Beauty

[just bee]

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@FindingMyJoy wrote:

Happy New Year!! I hope 2020 brings happiness, peace, health and decluttering to all!!

I mentioned in last month's thread that 1 big goal for January is I want to use up items in my kitchen cabinets. I have several cans, jars of random stuff. My grocery shopping is allowed for fresh items like dairy, fresh veggies and fruit, plus random items needed to complete a recipe which uses several pantry items. I hope to see my grocery bills majorly shrink this month! If I do want a minor splurge like a frozen pizza here or there, I will allow it as a treat. Today I used up an old box of biscuit mix that was pushed to back of a shelf. The biscuits turned out quite well! Cross 1 item used from the pantry! Also used chicken from freezer that's been in there a while so cross off another item!

My major issue to take control over buying is body care including shower gels, body creams, hand creams. I decided to jumpstart the year by laying out my current stash and counting. Yep, it confirmed I have enough stuff for a large family or heck maybe my neighborhood block for a year?? One good thing from 2019, I have tackled and used up all the large 32 ounce Philosophy shower gels with the decision that this is my least favorite body care line so temptation to buy should be greatly reduced. Here are my numbers: shower gels 28, Body creams 36, hand creams 8, mini creams 1 ounce or smaller 34. One good thing in review of the items is 2018 is oldest, that's also the saddest thing - look at all the stuff i bought in 2 years? what a waste of mindless spending. But the money is spent so not beating myself up about it, i will just have glorious looking skin when all is used!!

For all who are trying to use up a stash, what's the best method? Do you first use up the scents you know you love? Or use up a lesser favorite to check it off the used list? Do you tackle smaller containers first to make a dent in the stash? I'm open to suggestions. I had been doing 1 shower gel only in shower but find I get tired of scent and often feel like i need a different scent for a different mood so this year I can have 2 open in the shower that reflect different scents to give me variety. I'm also using least favorite shower gels as handsoaps to help use it up vs buying other liquid soaps for the sinks.

One random goal for 2020 - weed out the used clothes that I have used so much and need to be thrown out. I'm a clothes user that I will wear something until it's dead aka stained, ripped, has a hole, lost its elastic stretch etc. especially since i'm fulltime work at home for my current job. My drawers of socks, underwear and bras I know contain items that need to be thrown out. So my goal is as I reach in to wear something, if it's in bad shape, it's worn one last time then thrown out instead of washing and putting back in the drawer. After a few months, I hope to have weeded out several items and know that I'm using newer items vs "saving them for special events". 

I'm working on setting my health goals for 2020. I need to set something for January that is doable so I can look at this month as a success vs a failure to really jumpstart 2020 as a year of better health. 

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@FindingMyJoy 

Boy, does this sound familiar.  I think I had 127 shower gels at one point.  Not only was that money wasted, but it was time wasted because before any shower I had to figure out if my mood was foodie, floral or fruity.

I finally worked through most of the shower products by sticking with one until it was done.  Using them as hand soap worked really well, too.

I would have told you to use the ones you don't care for first and save your favorites.  That's what I did.  I couldn't wait to get to my last bottles of Vanilla Bean Noel and Crispy Marshmallow Bars.  Unfortunately, just when I was at the point where I was down to a handful of shower gels, the house went up in flames and I had to toss my toiletries.

Use your favorites now.

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

@just bee -i don't think that your inventory sounds like it's too much at all. Other than maybe eyeshadows, it doesn't sound like you have any excess. It just takes so long to use up eyeshadow, I swear one palette can last for years. That collection just might last you the rest of your life.

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@rnmom 

Those are all the eyeshadows I bought before the fire.  I had this weird idea that I would start using more than one color on my lids.  And they were on sale.

I should have tossed them, but I didn't.  Probably toxic from soot contamination.  But I'm still using one color on my lids.  Worse, my hair will go either gray or white before I make a dent in these brown shades so they'll probably end up in the trash anyway.

I have some non-browns I can use when my hair changes.  Still, these eyeshadows will outlive me.

[Eager2Learn]

I have a confession. I have been avoiding the ComPact thread for 2 reasons: 1. It's on the beauty forum (too much temptation) and 2. I fell off the wagon hard and for a long time (2-3 years?).

Last year I did well decluttering clothing and household items, but not face, body, hair products, toiletries, etc. This year I wound up with 32 more of those items than I had last January.

My biggest problem is I can't resist a good sale, free shipping, and/or reading someone's recommedation (hence avoiding the beauty forum). I just have to buy!

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I won't post my total of "beauty items", I would be too embarrassed.

I think I'll start a spreadsheet: what's on hand, what's used up/going out, and what's coming in.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

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@FindingMyJoy wrote:

Happy New Year!! I hope 2020 brings happiness, peace, health and decluttering to all!!

