STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

travelgirl · Kate Spade

Trading Down

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

- Benedryl and Advil to Generic (mostly due to DH always buys generic.
- MAC eye make up remover [back] to my college day faves L'oreal eye make up remover int he blue bottle.
- Mascara - I have always rotated different brands including my fave, L'oreal Voluminous, but I find myself buying the Maybelline 2-paacks when available.
- Food - I've been buying organic less, and more store brands.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

From many expensive brands down to Dove conditioner and Head & Shoulder shampoo. I'm very happy with this trade. No more body washes. Using bars of soap now.

lynnie · Chanel

I've been cooking a lot more and trying to use up all my ingredients in an efficient way. So I'll cook for my roommates (making sure I have some for lunch next day) and they'll get me back later in the week.

I'm starting to cut out coffee/alcohol (kind of)/sweet treats anyway for health reasons- and that is saving money.

I'm not changing my beauty products around but I use so little each time that I justify the expensive product. I am trying to use up all my stuff however, instead of buying on a whim or just because I want something new.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

-No more Jergens Natural Glow for me unless I have a coupon. Instead I am using the huge economy size bottle of Suave lotion. I may look paler, but my skin is just as smooth so I could care less.

-No more fancy shower gel. I have switched to the economy size Target brand version of Dove body wash. When I am done with that one I am going to use up every little sample of body wash I have accumulated over the years.

-I buy Target brand for all of my housewares and food where there is an equivilant

-I totally love my mascara, but I really need a new tube and I cannot afford $30 because I am getting laid off. So back to Great Lash it is for the time being...

-I usually get my bikini wax done every 4 weeks, I am going to start doing every 5 (yeah it doesn't seem like much, but I refuse to go without it so it should save about $130 a year)

-Also, BF and I went to Home Depot yesterday and bought plastic to seal over our windows for the winter months. That should save a lot on our energy bills

member · Hermes

Farrah - that's so funny! B and I went to Target yesterday and bought a window sealing kit too!

Here's my list - I pretty much cut down on a lot of stuff last year when I was un-employed:

* Obviously, like Farrah, we bought the plastic sealing for our windows to help prevent the drafts we get, but also to save on our heating bills.
* No more Starbucks - I get Dunkin Donuts or just make my coffee at home now.
* I try to bring lunch to work at least 2-3 times a week.
* SO and I used to eat out all the time - we've scaled back to 2 times a week now.
* I only buy what's on sale at the grocery store and I go to Target for anything I can food-wise - everything is about $2 cheaper there.
* I traded in brand name mascara and foundation for drugstore brands.
* I barely shop at all anymore, and when I do, it's either on sale or w/a coupon. I love Anthro and JCrew and can't give those up, but I pretty much stalk the items I want and wait for them to go on sale, which they always do.
* I traded in my Philosophy 3 in 1's for drugstore shower gel, or I take advantage when Bath and Body Works has a sale.

sydney · Kate Spade

Drugstore shampoo and conditioner - I switch off with my expensive ones, but find myself using it more often than the expensive ones. Same with hairspray - some good drugstore brands out there. Trying to use my expensive stuff more sparingly.

Very little dining out, and when we do, it's with a deal or coupon. Same with bringing lunch vs buying it.

Kelly · Hermes

I have been bringing my lunch to work a couple times a week. It helps that BF and I have been eating dinner together more often lately, and he is a far better cook than I am so I usually have something yummy to bring to work!

I haven't really "traded down" on anything other than that. I've always used drugstore makeup and skincare, and I always buy the store brand of food except for a few items (like Cheerios....no generic brand can live up to the real deal!). So there isn't really anything for me to trade down to, unless I want to start using the $1 shampoo or something!

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

I cook at home more. This is HUGE for me because I'm a horrible cook, but I am learning.

I'm not buying the new Givenchy mascara even though I totally want to try it because my Max Factor 2000 calorie is good enough I think.

I used to wear La Mer moisturizer but now I just use Nivea and warm it up by rubbing it in my palms just like I used to with La Mer.

