2019 No Buy Year – Three Months Gone

I’m sitting here, staring at the tiny calendar in the bottom corner of my laptop screen. The date is March 30, 2019. We’re just about through three months of this year. I do believe I can officially call my No Buy Year a fail.

1. Urban Decay Naked Reloaded
2. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Blue Blood
3. Huda Beauty Topaz Obsession
4. MAC Fix+

Four eyeshadow palettes that I definitely didn’t NEED, but totally wanted and could not walk away from no matter how many times I closed out the page and told myself, “I don’t need it.” Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty didn’t help. Having gift cards didn’t help. My inane need for Completionism didn’t help.

On the flip side, I have sold a few items in my Poshmark closet. So, it kind of helps and offset the price of the newbies. I’m not letting myself feel like a failure, though. No one wants to go through an entire year, let alone a month or a week, telling themselves that they’ve failed or are a failure. I’m just changing up the game. No Buy is now Low Buy. I think it’s much more feasible and gives a lovely leniency to the slip-ups I’m bound to endure through the rest of the nine months of the year.

Judge all you want. Hell, I judge myself. Still, it could be worse. I could’ve bought absolutely everything I come across that I want. *Coughs* There is still the Urban Decay Game of Thrones collaboration that comes out in a few weeks and I honestly don’t feel like I can resist getting something from the collection. I also don’t want to stop myself.

There’s a difference here, folks. Can’t… I’m an adult and I sure as hell can do whatever I want. I just need to make better choices for myself. Works with this same as it works for a diet. There is no Can’t.

Three Weeks In

2019 No Buy Year

I went into this with the intention of posting every day. As you can tell, I have failed miserably at that aspect. However, I am still going strong despite all the temptations to do otherwise. I’ve been watching many No Buy/Low Buy videos on YouTube, and I’ve seen where some struggle much like I have, and some who say it’s been easy-peasy. Well… ouch? But not really. I went into this already knowing I have a major addiction to spending money, in particular with shopping for makeup and inconsequential stuff. Now, I’m not saying I’ve been perfect. I’ve definitely bought some stuff I don’t “need,” but things I hope will help me in the long run. I bought a piece of exercise equipment for home and the Apple TV box thing. Okay, the Apple TV thing was a total splurge and I could definitely do without it, but I’ve been wanting it for a long time and I saw an opportunity, so I took it.

Moving on…

I attempted to do a makeup purge. Again. Even so, I sit here with the pile of stuff I am (or was) willing to get rid of on a shelf in my bookcase considering just sorting it back into my storage system. It’s not like I need to get rid of it or I’m hard-up for the money that it could potentially bring me if I sold it on Poshmark or MUABS, or even sent it to Glambot (these are all possibilities for me, ya know). I mean, I’ve already spent the money on this stuff, it’s not like getting rid of it is going to somehow bring back all that money. Plus, I’m a grown-ass woman. It’s mine. Decluttering and the Marie Kondo stuff aside, it sparks joy in me whenever I pull it out and hold it, swatch it, do a quick “play” look with it. I think I’m going to keep it. Remind me that I should one day post images of my makeup collection, then you can collectively roll your eyes at me the same way I do at myself.

I also considered, and maybe still am but not to the same degree, getting rid of some of my Funko Pop collection. I had a bunch of friends online all interested, and I was super down for it. All this happened at work, while I was sneaking onto Twitter and talking about it. But, as soon as I get home and look at the shelves piled with the little guys, I get a panic attack about packaging them all back up and then shipping them off to other homes. I don’t know, as much clutter as they add to my room, I just can’t seem to get to the step of actually selecting which ones can go. I get caught up on all the time I’ve spent hunting down certain ones, on how much I love the characters and I don’t care if I have two or three of the same character (not the same pop, but the same character). I feel like I’d need to go through a full adoption process to let any of them leave, quite honestly. Background tests, credit checks, you name it.

I definitely can’t get rid of my books. I have my TWD comic/book collection, my Sherrilyn Kenyon collection, and just a half shelf of various other books. Most of my library is in ebook format, which I’m totally fine with. DVDs and Blu Ray discs are totally not going anywhere, not that I’d even consider that. Some of those discs I had to seriously work hard to find and get my hands on.

