No Spend Challenge

After months of shopping binge, I have decided to go on another No Spend Challenge starting as of today.

Rules are same
-> Items bought only if I finish it
-> Only absolute necessary things will be bought
-> Can buy gifts for family and friends

Based on previous challenge, I know the first few days will be real tough.But I really want to take this up as a shopping detox ( I am completely making this term) and finish few items while I am on this challenge.

Wish me luck.
Any one doing something like this ??

How did the challenge go ????

As the people reading this blog would be knowing that I had gone on a 21day challenge of not buying anything.
The question is how did I perform and what did I learn

Regarding, how I performed,I would say it was a good effort considering the number of temptations I had around me.

Almost every other store was having some sale or some event.But, no, yours truly, managed to keep all temptations at bay.Most of you would be knowing that this is not easy. It requires alot of self determination to walk away from a bargain bin ( with oh to die for nailpaints) and MAC collections( imagine I was able to dodge Fabulous Felines).
Being on ban didn't mean that I avoided department stores or malls. I went there, swatched , drooled and loved but all with the resolution "I am not buying anything if not absolutely necessary". And I was also not finding any lame excuses to make it necessary.

I think the technique to this challenge was

-> go through the stash before starting the challenge
-> before buying anything think if you actually need it
-> Try to think if you have anything similar already with you
-> Would you be using it often (eg: highlighter) or you are buying it cause blogworld is abuzz about it
-> Don't buy anything the first time you like or want to buy. Go back home, sleep over it and then see if the desire to buy it is even there after few days.

The last point, I do often and it really works for me.

Now, to what I learned

-> 'No shopping' challenge is really hard especially when you have MAC LE editions
-> No sale is the 'last one'. There would always be another sale. So,its not absolute necessary to buy in a sale
-> It makes more sense to buy something when you actually need it rather than buying useless stuff just because its on sale
-> The feeling of being able to walk away from something you swatched and loved is amazing
-> Its specially hard when you are having either emotional highs or lows
-> First week was the hardest but once I was in, I was actually enjoying and trying hard to win the challenge.

So,yes, I have tamed ( atleast for time being ) my unsatiable desire to buy more things.

Bye,till I see you next time

P.S : I have hauled few things this weekend. So you can expect a haul post soon
P.P.S : I am not expert on anything, everything mentioned is just my experience.

Day 4,5 & 6

It has mostly been uneventful...just made a list of few things I might swatch/buy.In fact yesterday I was at a department store, I could control my urge to buy MAC Old Gold pigment (its beautifulll...)and suck up on some Revlon GWP.
It felt good to be able to not buy anything inspite of liking so many.

My list of current lemmings

laura mercier cortisabe stick gloss
chanel intmitable mascara
dior high shine charmed pink 578 ( Rati, I have to blame you for this)

21 Days Challenge

Hmm..Okay, the buyer’s guilt has set in.
I feel this way every time I have bought something new, I resolve not to buy anything more and still end up buying new stuff.

So, today I have resolved to break this vicious cycle. And break it hard.

What do I aim to do: Not buy anything for 21 days. Absolutely nothing except for daily survival stuff like grocery, tickets etc.

Rules:
1. Nothing is to be bought for myself
2. Gifts can be bought

How do I plan to do it:

 Buying for others doesn’t mean I should buy for myself
 Going to mall doesn’t mean I should buy something
 Swatching something doesn’t mean that I should have it
 Stress at work shouldn’t result in trip to local drugstore
 Not to be taken in by various sales & promotion
 Make a sensible list of things I would buy after this ban is lifted
 Going through my current stash

The reason why I am doing this is not because I have too much makeup (cause let me accept, it will never happen. There will always be something which I would need)

I want to break the cycle of mindless shopping. I need to coach myself to pick up stuff which I really need and not which I ‘need’.

To help myself, I will post every day as to how I am holding up. I would also share with you what I might be lemming (that will definitely happen even if I am not shopping!!!)

I also plan to do following series of post

Manic Monday: Nail paint from the stash will be featured
Boring Tuesday: Eyeliner from the stash will be featured
Humpy Wednesday: Eye shadow / Eye shadow palette will be featured
Oh so close Thursday: Lipstick from the stash will be featured
TGI Friday : Gloss from the stash will be featured
Happy Saturday: List of things I swatched or formed a lemming for or anything random
Wow Sunday: Eye Look

I also bought few treats yesterday, will share them with you in next post

Bye, Till next post