Ok I stopped the video to remind you Hannah that you are a glorious human and so many of us here “get you”. Please don’t feel like you have to apologise for taking a social media break, trying out sponsored content or receiving what really is a tiny amount of PR. I LOVE your content. It doesn’t make me feel bad for choosing a no buy year instead of buying “stuff” I don’t need. You, my dear Hannah, have empowered me to be a better version of myself...so thank you ❤️
This is just my opinion, but I value your content not for the amount of things you buy or how you spend your budget, but for your thoughts and reflections. I definitely relate to what you said about 'letting go of perfection', just by buying Costco underwear hahaha. What I'm trying to say is: your content is valued and appreciated. You are so much more than the things you buy and the things you want and I can see that through your videos. Be happy and relax!!
I feel like people (myself included!) are really black and white in our worldviews - the idea that most of life is lived in the grey and the imperfect is uncomfortable to acknowledge. Your channel tackles consumerism, ethics, beauty, and all these other complex topics with the nuance and depth that they deserve (hence the long videos!). That complexity means things don't always pan out the way you want them to and that you often end up in grey spaces or moving two steps forward, one step back. I think a lot about how you felt progressively good in check-ins last year, but come September, you had a tough month and found yourself engaging in shopping behaviors a lot again. Or how you found yourself buying lip products in January and February because older shopping tendencies reared their heads even after your no buy. You're out here living your life, and that life is messy and imperfect and in the grey. And I think you've rightly clocked that this triggers discomfort for the inner perfectionist in many of us, but I'd just like to take a moment to say that you and your channel have also helped many of us watching, myself included, loosen the vice grip of perfectionism in our own lives. I often think to myself, "Hannah is impeccably dressed and eloquent and looks like she walked right out of a painting that was somehow simultaneously Renaissance and Modern Art. But she also struggles and burns out and makes decisions that she regrets, and all of that informs her future and helps her grow. So it's okay. We, as people, can be both things. We don't have to be perfect in all facets at all times. We just have to keep growing." Anyway, this novel is to say I appreciate you, and I'm sorry you're feeling a bit burned out, but I hope you find the time and space to regain some energy very soon. We're rooting for you. Oh, and the Bertie Wooster reference? Made my day! P.S. - It's okay if you neither heart nor reply to this comment 😉 I just hope you see it and are reminded of how your channel has had a positive impact on many of us 💛💛
I love listening to your musings! Here are my thoughts on the PR issue. I view your monthly budget as a Personal expense. It helps you to attain personal financial goals such as savings, retirement or travel. I view PR as a business expense or transaction completely unrelated to your personal budget. As a former business owner, I had to be diligent about separating my personal and business finances.I'm sure you need to do the same with your small business. PR is not FREE. It is a transaction between two business parties. There is an underlying expectation that the receiving party perform a service for receiving the item at no cost. Budgeting creates financial freedom and success in both business and personal situations. It is always worth your time and energy.
So I'm in a tight financial situation for maybe the first time in my life. Ever since I started watching your videos, I can hear your voice like the voice of reason on my shoulder. Whenever I want to buy something I think "what would Hannah say?" For example I need to wean my baby off of bottles and there are a million options for "transition cups" etc, so I was all up on Amazon researching the cups and then I realized that my kiddo drinks water out of regular sippy cups just fine and we already have those so I need to try to milk in those first before spending money we need on something we might use for a month. Your basket situation is very similar. Learning to make do is a very new concept for me. Thanks so much for making this content! I'm here for all of it, sponsored or not.
Hannah, you need to make sure you take extra good care of yourself, so that you can be the most effective version of yourself as you do your work in this world... No worries, I love your videos WHENEVER they appear... I will still watch. Big hugs from Texas. 🤗🤗🤗
This eye look and sweater is gorgeous on you! The bangs look so good on you. Always take the time to recharge Hannah! Take care of yourself, don’t get overwhelmed, take your time and enjoy your life and all the projects you have going on!