I’ve heard that buying more storage leads to getting more stuff, because then you find you have all this room and you subconsciously feel the need to fill it all up. But, I swear (and I’m sure loads of people say this as well), if I had better, or more storage, I could actually put things away in homes and feel much less burdened by the stuff hanging out on my desk and on my bookshelves. That really is the main aspect of what I call my clutter.

Getting back to the point, which is my No Buy, I’m going to say that not a lot has changed since my last post. Makeup-wise, I’ve filled up countless shopping carts only to close the page and walk away. These were things I told myself I needed, but when I saw that final dollar amount on what I’d spend, I just said no. It’s a freeing feeling, a wonderful feeling, a feeling of validation, pride, and general wellness. I still have a mental list of things I am seriously willing to break my No Buy and get. The Urban Decay Naked Reloaded looks beautiful, despite the general online opinion that it’s boring and Urban Decay isn’t what they used to be. But it’s right up my alley as far as shades. I’m a neutral girl, bright colors scare the bejeezus out of me. It’s not like I’d ever wear them in my day-to-day life. That’s one on my list, the only one actually. At this moment, there’s not much else I really want. I’ve seen lots of pretties that I give a second look to, but nothing that screams at me like the Naked Reloaded. We’ll see how I do on this. Will I hold out or not?

Plus, my goal isn’t to go through this No Buy and then in January 2020 suddenly spend $5k getting everything I’ve put off. That’s not healthy and totally defeats what this year is about – training my brain to not need or want to go out and get the latest new thing immediately even though I don’t need it.

Stick with me, folks. Support is much appreciated!

No Buy – Days Five thru Seven

So… yeah. I forgot to post anything for the past few days. It was the weekend and I was being super lazy, not to mention cleaning, organizing, and doing some medical billing for one of my part time jobs. I like to think, despite my feeling like a failure a few days ago, I’ve done remarkably well.

Side note, all day while I’m at work, I come up with cute quips that I tell myself I’ll add to one of these posts. It’s yet to happen. Brain dead after 5 PM seems to be my general way of life. I’m trying!

Today, I spent some money, though. I ordered a wall mount for my TV so that when the handyman comes over, I can get him to put it up which will free up some shelf space on my current TV stand. I’m kind of excited about that, and the fact it only cost twelve bucks. I can’t argue too much about that. I also ordered a scale. My old one died somewhere along the way and I swear it keeps telling me I’m getting old instead of my weight. And, I’m -trying- to lose weight (I think about it all the time, at least), so a scale that actually works will be beneficial. Finally, I ordered some nail files and buffers. I have all this gel polish, soak off kind, to use… and no files to scratch it up to finally soak it off. I feel like it was a practical need. Maybe. Either way, I can justify all these expenses as not entirely frivolous, which is the exact kind of spending I’m trying to curtail.

FYI, right now, MAC Cosmetics has these Monochromatic Bundles (or something akin to that). I want the Velvet Teddy collection so much. That’s my jam. Neutrals but gorgeous, shades I can wear at work and anywhere else. Ugh. It’s very tempting to log on to the site and place my order. SO TEMPTING. I don’t need it. I don’t need two more eyeshadows or another blush. I certainly don’t need another lipstick or lipgloss. I DON’T NEED THEM. But I want them so bad. Grrrrrrrr!

NEW GOAL:

My friends and I are making it a goal that some time during the month of April this year, we are going to have a little vacation. Probably in Charlotte, SC. The specifics haven’t been fully planned out yet, but that’s the plan. We figure it will be loads cheaper than Dragon*Con in September (not that it’s off the table), so if Dragon*Con ends up being a no-go for a few of us, we’ve at least gotten to spend some time together and having fun.

No Buy – Day Four

Wow. Payday and I have already spent close to $100. I needed new moisturizer, completely ran out today, so I ordered a replacement. Bonus, it was on sale, so there’s that. Also, I needed some heavy-duty bug spray. Bed bugs are no joke and I’m tired of playing. If this stuff I ordered doesn’t help, I may have to burn the house down.

Joke.

Maybe.

