September no buy

Hi lovelies,

So there was a really great initiative in this month by Oxfam’s Second Hand September:

Throwaway fashion is putting increasing pressure on our planet and its people – it’s unsustainable. Every week 13 million items of clothing ends up in UK landfill. And did you know it would take 13 years for one person to drink the water needed to make one cotton t-shirt and a pair of jeans? Choosing to shop second hand can help.

Join Second Hand September and pledge to shop only second hand for 30 days or more. You’ll give clothes a longer life by keeping them from landfill. And by shopping with Oxfam, you’ll be reinvesting your money into helping the poorest people on the planet earn a fair living and beat poverty.

Oxfam
Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

I can truly agree their aims and commitment; however, I did not participate as I was decided to do a no buy September in my low buy year at the very beginning of 2020 so I wanted to keep my process going as it planned. I also think that the best second-hands are the ones which you already have in your wardrobe, so I decided to switch my autumn pieces on the 18th September and tried on everything, decluttered a bit, took the good ones to the charity shop. I think I can say I have shopped the rest of my wardrobe, which was so much fun: paired summer clothes with jackets, but suddenly the weather changed…

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels.com

The biggest challenge was the wedding, which we were invited: I was so fed up with tights and also it was too cold to on repeat my navy dress without it and I did not want to change clothes too (I was not the bride, nor the bridesmaid so I felt impropriate to change), so I borrowed a jumpsuit from my sister. Story wise it was the first wedding, which we were invited since the pandemic, it was so strange wearing mask while dancing and the events spun faster as all had to finish by 11:00 PM.

Still without any “extra” spending, I was just hardly come out of my salary due to my budget system as I had to spend quite a lot of health exams. Yes, even if we have a state health care system it does not covers a lot… I will do update on it when I feel ready to share.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I was figured out to update my wishlist which you will always find on my main page as well. I have just started to improve my blog, so really hope that you will enjoy it more.

Xoxo,

Tide up your home- Documents

Hi lovelies,

Let’s get back to the business: Documents!

I was handled it so easily: cluttered the bookshelf on Monday afternoon and now it is so so so well made: books on one shelf, photos, decoration, card games and my old iPhone on the top (I am going to give it to my bff’s daughter in a few days). Tuesday I did out two boxes: one decorations and the other is for sewing and I was also cluttered our desk. I was realized I have made a quite great work last year, so all the documents from college and university just put together now, I might going to declutter them if we have to empty this room out in the furture.

Wednesday I was packed some tools up to take it down to our basement (that will be decluttered soon too). One box, which I just have to take to special trash: electonical or shoes to gift or sell. I have found a rug, two shelves and a picture to sell plus I have gifted my old cork board. Yeah some more commodity still waits for our carpenter to finally finish the little thouch ups. Honestly I cannot empty that room until we do not complete our living room. And also our clothes rack, ladder and ironning board should stay there for a while…

So on there is nothing to write on a wishlist now, maybe would be a built in wardrobe…

Nearly forget the electronic sh*t AKA newsletter unsubcribtion and delete everything in my emails:).

Xoxo,

Wishlist update

Hi lovelies,

My last wishlist was right before Christmas, so I do think it is time to update. It is also great for me to focus on items, which I really want instead of impulse purchases, but it is also ideal for my family and friends to keep it in eyes. I do not say that these things I want them right away but I would accept them anytime.

I was check my last one, I have just realized it was a pretty great one, so firstly those which I am keeping from it:

Lisa Eldridge’s Velvet Ribbon lipstick,

Levi’s 501 in grey wash

The 2 Furla bags: Mimi and Diva (lots of the colors are so great)-good crossbody mid-size leather bag, which I am looking for so far, but maybe it it going to be a camera style bag….

I was also checked my Luxury Christmas gift ideas and I just realized that all of these items are so great I would love to have them and some of them I want to find second hand or something similar…

Also maybe on second hand, alongside with a silk blouse:

and maybe save up for a YSL Cardholder (190 EUR on Net-a-porter)

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Then the news:

Everlane Alpaca Crew or Alpaca Cardigan: I just truly believe these would be super soft.

Undersea Bikini: local brand, which has an eco and susbainable certificate, this year I am looking forward to their new collection

Maybe some trend pieces, which are missing from my wardrobe:

Organza blouse and Print dress which are trending now.