I mentioned in last month's thread that 1 big goal for January is I want to use up items in my kitchen cabinets. I have several cans, jars of random stuff. My grocery shopping is allowed for fresh items like dairy, fresh veggies and fruit, plus random items needed to complete a recipe which uses several pantry items. I hope to see my grocery bills majorly shrink this month! If I do want a minor splurge like a frozen pizza here or there, I will allow it as a treat. Today I used up an old box of biscuit mix that was pushed to back of a shelf. The biscuits turned out quite well! Cross 1 item used from the pantry! Also used chicken from freezer that's been in there a while so cross off another item!

My major issue to take control over buying is body care including shower gels, body creams, hand creams. I decided to jumpstart the year by laying out my current stash and counting. Yep, it confirmed I have enough stuff for a large family or heck maybe my neighborhood block for a year?? One good thing from 2019, I have tackled and used up all the large 32 ounce Philosophy shower gels with the decision that this is my least favorite body care line so temptation to buy should be greatly reduced. Here are my numbers: shower gels 28, Body creams 36, hand creams 8, mini creams 1 ounce or smaller 34. One good thing in review of the items is 2018 is oldest, that's also the saddest thing - look at all the stuff i bought in 2 years? what a waste of mindless spending. But the money is spent so not beating myself up about it, i will just have glorious looking skin when all is used!!

For all who are trying to use up a stash, what's the best method? Do you first use up the scents you know you love? Or use up a lesser favorite to check it off the used list? Do you tackle smaller containers first to make a dent in the stash? I'm open to suggestions. I had been doing 1 shower gel only in shower but find I get tired of scent and often feel like i need a different scent for a different mood so this year I can have 2 open in the shower that reflect different scents to give me variety. I'm also using least favorite shower gels as handsoaps to help use it up vs buying other liquid soaps for the sinks.

One random goal for 2020 - weed out the used clothes that I have used so much and need to be thrown out. I'm a clothes user that I will wear something until it's dead aka stained, ripped, has a hole, lost its elastic stretch etc. especially since i'm fulltime work at home for my current job. My drawers of socks, underwear and bras I know contain items that need to be thrown out. So my goal is as I reach in to wear something, if it's in bad shape, it's worn one last time then thrown out instead of washing and putting back in the drawer. After a few months, I hope to have weeded out several items and know that I'm using newer items vs "saving them for special events". 

I'm working on setting my health goals for 2020. I need to set something for January that is doable so I can look at this month as a success vs a failure to really jumpstart 2020 as a year of better health. 

---

@FindingMyJoy 

Boy, does this sound familiar.  I think I had 127 shower gels at one point.  Not only was that money wasted, but it was time wasted because before any shower I had to figure out if my mood was foodie, floral or fruity.

I finally worked through most of the shower products by sticking with one until it was done.  Using them as hand soap worked really well, too.

I would have told you to use the ones you don't care for first and save your favorites.  That's what I did.  I couldn't wait to get to my last bottles of Vanilla Bean Noel and Crispy Marshmallow Bars.  Unfortunately, just when I was at the point where I was down to a handful of shower gels, the house went up in flames and I had to toss my toiletries.

Use your favorites now.

---

@FindingMyJoy 

@just bee 

Hopefully your house won't go up in flames, @FindingMyJoy , but another reason to use the scents first that you like best is there's always the possibility that the ones you save until last may go bad by the time you get to them.

Would you rather have your favorites turn, or ones you don't really care for?

[just bee]

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@Eager2Learn wrote:

I have a confession. I have been avoiding the ComPact thread for 2 reasons: 1. It's on the beauty forum (too much temptation) and 2. I fell off the wagon hard and for a long time (2-3 years?).

Last year I did well decluttering clothing and household items, but not face, body, hair products, toiletries, etc. This year I wound up with 32 more of those items than I had last January.

My biggest problem is I can't resist a good sale, free shipping, and/or reading someone's recommedation (hence avoiding the beauty forum). I just have to buy!

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I won't post my total of "beauty items", I would be too embarrassed.

I think I'll start a spreadsheet: what's on hand, what's used up/going out, and what's coming in.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

---

@Eager2Learn 

                   

[just bee]

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@Eager2Learn wrote:

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

---

@Eager2Learn 

That's the key word: Commitment!  We're all making progress here so you picked a good time to come back!

[geezerette]

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@Eager2Learn wrote:

I have a confession. I have been avoiding the ComPact thread for 2 reasons: 1. It's on the beauty forum (too much temptation) and 2. I fell off the wagon hard and for a long time (2-3 years?).

Last year I did well decluttering clothing and household items, but not face, body, hair products, toiletries, etc. This year I wound up with 32 more of those items than I had last January.

My biggest problem is I can't resist a good sale, free shipping, and/or reading someone's recommedation (hence avoiding the beauty forum). I just have to buy!

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I won't post my total of "beauty items", I would be too embarrassed.

