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Today I ventured into the bathroom cupboard and got all of the half used bottles of shampoo and conditioner out, and I am going to use them all up before I even think to buy any new. Conditioner may take a while but reminding myself of what I have and letting things actually run down to empties is what I’m aiming for. I am luckily fully stocked on pretty much everything, so I will just keep using what I have and refrain from trying any new products or treating myself and once I am LITERALLY out of a product, then I can purchase new.
This may sound very simple but it’s honestly shocking how many new shampoos I’ve been buying when they essentially all do the same thing??

Both paydays since we started this thread I have been able to not be in my overdraft, overpay on what I owe and still save. I feel so much mentally lighter! You guys are such a support and it is so lovely to see how well everyone has been doing.

I think it’s good to also sit with when you did end up spending, because once upon a time you wouldn’t have given it a second thought, so even a few posters who have expressed recognising this, you’re still smashing it having a mindful retrospective and taking learning is still a win in my book.

Hey guys can I join? I had an epiphany yesterday.

I’ve got sucked into the ‘minimalist’ aesthetic by watching too many TikTok’s and Instagram vids and was feeling like I need to replace a lot of my wardrobe with basics. I cleared out some clothes for the charity shop- some of which are too big as I’ve lost weight- and on the top of the bag was a pastel ombré jumper that I previously loved but now felt wasn’t chic or minimalist or whatever.

I went into town and tried a cute polka dot jumper on in cream and was literally on my way to the till to buy it when I thought to myself ‘this jumper is £45. You could save that £45 for your holiday. There is nothing wrong with the pastel jumper. Keep it.’ So I abandoned my purchase and kept the old jumper.

I often shop because I want to cheer myself up or whatever. No more!

Chocolategoggler said:

I was reading an article about decluttering the other day and it had the usual mantras, but one stood out "can I live without it".
I shot upstairs to try it out on decluttering my clothes which I've been struggling with and was amazed at what I could live without.

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Similarly, I’m currently in the process of selling all but one of my designer-y handbags after the stark realisation that my most used and reached for “handbags” are actually:

• A 75p Tesco bag for life
• A cheap canvas tote bag from New Look that I’ve had for close to a decade and probably only cost me ~£4
• A mini Herschel backpack which I bought on sale for £22.50 and feels good for my back

The plan to put the funds from the sales towards something more useful (to me)

I went into Superdrug on Saturday and bought two things I needed, Lip balm and deodorant.
Not a huge deal but prior to this I’d come out with £50 spent on make up and hair products.
Felt very proud of myself to stick to only what I needed.
This thread is definitely doing me good.

Had a win today, ordered 2 bare minerals foundations as they were 25% off (need them as they don’t last long and only thing I can use)
They came and one of them had leaked some power from the bottom of the pot. I emailed the company about it and they said would I be happy with a refund on one of them, I said yes. There’s nothing wrong with it except some powder is missing. Just had my refund and they’ve refunded both . They’re perfectly fine and I’ve re sealed the bottom of the pot now, it had come slightly loose in transit. Glad I complained as I wasn’t going to and am £54 better off

Thought that this might be appreciated on this thread

There’s a tweet that obviously I now cannot find - but it was something like “only 3 household purchases away from having my life in order, they’ll really turn things around for me” or something to that effect - basically how we buy to have a feeling not the item, but we’ll never get the feeling with the items, which is why I come with this super off yet sort of on topic comment:

Today I’ve had a lovely day of feeling like my life is in order for totally free. I did a ton of meal prep (which saves SO much food from being wasted anyway!) - made some pickled veg, made 2 diff salads, roasted some sweet potatoes for dinner tomorrow, re organised the fridge whilst I was at it too. I cleaned all the upstairs windows, did a proper vacuum upstairs, have made a pile of bits to sort out in my office that I’ll tackle tomorrow, just feel so serene and like I’m on top of things without being plagued by thoughts of what I should be finishing in the house to make it perfect? Tl;dr do recommend the transformational joy of just cleaning a window and chopping celery lol.

A lot of this sentiment is trending rn with gen z asking millennials how we survived the last crash. A lot of content pointing out that we didn’t have 12 step skin care routines, bought make up once a year, time shared going out clothes, and no one had interiors or travel Instagram accounts !

Also saw a gr8 video on half terms and how back in the day you’d do one thing and that’d be the treat and every other day would just be normal playing at home. I find it really hard to find a balance as I didn’t have a normal/nice childhood to mirror, so I’m guilty of over correcting. We’re doing something every day but today’s activity is a “girly bedroom makeover” which is just a deep clean with fab PR, moving some fairy lights from the playroom to her room, and putting up a shelf (god willing on that one lol). Will also try to plant some bulbs in pots and then we’ve got an activity in watering them too

It says something when we are all trying to give so much rubbish to charity shops they are overflowing. Even the usual warehouse one that takes it all had limited each person to 2 bags or boxes, and directed clothes donations to the big containers in their car park which were also full. Surely we are at tipping point with consumerism and something has to give. I do try to give away/sell before donating but when i have a few bags, it’s overwhelming and I would rather it gone.

pinkmug said:

How do you plan to navigate the holiday season? I keep seeing people saying that they are done with gift shopping, sharing prep charts etc. It's so easy to be tempted by the decor and the pressure of buying more.

