2012 Challenges - Challenge 1 Shower Gel

You may know that I like a good challenge.  Having recently successfully completed some no spend and use up moisturiser challenges, I thought I'd embark on some new challenges for 2012.  My challenges are two-fold, trying to use up the stash of products that I have and to try to save money.  We're saving up for a new house and the less I have in my stash, the less I'll have to take with me when we eventually move!

Today I'm posting about my shower gel challenge.  My challenge is to not buy any shower gel for the whole of 2012.  I attempted this last year, but failed, buying three shower gels during the year.  I probably could have succesfully completed this challenge if I hadn't bought them, but it would've been very difficult.  Anyway, that's not the case this year.  My shower gel stash is brimming with products, swelled with Christmas and sale bargains.  I've also received lots of bubble bath at Christmas and as I rarely take baths, I use this in place of shower gel.  I have not doubt that I will successfully complete this challenge with shower gel and bubble bath to spare.

The photo of my stash shows I have 28 shower gels and bathing products.  I've also got one open that I'm using at the moment as well as one I forgot to include in the photo.  So that's 30 in total.  There's no way I'm going to use these all up by next Christmas, but I'll give it a good go.  I'm certainly going to hold myself to not buying any more shower gels in 2012.  I'll post occasionally about which ones I've used up.

Are you planning on any challenges in 2012?

Thanks for reading! xx

No Spend - the Final Update

I set myself a little challenge back at the beginning of November... the challenge was to not spend any money on beauty, cosmetics, skincare etc or any clothing and accessories until 25th December. 

I've updated a couple of times on this, and by and large, I completed the challenge successfully.  I find it easy not to spend money on clothes and accessories - although I love new clothes, I hate shopping for them, so this part of the challenge wasn't hard for me. 

It was slightly harder to avoid beauty and skincare products.  I blogged earlier this week that I had forgotten about two Glossy Boxes which I was billed for.  Fortunately, due to the way I pay for my Glossy Boxes, they come out of a different budget to my normal beauty spends...so I could pretend they didn't really count.  Maybe I should.  I also bought a £5 nail polish, which was bought to ensure I spent enough on Boots points night to get an additional £12 worth of points - worth it I think.  What I didn't buy was any extraneous or impulse makeup or beauty.  I didn't chuck anything into my trolly at the supermarket and I didn't just pop into Boots - this was helped by the fact my office has moved and I no longer have a Boots just next to my office... Last week, I did end up buying some footcare products, but these are more medical than beauty so they don't count either.

So I've been pretty successful with this challenge, and I'm pleased with how it's gone.  However, I have spent an obscene amount of money (for me) in the sales over the last couple of days.  There are lots of bargain gift sets coming my way and some more I picked up in the sales today.  I love gift sets! But I'm sure I'll have to do another no spend for most of next year to make up for it!

Thanks for reading! xx

No Spend Challenge - A Little Update

Hi everyone!  A couple of weeks ago I set off on a total no-spend beauty and clothing challenge.  I thought I'd update you on how I was doing.

Well, I have been doing so well - I've literally not bought anything fashion or beauty related - and that includes toothpaste, although I did get Mr TBBB to buy some when it was his turn to pay for the groceries!  I went to a Boots Christmas Shopping Night and managed to accrue points galore without buying a thing for myself - it was all for other people.  I've not bought any magazines for freebies and have stayed well clear of Boots at all other times

So I should be here polishing my halo, don't you think?!  Well I was  feeling very smug about my no spends until I had an email.  A little email which I'd usually love, but today made my heart sink.  It said "Your Glossy Box has been shipped".  Damn it - I'd forgotten all about that and it was all going so well!

I'm not going to beat myself up about it, but I'm annoyed that I forgot about it.  I'm going to be filling in all my Glossy Dots like mad so my December box should at least be free!

Anyone else doing a no spend challenge?  How are you finding it?

Thanks for reading! xx 

Thou Shalt Not Spend Money!

It seems I can't get enough of beauty challenges at the moment.  In addition to the challenge I'm currently doing to use up all my body moisturisers, I've decided to set a no spend challenge running until Christmas!

It's going to be a total no spend challenge on all beauty related items with no exceptions! That includes things like deodorent and toothpaste! Also, I have no contingency should I run out of something - too bad (or I could sneak them into the trolley when it's the Mr's turn to buy the shopping, but that would be cheating)!

I'm also planning to not spend on clothes, accessories and shoes until Christmas as well, but that's the easy bit of the challenge - it's beauty products I have the problem with.

I'm being joined in this challenge by Amy from Beauty, Shoes and Other Views - it's good to have a no spend buddy! Let me know if you fancy joining us, as everyone's budgets get a bit tighter at this time of year.

I must point out that I will be buying Christmas pressies for other people during this time - just none for me!

Let me know if you want to join in!

Thanks for reading! xx