We all totally understand being spent! Take care of yourself. I would love to see a video about your sleep/ self care routine... when you feel up to it.
I really appreciate how thoughtful all of your content is. So few of us think through our spending process and you “thinking out loud” and narrating the imagined process of ordering the glitter was SO relatable for me. Can’t tell you how many times I just feel disappointment when opening a package. Then I just have more stuff, which I’m fighting against just like you. Also, Joe sounds a lot like my husband. I see a “need” in our home that he is completely fine without. But he is the one who doesn’t have a problem with compulsive spending in our relationship. I can (almost) always find a reason to buy something. Watching your channel (among other habits) are helping me to curtail those urges.
I wonder if some people don't like the PR because they view it as some sort of loophole to a game they are trying to play in one way or another. The thing that is easy to forget is that we all get PR in one way or another. Last month, my friend gave me a pair of brand new, nice pajamas that her inlaws gave her for Christmas and she didn't want. I love them, they're beautiful, and I'd never pay full price for them. BUT I don't love them as much as pajamas I'd have selected myself and spent the money on. There was no journey or rhyme or reason to me owning them; they just fell into my lap. When the collective "we" receive samples with purchases, buy one get one offers, are given gifts, etc, we are also accepting products as if they are PR. I would venture to guess that we also don't view those things as a help nor hindrance to our respective budgets. The items that you want, that you spend money you earned to purchase, and start a "buying journey" with by accepting it intentionally into your life are VERY different than anything you could receive for free even if they're one and the same item. You're doing wonderfully, and I'm encouraged to evaluate my own buying habits silently with you, cheering you on through the deafening internet!
One could argue that she has a lot more options when it comes to stuff like that. For example: She needed a bag so she got a new, perfect bag for free. I (and most people probably) don't have anyone that gives me a new handbag for free when i need it. I'm not saying her budget it meaningless but it seems like it is easier for her than for other people. Of course she puts a lot of work into her videos and deserves the pr she gets but it's not the same as someone else on a budget imo.
@@XEveryoneLovesEmilyX I guess my ultimate point is you never fully want or appreciate things that you don't earn. There is inherent added value to items that you work for save for, select, purchase, and take into your life that isn't present in things given to you. She does have more opportunities for things to be given to her, but I was suggesting that if you apply the same feelings/perspective to those items as the things you received throughout your life for free, it might provide a more accurate outlook on the items she is able to receive for free.
@@XEveryoneLovesEmilyX Her budget could never be the same as someone else on a budget because she, like all of us, is a unique person with a unique situation. Each person's budget is going to be different due to a variety of circumstances - one person might be able to comfortably budget $500/month instead of $200, and another person might only have $40 to spare. One person might be in a major city with loads of ethical shopping options, someone else in an area where choices are much more limited. If someone's problem is with eating out rather than makeup and skincare, the way they'd have to adapt to a strict budget would look totally different. Any of those things will change a lot about a person's budgeting experience. As one example, Hannah gets to receive PR in exchange for her hard work on UA-cam, which frees up room in her budget - but she pays sales tax on her purchases, and I'm in Oregon where there is no sales tax, which frees up room in *my* budget! It would be impossible for anyone to do a one-size-fits-all budget channel, so we just have to learn what we can from each other.
erikawithac yessssss!! Thank you so much for pointing this out. If you expect anyone else to have a budget with parameters exactly like your own you’ll be sorely mistaken. I, like HLP, live in California and I promise you our food budgets are double middle America’s (if not more) through no fault of our own. Having a higher food budget reduces your discretionary income. That is just one of a ton of examples how everything affects a persons budgeting journey. I would just love if we could all be kind and use the lesson instead of the specifics to learn something 😁
I always love your check-in videoes because to me they feel like having a chat, a very inspiring and illuminating chat, with a friend. I relate to so much of what you say! And I feel like I am on a journey that is parallel to yours.
