topic Re: ComPact 2014 -- September in Beauty

ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:13:32 GMT

The ComPact is a commitment to simplify, pare down, streamline. It began as a way to gain some control over our collections of beauty products. Why were we amassing so much, yet not using what we were buying? Why were we always searching for the next new product? Why couldn't we just find what worked for us and stick with it?

The ComPact, however, is not restricted to beauty items. If you have a collection you want to address, do it here. Choose an area you want to work on, and track your progress on the ComPact thread. Members will offer tips and encouragement.

Choose one of our many mantras (“One by one until they’re done!” “We are SPAHHHRRRTAN!!!” “Not until you really have to.” “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” “Resist the propaganda.” "If it's high, I don't buy!" “When in doubt, do without!” “Shoplighters of the World Unite!”) or create a new one and share it. Target items each month to toss, donate, or use, and post your “chopping block” -- or “hit list.” Post temptations, post victories.

They say it takes 30 days for something to become a habit: Let's see if taking the ComPact one month at a time works for you.

Join us.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:19:33 GMT

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:52:01 GMT

New month, and soon a new season. August went by so quickly -- that had to be a record breaker. So, after so many months (years?) of ComPacting, I see the most success by stopping the flow. By just not introducing new items, I can see and feel the difference.

Biggest success? Resisting the urge to overbuy beauty items. I feel that I've finally reached the point where I can do without. I have assembled the items that work best and that I use most. Life is easier.

Unfortunately I still have all the items I'd collected before I "enlightened" myself. Still applying the "one-by-one" rule. It works.

What has made the biggest difference for you?

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

BExplorer — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:57:11 GMT

Thanks for this monthly thread (and also your HEP thread)! I am finally being very thoughtful in my buying, asking myself how much will I actually go through before the next sale and buying no more than that. Also, I have moved from "if I think I may want/use it, I better buy it" to "if I have ANY doubt, I better not buy it". BIG improvement for me :-)

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:12:31 GMT

On 9/1/2014 BExplorer said: Thanks for this monthly thread (and also your HEP thread)! I am finally being very thoughtful in my buying, asking myself how much will I actually go through before the next sale and buying no more than that. Also, I have moved from "if I think I may want/use it, I better buy it" to "if I have ANY doubt, I better not buy it". BIG improvement for me :-)

It's like there's a switch in our heads that suddenly gets flipped.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:47:14 GMT

Living in the high desert is not for the faint of heart. I've been a desert dweller for nearly 20 years now and this environment never fails to surprise me. This is not to say that all surprises are pleasant. Some of our secrets have been revealed to the masses: Film crews stationed here return home with photos and tales of 7-inch centipedes and weeds that are so vicious that even the leaves have thorns.

But I must say this: Summer of 2014 has been glorious.

Every year we hope for a monsoon season that never materializes. This year we had rain. And it doesn't take much rain to encourage the barren desert to burst into action. Invasive species make their way through concrete and asphalt and grow in feet, not inches. Bugs that one might have read about in sci-fi novels are now suddenly in your home. Every year we see a new crop of weeds and a new crop of bugs. Since I have feeders in the yard I'm aware of the birds that use New Mexico to get to wherever it is they're going. I see flocks of unidentified flying mammals every day.

The cooler temperatures are always welcome and we appreciate the rain. But we're left with some of the most evil weeds in the universe. It seems as if every new thing that sprouts has spines, thorns, burrs, swords -- these things are vile. But now the rain has ceased and the temperatures are rising. The weeds are started to look limp.

And now is the time to act. My system, again, is one-by-one. I know better than to go out and try to address every ill in one session of back-breaking weed-pulling. I've learned the hard way.

Now I don garden gloves and grab a 13 gallon trash bag. I work until I fill that bag as full as it can be, then I go into the house and have a cold beer. It's amazing how much one can accomplish when one establishes rules. One bag, one beer. It works.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

willdob3 — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 20:40:13 GMT

Happy September ComPactors!

Thanks for keeping us going every month, Bee. You are The Best!

What has made the biggest difference for me? Without a doubt, ending the "must try everything" feeling and buying new products all the time. I stopped watching most presentations, delete makeup company emails unopened, avoid the beauty departments in stores.

Next, working on using products up completely before moving on to something else has helped a lot. i had gotten into the habit of buying things and starting them with something else partly used. I had all these half full products all over. I never had many unopened things stashed away. I was always trying something new. Now I try new things but not until I am done or close to done with what I was using. I admit that I still struggle to finish things up once I buy the new product.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:39:43 GMT

On 9/1/2014 willdob3 said:
What has made the biggest difference for me? Without a doubt, ending the "must try everything" feeling and buying new products all the time. I stopped watching most presentations, delete makeup company emails unopened, avoid the beauty departments in stores.

Yes, the "don't look" method! It actually works.