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I am ruthless at Christmas now. Sit down with a list of everyone you usually buy for and ask yourself do they really need a present - agree with them you are not doing it anymore. They will probably be relieved. If you have young children get toys they rarely use and put them aside and rewrap for Christmas. I accept this wont work for any child over the age of 5 perhaps. Speak to family, perhaps do a secret santa to avoid having to buy lots. I am in a lucky position with being able to buy a short weekend holiday for all my family members as a group present I do this because it is easier than spending money on things people don't need, but I started doing the above with presents years ago because the simple fact is none of us really need anything and were buying things for the sake of it.

Don't get wrapped up in the whole instagram of having 20 trees (usually gifted) no one in real life does that. Get out your old decorations which will be fine. I dont know one single person who has ever come to my house at Christmas and complemented me on my decorations (which are shit by the way). No one in real life cares about decorations and lights we are just being sold that!! The fact is we are being sold an over consumption of food, presents and decor when this is the last thing any of us need.

I appreciate that the above is hard if you have young children but perhaps focus on the magic of Santa rather than the buying.

Just my thoughts - welcome anyone elses take on it.

You know how people say you shouldn't go to the store when you're hungry because you end up buying more food?
I accidentally discovered another tip today, and it's that if you go to the store when you need to pee you'll only buy the bare minimum to be out of there as soon as possible lol.

@heretoreaditall2019 and @really_whythough - I appreciate your comments so much! I read @heretoreaditall2019 's comment a couple hours ago and have been mulling it over ever since. And then @really_whythough gave me more to think about.

I have never ever viewed it as a self-care thing, but more of a 'me being lazy and disorganised' thing and a 'why can't I like shopping like normal people' thing. Wow. I have had a huge light-bulb moment, tell you what. You're absolutely right.

I have a shopping centre near me with a whacking great M&S, Uniqlo and John Lewis in it. Next opportunity I get, I will limp there in my latest terrible pair of boots and get myself sorted out . I have a weekend away booked in April and I really would like to be kitted out for that, without panic buying.

carriebooboo said:

I have a few vintage items from 10-15 years ago that are too big for me. Not fancy stuff, more good quality every day wear, the kind of stuff that's really hard to find these days. Will I look like a weirdo taking old high street stuff to get altered?

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Not at all! I have taken high street items to get altered many times and my alternations lady has been buzzing that it is becoming more common. She's a proper eco warrior and was getting fed up of just doing wedding dresses so it's a win win for her

Edit to add - I work with a lot of Italians and this is super common there. Even H&M gets altered. That's why Italians look so good, their clothes fit properly

Chocolategoggler said:

I'm really strictish with myself now, but do fall off the wagon in an emergency - like when my hair went afro virtually overnight last summer. I eventually solved it with products I already had.
So I suppose I'm learning not to panic buy but instead try and look for solutions with what I've got.

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this makes me think of a phrase used by a decluttering email list I used to be on (yes, I'm email lists old!)

shop at home first

When we identify a need/or want, the idea was to shop at home first - see if you can meet that need with something you already have. Often we might have something similar already but long forgotten about, hidden behind other purchases, or something we hadn't looked at in that light before. If shopping at home didn't work, they then advised to procrastinate before purchasing. Could the purchase be deferred, even briefly? That procrastination gives space to find other solutions, make do with what we have, ride it out past the period of need (e.g. managing the last few weeks of winter with a winter coat with a stain on it, it turning out to be quite mild and the coat was hardly needed), find better priced alternatives (sale) or freebies (stick a badge over the stain!).

It doesn't always work and I loved the post by 50degreesnorth about buying the table that sparked joy and provides better storage than the budget buy - that's thoughtful shopping and we do deserve nice things we want as well as need. But often, the idea of shopping at home - framing it intentionally as this - can be fun and at worst, helps ensure the purchase is well thought out.

Here’s your reminder to cut your seemingly empty products in half before putting them in the bin. I seem to be getting another week out of my moisturiser, I was convinced it was completely empty!

Anyone doing a low/no buy next year? Big one for me is limiting buying clothes, make up and random shite on Amazon I convince myself I need now.

I’ve found that having something to save for is a great spending repellant. We are going to Paris in a few months and I keep thinking to myself ‘would I rather buy this item or have another £20/£30/£50 for Paris?’ The answer is always Paris.

I have been unemployed for the past year.
I have just about managed to keep my head above water, I live alone.

I recently reduced my mortgage to interest only for 6 months, and I make minimum payments to my credit cards.
I have £42k of credit card debt and a £8k tax bill to pay!

But last week I got a £70k new job, I was on £84k until I was made redundant - but I am very grateful for this new job.
I have made a budget and I should clear all my debts by next summer (also have £18k coming my way to help).
Car lease runs out soon, so will do without a car, as I can get the train to work.

My problem is that I tend to live/spend, as though I am still working (without the holidays).

Got pickpocketed today (my fault for having £300 headphones in my backpack) and the thought of having to pay to replace them makes me feel sick. The absolute worst kid of spending.
Not sure whether to claim on travel insurance or not as I assume that will put my premiums up more than they’ll pay out (max £200 on valuables). Feels like a lose/lose situation.