I love and respect how transparent and honest you are with yourself and your viewers. We need more people like you on this platform, and in the world ♥
I love your willingness to be vulnerable and explore these messy gray areas. This reminded of an article about how there are two general types of people when it comes to how we handle temptation best - either total abstinence (like your no buy year where the answer was always an easy "no") or moderation (like a budget). I find it easier to completely avoid something tempting that I don't need, but that would drive some people crazy and they prefer to be able to do a little bit in moderation. Can apply to food, shopping, so many aspects of life. I've always been frugal by nature, but I have to buy stuff and it can be an exhausting mental exercise. How much is enough? What are my needs and wants, honestly? What are my motivations for what I buy? Truly acknowledging and wrestling with all the questions and my own answers is good, but daunting. I admire your thoughtfulness about your own shopping journey. I own very little makeup so I don't relate to that specifically, but I enjoy the fascinating analysis of human behavior because you make me think. Thank you!
I think that just by listening to your videos, it's easy to tell that your budget is effective even with you receiving some PR. It's causing you to question your behavior and wrestle with conflicting desires which I think is really the point of your challenge. Finances are so much about behavior and habits, and less about people not understanding the numbers. So keep going! If you decide PR is for you, awesome. If you decide it's not, also awesome.
Girl, you better take extra good care of yourself, cuz the work you do is so valuable to us (to me). We need you to be filled with inspiration and information and not burned out. Abrazos amiga💖
You really don’t need to defend yourself, I am positive that at least 90% of us get it. But if you feel like you have to make a video explaining all of the points applicable, it will just be another great video from Hannah that I will watch!
Self care is important, especially when doing such hard emotional "remodeling" so to speak. Take the time you need to get the most benefit from it! We are all just incredibly fortunate that you are allowing us a glimpse into your journey. When you speak about luxury products being "more Hannah", my heart just goes out to you and I think it's a real indicator of the toxic style of marketing that consumers in general as subject to (eg how much money you spend makes you a unique individual, as well as the products that money is being spent on). It was a moment where I had to pause your video and unpack that emotionally for myself a bit because it hit me like a ton of bricks. Thank you so much for being so honest with your self-reflection! Lots of love!
I love your content! I will usually watch your videos once to take in what you say and the whole vicarious experience thing, and in the evenings I often listen to 20-30 minutes of you talking to fall asleep - both instances are incredibly valuable to me. I'm grateful that you are creating these videos for us! Take some time for yourself to recharge, especially as a Pisces, this is so important. Hope you feel better soon!
Hannah I feel like you are a God send to many like me, so don't even think about the haters. They just want to hate and get under your skin and ruin you. You have people behind you rooting for your success in this journey of not buying/buying things and with your success many of us can find/found our own success.
Hey Hannah I am a makeup artist and the Hollywood flawless filter is not a concealer and I wouldn’t recommend it for under the eye. I personally would recommend Estée Lauder Double Wear Liquid Concealer. They have a great shade range and I prefer it for lighter makeup days. It can be built for higher coverage and is a versatile product in that respect. I find it to be extremely flattering as it doesn’t have a completely Matt finish and is suitable for those of us that have some fine lines. It’s one that I love to use on brides and I honestly don’t think you will be disappointed
Hannah, your videos are very insightful and a pleasure to watch. I just want to say, it's a lot to look at comments on every video. I don't think you need to apologize for being behind. You post videos pretty regularly. It would take so long to read every comment. You work full time. You're trying to write. You have a lot on your plate. It's absolutely okay if you haven't read comments on recent videos. It's great that you have such high standards for your channel. I truly appreciate your work on youtube. I hope you continue to find it enjoyable.
Hannah I absolutely love your channel. Your topics, your depth of; analysis, self and reflection is so so refreshing. Your eloquence in communication is unsurpassed by so many YT’ers.
