but Nordstrom does, and I’m sure Dior direct still has it in stock. Pat McGrath released another Colour Blitz trio of Dark Star Mascara this year with her holiday collection, but it has a completely different shade of blue. (I bought the red and green shades instead.) Someone told me there’s a new blue version of HUDA BEAUTY LEGIT LASHES Double-Ended Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara 2 x 0.28 oz/ 8.5 ml available at the brand’s site; I’ve never used that mascara so I can’t speak to the color or performance. 

[lmaster]

After this months spending, especially since I've only worn makeup once in a month because, summer we're usually swimming, I'm hoping to not buy anything other than restocking products I run out of for at least the month of August and September 🤞

[ElleElleG]

*updated the OP to include 2023.

My low-buy goals are chugging along into another year. I managed to not renew my VIB status with Sephora and barely re-Platinum'd with Ulta. I could've avoided hitting Platinum again but needed enough at the end of the year to tip me over.

I'm very proud of how much I've saved as a result of minimizing my makeup spending and hoping to repeat this year.

How are you all doing? Any low or no buy goals for this year?

[QueenMarceline]

August No-Buy Week Four Update: Well, I've almost made it the full month (kind-of). I figured since the August is wrapping up I should use this to update some of my main focuses this month. Granted, August still has a few days left but I'm dedicated/motivated to be good for the rest of the month so I doubt anything will change. 🙂 Fingers crossed. 

1. I ended up slightly breaking my no-buy with the ULTA 10x points haul, although i used up mostly gift cards and my out of pocket cost was a little under $30 total--I'm not too mad about this because I got so much points out of it and really only splurged on one item. The rest were re-stocks or things I already had in my cart. Although for future planning, I will never make my no-buy during the month of August ever again due to the ULTA 10x the points haul. It would be much more beneficial to stock up a cart at ULTA a few months before this event and shop then. Noted. I've been shopping this event for 5-ish years regularly so I must have been dreaming when I put myself on a no-buy during August. A total face palm moment for me, lol. 
2. I spent almost $200 on some emergency items I needed for my pets after my rat decided the cement tub on the bottom of her cage was a chew toy. Unfortunately for me, the stainless steel pans I have in half my cage are a bit pricey (like almost as much as an entire cage, lol) but I was glad I was on my no-buy this month because I truly felt guilt-free buying those pans. Not that I would ever feel guilty spending $$$ on my pets since most of my money goes to them anyways, but if I had gone on one of my full-blown shopping sprees before this I probably would have felt major guilt about the shopping I did earlier. Just how I'm wired 😂
3. Amazon Subscribe & Save: my goal for this month was 12 items of less (down from 69 items at the beginning of the month). I didn't fully accomplish this, I ended up with 15 items total on my subscribe & save that will be arriving September 1st. My goal was to keep this to 5 items or less that are beauty related. I did accomplish this with 4 items that were beauty related: Facetory face mask set, a bar of soap I've been using for ages, shaving oil and a liquid soap. The rest of the items consisted of random necessities around the house (GLAD plastic wrap, laundry soap, etc.) and stuff for my pets that need to be replenished (dry dog food, rat snacks/toys). I think I can do even better next month! I'll re-try this goal in September.
4. Starbucks: It was very impromptu in the middle of the month to slash my Starbucks spending in half for a budget of $30 although I admit, it probably had to be done. This is the goal I was most nervous about and in all honesty I've only been doing it the very back end of the month. During the first and full week of my Starbucks budget I actually only ended up spending $8.80! Truly, I shocked myself with this one but I'm going to assume this was just an exceptionally good week. 
5. Clothing/Misc. Online Shopping: This is a category I did really well in, despite browsing around at first I really stuck to my guns by not ordering or buying anything. I'm going through an "awakening" with my clothing currently and am working on trimming down my over-flowing closets and dressers. Until I am fully happy with this, I have told myself I cannot shop for more clothes. This is mostly because I really want to examine what I have, what I want to donate and what I need to stay away from buying (ie. my abundance of jeans, high-heel shoes, etc.) and what I might actually need more of (if anything). This way, I'm making informed choices on my purchases instead of just buying another pair of cute pumps.