I buy store brand peanut butter and canned vegetables.

Can't really think of anything else.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I haven't traded down yet. When I find something that works really well for me, I stick with it. But I do use the large size of Suave body lotion. I love that stuff. I also use Target brand makeup remover towelettes.

Redken isn't the cheapest shampoo but I now buy it in the liter size which is a lot cheaper than buying the regular sized ones.

I also hit up the Bath & Body Works sales. They always have great coupons which I can stock up on body wash. The other day I got the foaming hand soaps for $4 for $10, plus the foot and hand cream I use which was on sale for 2 for $20 and I had a $10 off coupon. Also had a coupon for free home fragrance oil which I can't wait to use.

dangergirl · Kate Spade

I'm trying to buy less rather than trade down, and also not to eat out so much - I'd rather buy less than buy things I don't like that much if I don't have to

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Lets see mine is kinda a long list -

1. switched all skincare to drugstore brands
2. switched all salon hair products to dove
3. If I shop, I hit forever 21 just to get the shopping "rush" with out the hefty price tag.
4. No more starbucks, make all my coffee at home now
5. No more eating out at all - I bring my lunch and I cook every night. Sigh - I miss eating out :(
6. No more mani/pedis - do them at home myself to save $.
7. I have started hitting up consignment stores - got a great satin mini skirt by juicy last week for only $6!
8. Carpool with my husband to save gas, and I never drive anymore unless I have too.
9. shopping the local farmers market for good deals on veggies
10. Set a strict food budget and doing major coupon cutting

gossipgirl · Dooney & Bourke

Everything! Except maybe my True Religions!

Collette · Chanel

Ooh I've been doing alot of cutting down
1. No more Starbucks in the AM. I started drinking the free coffee at work, which I later found out WAS Starbucks!
2. I don't buy breakfast, they stock our cabinets with every variety of Quaker Oatmeal and fruit so I eat that.
3. I buy alot Archer Farms (Target brand food) and it's really good. I also found a Market Days store and shop there for bulk Chicken breasts
4. No more La Mer for me, I switched to Aveeno and Cetaphil face wash. My skin hasn't changed.
5.I bring my lunch to work every day and sit in the cafateria and read.
6. No more cabs to work. I walk the 15 minutes there and home every day. Saves me $14 a day and I get some exercise!

janey831 · Kate Spade

Let's see...not exactly "trading down" but more like trying to not spend as much.

1. Less food shopping. I have a horrible habit of buying MUCH more than I need and a lot of it usually goes to waste. I have been getting much more creative with using up what I have. Sometimes I will google the ingredients I have on hand and a recipe will pop up. I did this last night for dinner. Typed in Chicken, artichoke, lemon and found a delicious recipe! I also have a lot of pasta and pasta sauce that I've been trying to use up.

2. Buy on an as needed basis, i.e. will only go out and buy something if i run out.

3. Use shampoo and conditioner sparingly so that it lasts longer. I realized I don't need to use as much at one time and I used to.

4. Drink coffee at work or make it at home.

5. Buy less clothes, get more creative with current wardwrobe.

6. No more eating out. I allow myself to eat one one time during the weekend, and once for lunch at work.

7. Limit myself to one or two drinks when I go out on the weekends.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I'm starting to trade down. I am doing it slowly so it isn't too much of a shocker.

Buying more store brands at the grocery store. Trying to buy staples that can make any meal. Only buying meats/fish and such when on sale.

Switched to HEB brand eye makeup remover. It works just like the Sephora brand but is only $4 vs. $8

I have quit buying new beauty products to just try out for fun. I'm using what I have first then will replace as needed

Swapped from Hanky Panky to VS outlet for any underwear purchases. Swapped from Wacoal to Luinere brand bras (sold at Macy's)

I am about to start cooking more. I did start bringing lean cuisines to work when I couldn't cook instead of buying lunch.

I've been buying more online with coupon codes and free shipping rather than going to the actual mall.

I plan on getting a library card this week so I can borrow books instead of buying. Any books I do buy are from amazon used or the local library book sales.