I am struggling with something...

Re: I am struggling with something...

You could start "new" now without looking back I mean hold what you already have and enjoy it and choose more carefully what you will get from future collections! This way you don't need to miss anything.

I want to move in summer and have to save some money (of course) so I have decided to pass all these neutral or smaller collections which I do not really like or need. I think you know I will get five big hauls in 2010 with collections I really love. So I can still get my MAC and the money I need for the bigger appartment!

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I guess it's all about what you want more. I think it's great that you are doing those things to take better care of yourself (I should do the same). So maybe you need to look at everything and think what is going to make me happy or what will benefit me the most.

There will always be a new MAC collection down the road that you can get. I would say that regardless of how hard it might be that you may have to give up some of your collection to help with your other goals in life!

Good luck to you!

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Oooh girl I've been there. If you think you can do without and have a similar color in the same product, let it go. I found that when I needed money for a move I had TONS of neutrals and TONS of darks in the lippie arena AND similar purples and pinks in the shadow area. Take a peek at your collection and considering DH says you don't really have to sell anything, make a pile of what you really want to keep, and what you can pass on.

Hope that helps

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I have experienced almost the same exact issue myself, this year. I have to comment & tell you that I understand completely! But a strange thing happened, once I got rid of a few "select" items, I felt liberated (lol). That then turned into getting rid of even more, and it actually became (almost) exciting. I just feel like I have enough for three lifetimes & I just have to much STUFF. I just decided last night that I am ready to get rid of some backups too.
Yes, I still bought 2 items from SF, but now I think more about what I want, and I find I only buy what I know I will use. I bought one liner from TF, in the past I would have had to buy all of them. I just feel like I am still addicted to makeup, but I have some new priorities & they make me feel as good as my MAC does!!
HTH

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This is why my swap/sale collection is so big.

Re: I am struggling with something...

I just experienced this, my dog got sick and so I had some unexpected vet bills and thought that I would sell some stuff just so the bills would not have a financial impact on me.
I'm selling a lot of my stuff and I get the whole "but what if I miss it" thought. But then I just think back to a time where the only make-up I had was 2 or 3 eyeshadows, a blush, foundation, and liner and I felt that was all I need.

I kind of treat it like I do clothes. If I haven't worn it in more than 6 months I can bear to live without it.

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I am on the bandwagon here too with this one. Over the past 2 years I had accumulated tons of stuff (thought not quite what I've seen on here that other people have...my stuff fills a small, shallow drawer) but still I felt like I had all this stuff and only touched more than half of it every so often. It's not that I don't like the stuff but I just don't have enough time in a week to touch it all! I am steadily going through my stuff and adding more and more things to my sale thread all the time. I think (from experience) that we just get caught up in the thrill of it all and go a little crazy sometimes.

I've been wanting as well to try getting into better shape and eat better and all that and I have really tried hard lately to only buy the things (makeup wise) that I use on a regular basis or that I don't have that's already similar to something else. I think you're on target with your plan to just buy the things you REALLY want and concentrate on your fitness and what you need to make that happen. And I totally agree that MAC will repromote and have collection after collection for ages to come. I would bet that for each thing you "let go of", MAC will no doubt have something similar down the road so if you do find that you are missing something you sold, you'll have the opportunity to get it again. And of course with the unfortunate tendency they have to make things nearly dupable, it'll be even easier for you!

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I think this is really good advice. You are doing something great for yourself, wanting to be healthier. Put your energy towards this, and look forward, since you don't need to sell things for purely economical reasons.

Re: I am struggling with something...

This thread is a weight off my back! I've been thinking about how much I have in my collection lateley and how often I use things too. I have a house that I've lived in for almost 5 years and I wanna make a few changes but can't seem to find the $ to do so.....hmmm...... smh I've decided to really buckle down and get a grip on my spending. Like a few of you ladies said, it's all about choosing carefully. MAC does repromote things often (dirty plum, free to be, etc are prime examples) so if I do miss out on something, I'm sure it'll be back soon enough. Or someone else will tire of theirs and sell it and maybe I'll have a chance to buy. That's why I love the sale/swap section Then, there's always the CCO. I live about 45 mins to an hr away from the nearest CCO and there's another not far from me as well. Patience is something I'm learning to cultivate because soon enough, much of the collections I may miss will be available there. It's great to have voices of reason here, despite our addiction...

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Audrey, I really have to thank you for this thread. I too have been purchasing way too much lately...I don't know if it's HYPE of all of the collections or what, but it has gotten SERIOUSLY out of hand! It seems that I go into a collection wanting nothing, or at the least, very little and I come home with a bunch. Case in point, LoL collection....all I really wanted was the Birds & Berries e/s and I came away with a Beauty Powder, a blush, a lipgloss and 4 of the 5 shadows!! I swear they pump some magic dust into the air ducts at the MAC store!!

