I hate being poor. I’ve said that a million times on my blog. I suck at it. I wasn’t rich before by any stretch, but Stanley and I were making it and with both incomes I could keep myself in some sort of style. We ate out several times a week and took a vacation every year. Now, unbeknownst to me, Stanley was running up a heap of credit cards on his very own. If he needs to cut something, he buys an expensive table saw. He is absolutely terrible with money, and since I hate to be poor, and was very busy working and having babies, I kind of filed this away in the back of my mind as something to worry about when I had time.
It wasn’t entirely his fault, I turned a blind eye and let it happen .
Sometimes, looking back at my marriage, I think my brain cells leaked out wth my breast milk.
Here goes all my brains!
My momma told me that when I got divorced I was going to be poor. For some reason I didn’t worry about it prior to my divorce. I thought, well, he has maxed us out and it can’t be worse. Wrong, it’s worse. Sometimes I sweat gas. I hate that. I make sure the kids have what they need and the kids are provided for out of the nest account. However, I did make the decision not to send Jumping Bean to summer camp for a week for $500. If she had wanted to go, I would have found a way, but she was on the fence, so I decided not to push it because the 4 of us could use that to go away for a few days.
Although the kids are provided for, I look like an orphan.
I have holes in my clothes that I cover with scarves and stuff. Seriously it’s pathetic. I may have to learn to mend, which would be a catastrophe since the sock monkey I made last year looked like this…
I had to buy a few things this spring just because I have to be presentable to work. My Aunt gave me a pair of black sandals (she said she didn’t like the way they look on her feet but I suspect it is because my other ones were so pitiful) that I have worn every day since she handed them down. I’m grateful.
My most favorite little luxury, prior to my divorce, was expensive makeup, face cleansers, and bath stuff. Bubble bath, lotions, scrubs, sign me up.
I had quite a stash.
Unfortunately, I’m out of every single thing, all the extras, free gift with purchase samples, spares and doubles that I had hoarded over the years. I’m currently washing my face with deodorant soap from the shower. To be honest, it doesn’t look any different but I am afraid I’m going to look 10 years older any day now.
This could be me one day soon for real.
Now, I am having to replace the good stuff with…
drug store brands.
The horror… (I know I should be ashamed, first world problems).
Now I’m looking for dupes and websites that offer information like this.
So far I’ve found a few things I like and some that mearly aren’t terrible:
Revlon Lip Butters are awesome.
They feel soft and aren’t at all drying. It is a slick of color. My current fave is Wild Watermelon.
I finally ran out of my Laura Geller Foundation so now I’m wearing this. I don’t wear alot of foundation, so I use about 3 tiny dots.
It’s $31 cheaper which is 2/3 of a tank of gas.
If you have any great drug store finds, please share them with me.
A girl has to do what a girl has to do.
I have, in the past spent a lot of money on Chanel and Bobbi Brown makeup (foundation from the latter actually made me look jaundiced). I truly prefer the drugstore brands, returning to them by choice. It is a great place to save. Just invest in good makeup brushes. Apply your lipstick in the car or in the ladies room and no one will ever be the wiser. Through trial and error you will find, as I have, some of the “cheaper” brands are actually better. Sometimes less is more. And, besides, a healthy smile makes anyone look radiant, which I am sure you have based on the lovely relationship and family you always describe:)
Aw thanks, Sophie.
You’re singing my song! (And thanks for the Revlon lip butter tip.) I like to check the reviews at Beautypedia http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/best-products/ She always includes excellent drugstore products and will frequently say when and what is a good drugstore dupe for a pricier one. I always try to wait for a sale, but when I’m out, I go to Target or WalMart. They really do have cheaper every day prices.
Susan, thanks for the website! We need to share info like this!
L’Orreal Infallible laquer liner. It is a gel and comes in what looks like a little ink well with a brush. It has seriously lasted me a year and a half and I still have about a third left. If I have 2 make up musts, its my liner and mascara…always Voluminous because no other mascara makes my lashes almost touch my eyebrows. We should start a side blog of how and where to save money!!! You never know how far you can make things stretch or how little money you can spend until you don’t have a choice. I also swear by my new wrinkle creams too, Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle creams. I used expensive ones in the past, and it blows them away.
I buy 90% of my clothes at second hand stores, Goodwill and consignment shops. I am not a brand whore, and live in tshirts and jeans, so I can stretch a dollar pretty far when it comes to clothes. Thank goodness I wear scrubs to work and don’t need to spend money on a business wardrobe. I love hitting thrift shops wherever i travel. I have found much better quality clothes in tiny college town Goodwills over the Goodwills in my own city. I could go on and on…..
Good ideas, Bella!! I’m going to check out the eyeliner and the Neutrogena!
With the exception of facial powder I get ally cosmetics at walmart. For cleansing, toning and moisturizing, it is Burts Bees all the way. No harsh chemicals and dyes. Same with shampoo and conditioner- Burts Bees from walmart. Lip color- tinted lip balm from Burts bees. Makes my lips colored subtly and jeeps them soft. Eye shadows- physicians formula. I used to spend a fortune on Mac and Clinique. I could hit the lottery and, for real, I wouldn’t go vack. Totally unnecessary. They did a mascara test on GMA with very expensive brands like Chanel and cheaper like cover girl. Zero difference. The high end brands are really a waste of money.
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
awesome info Lizzy, thanks!
I agree with Sophie. This sounds like a line someone would say and it would be b.s., but I used to be a makeup artist (briefly, during college) and was trained by a woman who made up all the models and society people for schnazzy events. She said the cheapest brands are often made by the same factories with the vast majority of ingredients the same. It’s all in how you use it. Nice hair salon people have loudly made the sales pitch for The Product and then whispered in my ear that just about everything at Rite Aid would be just as good. But I am with you on the pain of giving up those things we love. For me it is pedicures, waxing and nice smelling products. One thing the cheaper products don’t always share with the expensive ones is the quality of the scent. Alas… My one holdout (and it may have to go fairly shortly) is my Clarins deodorant. Again, it’s the scent I will miss. And my Eileen Fisher nightgown has so many small holes, it looks like I store it in a moth nest.
ELF foundation primer. $6 (vs Smashbox $28) and it helps you to use less foundation. ELF products are pretty good. I use their eyeliner liquid ($1) and brushes ($1-$3). Found at Target and WalMart.
When I was married to a successful man, I used fancy shampoos, and got my hair done in places where the stylist said things like “pantene is the McDonalds of haircare”. Now, flash forward 10 years, I use pantene, and tresemme if the coupons are better, and shock of all shock, my hair looks no different! My hair stylist ( different one) has actually asked me what I use to keep it in such good condition in spite of the coloring. A label is just a label; it doesn’t make the contents any better, in the same way that the torn shirt doesn’t define you. Thanks for this… greatly enjoyed!