I already feel like I’m failing at this. I can think of at least a dozen things to go out and blow what’s left of my paycheck on. None of it is necessary and will ultimately only take up precious space in my tiny room that I can ill afford to lose.On the flip-side of that coin, though, is this urge to completely purge my space of all my possessions and just start over. Not that I could ever find the energy or drive to actually do that. I stare at my bookshelves and immediately tell myself, “That’s a big fat nope!” Eventually, it’s gotta happen. I hate the clutter. I hate the feeling of drowning in material possessions. I hate the feeling that I have so must -stuff- but nothing that really makes my head turn. I have my books, and with the rare exception of about a handful of books I’d be willing to give away, that I could never part with. I have all this makeup that I… actually get the warm tinglies when I think about (sad, I know). My clothes are just clothes. Everything else, all my The Walking Dead Collectibles and other odds-and-ends, is just… there, taking up that space I mentioned earlier.

It’s raining outside right now. Maybe it’s the weather speaking, but I just feel… lost right now. With this, with everything, hence the “failing.”

I need to keep on this. And those precious few of you who have read even one of these posts so far, you make my day and keep me inspired to keep sharing.

Feedback is welcome.

No Buy – Day Three

I didn’t spend a dime today. Go me!

But, I wanted to. Desperately. I had even logged into my Stitch Fix account to schedule a fix. I got to that last page and saw that “Save” button, date selected… and hesitated. I don’t even need anything. Yeah, the $20 styling fee may not seem like much to people, but the cost of each item in the box? The entire box? Could be upwards of $200, if I wanted to keep it all. That would’ve killed any semblance of a budget I have (or trying to have). So, I closed out of the Stitch Fix app and pushed my phone away. I felt a small tick show up in my Win Column. I’ll take what I can get, ya know?

There’s makeup coming out that I want, too. Need? No. Want? Yes. So. Much. Please and thank you. I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist, but I suppose it will ultimately come down to the final price of the items. Prices can scare me off pretty quickly, but deep down, I don’t know if I should be hoping for a high price or a lower, more affordable price I can pull off.

It’s weird, though. Tomorrow’s pay day, and I still have money left. More than I’d expected to have, too. I didn’t go out and blow the last little bit. Granted, I also know I have bills coming due and I need to make sure I have enough to cover the necessities, but that doesn’t matter! Again, another notch showed up in my Win Column for the day.

Despite those wins, all I can seem to think about is, “What can I buy?” “Do I need anything? Want anything?” This is why I have the debt I do, why I needed to go on this self-imposed No Buy this year. Now, I’m not saying I won’t amend the rules to make them work better for me as time goes on. What I am saying, however, is that as slow and difficult as it may seem, I just might make it through this.

No Buy – Day Two

I actually returned a couple of items today. I just HAD to go and buy Ant-Man last week, KNOWING I didn’t already have it. Well, guess what? Did some cleaning and organizing of my DVD collection (the ones on the stand beneath my television), and low and behold… I already had it. So, RETURNED.

I also found a second, still-sealed Season 6 of The Walking Dead series. I already have this, too. I honestly don’t know where I got the duplicate from, but Walmart took it back. Yay!

I did end up buying something, though. Groceries. Four cans of coconut milk for making some Coquito (soon). It was the last of the ingredients still needed to make this second batch. I almost walked back to the Electronics Department to buy Season 8 of The Walking Dead or Black Panther, but I resisted and bee-lined it for the grocery part of the store. Kind of proud of myself, to be honest.

(Sorry for the late post for 1/2/2019, but TIRED.)

Day One

2019 No Buy Year

Inspired by Hailey Evans (Template provided by Hailey, as well)

OBJECTIVES

Start Date: Jan 1, 2019 End Date: Dec 31, 2019

-To ultimately quit unchecked spending on non-essential items (ie. Casual Shopping)

-To save for a prosperous future

-To live on a small income

-To focus on small, long term health goals

RULES

-No spending on non-essentials for 1 year.

Main categories are:

Clothing

Makeup

Housewares

Snack Food

-No spending on essentials that you already have covered.

-You may replace an essential item that has worn out or finished if you do not have a similar replacement item already (at your discretion) ex. Mascara, face cream, shoes, paint, canvas.

-You may buy gifts

-You may buy experiences and travel

Essentials List

Shampoo, conditioner, face cream, toner, body wash, deodorant, TP, soap, laundry/dishwasher detergent, haircuts, cleanser, mascara, brow pomade, brow gel, concealer, lip gloss, eyeliner, shoes, boots, jeans, undershirts, underwear, paint, canvas, groceries (meat, veggies, bread, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, wine, beer, whiskey, potatoes, pasta, rice, tea, coffee), bills (Xfinity, Amazon Prime, AMC A-List, Sirius XM, Apple Music, RAC), gas.