Please don't let these keyboard "warriors" get you down. Your videos have been incredibly meaningful to me. I hope you keep fighting the good fight, because you have been so inspiring to me. I think if anything the small amount of PR you do receive makes your budget even more meaningful. Some youtubers go ham on the PR but the items you choose are always so well thought out. I love hearing your reasoning about all the choices you've made and dilemmas you've come across during your budget year. These discussions have made me a more mindful consumer and that has had a huge impact on my day to day life, so thank you!
After hearing about your tougher month I wish I could give you a virtual hug. Please take the time off you need to relax and recharge. I really enjoy the content and the personality. Your channel is one of few that helps me discover me and the world that affects me.
I love how you put into words the process of Buying the thing.. Using the thing and the life of the thing. I have been sort of doing this process.. Dont want more things that will detract from the things i already love. Every time i get an urge to shop i will sit down with my things and just appreciate them.
*climbs to the top of a mountain and shouts* I love Hannah Louise Poston!!! What you are going through is a mental journey and I am so here for the ride. I love hearing you explain your thought process, struggles and battle with the grey area. Every single one of your videos makes me look inward and reexamine my ideas on the "stuff" in my life. You inspired me to do a no buy 2019 and you continue to inspire me with your content. Thank you for being you and take care of yourself. Do what you need to do, we will all be here to support you. *climbs down the mountain*
Because of you, I’m going to be starting a channel to keep myself accountable to my goals (it’s not the channel I’m commenting with, so don’t worry I’m not sub searching lol) 5 years ago, I starting my channel, then private’s all my videos and stopped posting. I gained weight, started feeling crappy about myself and just kind of gave up. I’ve been watching all of your videos and it’s really inspired me. I created a new channel and will be posting about my health journey (financial, mind and body), so, thank you!
I'm sorry that people feel the need to pick apart another person in this type of forum. I appreciate you and appreciate the thought-provoking content, and the way you challenge me to examine my own shopping habits. I have recently ended my love affair with acquiring more, and am enjoying using up what I have. I'm on a no-buy for several types of items, like hair care products, shower products, lipstick... until I use what I have. It's even spilling over into how I buy groceries and I am using up all the meat in my freezer before I buy more. So, thank you, Hannah, for what you are doing on your channel to encourage me to take a hard look at my spending and my priorities. Hugs to you!
This is so interesting - when you bought the Costco underwear I think it was one of the first times I had a secondhand reaction to one of your choices. I was like hey! no! she should save the rest of her money and stop buying makeup because underwear is actually important! I’m saying this not to add to the chorus of would-be Hannah controllers, but to say that your Beauty Budget is teaching me to think more critically not only about my own buying habits, but how I consume UA-cam content. I think a lot of people at this point are used to maybe two kind of UA-camrs - people who you reliably expect to spend tons of money (I spent 1000 dollars on WHERE?! type clickbait titles) and people who are trying to pan products or save money or do a full no-buy. What’s so wonderful and DIFFERENT about what you’re doing in your channel is you're somewhere in the middle of those two, you’re totally transparent about where your money goes, and you take the time each month to be emotionally transparent as well. Because of that you’re gonna get people who are frustrated because they don’t know how to deal w/ your content. It’s not the kind of thing I think you can watch without at least CONSIDERING your own personal relationship to spending money on nice things, and people don’t want to do that. I do though, so keep on truckin Hannah. I love your channel, you inspired me to get on UA-cam, from one writer to another: don’t stop what you’re doing.
I loved that Hannah bought underwear at Costco! It was so relatable. I mean when a budget is fairly small, it may not always be realistic to have top quality everything in smaller quantities. One will inevitably have to make choices.
The nature of doing a no buy on UA-cam and even having the opportunity of accepting PR does create a divergence between her life and those of us who aren’t offered PR because we don’t have a public platform. In many ways it is similar to how you can’t study something in anthropology without altering what you are studying. It’s best to just recognize her life and her budget are atypical by their nature BECAUSE they are on UA-cam. This does not mean that the struggles are somehow completely unrelatable. The perfect is the enemy of the good, let’s just go along for the ride and see what we can learn about the human experience.
