topic Re: ComPact 2014 -- January in Beauty

ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:02:50 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 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:07:08 GMT

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

New Leaf — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 14:32:55 GMT

Happy New Year! I have read the ComPact often, but this is my first post.

I am determined to gain control over paper! This is the one area that creates the biggest source of clutter for me. I started this week by designating a place for the mail and declaring the kitchen counter as a "no paper zone."

This is a huge task. I have boxes and baskets of paper. Meanwhile, I have a filing cabinet that is nearly empty. Go figure. Somehow, there is never the time to deal with it, but I have to make the time.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

dakotacheryl — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 14:42:37 GMT

Happy New Year to my fellow ""smarter shoppers"" !!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

Tique — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:48:33 GMT

Happy New Year!

I am still in the process of figuring out what my personal goal will be with ComPact. I get to determine my own journey so I'll be here.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

Beauty$Junkie — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:56:00 GMT

Happy New Year to all my fellow ComPacters. Thanks so much for all your comments, it has given me such strength. I am ready to stay strong in 2014. One day at a time I will use this stuff and clean out what I have. Life is just a work in process for me so I will not let that overwhelming stash stress me out. Good luck to all of us. Thanks Bee for getting us going again.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:56:13 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Tique said:
Happy New Year!

I am still in the process of figuring out what my personal goal will be with ComPact. I get to determine my own journey so I'll be here.

Allow the January No-Buy Bandwagon to provide transportation on your journey!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:58:15 GMT

On 1/1/2014 New Leaf said:
Happy New Year! I have read the ComPact often, but this is my first post.

I am determined to gain control over paper! This is the one area that creates the biggest source of clutter for me. I started this week by designating a place for the mail and declaring the kitchen counter as a "no paper zone."

This is a huge task. I have boxes and baskets of paper. Meanwhile, I have a filing cabinet that is nearly empty. Go figure. Somehow, there is never the time to deal with it, but I have to make the time.

I hear ya on the paper! And the filing cabinet!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:00:35 GMT

On 1/1/2014 dakotacheryl said:
Happy New Year to my fellow ""smarter shoppers"" !!

Back atcha!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:02:02 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Beauty$Junkie said:
Happy New Year to all my fellow ComPacters. Thanks so much for all your comments, it has given me such strength. I am ready to stay strong in 2014. One day at a time I will use this stuff and clean out what I have. Life is just a work in process for me so I will not let that overwhelming stash stress me out. Good luck to all of us. Thanks Bee for getting us going again.

Your mantra for 2014: One by one until it's done.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

NetteJ — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:41:31 GMT

Today is an off day for me, so I am going to start on the spreadsheet suggestions. I think this will be a great way for me to see at a glance, where I am in this warehouse. Compacting for 1/2 of 2013 turned out great for me in saving money, just showed me what mindlessly spending does for you.

I will also track all of the wonderful things I will be able to do by not overbuying. Like I want to update all of my towels, start/finish home projects, add more for retirement, etc. Im excited to see how this pans out. Im still dreaming about this section.

I am serious about my warehouse, Im on no buy for Jan, but truthfully I could go to 2015 on skincare, mu, perfumes, etc.

Someone said in her thread that when she talks to people about her stash, they look at her like she's insane. Same here, my BF thinks this is a joke, doesn't get it. So you guys will be my only friends in this effort. And that is OK with me.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

luvmybonnie — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:44:09 GMT

Just Bee, thank you for keeping this thread going for 2014! I'm back in, with hopes that I'll do much better this year than I did in 2013. January is a no-buy month for me, and I want to start attacking all parts of my home, bit by bit; need to get rid of so many things we no longer need/use.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:48:38 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Beauty$Junkie said:
I am ready to stay strong in 2014. One day at a time I will use this stuff and clean out what I have. Life is just a work in process for me so I will not let that overwhelming stash stress me out. Good luck to all of us.

Beauty$Junkie makes an excellent point here. Have you been allowing your collections to stress you out?

I've been thinking about this because towards the end of 2013 I focused on what I hadn't yet accomplished. Some of you ladies cleared out hundreds of items and I felt like I was still surrounded by "stuff." What made it worse was that I haven't been bringing more into the house. I've stopped the flow, yet the "stuff" is still here. I can't get through products fast enough. And, frankly, I really started to feel the weight of them over the last few weeks.

I realized that I was making myself feel bad about this. In a way, this makes no sense. Yes, undoubtedly it was unwise to collect all the shower gels and lotions, but I'm looking at this the wrong way.

I should look at the bottles and say: "I don't have to spend a dime on shower gels and lotions for the next ___ years!"