I too need to focus on me as the whole person.....most of you might not know, but after years of struggling with my weight, I am having Gastric Bypass surgery on the 29th of this month. Yes, my physical appearance will be going through a massive change, and with that, I'm gonna need a whole new wardrobe. So, for me....I've got to keep a handle on my makeup spending, since I'll need clothes to transition with as the weight drops.

So after Art Supplies, I am going on a strict LIMIT when it comes to collections!!

Thank god that MAKEUP doesn't have a SIZE......

Re: I am struggling with something...

Maybe you can keep what you have and sell what you know you may only use once or twice or sell stuff that can't be used up by you before going bad. You could get something that benefits your husband too if he wants to be a part of a healthier lifestyle. If you're close enough in height, all he would have to do would be to make adjustments to the seat and handlebars.

Re: I am struggling with something...

Audrey - I do not buy nearly what I used to - I already have a large collection and really do not "need" anything.

With GMLOL, it was literally the first collection since CoC that I really splashed out. Otherwise, it has just been a couple of things here and there. I still have fun enjoying what others are getting and using and seeing their looks. I no longer feel like I have to "have it all".

You'll get it in balance, I know for me, know when I get something new, it's something I am really excited about and want (Exhibit A: GMLOL). Very few collections will be like that for me.

I'm just rambling a bit, but I understand where you are coming from. Plus, you originated the "Shop your Stash" thread, right? We should all be doing that more, I know I go through my collection on a regular basis to ensure I am using everything I have. If not, I sell it or give it away to someone I know will enjoy it.

Re: I am struggling with something...

Audrey i know how you feel. and i think it's fantastic that you have been doing so well with WW and improving your health!

i myself have been much choosey recently over what items i have bought.because now i have such a big collection that many things are starting to appear the same! so now i am really looking at what i have before i put things on my 'to buy' list!

Re: I am struggling with something...

I think it's interesting that sometimes I get so focused on my makeup that I don't focus on other aspects of my physical health like hair, clothes, or health. I think a balance is really important, so kudos to you, Audrey, for looking for that balance!

It's really odd, but it seems like when I do a huge haul, I don't enjoy my goodies as much as when I do a small, 2-3 item haul. I think it's because I don't have enough faces (lol) to use all those things at once, and so I get overwhelmed and it's hard to choose what to wear that day or whatever. So honestly, I think if you just choose 1 or 2 items from each collection, you'll feel better because you can enjoy those things, and you can use the rest of the money to spend towards an Ipod or exercise mats or whatever else- a nice road bike! It's amazing how fast the $$ adds up.

As for selling anything, I don't think it hurts to comb through your collection and find those things that you honestly don't use. I did this a few months ago, because all of a sudden, it felt like makeup was pouring out of every corner of my house! Like I honestly didn't realize how much I'd bought and stored away (drug store included), and so I really had to get rid of a lot before I went crazy. I got rid of maybe 20% of my makeup, so not a TON, but it has made a difference. There are some items that I sold that I cringe about (Manish palette, Style black l/g) but I never used them! They were pretty but useless to me. So keep that in mind.

I really hope this helps, I commend you for doing what you're doing, I think it'll be hard, but overall very rewarding both mentally and physically

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^^ I know what you mean, I feel like I got a little too much even from LoL. It's all so gorgeous and hard to pick just a couple things but I think I would've survived if I skipped most of the collection...I think. And it is definitely rewarding to shop the stash and find things that you forgot about- it's always so exciting!

Re: I am struggling with something...

Since I am working on losing some weight, I really wanted to earn my makeup. So I bought what i wanted from the collection and gave it all to my friend to hold. For each 3lb loss, I get something. This way, I appreciate what I have and am earning it. It keeps me outta mac too lol.

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That is a really great idea Hilly! I think I might start to do this as well. I did get quite a bit from GMLOL because I hit a big weight loss goal this week. But from now on I think I might doing this for my other weight loss goals.

This year I have really tried to be more selective in what I purchase. I haven't been perfect but I have done much better than years past. I have such a large collection that I really don't even "need" anything at all anymore.

Thanks for making this thread Audrey because it sure seems aparent that most people feel similar to you (including me). It is good for us to talk about this and support each other. That is what makes Specktra such a great place.

I also really like Susanne's idea about only hauling a few times a year. That to me would make what I purchase so much more special. GMLOL was the first collection in a VERY long time that I was beyond excited to have and use. I am very guilty of buying things because of hype and then just having them sit in a drawer unused.

Re: I am struggling with something...

I'm totally with you, Audrey. Since I lost my job, I've been selling off a lot of the stuff that I've used maybe once or twice to fund the new stuff I want. A lot of the stuff I'm selling were "hyped" items.

I'm keeping some of my favorites or items that took me forever to track down, but I've come to the realization that I always want new. So, once I've decided I'm bored with something, I'll probably toss it into my sale to recoup a little cash. That way, I will have cash flow for the things I want, and I'm not just accumulating, I'm cleaning things out.