I have already mentioned my makeup wishlist in my inventory post

Hair and skin care:

I just tend to continue my more natural way so I would love to try a bamboo toothbrush, natural soap and some naked hair conditioner. + face spray

 

January Low Buy Haul

Hi lovelies,

I hope you are well, one month has been passed from 2020 and  I am proudly presenting my first low buy update.

Budgeting:

Thankfully my overall salary was more than I was written as a minimal monthly salary, so I have saved 22,17% of it.

The needs (50% of salary) category I was rethought and here is what I put into it:

  • Utilities: Gas, Water, Electricity, Common cost, internet, bank and mobile.
  • Raw materials of food: these are everything which I have purchased at grocery stores to eat and cook from.
  • Food that I have spent in our work buffet (the prices are pretty low, sometimes even lower than making for home sandwich)
  • Public transportation monthly pass: I live in a big city so I need to have it during the winter, as it is too cold for cycling, but any taxi, excursion or car sharing goes to my wants category.
  • I have not purchased any house cleaning, neither basic hygiene products this month.

So it took my 32% of the salary.

Wants is the most requested area, so these are my monthly rules for the year:

  1. One fresh beauty products per month! Try to pan!
  2. One in and one out skin care, body and haircare products.
  3. One new addition to my closet per month: including clothes + maximum 6  shoes and accessories!
  4. Magazines and books: books I must not buy until of 6 will be read from my bookshelf, while magazines I will strict to one per month.
  5. Gift cards and gifts are exceptions- finally I will have a wishlist for my birthday and nameday.
  6. Only one treatment is allowed per month: beauty salon, massage, hairdresser etc.
  7. Keep a no buy day per week.
  8. Do decluttering per seasons.

My fresh beauty products of the month- AKA my haul of January, 2020:

Skin care product: FARMACY- Dew It All Eyecream. So technically I was paid and ordered it in December, 2019 but it is just arrived in the middle of January, so I decided to rather take it into this haul. This is a product, which Youtube made me to buying same aspect: Niki Sky(Canadian Luxury Youtuber) ,where she was mentioning that she struggles with dark under eye and she is just a few years older than me, so also has same issue with the first sign of aging. In the other hand I was looking for an eyecream for so long, which is CF, Mineral oil, parabens, fragrance free… So far it looks it is great and works much more well than my previous one…

Makeup: Becca – Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Same issue: my under eye, I used to love that concealer for it and as a eyeshadow base, I was decided to put it to my basket at Cultbeauty during the sales so it is just arrived too. And yeah how I could have forgot it? 12/1

Accessories: Furla Glasses. It is really hard to categorize whether it is a need or a want… I need to have a glass, because I am suffering from near-sightedness and I was choosing with ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect lens as I am working with computers all the time, but of course you can buy much cheaper glasses. OK, I decided to choose by the style, how it is fits instead of the price. And thankfully it was on my employee’s discount and I can give and account to my private health fund, which gives a 20% tax refund. 6/1

Clothes: I did not buy any Yeah… but swap a pulover with 2 dresses 12/0

Magazines: I just bought one, which is two as Elle and Marie Claire was packed together (January- February issue) for the price of one Elle. 12/1

Treatment: face cleansing treatment with Hévíz Mud 12/1

I have decluttered with remixshop 5 clothes of mine and 2 of my husband’s one. Used up some of my make up: The Body Shop: Fresh Nude Tinted Beauty Balm, Mini MAC Chili lipstick, Trend It UP: Lipoil + my eyecream and my face creamIMG_6732

Charity: this month Les Clefs D’Or event was also a charity ball, I have dominated to Australia rescue and also was involved into a campaign like last year about the mestrual poverty.

So the total was spending 31,17 %, which is a bit high however the glasses was only a must in this month.

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My easy skin care routine

Hi lovelies,

This is the 2020 update of my skincare routine. It is easy, sustainable and relatively cheap. Yeah I have skipped using retionol and strong BHA acids due to some plans this year. And of course you can consider this post as an other inventory list as my makeup was.

Here is what I am using for my combination skin in 2020:

In the morning:

I always start with a glass of water, then getting into the bathroom washing my face with cold water cleansing while using a washclothes and cotton pads depending on the products(always use two types). Then toning and moisturizing my face to be ready for makeup.

