About this time of year tons of people are making New Year’s resolutions to stop smoking, lose weight or quit some bad habit that they don’t want to bring with them from 2008 to 2009. I try to avoid resolutions most years because I try to avoid disappointing myself.
But in 2009 I’m going to do a twist on the traditional resolution by resolving to buy less stuff. I’m not talking about cutting back on my shopping habits in general, because I pretty much took care of that in 2008. How else could our family go from living $500 in the red every month to living $500 to $800 in the black each month.
This time around I’m going to avoid buying stuff that I already own. I’m thinking specifically about toiletries, because with three girls living under one roof, we go through a lot of products in the bathroom. I feel like I’ve always got hair conditioner on my shopping list.
Recently, I took a look under our bathroom sink and discovered a large canvas bag just filled with those sample-sized bottles of lotion, shampoo and conditioner, and mini bars of soap–the kind that you get in a hotel. I’d forgotten that every time we travel as a family or my husband and I travel on business, we trend towards taking those free toiletries in the hotel bathroom home with us. When I decided to dump out that large canvas bag, I was shocked to discover just how much of this stuff I had.
In addition, when searching deeper under our double-sink vanity, I came across other full-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner that I’d purchased in the past on sale. But because I’d stored them so far back under the counter, I forgot about them, too.
That’s why I decided to spend an afternoon this past weekend organizing our toiletries. I wanted to make sure that we used every last drop of shampoo, conditioner and lotion before I even thought about going out and buying replacements. It’s going to be the same with the mini bars of soap. I organized each product in a plastic container (see left) so that I could easily store it all beneath the sink.
I’m wondering how long we’re going to be able to go without making these new purchases and how much money this is going to save us.
I’ve always been really good about checking my stock before grocery shopping for food; I haven’t always done the same with the non perishables.
Any chance you fall into the same trap? If so, let me know what you’ve decided to stake out under your sink or in your pantry–and how much you found so that you don’t need to buy anything new in 2009.
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Amen, this is definitely one of my resolutions. But as an ADD natural pigpen, I have to take these things one step at a time, or it can be a disaster! Since I have been hording samples of perfume, skin care, and makeup from Sephora for years (reformed addict) Santa put them in my daughter’s stockings. They loved it. (The problem is now, 16 year old wants the Lancome mask she tried – I’m just ignoring her) I’ll work towards using every drop or sliver of all the things I’ve gotten from hotels – The plastic container sounds key to the effort.
I like to stock up when there are sales, too, but then I have to make sure I don’t overstock. One cut-back I’ve implemented is cloth napkins. We still buy paper ones, but we hardly use any. Cloth napkins are no trouble to wash, either; they go in with the kitchen and bathroom towels.
I plan on making a list of things I’d like to achieve in 2009, then choosing one thing a month try and check it off the list. They say that it takes 28 days to form a habit, so it shouldn’t be so bad.
One of my goals, is to run again. I didn’t wait till January I started last week. We cleared out most of our garage and set up the gym stuff again ($100 treadmill off craigslist! which hadn’t seen sneakers for a LONG time). So much to do so little time!
Great idea!! I need to go through my toiletries closet too.
Time to clear out, simplify and organize.
Leah, I think you were reading my mind! I recently collected all the mini-shampoos and soaps I snatched from hotel stays and I’ve been using them for the past few months without having to buy bottles of shampoo or conditioner!
Usually, I buy shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. in bulk at the local food co-op–I bring in my own container to save the plastic and it is much cheaper than buying individual bottles.
For 2009, I’ve staked out items in my pantry that have been sitting there for the past 6 months and I intend to create a hodge-podge of soups with miscellaneous ingredients–dried mushrooms, barley, pasta, etc.
I am totally guilty of hoarding shampoo and conditioner under the sink! I checked our stash the other day and we have enough shampoo to last about a year. I still need conditioner. We haven’t been traveling (to collect hotel samples) because I lost my job a few months ago. Let’s hope that the freelance market perks up a bit in the new year.
One of the things I began to do (usually in the spring, as part of my Passover cleaning) is to date nonperishables with a permanent marker in an easy-to-read place. It’s a way of consciousness-raising when I do end up overbuying, as well as a means of inventory control on some things that do, eventually, expire (first aid supplies, etc).
Love your site, Leah – keep posting!
We’ve always used the little containers of hotel toiletries as a stop-gap when we run out of something. But there is another use I’d like to share: if you have lots of the stuff, or if they are brands or products that you don’t care for or use, consider donating the toiletries to your local food pantry. Many pantry clients just don’t have the money for these products so there is great need – especially now. Leah – I admire how organized you are!
I completely understand about finding lots of unused items in the bathroom. We moved last August and I realized how much I was hording when I had to pack it all up. I had two LARGE boxes of bathroom products. I’ve been using up several of my lotions since money has been tight and I just didn’t realize how many I had. Kind of glad I do though, as I couldn’t buy any right now if I wanted to.
Another thing I do is go online to order samples (only things that I know we will use) and I use those to get us through those inbetween purchases time. Toothpaste is a great one to get. Of course, there are almost always samples for shampoos and conditioners but that’s one thing I’m really picky about.
Thanks for this great blog!
Our challenge area is not toiletries, but cleaning products. We recently moved and the previous owner left all of his under all the sinks. Sounds great, but the trouble is that I don’t regularly use those harsh chemicals. I prefer to make my own gentler versions. So, do I use up all his leftovers, even though I’d prefer to toss them? That was my plan, but we’ve been here almost 6 months and there they still sit…
I finally have all of my hotel, sample, and sale toiletries put into plastic bins under neath my sink. My goal last year was to use them all up but I have barely put a dent in them so here we go again.
But, I did get a a kick out of letting my mom “shop” in my bathroom when she said she needed new lotion.
She left with a bag full of toiletries.
Those mini lotions are great for keeping in your purse or your bedside table.
I took an empty shampoo and conditioner bottle and refilled them with hotel bottles. I got half a bottle of conditioner and a full bottle of shampoo. In my house a bottle of shampoo lasts for three months and conditioner lasts for a year.
Keri:
I would recommend giving away those products on Freecycle. Someone else could put them to good use.
Leah
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[...] recall from my late December post called “Buy Less Stuff” that I’d spent an afternoon (with my mom, actually) organizing all of the toiletries that [...]
A great way to get toiletries cheaply is at garage sales. In two Saturdays, I got 11 full bars of high-end, luxury shrink-wrapped soap for $4.50.
I found some pricing online, and minimum retail would have cost $26. Often people sell travel-size shampoos, conditioners, soaps as well as razors, sewing kits, shower caps, and anything else they collect from hotels. Sample sizes of products are easily found. I’ve come across a few hosts who sold product as a side business who were unloading full-size brand-new containers at slashed prices.