I have really been enjoying your channel! I had already started a year of wearing no makeup at the beginning of the school year so we have had some similar struggles. Listening to you verbalize your thought process has been eye opening for me. I especially identify with “looking for things to want”. So in January I began my own no buy year for clothes and home goods. Thanks for inviting me to think differently about stuff and money! I have already started to brace myself for the change of seasons since I know that getting out those clothes will prompt me to want newer versions of what I already own.
I love this video and I love your channel - it is probably my favourite channel on youtube because of your honesty and the openness with which you're sharing your journey. It's one (huge) thing to embark on a no-buy and a budget; it's another (huge) thing to start a youtube channel documenting it all, making meta content about how the two interact with each other. I think you're doing wonderfully. Keep up the good work, Hannah, take a break if you need to and take extra good care of yourself :)
You know exactly what you're doing and what life you're living. You have kindly chosen to share your self-reflection with us. That's hard enough without making it public. But to feel like you need to justify or explain things to those who choose to be negative? You don't owe anyone anything. Just keep doing your thing.
I've been on a tight budget and I know it's tough. I've also been decluttering while receiving gifts, and I understand the struggle. Perfectionism, compulsions, identity issues. All I can say is thank you. You open yourself up and I don't feel so alone.
Hi Hannah, You look so beautiful today. I’m loving your bangs! I have wavy curly hair and wash my hair about once a week, and get it trimmed around twice a year. I have an appointment at the end of the month, and I think I’m going to get some curtain bangs. You are so inspirational to me. Please don’t think you need to justify your choices to anyone. You put a lot of work into your channel, and it is only fair that you choose to receive some of the perks that go with that. You are making a huge impact on consumer behavior and the way that impacts the world. My four daughters also are reaping the benefits from your channel topics, because although they aren’t watching it, it has opened up some really important conversations that we needed to have. Thank you so much!
Hannah you're one of the most honest and trustworthy UA-camrs on the internet and how anyone could feel in a bad way about your opinion on something that was sent to you, is entirely beyond me. The vast majority of us do 110% believe in you and will always be there/here for you. Your No Buy Year and Budgeting this year has taught me SO much about the reasoning behind my own behaviour and you are forever an inspiration. Don't ever stop being your true and honest self, and enjoy the benefits that come from all of your hard work and dedication. xx
Also: YES BERTIE WOOSTER! "You can't be a successful dictator and design women's underclothing. One or the other. Not both." I've definitely decided what I'm binge watching tonight! Thanks!
Sorry to hear you are feeling drained of late. It's ok to step back & give yourself a little time to regroup. I heard a lot of positive progress reported for which you should be very proud & happy. Take care & have a wonderful rest of your week ♡
One of my favorite quotes has been "I said what I said" a lot of people have opinions on everything that does not mean that their opinion is more valuable than your opinion especially when it is your life your channel your budget your rules. We are just spectators so I am saying from the bottom of my heart do you Hannah! You explained how you were going to handle PR in a previous video and you said what you said.
I feel a lot of kinship with the issues you raise although I am a lot older than you. You raise some very genuine issues about women in a home and couple relationships. Why do you get to pay for the laundry basket? Men also appreciate a good living environment. And yet women are vulnerable to persuading themselves that they need things when they don’t. Or I am. I inherited a strong aesthetic sense and it is often a problem!!!
I love your channel for many reasons! But one of them is how kind and forgiving you are to yourself. I want to learn to so that as well! The path is indeed steep, and I am very fortunate to be able to accompany you on it and learn some of the lessons you share with us. 🌺 Knowledge isn't a flower to pick, it's a mountain to climb.