I can't keep focusing on what I can't accomplish. I have to refocus and look at the areas where I can make progress. That's why I opened the closet yesterday and pulled out 13 (it actually ended up to be 15) products to toss. I threw away two tubes of shelter -- one was unopened and still in the box. They expired years ago and I just had to say to myself: "Look. You bought these because you've been told you MUST wear sunscreen. You tried to wear it, it doesn't work for you, so just forget about it and let the sun shine."

There are a lot of items that we think we need. We're told every day that we need these. Maybe it's supplements, maybe it's exercise equipment, maybe it's a food processor, maybe it's a jar of miracle cream, maybe it's some low-fat, low-flavor health food that you've been told you need to eat. You all have one or more of these items that you've been holding onto for years. I have an unopened tube of Natural Advantage cream. I think it's from the 90s or maybe 2000. I haven't been able to throw it away. I threw a lot of things away yesterday, but I kept this tube. It's probably turned to battery acid. Why do I still hang onto it?

Do you have an item that's haunting you? Is this the year the two of you will part?

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

willdob3 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:54:35 GMT

Happy New Year, ComPactors! Thanks, Bee, for keeping this group going! you're the best!

Welcome New Leaf! I'm working on getting rid of boxes & papers, too! Many of us are!

Wow, a new year! Just think how much progress we'll make in the next 12 months!

I did manage to finish off a few more products yesterday & I also have a couple with just a few more uses left. That gives me a nice & and beginning!

I'll post my final counts as well as goals for January later today or tomorrow.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

aprilskies — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:07:27 GMT

On 1/1/2014 New Leaf said:
Happy New Year! I have read the ComPact often, but this is my first post.

I am determined to gain control over paper! This is the one area that creates the biggest source of clutter for me. I started this week by designating a place for the mail and declaring the kitchen counter as a "no paper zone."

This is a huge task. I have boxes and baskets of paper. Meanwhile, I have a filing cabinet that is nearly empty. Go figure. Somehow, there is never the time to deal with it, but I have to make the time.

Welcome. This is one area I was hoping to have in good shape by today but didn't make it. I did move my filing cabinet to a more convenient spot and easily accessible.. I will organize, file all I have in bins and boxes and then purge and then go in and see if I can scan and keep things on my computer. ....or at the very least get things filed quickly. My goal is to keep things electronically but right now it is daunting so I am breaking it down into little goals because otherwise I avoid it and it never gets done. One of my goals last year was to keep my dining/kitchen table clear, I did good for awhile and then failed. But I think now that I moved my filing cabinet I will be able to keep to that goal. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

Allegedly — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:10:24 GMT

Happy 2014 everyone! I did my own version of the compact in 2012 and went 6 months without buying any cosmetics. I was so proud of myself. Last year was not so successful but I am determined to do better this year. I have made incredible progress not purchasing extra bath products. Now, if I could just stop buying lipgloss...

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:14:59 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Smurfette said:
Happy 2014 everyone! I did my own version of the compact in 2012 and went 6 months without buying any cosmetics. I was so proud of myself. Last year was not so successful but I am determined to do better this year. I have made incredible progress not purchasing extra bath products. Now, if I could just stop buying lipgloss...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw

Have you ever seen this Bob Newhart sketch?

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

Hoggie — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:26:42 GMT

(Bob Newhart) ....that was way too funny!!!!.....I think it may have actually helped me! )

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

luvrubies — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:29:52 GMT

Morning all! Got my cabbage & ham going in the crock pot, gonna fry up some potatoes. But wanted to post my goals for 2014. I'm using up my many tubes of Avon foot care lotions, even tho I have my favorite. Using up my bath gels & even the small pieces OS soap that DH leaves strewn in the shower. Have committed to using up at least 2 bottles of perfume & I have many! I am using up my makeup foundation before I buy more. Ditto for mascara & eye shadows. I originally vowed to my no more lipstick or glosses until I've used up some. I'm trying..... Now, I am not even gonna try to give up purses just yet. One step at a time!

Re: ComPact 2014 -- January

just bee — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:31:05 GMT

Have you ladies all seen the current thread: ""2014 Beauty no-nos?"" Looks like this is another area where people need some ComPacting!

I just posted my beauty ""needs"" for 2014 over there. Do I need these items to survive? Of course not. I just need them in order to look presentable. I'll repeat the post here because I kinda want to see how far I get without buying something other than what's on my ""need list.""

Here 'tis:

The only beauty items I'll need in 2014 are mascara and Lumene BB cream. That won't happen until April. And I might need to replace shampoo and conditioner sometime -- maybe late summer or fall.

Wait -- I lied. I'll need a new bottle of Thayers witch hazel this year.

Okay -- there it is! In print for all the world to see!