topic Re: ComPact 2015 -- September in Beauty

ComPact 2015 -- September

just bee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 11:58:12 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!” “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” “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 2015 -- September

just bee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:09:08 GMT

Can you believe it's already September? And I have one week left of this current class; after that, I have only two classes to go. Is there leisure time in my future?

There are already hints of fall here: Cooler mornings, green chile roasting, leaves changing colors, and it's getting darker earlier. They are predicting a cooler, wetter September here. I'm fine with that!

Anybody have specific plans or goals for this new month?

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

just bee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:30:48 GMT

I'm toying with the idea of going back to the toss-an-item-a-day thing. Thirty days, thirty items. I still have some old beauty products that I know I'm never going to use.

There's a new thread here: The Beauty Purge. You may want to check it out.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

FindingMyJoy — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:52:03 GMT

Thanks for starting us out! I'm in denial that it's already September. I need to evaluate my August compacting and make some goals for September. The Toss an item a day sounds like a good idea! I'll be back with my action plan later today!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

geezerette — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 13:17:09 GMT

It is hard to believe it's September already. You're certainly on the ball, justbee! Glad to hear you're getting a bit of a taste of the fall to come. It's still hot, steamy and just plain yucky here. Late fall and winter are my favorite times of the year, probably because all the foliage is either going or already dormant and I feel better. I really miss winter in the desert. It was a perfect time. Of course, it could be what I'm really missing is the fact that I was twenty years+ younger than I am now!

I've got more stuff to get rid of too, this month hopefully. I'm getting down on some of it to things that I've kept for ages, no longer use, but I'm just not sure that I want to part with forever after. It would really help me if I could get rid of a lot of my husband's stuff, but I don't even broach that subject out loud. Totally unthinkable. I mean, what would he do without that old cardboard box in the garage that we both trip over two or three times a day? Heaven forbid!

Happy September, everyone!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

just bee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 13:47:31 GMT

Work and school have taken up all my time. If all goes well, I should be done with school just before Thanksgiving. I plan to spend the rest of the year (the holiday season) giving the house a little attention. It'll be my Christmas present to the house. It's been neglected.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

aprilskies — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:28:02 GMT

I, too, cant believe it is September. Pretty soon we will be thinking about Christmas. Oy vey.

My goal for September is no-buy for skincare or mu unless I am replacing and only if I dont have something else that can substitute for it. I bought nothing in August and was quite relieved. September hopefully wont be too hard. In the past few weeks, I tossed or donated quite a lot of products/mu so I think that will help me to stay the course.

One thing I can say for certain though, no more mu for the rest of the year. I just dont get around to using it and unless I do, no more. For some odd reason I love collecting it but just dont use. It goes in a drawer and doesnt see the light of day. How weird.

As far as decluttering, I am taking a break from it. I actually even put back the bins I was going to start attacking. I have been decluttering off and on for so long that I think I need a break. Instead, I think I am going to make September about having some fun.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

just bee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:41:13 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:

As far as decluttering, I am taking a break from it. I actually even put back the bins I was going to start attacking. I have been decluttering off and on for so long that I think I need a break. Instead, I think I am going to make September about having some fun.

Fun sounds good. I would like to have some fun, too. Must investigate...

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

FindingMyJoy — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 01:23:27 GMT

I reviewed my goals for August - I would give myself a C for the month. I didn't buy any body lotions/gels etc, I did track the items I used up or threw out (14!), but I went overboard shopping Isomers. Yes, I'll use the items and so far have really been loving the discoloration kit but it definitely filled up the once emptying box of skincare items. I also had the goal of only getting the Bare Minerals TSV autodelivery (which I did and love it) BUT I also preordered the September TSV for Bareminerals. It turned out to be advanced order so I'll get it sometime this month so does that lessen the error since it's spread over 2 months?? LOL One plus, i did avoid the Paula's Choice sale since earlier this Summer I purchased items to last the rest of the year. Any other time, I may have been drawn in to buy even though I didn't need anything.

I think I need to tighten the belt and be more strict this month.

Goals =

1 - NO buying any body lotions/potions/creams/gels.

2 - NO buying any makeup.

3 - When I get the Bareminerals kit, I'm going to try out the newer serum foundation that I've been stalking since it debuted. If it's not a good fit for me, the kit will be returned and the autodelivery cancelled for the set. If it doesn't play nice with my skin, I won't keep it and try to force it to work which means it will go into a box, collect dust and eventually thrown out.

4 - NO buying any skincare (I'm fully stocked in evemrything but am on my last Serious Skincare A force serum. This could be the only thing I buy rest of 2015 if I can get a good deal with just the serum).

5 - I will do the One-Thing-A-Day process. The item can be thrown out/recycled or given away. My decluttering has gone in spurts so I think doing 1 a day will help get the habit going again.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

dosey — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 01:39:44 GMT

@aprilskies wrote:
I bought nothing in August and was quite relieved. September hopefully wont be too hard. In the past few weeks, I tossed or donated quite a lot of products/mu so I think that will help me to stay the course.

Wow, I am happy for you. Congratulations on your no-buy!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

dosey — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 02:00:43 GMT

August was a very bad month for me. The good thing is that I did some paperwork decluttering at the end of the month. I have only one stack of paperwork to go through, but I am losing steam. Must power through.

My goal for September is buy only what needs to be replenished. Looking through my stuff, the only thing that I think I will need is body lotion. Other than that I don't need anything. Also, I canceled my Isomers Double Duty Cleanser Duo on auto-delivery. I have cleansers and do not want to manage this. My favorite cleanser is Isomers C. Besides, when I get low on cleanser, I am going to order some Paula's Choice cleanser samples. I noticed that some of the cleansers are described as silky. That is one of the reasons I like the Isomers C cleanser. It is so silky. PC also gives a lot more product for the money.