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You can try a reward system, either something like what Hilly suggested, or reward yourself with a fitness accessory for every 5/10/15 lbs you lose. The bigger the increment the better the reward...

Re: I am struggling with something...

Hi, Audrey!

I have been purchasing MAC since 2003 and studying the LE collections since 2005. In the past five years, I can tell you that MAC has recycled many colors and color themes. MAC has produced a few unique shades in the past five years (like Parrot, Lucky Green, Meadowland, Moth Brown, Metamorph, Valet, Pink Cabana, Lollipop Loving), and has come out with hundreds of colors that are just a shade different from a permanent item or past LE item. In most cases, the subtle difference in shades can't be detected on your skin--only on a paper swatch. It's not enough of a difference to justify a purchase! If you miss out on something, odds are MAC will produce a similar shade in the future!

I have really enjoyed visiting a new collection (on Saturdays or Sundays when the counter is busy), then "shopping my stash" for substitutes! I have learned to combine what I already own in new ways, so it seems like I have new makeup! Also, I can adapt a collection to suit my personal taste and NW15 coloring! I can morph a new collection into warm-toned, cool-toned, neutral, pastel, bright or smokey versions with my substitutes. Often, I get so excited by playing with my substitutes that I don't feel like I'm missing out on a new collection! As an added bonus, I tend to prefer my versions to the new collection!

Instead of focusing on the LE hype, consider each new collection as inspiration for new ways to combine what you already own!--Cori

Re: I am struggling with something...

I totally agree with this! Just a week ago I did a HUGE MAC haul at a warehouse sale (10 l/s, 3 pigments, 4 e/s, brushes, 2 foundations, 4-5 MSF's/ blushes, and more). I was actually depressed after! Usually when I buy 1-2 things it's a real pick-me-up, but too much just makes me feel overwhelmed. This huge haul has inspired me to sell about half of it, and also to sell stuff I have that I don't use much. Swapping just isn't making a dent in my collection.

Anyway, what I'm saying is, when it comes to makeup, less really is more. I haven't bought anything regular price at mac since a Blacktrack fluidline around the holidays, and I B2M'd for a lipstick once this year. I did a discounted CP through a friend, but even that was for more staple items like 15-pan palettes and lip conditioner. I'm being veeery picky and won't buy anything else unless it's really different from what I already have, and something I really love. I've passed on SCF, LOL, all of it, and I don't regret it.

As for finding something you wanted later on - honestly, half the fun of going to the warehouse sale (or CCO's) is never knowing what I will find, and the thrill of finding something that I wanted from a previous collection but passed on. This time I picked up Dainty, Love & Friendship polish and Long Stem Rose slimshine, all of which I've been wanting so bad, and last time I snagged Refined and Top Hat (all at veeery deep discounts)! A little restraint is so worth it in the end!

keep it up, you will feel great!

Re: I am struggling with something...

Hi Audrey,

You could impose a rule of selling something when you get something you like better? For example, I started with MAC Bitter, then realized I like NARS Rated R better, so I sold Bitter and bought Rated R. Then that one came out with C-shock that was similar and I liked that better, so, I sold Rated R and bought the C-shock one. And THEN, MAC came out with it's own "Rated R" with Starflash formula and I like that better...so, then I bought that and I still need to sell the C-shock one. I lost a little money along the way, but it was better than not having the one I liked better and stuck with all the others...I know it's not the same as "shopping your stash" but I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you really want the latest or you think the latest is better than what you have, just make a rule that you HAVE to sell the one you are replacing.

So, at one point, I felt like I was spending too much on makeup and decided to go cold turkey and not pay attention to any MAC stuff for a while. This backfired on me where when I came back, I saw all the stuff I missed and then ended up hunting down all the items I was interested. That cost me alot more than what I would have paid retail. I guess I could have just said, too bad and not gotten all that stuff...but I'm sure you guys can guess that I just couldn't. Anyway, what I found that worked better was that I just stayed off Specktra for a while and then just waited to see the MAC emails when the collection was actually announced. Then, I'd head over to the store and check it out for myself, without all the hype on Specktra -- this helped me see what I REALLY liked, without all this influence here. You could try this?

OR...just have the willpower to not buy or buy selectively.

I'm glad you brought this up though because over the last few months starting with Xmas season buying, I bought so much stuff...I need to scale down a bit myself.

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There is one thing you must do in order to save money, stay off the color collections threads. No seriously, I speak from experience!

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hee hee! sometimes this is true! my attention gets brought to products i wasn't even thinking about sometimes!

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I do think it is possible to enjoy and participate in the colour collection threads without feeling like you have to "get it all". But for many, those threads can be overly enabling and I respect that for some it's best to stay away. I've learned to navigate those threads without feeling pressure and just enjoying the interaction between our members. I feel like I can be part of the convo even if I don't buy anything from a particular collection. I didn't even buy Ripe Peach blush ombre, which has been quite the hot ticket of late.