My biggest collection is still shower gel and lotion. I rarely use lotion yet I collected gallons of the stuff. I'm convinced it will spoil before it gets used.

But I'm making a dent in the shower gels because I'm using them up one by one (in the shower and as hand soap at the sinks) instead of matching scents to my current mood.

I can't believe how much time I wasted trying to figure out which fragrance to use. Am I feeling fruity? Flowery? Foody? Cantaloupe or watermelon?

Now I just use the same scent until the bottle is empty.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

SKV — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:59:27 GMT

Thank you for starting this thread Just Bee! Temptation has been creeping back in for me lately and I really need to stay focused with all the fall sales and holiday sets coming out soon. This thread really helps me and I think September will be a great month!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 13:04:27 GMT

On 9/2/2014 SKV said: Thank you for starting this thread Just Bee! Temptation has been creeping back in for me lately and I really need to stay focused with all the fall sales and holiday sets coming out soon. This thread really helps me and I think September will be a great month!

Yup! At the beginning of every season, there's temptation. We crave a big change and a new season is the perfect opportunity. But we probably have enough in our collections to pick out a few new things without having to go out and buy them.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

beautybee — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:33:54 GMT

Bee, thanks to you, my mantra for the rest of this year and into 2015 will be called stopping the flow. I recently had to pay a huge dental bill and I was so grateful that I did not have credit card debt for unnecessary frivolous items on top of what I already had to pay. I'm entering a season in my life where I desire more fun life experiences and less stuff to have to shuffle around and clean. I've also been looking at blogs about minimalism for inspiration. I really do have more than enough and it's been awhile since I ordered anything.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:46:14 GMT

On 9/2/2014 beautybee said:
Bee, thanks to you, my mantra for the rest of this year and into 2015 will be called stopping the flow. I recently had to pay a huge dental bill and I was so grateful that I did not have credit card debt for unnecessary frivolous items on top of what I already had to pay. I'm entering a season in my life where I desire more fun life experiences and less stuff to have to shuffle around and clean. I've also been looking at blogs about minimalism for inspiration. I really do have more than enough and it's been awhile since I ordered anything.

Precisely! The only area now where I would be willing to spend is an area I can't find: Decent food! Don't need beauty items, clothes, jewelry, or home decor. I just want something to eat!

Where's the food? I know, I know -- I've been preseverating on the HEP thread. I just want access to quality food.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

kittykatmom2 — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:38:40 GMT

What is the HEP thread? Thanks Just Bee for all you do!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

kittykatmom2 — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:40:09 GMT

Where is everybody?

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

BigOrangeKitty — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:59:40 GMT

When I'm tempted by a sales presentation, I change the channel. The longer I watch, I'm apt to order something - usually something I'm sorry I ordered once it gets here. It's so good not to watch. Now I go over to CNBC and watch the American Greed stories!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

Beauty$Junkie — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:38:54 GMT

I am still hanging in there. Still no beauty products purchased, but that doesn't mean I am not looking. I am still working on my open bottles, but I have backups of everything. I can't imagine a day when I actually need to replace something. Oh well, one bottle at a time. I dropped some items off at the battered woman's shop today on my way to get groceries, so it is a gradual process. It didn't all come in in one day, so I am enjoying my stash. I refuse to let it make me crazy. I shall just enjoy what I have. Thank you ladies for being here, and I hope we all have a great September.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

Kay SD — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 00:41:07 GMT

First, my thanks also to you, just bee. Second, I'm getting the idea that we have collectively developed our own set of nice, simple "Compacting Rules" here. I see a few already this month, and I know I've read a good many more over the year. So I'm going to start the list, and let's see if we can get a good one going, shall we?

1. The One Bag/One Beer Rule: I don't need to tackle huge projects all in one go. Fill one bag. Have one beer. It works. (Inspired by Just Bee)

2. The Look Away Rule: Delete the emails. Toss the catalogs. Change the channel. If I don't see it, I won't want it. If I don't want it, I won't buy it. If I don't buy it, I don't have to store it. Get it? (Inspired by BeautyBee)

3. The When In Doubt/Leave It Out Rule: Sure it may be a great deal. But am I sure you really need it? Not really even sure I want it? My new "default" choice is to NOT buy. (Inspired by BExplorer)

What are your less-is-more mantras?

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

aprilskies — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 05:11:12 GMT

Hi all. No purchases for the past two months and not even really tempted. If I am, it's really not strong at all so it's not a problem. My goal is to not buy any products for the rest of the year. I have finished a few things and haven't replaced anything unless it was just basic like soap and so far that has been out of my closet. It's even been so long since I have researched anything which is simply amazing. I love that I am conquering the impulse buys and the angst of just chasing the next best thing. I do feel a little flat but not really missing the chase.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

rehoda — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 05:34:24 GMT

bump

Re: ComPact 2014 -- September

just bee — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:36:26 GMT

As Joan would say: ""Too soon.""