Road to Minimalism

  Very happy with this months perfume samples that are now gone! managed to use these up by putting them my work bag and using them as top ups though out the day. I also got a set of egg bath bombs for easter they smell amazing and I didn't want to wait to use them so I did stop using my current bath stuff to use these :D jan -red feb - orange mar-yellow April - green

March Empties so crossed off  Jan - red Feb - orange March - yellow I also came to the end of a few make up items here's an over view with a few bits that maybe aren't represented above picked up a few sampled out and about recently that I don't want hanging around for too long so my aim for April is to use up some of those.  

 No Buy March Don't know if I can still give this post the No Buy title to be honest. Massively fell off the wagon this month. so all I can say is that I should have shares in the corner shop near work. But April is a new month and time to go again! 

Feb 2022 so red crosses are jan orange are feb   

No buy nooooooo  this month I slipped up 3 times! (it was 4 but I sent the item back 😂id bought a jacket)  what I bought was junk food drinks, chips and chocolate from the corner shop did I need it? nope  I did go out quite a bit this month and spend a fair bit. but i'm not including days out / experiences I can buy tickets and eat out with friends but a fail is when I just buy junk   

So I took a bit of and inventory at the beginning of 2022 and created this graphic (yes it did take me all morning)  I have crossed off what I used up in January in red. i'm very happy, I managed to stick to my no buy in this area as you can clearly see I don't need anything but I did manage to avoid the temptation of the January sales. and here all the products I used up (some samples and bits that I didn't include in the other graphic for the year.) And here's the make up. I really want to see how long some products last me. I'm not looking to try and use any of these up as I use them daily so the longer they last me the better.   

  No buy year / No buy month So 2022 the year I was hyped up to do a no buy year. But half way through month one I found myself wishing my life away. I found the prospect so daunting.  So let’s take each month as it comes.  Im starting this year with a no buy MONTH. I had already failed in 2021 but I have learnt that I set my rules far too high. I made it that buying someone a birthday gift was a red day, a fail. So if I had failed that day my head said why not buy more, all the stuff I had saved up in my amazon wish list for example. (Reflecting on the things I did buy last year non of it was essential) So my rules regarding my weakness areas this year are No clothes unless I’m on my last of that essential item No toiletries/make up  unless I’m on my last of that essential item No non essential food no corner shop trips on my lunch break for snacks But I am going to allow myself days out / meals with friends. Social events. This is my year of using ...

Make up inventory 2022  Make up inventory 2022 As you can see I know what I like. I have a lot of stock enough for a year (I hope) I had quite a bit gifted to me for Christmas as I didn't really need/want anything else.

 Toiletry inventory 2022 So a no buy should be easy this year right!  I mean look at all those products.... My Birthday is right near Christmas so in my defence I did get a lot of this with in the last month.  My method to tackling this is not to open every product. I need to open one and use it before I can move on. I seem to have face creams and hand creams open all over the place. but I do seem to be able to stick to this rule when it comes to body lotion and shower gels.  How is everyone else tackling this year.

  So this year I decided I didn't need any more clothes...... screen shots for proof....  I clearly have my favourites and I'm in complete shock looking at my finances this year that I spent a whopping £957.58 on exactly that. 2022 NO MORE CLOTHES!  

Yearly budget tracker so I made this last year and had a few requests from people to get their own copy so here is the link for that Etsy link heads up the Mac version is all on one page the windows is spread out on a few   

Had to share.... i've recently been introduced to cashback websites. I looked on Boxing Day sales/ deals and feeluniques cashback was 30% (did a quick bit of shopping for some upcoming family birthdays) apparently if you sign up using my code you get £10 and I get £30 once you have confirmed your first £5 cashback https://www.quidco.com/raf/4395702/ I just had to share as it seems like such a good deal.... but i'm not trying to encourage spending but for the things you need I would deff recommend.

 If I'm going to do a no/low buy I don't need Amazon Prime.... yes you heard me. So i have taken the plunge and cancelled my account. saving me £7.99 a month will I go back... probably but I will maybe do it a month at a time if i'm off work and want to watch some films or something. But if you are buying here's my affiliate 😂 https://amzn.to/3JgTiAI

2021 Empties  looking at all of these items seems crazy. some I'm really happy I got through and others are my day to day that I will repurchase. I find it really interesting to see how many of each item I have used for example I can see here 3 powders  a hand full of perfumes and deodorants ect. im keen to do this again in 2022. I found it very motivating to use some of those smaller items that would normally sit around in a drawer for a few years.  

 December Empties perfume and some makes up! whooooop I'm please that I manage to get though some of the loose samples and little sashays this month all ready for the new year.... I'm just sorting out the image for the 2021 Empties 

  winter is here the jumpers are defiantly out looking forward to mixing it up next month bring on the Christmas theme jumpers. although with Black Friday deals im ashamed to say I have bought a lot of clothes 😩

 November Empties Some very long tail items here and a few samples very pleased with this lot. I am going to really push to use up some more this final month of the year. few more samples floating around...

 What i wore in October So again with the attempt to prove to myself i don't need to buy clothes i spent £82 on exactly that.  But here I'm going to justify... 2 pairs of black jeans - for work (ripped another pair they don't last me long) underwear... and i got a pair of boots re-heeled- which i though was a better option to buying a new pair.

  October Empties Finished a few long tail items this month long with a bunch of samples which I'm really pleased to clear out.  my aim for next month is to start using up the smaller sample / travel size items before the end of the year.

September  ok so i've been back at work. I wore a total or 31 items  I purchased a new scarf and some pj bottoms for £28 i'm surprised with the fact that over half the items I only wore once in the month  how has everyone else done?