Beauty

[just bee]

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wrote:

For those of you getting rid of shampoo, see if your local Humane Society or an animal rescue organization can use it wash the animals.

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@PAlady

Now that's a great idea!

[rnmom]

HEP wasn't a total failure in January. I only lost 2 pounds, but it's better than gaining. The family is still enjoying some treats, as am I, but we are starting to make at least a few better food choices. My older son is still conscious of trying to eat better and cut back a little bit, so that is a plus. Younger son not so much. 

Spending overall was pretty good in January too, we bought a few items but most were necessities and I didn't buy any beauty/skincare products. I will need to order some morning SPF moisturizer soon but I'm going to try to just get that and nothing else because I just don't want to add to the pile, even though it's so tempting. I really have plenty of everything. I haven't even used my Christmas gift cards yet and that is huge!

I checked out the purging thread on the home forum and those ladies are really purging! I think it's awesome, but I just don't have that much to get rid of. I am on a constant purge of sorts it seems, I really try hard to get rid of unneeded items as I run across them, either to trash or donate, I make several Salvation army runs throughout the year. I don't like clutter and try to get it out as soon as I can. There's just too much chaos in the house as it is, I don't need a bunch of extra clutter adding to it. 

I'm hoping to keep up some good momentum in February, we can still improve on HEP and I want to continue to be very mindful of our spending. Like @just bee said, it's a short month so I can do this!

[just bee]

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wrote:

@Oshare-girl-OMG your family sounds just like mine! I'm always going around turning lights off and shutting doors too! Drives me crazy! They will do some decluttering, for kids they actually aren't too bad, but I'd love for them to get rid of some more, hubby too. He has a lot of stuff. I declutter where I can but so many things I just can't touch because it's not "my" stuff. 

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@rnmom

Well, just let me say that I appreciate that you have boundaries.  I don't like my things "touched" and BH has been getting touchy lately.

I'm not sure what to do about it because I can't risk another metacarpal fracture.

[rnmom]

@just bee-I do try to keep boundaries, even though it drives me crazy sometimes. Some of the stuff that is obvious trash I will toss, for both hubby and the kids, but the majority of the stuff that's theirs, I always try to ask before I just get rid of stuff. I wouldn't want someone else making a decision about getting rid of my stuff, so I try to respect them in that way too. 

It sounds like you're making at least some progress, getting rid of magazines, board games, books, etc. Hubby should be happy that at least some things are going out. You didn't accummulate it all at once, it takes years, so it will take a while to get it all out. 

[just bee]

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wrote:

Happy February...already!  I have started a couple bags of good dates "impulse purchases" to donate to a local organization called Angels for the Elderly. They make the donations available to Senior citizens that may need a little help making ends meet.  The things donated like body wash, shampoos, soap,  moisturizers...help them free up money

for food and other bills.

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@hellokitty

That's a wonderful idea.  When I was doing my clinicals in local nursing homes, the residents never had any toiletries.  Family members assumed the facilities provided them.

It was especially bad on the "memory wards."  Even if a resident had something nice like a bottle of lotion it would be confiscated because of the risk of other residents wandering into the room and ingesting it.

I'm getting depressed just thinking about it.

But you're right.  Even someone who is living independently on a fixed income may choose not to buy basic toiletries.

[Skyegirl21]

I’m on a roll since about. Mid- January, (bought nothing) and that’s success for me!   

I do best when I plan little home projects for myself. I’m gonna custom paint my laundry bifold doors and I have planked wall to faux- paint to look worn and reclaimed.  Its so fun to be creative and if you use Pinterest and YouTube, you can get ideas and learn what to do.  Naturally, im not artsy at all-  it’s Fun and no time to shop for un- needed stuff when working on a home improvement project.   Stay busy, that’s my strategy!   

Keep it goin all !  💝💝 Skye-

[just bee]

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wrote:

@just bee-I do try to keep boundaries, even though it drives me crazy sometimes. Some of the stuff that is obvious trash I will toss, for both hubby and the kids, but the majority of the stuff that's theirs, I always try to ask before I just get rid of stuff. I wouldn't want someone else making a decision about getting rid of my stuff, so I try to respect them in that way too. 

It sounds like you're making at least some progress, getting rid of magazines, board games, books, etc. Hubby should be happy that at least some things are going out. You didn't accummulate it all at once, it takes years, so it will take a while to get it all out. 

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@rnmom

That's how I feel.  But he has no emotional attachment to things.  He wants to get rid of the little stereo system I have.  I admit I'm not using it -- the speakers aren't functioning as they should -- but it was a gift from my sister.  Most of my things were given to me by people who aren't here anymore.

But I imagine they're somewhere and they're probably saying, "Just get rid of that ____!" 

Who knows.

[just bee]

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wrote:

I’m on a roll since about. Mid- January, (bought nothing) and that’s success for me!   

I do best when I plan little home projects for myself. I’m gonna custom paint my laundry bifold doors and I have planked wall to faux- paint to look worn and reclaimed.  Its so fun to be creative and if you use Pinterest and YouTube, you can get ideas and learn what to do.  Naturally, im not artsy at all-  it’s Fun and no time to shop for un- needed stuff when working on a home improvement project.   Stay busy, that’s my strategy!   

Keep it goin all !  💝💝 Skye-

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@Skyegirl21

Can you bottle some of that enthusiasm and send it to Albuquerque?  I'm looking at all the "whitewash" cabinetry in the house (just the rage in 1990s homes) and wondering how I'm going to deal with it.  It's looking worn and reclaimed all on its own right now.  But not in a good way.

[just bee]

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@just bee

What brand did you finally decide on?

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@geezerette

I looked for the cheapest washer on the market.  I went all old school on it.  Found a basic Amana with a porcelain tub and an agitator.  In fact, it's a dual action agitator.  There's even a deep-fill option if I choose to put water in my washer.

My final load in the dead washer was a heartbreaker.  I opened the lid after the cycle and half the load was still dry.

I didn't realize until after we set the Amana up for delivery and installation that Amana was bought by Whirlpool.

Everybody owns somebody.

[just bee]

Now here's a thought -- and I'm not making excuses.

Part of my hesitation, I think, about making donations of stuff was the whole process of proving it to the IRS.  So much easier to write a check or click on the mouse to donate.  Easy to prove that.

But now, with tax reform, all those itemized deductions are meaningless.  I don't have to carry a stack of paper into H&R Block.  Now when I donate it will be purely altruistic and I don't even have to keep track of it.

I was picturing myself washing all the clothes I have to donate and, while they're in the machine, typing lists of what would be going out the door.  Fine except for the part about having all that extra time to change my mind. 

Do I really want to donate all my old Hawaiian shirts?  What if I'm invited to a luau?  What if there's a National Hawaiian Shirt Day?  What if Tom Selleck dies?

There are donation bins all over this town.  Receipts from Salvation Army or Goodwill are useless now.  I can be spontaneous and drop stuff into the bins on my way to wherever.

It's kinda freeing.