NON-Essentials List (Things you may DEFINITELY NOT buy no matter what)

Eyeshadow, Blush, lipstick, highlighter, bronzer, powder, setting spray, eyelashes, ANY colour cosmetics, face masks, serum, sweaters, fashion pieces, jewellery, house plants, mugs, kitchen tools, takeout coffee*1, books*2.

*1- Exception: if you are staying at the cafe and working/reading/visiting with friends

*2- Exception: You must wait 30 days, if you still want the book you may purchase, stipulating item is under $30USD.

 

It Takes Death To Reach A Star – Review!

It Takes Death To Reach A Star by Stu Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unexpected Greatness

This was an unexpired delight. I went in, reading slowly chapter by chapter, letting the world of this story create itself in my mind, and the characters unfurl from the pages.

There’s a depth to Mila, the main protagonist, that makes her incredibly like able. She’s beyond tough but exudes incredible warmth and charm. Demitri, the other protagonist, is equally enthralling. You want to feel sorry for him and his predicament but you’re also waiting to see exactly what his role will be. He flips between incredibly useful to Mila to a level of burden, making you want to scream at him to just toughen up.

The story itself is filled with amazingly well-written action scenes and even more incredibly inspiring character-building moments. The twists aren’t wholly unexpected but they are done so well and creatively that you’re still left with your mouth gaping open at the scene on the page.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes dystopian-inspired stories, has a desire for a strong female protagonist that doesn’t immediately (or ever) swoon and fall for the male protagonist, and needs action that pushes the story forward and isn’t just to fill pages.

View all my reviews

Eyeshadow Comparison

So, I decided I would do some eyeshadow comparisons, choosing, in particular, the gold shadows from four of my palettes.

Rich Bitch – Jeffree Star Cosmetics Beauty Killer palette

Mojito – Kylie Cosmetics Royal Peach palette

Wodaabe – Juvia’s Place The Saharan palette

Irresistible – Too Faced x NikkieTutorials The Power of Makeup palette

This picture was taken in natural daylight, no filters whatsoever.

Now, maybe I ended up biasing myself by swatching Wodaabe first, but the other three shades all felt like I was running the pad of my finger over a burlap sack afterward. Wodaabe is such a creamy smooth shadow, with potential for fallout as a result, but it’s well worth that risk with the color payoff, in my humble opinion.

Rich Bitch, by far not the worst of my four picks here, seemed chalky and a little rough in the pan. I actually went back for a second swipe at the shadow for the swatch, justifying it by the fact it was my pinky finger that I’d used. The color isn’t terrible, but it comes across as a little patchy.

Mojito felt like I was touching a brick, to be honest. The color isn’t terrible, once you get past that obvious odor, but again, it seems a little patchy to me.

Irresistible…. isn’t necessarily so. While it doesn’t have that rich gold, or even the olive undertone of the other shadows with the swatch, in the pan, it seemed very similar. Unfortunately, as you can see here, there’s almost no color pay off. I definitely recommend using glitter glue or an eyeshadow base if you want to maximize the performance here.

Take this little comparison for what it’s worth. People all have their own personal opinions, brands they prefer, needs from their makeup, etc. However, if I could recommend one of these four? I’d definitely choose Wodaabe above the competition.

 

 

Latest Book Review via Goodreads

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an incredible story. Simply from the title itself, I wasn’t too sure what to expect when first meeting Emily and Adam. Their whirlwind romance is the stuff of dreams, a modern day fairy tale. Emily and Adam seem extremely happy and meant for each other. Then, we’re introduced to Pammie, Adam’s mum. She seems like a nightmare, out to destroy Emily’s happiness in favor of her son. Overprotective, psychopathic, all the nightmares of mothers-in-law wrapped into one perfect package. She lies, belittles, undermines, and seems to drive the perfect mother-shaped wedge between the happy couple. Small glimpses are given that make Pammie seem even worse than the reader could imagine, all the while being brought down the same mental spiral that Emily has slid down. Unsure of which ways is up and what the right thing to do really is, we’re lured in and coddled. We’re the perfect victim in the story right up until we find out the truth. What a twist! I honestly didn’t see it coming and in just the closing pages, I felt like the rug had literally been pulled out from under me.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who seeks an emotional roller coaster of a read.

View all my reviews