Lush 7 to 3 cleansing pad

Micellar water– currently- Lumene one

Toner: Pixi Glow

Moisturizer: Polfa-Tarchomin (Polish Pharma brand) Hyaluron Regenal cream is a more thicker cream than the E.l.f. Daily Hydration Moisturizer, which I was used to use during the year, but I need a bit more now in the Winter

Eye cream: Farmacy – Dew It all (used the Naturschön Augencream, but I think they do changed something, which really iritates me, so just replaced it)

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Night or afternoon routine:

So I work in the morning I do remove my makeup upon arrival to home and use double cleansing + moisturizer, the same as in the morning.

If I am working until late night these two rituals links together: triple cleansing, then using serums, sometimes my face roller tooand oil if I have breakouts. A few minutes later I do apply my night cream and the Carmex in the bedroom.

The Body Shop: Camomile Cleansing Butter

Lush 7 to 3 cleanser

Micellar water

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5

The Ordinary Niaciamide 10% + Zinc 1%

If needed: The Body Shop Tree Oil

Night cream: Helia D- Botanic Concept Moisturising Night Cream with Tokaji Wine Extract


Extras:

Which I try to use weekly:

Lush lip scrub in Bubblegum

Hello JO – Bright Eye Jelly Masks

The Body Shop – Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask

Sheet Mask, Suncreams and a Body Butter (should use more often).

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Of course I do have some back ups and samples in my skincare inventory: to use up these will be important during my low buy year

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See you soon and Xoxo,

 

The Make up inventory of 2020

Hi lovelies,

I was written to update on my makeup for you in January. So my plan for the year in terms of make up:

One fresh beauty products per month! Rather try to use up and enjoy my current items and panning them, specially my eyeshadows.

Firstly let’s see my makeup box and count:

I would not say that I have an enormous collection of makeup like in the lot of the declutter videos on YouTube, but I still feel a bit overwhelming of them so I will try to desize my collection in 2020 and only add 12 new items and of course saving some money.

I own:

  • 12 lipsticks,
  • 7 eyeshadow palettes,
  • 4 highlighters,
  • 3 foundations,
  • 3 blushes,
  • 3 mascaras,
  • 3 bronzers,
  • 3 eyeliners,
  • 3 lipliners,
  • 3 concealers
  • 2 faceprimers,
  • 2 setting powders,
  • 2 lip oils,
  • 1 face palette,
  • 1 lash glue,
  • 1 fake lash,
  • 1 lightening drop,
  • 1 single eye pigment,
  • 1 eyeshadow primer,
  • 1 lipprimer

So in total of 60 items… so my goal is to downsize it to 40 by mainly using up the current items I have. Also my other aim it to finally reach the total cruelty free make up inventory  by the end of the year

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2 items are missing: my Lanolip oil and a Becca undereye corrector- I think I left them at work …

I just have to do a bit of decluttering now too, which would be:

The E.l.f. Concealer, which is broken so it is a bit too dry now + the color is not a match for me (fair is too dark), my everyday Trend it up mascara is just too old to use, finally my friend came to pick up my old MAC products, which I was gifted for her (2 palettes and a lipstick). (55)

I am on the way to panning this month:

Bobbi Brown bronzer, Nars Orgasm blush, The Balm: Mary Louminizer and using up my Chanel setting powder, The Body Shop Tint Nude BB, Trend it up Lip Oil, Estee Lauder Coral an MAC mini Chili lipstick. Of course I try to use only one eyeshadow in this month, which is my Tarte Tartelette in Bloomson palette.

So I can only buy 12 pieces of make up, so what would be if I would just buy them now: (I try to be realistic as I would need some replacement during the year for sure)

  1. It Cosmetics CC (replacement)
  2. Urban Decay Perversion mascara in mini (replacement)
  3. RMS beauty: Eye Polish
  4. Lisa Eldridge: Velvet Ribbon lipstick
  5. Fenty Beauty: Gloss Bomb
  6. Fenty Beauty: Sun Starlk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
  7. Too Faced: Better Than Sex Waterproof mini mascara
  8. Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde palette
  9. Lilah B.: Divine Duo- Lips and Cheeks
  10. Charlotte Tilbury brown eyeliner
  11. Charlotte Tilbury lip liner
  12. Hourglass: Veil Mineral Primer

OMG it is such a huge wishlist, however it can be changed throught out the year.

