Moratorium

This is the first day of my shopping moratorium. I have so many cosmetics
and lotions and potions I don't even know what half of them are. My closets
(four) are STUFFED with things and I don't even know what half of them are.
I asked for two things for Christmas that I have since discovered I already
had and forgot about. It's out of control. I'm going to shop at home, in
my own stashes, for the winter, anyway.
This does not count the things ordered online in 2004 but not here yet...
Smokey

On Sat, 1 Jan 2005 15:00:26 –0500, Smokey wrote:
Methinks somebody else needs to do trashcan triage.
I did mine before Christmas, but I'm thinking of some 2005 stuff.

I too am in favor of a moratorium (for a few more weeks, at least!) and am
finding that the obstacle is, for many of us shopping is not optional. It's
part of our social life, one of the ways we spend our free time, see our
friends, etc.
So I'm developing the idea of "shopping w/o shopping." Like window shopping but
you actually get to go into the store! Even try things on! You just don't buy
them.
The biggest obstacle is the ol' 50%–off sale rack, tempting us with
unbelievable bargains.
But one of these days I am going to look in my closet and figure out if those
"bargains" were so great anyway. Sometimes I get tempted by a sale price and
buy something that's not perfect. If I never wear it, that was a total waste of
money!
HTH!
––Anne–Marie

Fashiondish wrote:
I agree with the social aspect. It is recreational and a favorite
activity even without buying anything. The way I've always gotten
around spending while social shopping is to find the *perfect* items
for my shopping companion. I get to shop, she gets to buy great stuff.
It's a good deal all around!
––
onmycue
onmycue–at–tds–dot–net

On 11 Jan 2005 22:49:34 GMT, fashiond...@aol.com (Fashiondish) wrote:
Back when I was in my early 20s and didn't have much disposable
income, I'd go shopping with friends and try on clothes, but I'd leave
my checks and credit cards at home so I couldn't buy anything even if
I wanted to. I may have to try that again!
Chris

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 19:04:52 –0500, onmycue <onmy...@tds.net> wrote:
Unfortunately, the friend I shop with most often is an enabler, just
like you :–).
Chris

I'm with you! I am certain I don't have a 1/10th of the stuff you do,
what what I have is more than enough, for now anyway ;–)
The only thing I *need* right now is a haircut.
Sandra
Smokey wrote:
––
Sandra
Owned by 3 cats.

I shall be joining you in the moratorium. I have decided to attempt to use 200
items this year and allow myself only 50 non essential items this year. I'll
go on moratoriums every other month with my shopping months strategically
placed around wedding anniversary, birthday, vacation, fall line debuts and
will skip a month to purchase in December. Fwiw, I'm on Day 1 and have used
two items thus far. I'll use definitely one, maybe two up tomorrow too so it's
a positive start.
this applies only to beauty items though. Fashion is game any month. :–)
Heather

"Smokey" <SmokeyinNewEngl...@yahooey.com> wrote in message
news:x8OdncVzs4DGnErcRVn–...@comcast.com...
I've been using a lot of products that have been stashed away in my
makeup box especially the eye shadows and lipsticks. Also since the
first of December I have been using some of the bath products that were
collecting dust in previous months. January is a great month to
declutter.
Audrey

Smokey wrote:
Congrats! It's fun rediscovering old favorites that got lost in the
pile. Me, I was a slut for GWPs, but then I never got around to using
the sample sizes I'd accumulated. Now I'm working my way through those.

"chillled" <chill...@hotmail.comeuppance> wrote in message
news:R4GBd.56401$uM5.45...@bgtnsc05–news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Yeah, me too...I found eight small EL Idealists and 9 small EL Advanced
Night Repairs in various bags...I'm looking forward to decluttering, but
it's going to be a LONG process unless I just toss a lot of perfectly good
things.
Smokey

Smokey wrote:
..I'm looking forward to decluttering, but
good
Don't toss, please. Donate at a womens' shelter, or just drop off at a
Salv. Army type place. There are plenty of women out there who have
nary an extra buck to splurge on luxury items. You'll declutter nicely
and feel good doin' it.

<gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:1104627175.639630.299...@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
Well, I'm talking about things that have been used. I don't think women's
shelters or Salvation Army type places would want partially used
conditioners, body lotions, etc. I do donate unused stuff I don't want.
Smokey

"Smokey" <SmokeyinNewEngl...@yahooey.com> schreef in bericht
news:K8CdnTRIkos–1UrcRVn–...@comcast.com...
I decluttered and did just that.
The women's center where I work is starting an "exchange closet" and all my
sartorial misadventures are going there.
Unused cosmetics too:
Yves Rocher has so many 2 for 1 sales, I can never resist them. My bathroom
closet is chock full of unopenend, scrumpy bath products and doubles of
eye–make–up I'll never get around to using.
Just a little brag: put myself on a 2– season budget for clothes shopping
and only went 100 euro over from July to January!
Circe

Charlie Perrin wrote:
Trashcan triage? Is this like a 27 Fling Boogie, a la Flylady?
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyingLessons_Declutter.asp
Priscilla
–––
p...@midway.uchicago.edu "Here comes the most beautiful woman in
puppetland!"

On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 20:58:03 GMT, Trilby wrote:
On Sat, 1 Jan 2005 15:00:26 –0500, Smokey wrote:
This is the first day of my shopping moratorium. I have so many cosmetics
and lotions and potions I don't even know what half of them are. My closets
(four) are STUFFED with things and I don't even know what half of them are.
I asked for two things for Christmas that I have since discovered I already
had and forgot about. It's out of control.
Methinks somebody else needs to do trashcan triage.
That sounds like a pretty good algorithm for doing trashcan triage.

Agreed – don't do the trashcan triage. To my surprise, I found out
Vietnam Vets of America will take bath products and cosmetics (some
donation centers don't). I just donated a bunch of my stash and other
non AF related items to them:
http://www.clothingdonations.org/accepted.htm
They'll come pick items up and they leave a reciept for taxes. Good,
good group. I'll be donating to them from now on probably.
Vicki in DC

I donate everything to the Salvation Army. I checked with them first and they
accept cosmetics and toiletries. I drop it off at one of their donation
centers in northern va (Manassas).
Barb