Many have already expressed similar thoughts to my own so eloquently, so I feel it sufficient to simply add my voice of support for the work you do in this world. Thank you as always for your tireless vulnerability. Today was an encouraging reminder that even the most thoughtful and humble of UA-camrs can't escape criticism, let alone being effected by it. Though I'm not a content creator, I feel less helpless and alone in my own daily rebellion against unwanted and unhelpful opinions. Just walking through that is it's own work and once again, by sharing your journey Hannah, you've been effective in your imperfection and continue to put beauty out into the world 💖
Dear it is completely normal.. social media are very heavy and can make pressure and that can change mood.. it will change and sometimes it’s good to say things and it will be better. We are all like that in whatever field may it be friends, family or mostly work
I'm so sorry that you've been dealing with people who aren't getting what you're doing here! I adore your content for so many reasons, and a big part of it is because you understand the emotional rollercoaster of tackling this subject and show us the highs and lows of every discovery as you figure out how to navigate it for yourself. I have the same struggle with wanting to curate some perfect version of myself while also having the strict budget of a creative, big dreams for the future that involve needing to save up, and wanting to shop ethically and not acquire too much. It's not any easy feat by any means to stay balanced on that tightrope and we all fall off over and over again because we're human. Thank you for always being yourself and not letting comments from people who are out of touch with their own flaws affect your decisions.
I don’t think you need to explain yourself any further to the doubters. Those of us who watch you religiously understand that your budget is meaningful. With your channel growing and getting more views it will happen I think. I do appreciate how transparent you are with your spending and gifts and PR. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for talking about your feelings about haters! I understand that you don't want to elaborate and respond much, and I do think it's helpful that you publicly state that you don't have time or energy for it. We all have haters in our lives, and it's encouraging to hear that we don't have to humor every single one of them. Many times people say gnarly things just to get a response, and not giving a response is a valid clap back. Also, I think you look like a cool-toned lion with your new haircut and that glorious green sweater.
I relate to this video so much. I have found that a much bigger struggle for me is not “buy” versus “no buy,” it is living with in my means. What does that even mean? How do I balance needing to live within my budget and focusing on saving (both for mid-range/big- ticket items in the future as well as for retirement) with treating myself to the little luxuries of life? What are the categories in which I can really splurge and what are the categories in which I should pull back? How do I find the “real me” versus the “fantasy me” and what/how do my purchases play a part in my identity? And why am I spending 20 minutes contemplating a lipstick purchase? (Do men do this? Do they stare at flat front khakis and think “these khakis will make the world see me as strong and powerful and competent?” Just - augh!)
Hannah, you're an inspiration to me. You are forging the pathway I want take. Firstly by doing your no-buy year, then charting your journey after that year and how you cope with buying again, albeit on a budget. Sadly there will always be anonymous nitpickers who feel entitled to criticise even though they haven't walked in your shoes. Please don't take mean comments to heart. I look forward to your thoughtful, lovely videos.
Definitely take any breaks you need to! I just started working full time again this week after a year of part time because I burned out and fell apart (like I checked myself into a hospital). Please take care of you because nothing is worth your health and wellbeing. I've been pretty good with not wanting to buy things. I am pleasantly surprised but I expect I might get a weird urge soon since the seasons will be changing and am more motivated to do stuff in the spring so I might want to shop. I have been recording how much money I am putting to savings and how much of my debt I have paid off so far this year so hopefully those tangible numbers will help me stay on track.