 

Money issue of 2020

Hi lovelies,

Happy New Year to everyone! I was thinking about joinning a “no buy” year than I was convinced that I am not ready for it and I would fail like in the first month for sure, which has no sense and would made me pissed off, so I want to make a sustainable low buy year. That would mean to try to use up, specially make up , however I do not have a crazy amount of it but still have more than an average people would need, so I want to decrease it a tiny bit (of course I had, have and will have a box full of makeup). Second reason is to keep my skincare and haircare routine as simple as it is now, because they do work for me. Thirdly is to upgrade my clothes, shoes and accessories in quality. The other main reason of course is to save for our future plans.

Budgeting:

Let’s start with the budgeting… I think the Atkins budget: 50-30-20 rule is not a new thing, but that is going to be the first year when I will start to follow. Yes it is more written for the USA and it is harder to adopt to the rest of the World, but I want to try.

Now let me to persolize:

Firstly it is the hardest thing to set what is the budget as my payment is comes from a fixed part and commissions after sales, so my monthly salary is changing months by months. Here in Hungary we do have quite low salaries, but there is a “cafeteria” system in which the employees can gain some extra money for extra spending: local restaurants, cinema, gym, spa, accomodation ect. I just will set a minimum, which would be equal my minimum net salary: 220 000 HUF (ca. 665 EUR). On the top of that I want to save for our flat goals, which we still not finished- specially our living room: no TV and its furniture, a rug is missing so much.

SAVINGS: (20%) 

Last year I had to pay off 38 500 HUF (ca. 120 EUR) per month to the taxation company as a sales tax after our flat, which is thanksfully over this year. Last year I was able to take only my retirement fund and my healthcare fund- these I would higher up a bit and take rest to my security fund. Yeah my first financial goal is to build my security fund upto 6 months. Now I only have it for 1 month, but by the end of the year I would love to have it for at least 3 months.

WANTS: (30%)

That is the category that I will totally need to change. Cut back on those impulsive purchases and carefully considering what I want before I pull the trigger on a purchase on things that I really love. This is were I should keep my annual budget the most. So I am settling the followings rules:

  1. One fresh beauty products per month! Rather try to use up and enjoy my current items and panning them, specially my eyeshadows. I think it will have a seperate post soon about it.
  2. One in and one out skin care, body and haircare products, that what I am already doing but it is better to remember myself I can only buy one if I completely finished it and do not have anything to replace it. At the moment I do have everything works for my skintype.
  3. One new addition to my closet per month: including clothes + maximum 6  shoes and accessories! Probably will be the hardest to keep but I think I will be able to buy more of better quality stuffs or second hand (at least 3 of them should be that) and at least one from a local designer and 1 from an etnical brand!
  4. Magazines and books: books I must not buy until of 6 will be read from my bookshelf, while magazines I will strict to one per month.
  5. Gift cards and gifts are exceptions- finally I will have a wishlist for my birthday and nameday.
  6. Only one treatment is allowed per month: beauty salon, massage, hairdresser ect.
  7. Keep a no buy day per week.
  8. Do decluttering per seasons.
  9. do a month of no Buy like last year:

A month without extra spendings

NEEDS: (50%)

I mostly counted my fixed charges here: common cost, electricity, gas, water, mobil bill, internet and Apple. These would be already 60% of the needs budget. I am not sure that if I can fit my grocery into the 40% of it but we will see in January. Also at the grocery I have to be more mindful, but still do not want to suffer.

In the beginning I have written that this is only my minimal budget, so what about the rest? That what I want to use for our flat improvement, our common goals with my husband or holiday. Yeah my 2020 plans are just upcoming a few days.

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Xoxo,

A month without extra spendings

Hi lovelies,

Let’s continue my journey to waste less. In September I have not purchased any clothes, cosmetics, electricity stuff or any extra household items. I feel so proud of myself, because I just feel a step closer to my sustainable lifestyle.

This journey made me to think how many extra things and useless things we do have at home, Yeah, we did a tiny decluttering too: clothes, old papers etc. And it is also made me to realize what is exactly missing from our home, had time before acting to think and rethink again and again. After I changed my clothes from summer to a tinier warmer I was so happy to find so much, which I was litually forgot, but used to love… rediscover my own things. Also rethought and reuse a lot of things which I have never ever imagined. Now I used to take my clothes bags to grocery stores and reduced our waste a little bit.

I do suggest to try this out for a month and it will really change your mind.  In the future I really try to buy rather quality than quantity.

xoxo,