Friday 27 September 2013

£100 Expenditure Per Year Beauty Challenge - Month 3

Another month gone in the £100 per year beauty challenge, where I aim to spend less than £100 per year on toiletries and beauty products and instead try to use up all of the items I have in my stash, instead of buying more products.  This challenge was set by El at A Thrifty Mrs blog and I have been joining in.

I've been a little more careful this month in terms of spending on beauty products and have actually come under budget (just) for a change.  I should be spending less than £8.30 per month to keep on budget and for the first two months I have overspent due to hoarding a few more items when I saw them on offer.  This month, however, I've managed to avoid doing this and have spent only £8.20.  Some of this expenditure was, however, unusual and unavoidable as you will understand as you read on.

Spending included:

New Toothbrushes x 3 £2.50  - This was due to a stand off with a rat in our bathroom, which scrambled around the shelves.  I had to replace our new (as it happens) toothbrushes as I couldn't bear the thought that the rat might have touched them.

Shampoo 250ml x 2 £3.50 - I bought 2 bottles of my favourite Pantene shampoo whilst they were still on offer.  In fairness I was coming close to running out of shampoo so included these in my Approved Food order and they should keep me in shampoo for a month or two.

Nail Varnish Remover Pads x 2 £1 - I bought these from Primark as my nail varnish was so worn off that it needed removing and I thought I had run out.  I then realised I still had some left when I got home.  Silly me.

Nail Varnish x 1 £1 - A slight indulgence in Claire's Accessories.  Bought in the sale to make up five things for £5.

Tesco Firm Hold Hair Spray x 1 70p - I can't manage without my hairspray and it ran out on the last day of the month.

Total Spent - £8.20

Total spent so far this year (3 months) -  £28.75 - Still overspent but hoping to get fully back on track next month.  As you can see from this month's expenditure list, I haven't pared it back as much as I could have, but I'm getting better on this score and hope that as the challenge progresses I get better and better at this.   It takes a while sometimes to properly kick a habit you've had for a while.

I have, however, this month decided to try to stop buying shower gel for the moment, as I have so many soaps to use up.  As a consequence, we are going back to showering and bathing with soap for a while, to get the stash down.  (I've currently got at least 15 or so soaps to use up.  I'm also trying not to replace things as soon as I use the last one from my stash, but wait until I've nearly run out altogether.  It's great to see the places I normally store all the products very slowly getting a little emptier as I'm using things up and not buying more.

I did also get a free 30ml tube of  hand cream from the Body Shop this month, using a voucher I downloaded from a Miss Thrifty's blog, so my stash did grow a little as a consequence, but it didn't cost me anything which is good.  Although small, the hand cream smells divine and a little goes a long way too.



8 comments:

  1. Must admit when I was teaching I always had a good stash of toiletries as presents from my class as I always told them I disliked chocolate (allergic to it) Can't wear nail varnish because I always have my hands submerged in something earthy or crafty, don't wear make up except when we go out and I put some slap on as hubby calls it. lol! I buy Asda reduced bath stuff - 24p same for shampoo. Use it to wash the bath too. lol! Will check out the challenge.

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    1. You should be able to complete it easily if that's the case and it will take care of your stash into the bargain. I must admit I don't wear a lot of make up or paint my nails that often, so I'm not finding it too difficult as yet.

      Check out my other household challenge though. I'm fairing a lot worse in that one. I'll be posting about it in a couple of days.

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  2. Okay. By the way are you on Facebook?

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  3. I love those hand creams that look like paint tubes ! We get a lot of half empty hand creams at the shop & can't sell them so out them out for staff to use.
    I have to use prescription face wash & hand cream but I do love Liz Earle moisturizer & sheer tint.

    I rang to re order the other day & do believe I spoke to Liz herself. We had a lovely natter about getting lost !

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    1. How lovely to speak to the lady herself. I remember when she used to do a slot on Morning/Breakfast TV. She seemed like a lovely lady.

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    2. The lady I was speaking to commented on my address & getting lost while driving up from the West Country. I'd read she lives in Cornwall & the company is based on the Isle of Wight & afterwards I thought, That was Liz Earle !

      Winchester markets blog date set for December 5th x

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    3. Thanks for letting me know the date. I'll check out trains and get back to you.

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