SIC: What I've Been Spending $ On!

I haven't done a SIC 'Shopping in Control' update in a LONG time - mid October to be exact!

If you'd like to see my previous ones, you can check out the SIC Tab on my blog OR:

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Purchasing!

Tips to Control Spending

My friend Mary created a Makeup Spending Plan for 2013, and that reminded me to update my blog on purchases I've been making lately for this series.

In my prior  updates in the Fall, you can see I was very much dedicated to clothing, fashion, and shoes. I was constantly going to Goodwill for thrifted finds and looking online window shopping all the time. I would jump at the chance to buy something on sale.

A goal of mine for the year specifically clothing wise is to spend money on something I love and know I will wear, even if it's a little more expensive, rather than buying a bunch of things on sale. I purchased a sweater from River Island (Asos) in November, originally $60 (I got it for $42!) that I LOVE and I wear it all the time because I love it. So far this goal is going well for the few clothing pieces I have bought.

That brings me to what I've been spending the most on lately - Home Decor and Makeup!!

Since I purchased the Chevron blanket at Tjmaxx that you can see on the chair in my January Favorites, I have been obsessed with looking at home decor. I won't so much look online, but at tjmaxx, target, etc - now I will always go to the home decor section in a store before/INSTEAD of the clothing section.
And, I love that when I buy something for our room - I can look at it all the time rather than a piece of clothing I'll wear once every month.

Makeuppppp!

I think Wheatenbeauty1 with all her Postman Cometh videos made me jump on the bandwagon to getting into pigments, as well as the Cream Shadows I tested out.
The other thing I've been spending money on is makeup, specifically pigments and shadows! I have been LOVING doing my eye makeup and experimenting (you can see some looks in my Eye Looks of the Week post). I've been ordering from a lot of indie companies a lot, but when I buy makeup - I will never buy more than 5/6 pigments at a time because I love to try the new shadows first rather than buy a TON at once. Lately I've purchased from The All Natural Face, Shiro Cosmetics, Pumpkin and Poppy, and Silk Naturals! I'm waiting for a shadow I got from Geek Chic (their collections have STICKERS!), Darling Girl Cosmetics samples, All Natural Face cream blushes and LOTS of things for a giveaway (shh!) and a larger Silk Naturals order with some lip products this time. My ANF cream blush collection is coming too!

What are your favorite shadows to use lately? And your favorite companies to buy pigments from?!
Please share!!

SIC SAVING Update!

Hi guys! I thought I would do a SIC post since I haven't posted an update in awhile!

This month so far I have come to the conclusion that I now am able to resist buying things online more than I am in-person at a store. When I'm at a store, I feel like it is the end-all-be-all and if I don't buy it then and there, I won't be able to get it ever again. A little dramatic, I know.

Lately with online window shopping, which I still do A TON, my pinterest board has really been helping me of course, but what I have been noticing this month is that if something doesn't almost "take my breathe away" (more drama, okay!), or it is too expensive (I'm REALLY trying to save), then I won't buy it. I'm trying to wear the clothes and shoes I have. Since I've been having bad pain in my arch, I've only been able to wear my sneakers and crocs, thus putting boot shopping to a halt for the time being.

There is a sweater I have been wanting for a while that is originally $61. Even with the sale price of $55, I haven't convinced myself to buy it. It's still in my cart and I go back almost every day to look at it - but considering $50 is half of $100 (duh!) it just feels like a lot for a sweater.

There are also shirts online that I REALLY like - but I'm just not willing to spend the money on them.

Overall - I think I'm FINALLY really understanding what it means to truly save my money for things I REALLY like. There is a scarf on etsy that "takes my breath away" that I DO think I'm going to buy, but I really do spend time thinking about my purchases online.

Now when good sales come around, that's a different story. I should be scared for my bank account on Black Friday.

Hope you all are doing well on your track if you are trying to save as well! :D