Update! Austerity August No-Buy- The Results

Well, folks, I did it. I survived the month of August without buying any new makeup. I resisted in the drugstore, I avoided Ulta, and I deleted the tempting sale emails from all my favorite brands (and there were some good sales). And as I emerge victorious in September, I wanted to tell you all how it went.

First off, it was tough! I admit I may have a slight addiction to buying makeup, as well as a major addiction to Diet Coke, but who doesn't have their vices? My retail therapy doesn't hurt anyone, and I only buy what I plan to use and try to get the best deals possible at all times. If I do buy frivolously, I also do it frugally and keep it to drugstore brands with coupons. When life gets a little rough, thinking about buying makeup gives me something to look forward to.


Forcing myself into a no-buy, however, allowed me to look at what I was doing in a different light. It made me realize how often I thought about buying new makeup, which was a lot! In the past, whenever I went long stretches without buying new goodies, it was more because I didn't have the opportunity. If I was busy at work, I didn't really notice not buying any makeup. But during my Austerity August, I had plenty of opportunity, and definitely had the desire and I'd go so far to say that I felt, at least on some level, a type of withdrawal. Dealing with that feeling made me feel so proud at the end of each day that I had made it through without caving.

Second, I saved some real money. In an average month, I usually make two trips to Ulta, and several trips to my local drugstores (not just for makeup, but the makeup just seems to hop into my basket!). After a trip to Ulta, my damages run me about $30. When I stop by drugstores, I'd say spend $25 on cosmetics a month. So with two trips to Ulta and $25 at drugstores, I spend at least $85 a month on makeup (and when there's a sale or it's the holidays that number goes way up). August was a tight month for me, and having that extra $85 in my account was nice.

Third, I was able to take some time and organize my makeup. You may remember my makeup mess that started me down the no-buy path in the first place.

Well, take a look at it now!

Not too shabby, right? I have each drawer organized by category: base, blush/bronzers, lips, eyes, lotions, samples. Off stage I have two giant cosmetics bags that contain my unopened items that are waiting in the wings. There's still some work to be done, but I think these drawers are really working for me. If you'd like a tour, let me know in the comments below.

All in all, I am so proud that I accomplished my no-buy. So many of my friends were like "yea right, you'll never make it." In their faces! Austerity August, I think you may become a yearly tradition. If you'd like to see my original post about Austerity August, take a look here.

Anyone else just make it through or about to start a no-buy? Tell me about it!!