I think I'll start a spreadsheet: what's on hand, what's used up/going out, and what's coming in.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

---

@Eager2Learn 

First, WELCOME! 👋

Second, don't ever be embarrassed to come here and post.  We're all in the same boat, or we wouldn't be here either.  You should read some of the things I've confessed about on this thread!  Oy!  Thank goodness we have screen names!  Or just come and read if you don't want to post.  This thread has morphed into more than just decluttering and simplifying our beauty products.  We also talk about good eating, our houses, problems, successes, whatever.  I'm sure you'll find someone with the same concern(s) as you have.

Recognizing your behavior, accepting your actions, and then acknowledging you want to change are all the first steps.  Which means that youre already half-way down the road to success! 👏👍  After all, you can't change what you don't acknowledge you're doing, now can you?

Lastly, while we're all not always successful in our goals, lots of times it's just comforting to know we're not the only ones in the same boat and get some encouraging words from someone else. 

Don't be a stranger!😉🙂

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@Eager2Learn wrote:

I have a confession. I have been avoiding the ComPact thread for 2 reasons: 1. It's on the beauty forum (too much temptation) and 2. I fell off the wagon hard and for a long time (2-3 years?).

Last year I did well decluttering clothing and household items, but not face, body, hair products, toiletries, etc. This year I wound up with 32 more of those items than I had last January.

My biggest problem is I can't resist a good sale, free shipping, and/or reading someone's recommedation (hence avoiding the beauty forum). I just have to buy!

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I won't post my total of "beauty items", I would be too embarrassed.

I think I'll start a spreadsheet: what's on hand, what's used up/going out, and what's coming in.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

---

@Eager2Learn 

First, WELCOME! 👋

Second, don't ever be embarrassed to come here and post.  We're all in the same boat, or we wouldn't be here either.  You should read some of the things I've confessed about on this thread!  Oy!  Thank goodness we have screen names!  Or just come and read if you don't want to post.  This thread has morphed into more than just decluttering and simplifying our beauty products.  We also talk about good eating, our houses, problems, successes, whatever.  I'm sure you'll find someone with the same concern(s) as you have.

Recognizing your behavior, accepting your actions, and then acknowledging you want to change are all the first steps.  Which means that youre already half-way down the road to success! 👏👍  After all, you can't change what you don't acknowledge you're doing, now can you?

Lastly, while we're all not always successful in our goals, lots of times it's just comforting to know we're not the only ones in the same boat and get some encouraging words from someone else. 

Don't be a stranger!😉🙂

---

@Eager2Learn 

Yeah!  What she said!

[geezerette]

Have you ever placed an order for something that you knew you really shouldn't?  Maybe a "just this once" or "this is the last time I do this" thing?  And then had a problem with the order?  And have to spend time waiting for someone in customer service to try and resolve the problem?  Ack!  I swear I'm being punished when this happens.  I rarely have problems with something I order that I really need.

Just another reason to quit buying things I don't really need!  😖

I just don't understand why it's taken me this long to realize that I am causing this frustration in my life myself.  Good grief.  There's enough frustration for me in daily living anymore--I don't need to add to it!😠

[Eager2Learn]

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@Eager2Learn wrote:

I have a confession. I have been avoiding the ComPact thread for 2 reasons: 1. It's on the beauty forum (too much temptation) and 2. I fell off the wagon hard and for a long time (2-3 years?).

Last year I did well decluttering clothing and household items, but not face, body, hair products, toiletries, etc. This year I wound up with 32 more of those items than I had last January.

My biggest problem is I can't resist a good sale, free shipping, and/or reading someone's recommedation (hence avoiding the beauty forum). I just have to buy!

But since it's 2020 I've decided to re-commit. I floated this thread to the top and hopefully won't be as tempted to read the other beauty threads with recs.

I won't post my total of "beauty items", I would be too embarrassed.

I think I'll start a spreadsheet: what's on hand, what's used up/going out, and what's coming in.

I'll be posting here and on the Declutter 2020 thread. See you all here or there!

---

@Eager2Learn 

First, WELCOME! 👋

Second, don't ever be embarrassed to come here and post.  We're all in the same boat, or we wouldn't be here either.  You should read some of the things I've confessed about on this thread!  Oy!  Thank goodness we have screen names!  Or just come and read if you don't want to post.  This thread has morphed into more than just decluttering and simplifying our beauty products.  We also talk about good eating, our houses, problems, successes, whatever.  I'm sure you'll find someone with the same concern(s) as you have.

Recognizing your behavior, accepting your actions, and then acknowledging you want to change are all the first steps.  Which means that youre already half-way down the road to success! 👏👍  After all, you can't change what you don't acknowledge you're doing, now can you?

Lastly, while we're all not always successful in our goals, lots of times it's just comforting to know we're not the only ones in the same boat and get some encouraging words from someone else. 

Don't be a stranger!😉🙂

---

@Eager2Learn 

Yeah!  What she said!

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Thank you both!