Hi there! If you’ve read some of my posts from January, you may remember that I’ve implemented a 3 out / 1 in policy. In summary, my beauty and toiletries stash seemed to take over our place (Help!). And I knew I had to do something. So I thought about my options… I’m not someone who’d bin perfectly good products. And I also knew that 1 in / 1 out wouldn’t be good enough. So I decided that a 3 out / 1 in policy would be my best option – because I would be able to (slowly) reduce my stash, and at the same time I’d get a reward for every 3 products I’d finish. 🙂
By the end of January I had 21 products on my ‘finished’ list. Yes, I had less than 21 product in my Empties post. That’s because I don’t keep track of single-use face masks for my Empties posts. However, every single face mask I use goes on the ‘out’ list. Hey, a face mask is a beauty product too! Oh, and I get half a point for every part-used shampoo I pass on to my husband. Anyway, since I finished 21 products, I was allowed to buy 7 new products! So my husband and I went to Boots…
A few weeks ago Boots’ Ingredients sheet masks were on special. They’re usually £2.50 each, but there was a 2 for £3 promotion. Whilst there are 5 different sheet masks in Boots’ Ingredients collection, my local store only had 4 of the 5 masks in stock. But that was actually great because I didn’t have to think about which one I’d leave behind. 🙂
I also bought another I Love… Pamper Me Essentials set. This set was £5 (post-Christmas half price sale on Christmas-themed gift sets). And it was the last of its kind. And I wanted it! If you’re thinking “Didn’t she already buy one of these?” – you’re right. But hey, this set contains a Chocolate Truffle Body Butter and a Chocolate Truffle Body Mist! Chocolate Truffle!!!
Sure, there’s also a Blackberry & Raspberry hand cream and a Blackberry & Raspberry shower gel in this set. So this set actually contains 4 products – which means that I’ve gone over my allowance. However, I’ll pass the hand cream on to my teenage relative (I have two more of these hand creams anyway), so I’ve only bought 7 products for myself. 🙂 Job done!
At this point I’d have to make it clear that I bought these products a few weeks ago (I bet the half price gift sets are long gone by now). But I misfiled the photos, and then I used one of the sheet masks – so I couldn’t take ‘new’ pics… But today I found the photos! Yay! Anyway, I’m still happy to report that, so far, I managed to stick to my 3 out / 1 in policy!
Mrs Strawberry Blonde 
You’re doing great. Think I need to do a 3 or 5 out, 1 in to clear out all my stuff x
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Thank you! xx
Try 3 out / 1 in. It’s not easy to make a start, but it’s probably easier that you think. And after a few weeks it’s part of your life. 🙂
Let your SO keep track of what goes out and what comes in. It’ll help if someone else does it.
As long as you don’t cheat-buy, you’ll be fine.
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I’ve been pretty good as I have so much stuff already. I’ve only bought everyday items I’ve run out of like concealer etc. Want to clear what I have so I’ll keep a note☺ x
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Yes! More power to you!
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I couldn’t have passed on Chocolate Truffle either!
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Exactly! 🙂
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Those masks seem so nice 😍
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3-out, 1-in is a great policy!
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It certainly works for me. 🙂
Well, it works for now… let’s see how it easy it’ll be to follow once all those unsold Mother’s Day gift sets go on sale for 50% off…
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You did so well with the empties and now you get to reap your reward! 😀 Hmm I wonder if I could apply the 3 out 1 in policy for myself…
Nice score on the I Love… set with the Chocolate Truffle stuff! I still haven’t cracked mine open – I had some LUSH stuff to work through since they were expiring.
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Come on Stashy, you can do it! 3 out / 1 in is the way to go. And it’s not as hard as it sounds, I promise. Just set rules for which items or product groups you want to include, and then let your SO keep track of what goes out and what comes in. As long as you don’t cheat-buy, you’ll be fine.
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I cannot do 3out/1in. By no means!! I have this habit of buying new stuff and losing my patience. 🙈🙈
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Yes, you can!
I never thought I could do it – but it was much easier than expected. And I’m saying this as someone who’s accumulated enough toiletries to last two people for five years…
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Then I should give this a try!!! Let’s see. 🙈
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Give it a try. If it works = awesome! If you can’t do it = no harm (unless you run out of storage!).
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Such good finds, I loveee sheet masks. They just give the skin that hidrated feel.
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