Today, my BFF and I had lunch and then went to Chico's because we both had a coupon. That place is so expensive. I thought I had found something that cost enough to allow me to use my coupon. Turned out that is was on sale, and I needed to spend $21 more to use the coupon. I looked and looked but couldn't find anything. Well, I could, but I would have spent significantly more. Stores really do know how to price things to get us to spend. I told my BFF that I was not going to buy something just to use a coupon. She agreed, and we left with nothing. That was a good moment.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

aprilskies — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 17:27:37 GMT

@just bee wrote:
@aprilskies wrote:

As far as decluttering, I am taking a break from it. I actually even put back the bins I was going to start attacking. I have been decluttering off and on for so long that I think I need a break. Instead, I think I am going to make September about having some fun.

Fun sounds good. I would like to have some fun, too. Must investigate...

-----------

I would like one day to understand when having fun became a number on the "to do" list. ..and something we need to check off.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

aprilskies — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 17:34:20 GMT

@dosey wrote:
@aprilskies wrote:
I bought nothing in August and was quite relieved. September hopefully wont be too hard. In the past few weeks, I tossed or donated quite a lot of products/mu so I think that will help me to stay the course.

Wow, I am happy for you. Congratulations on your no-buy!

------------------------

Thanks, Dosey. I was allowing myself some Isomers if they had a kit I wanted but that didnt happen and I was kinda relieved. It felt good not bringing anything more in for now.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

FindingMyJoy — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 13:10:29 GMT

I'm going to pass my first Compacting test of the month!! I have no desire to buy the Korres today special. yippeeeeee! The yogurt products are nice but I don't need any of them. No temptation to add to my body cream stash. I must confess that if she would have had a stellar kit with my favorite body butters I may have crumbled like a cookie LOL. How sad I would have broke my #1 goal on day 3 of the month!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

Squirrel Lover — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:53:28 GMT

I am doing great not buying skincare. I am really proud of myself. I actually had to buy a moisturizer because I ran out! That is a first for me and I am very proud. I am also resisting any fall makeup purchases and promotions because I don't need anything. But it is a mind struggle of the first order.

I am going to go through all of my fall and winter clothing that is located under my stairs in a plastic container. I got rid of tons of stuff last spring when I was putting it all away for the summer. Now I am ready to go through it again and take out what does not fit or are not the right colors for me. I want to do this before I bring the container upstairs.

I have been really working on minimizing my clothing for the last year and I am doing really well. It is really hard though. I can't shop sales anymore because I just can't handle the temptation of buying clothes just because they are cheap. I am working on buying only what I need and this has been a very very hard transition and mindset change to make. I have been reading blogs written buy other women who are trying to downsize their closets and it has been helpful. One important thing that I have discovered is that I really rather have quality clothes not rather than more quanitity of less quality clothes. I am trying to wear all of my clothes more especially when I am at home and not going anywhere. I am not going to wear junk clothes just because I am at home. I deserve to look good for myself!

If anyone has any websites on minimzing their clotehs please pass them on. Thanks.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

dosey — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 22:13:19 GMT

@FindingMyJoy wrote:
I'm going to pass my first Compacting test of the month!! I have no desire to buy the Korres today special. yippeeeeee! The yogurt products are nice but I don't need any of them. No temptation to add to my body cream stash. I must confess that if she would have had a stellar kit with my favorite body butters I may have crumbled like a cookie LOL. How sad I would have broke my #1 goal on day 3 of the month!

Because body lotion is the only thing I will need sometime soon, I would have bought a body butter TS. I am glad that the yoghurt TS is not tempting me. It will be a victory if I can make it through September with no beauty purchase. Although, it will not be easy. I went to Target for deodorant, mints, hair spray, etc. I walked through the beauty section and found myself staring at Boots eye shadows. What is this hold eye shadows have on me? I did not buy any, but they sure were pretty!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

dosey — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 22:51:09 GMT

@Squirrel Lover

When it comes to clothing, I am at the point you are. I want quality over quantity. It is becoming easier to say no to cheap clothing. I have two t-shirts that I bought at the end of last summer. After being worn just a few times, they look terrible. Misshapen and pilling. I also have other tops that I paid more money for, and they look great after being worn several times. Also, I wear the clothes that I love and are flattering the most. So-so clothing stays in my closet and eventually gets donated or thrown out. I keep this in mind whenever I shop. If I try on something and have to think about whether I should buy it, that means I need to put it back on the rack. Slowly, my closet is transitioning to one with only thing I love. Also, I am buying less and spending a lot less money but am very happy with the few things that I do buy.

I cannot help you with a website that focuses on wardrobe downsizing because I have not found one that I really like. My problem with the ones that I have looked at is that I think they downsize too much. I want a smaller wardrobe but not a tiny one. If I ruin my pair of dressy jeans, for example, I do not want to have to run to the mall and find a replacement because that was my only pair. Downsizing means different things to each of us. I am trying to develop a wardrobe that is the right size for me with just the right amount of basics and unique pieces that work for my life.

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

kitty45 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 23:05:47 GMT

dperry, try Project 333

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

Squirrel Lover — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:43:18 GMT

thanks I will take a look at the project 333 website!

Re: ComPact 2015 -- September

FindingMyJoy — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:37:24 GMT

Dosey - Great job not just buying anything at Chico's just for the sake of using the coupon!!!!! I know I've been tempted to buy stuff just because I have a coupon and have to spend X dollar amount to get the discount. Stores definitely know what they are doing when they set the dollar amount minimum.