Still binge-watching through your videos since I found you...first of all you look gorgeous in green with the sweater and the eyeshadow and I keep loving those bangs. Second, I love reading comments in your virtual home, as they are often so articulate, in depth and sophisticated, it is so interesting to see how different the general atmosphere can be in different channels... I know this is an older video, but I still feel like sharing my thoughts about the PR thing, because I had been turning this thing around in my mind while watching previous videos. I love what others have shared, for example about separating the business part from the personal part, and how your budget has to do with personal, and the PR has to do with business, makes so much sense. Also the fact that nothing is "free" because in order to receive those offers, (I know nothing about YT just imagining) you need to have created content, have a certain amount of subscribers, etc, which means hours, and days, and weeks, and months of (unpaid) work....then the fact that whatever you do, you are so transparent about your inner explorations, your soul shifting and thought processes, the growth of your awareness...which is fascinating and the main reason I am here...what I think that maybe can be tricky, and I am writing this while thinking about it, and not at all in a judgemental way, but trying to figure out some confusion I had while watching some of the videos, and exploring what was in my own feeling disoriented, is that when you receive, and get to choose some of the fabulous things, be it a bag, some clothing, some make-up or skincare you had been wanting, could it be that it somehow lessens the grip - for someone who has a shopping problem, like me - of feeling deprived with your budget? Not sure if I can word this in the correct way...If I had the opportunity to receive and get to pick out some things I usually would spend on, that would somehow muddle up something in my own process of restraint...If I just received a fabulous new bag, the burning desire to spend for another one I had been lusting for would get somehow soothed, and just the fact that I know I can receive bags, make-up, etc. somehow shifts something on my decisions about what I want to buy and how I want to spend my money...maybe the whole PR thing just makes your experience less relatable? ....I hope this came across in the way I meant it, as a thought process on a delicate issue, in a space that is open to dialogue and growth. ...keep up the wonderful work Hannah, and nurture your soul always as a priority, the rest can wait...💜
Oh my, the burnout thing, so relatable. I think it goes back to what you were talking about in your no-buy year with only starting the day off with so many mental resources. I feel like when I help others, reflect on internally difficult issues, etc. I'm tapping into that same type of mental well and while it refills when tended to, it still needs care to "function" properly. I appreciate you, your content matters, and I hope you feel better soon.
I wanted to tell you that I have the same weighted blanket as you. Zonli also makes amazing covers for those blankets. They make them stay clean much longer, as it’s easy to wash the covers. The blankets themselves can throw your washer out of balance.
I absolutely love your channel and I always find myself feeling excited when I get a notification that you’ve uploaded a new video. :) With regards to your transparency around PR and sponsorship, I personally find it extremely refreshing and I don’t think that accepting PR undermines your message at all. 😊💕
LOVED THIS.. as usual :) I know just what you mean about packages. When on a 'no buy' I enjoy knowing nothing will be coming through the post! Also love the PR and the sponsored post because it's more thoughtful content from you. Take a break as you need it, you don't need to apologise or explain to anyone. (Although don't go away for too long.. ha!!)
Thank you for being so honestly introspective and open to all aspects of your journey. And, explaining it all so eloquently. The critics in the comments can be objectively observed as an aspect to recognize and dismiss. The ones that are not challenged themselves in any way to be publicly vulnerable, scrutinized or endure incessant examination. Not a fair playing field, therefore, they are disqualified. There! Done!
I love the practice you shared about imagining the entire process of what it would feel like to buy, wait, and use the items you wanted. That seems really helpful, I'll have to try it out with the next thing I feel an impulse to buy even though I KNOW I don't need it!
Please remember to take care of yourself. And i do think its harder to be on a budget instead of a no buy, ive been going back and fourth between thr two for two years because i become overwhelmed some months and decide to not buy anything except food that month.
Try not to be so hard on yourself. Haters are going to hate - no matter what you say or do. The rest of us love you for who you are and appreciate all you do. Take care of yourself. Don’t worry about the fact that life (and especially social) has gotten a little behind for a bit. Take your time and we’ll still be here. ❤️
Yay! Your videos are always so great to watch. I’m sorry you had a rough patch with comments. I totally understand wanting to explain yourself and defend yourself but people who leave those comments probably won’t care to hear your explanations anyway. Or if they do, it won’t change their minds. As you said, you are doing your best and that is all anyone, including yourself, can ask! Keep up the good work! I enjoy following your journey - whether or not I would make the same decisions as you, that does not matter (though you are much more thoughtful in your decision making process than I would ever be! I have that think before I speak issue lol)...we are all different which is what makes sharing our experiences special and insightful! I hope you have a lovely day, Hannah :)
Awwww...I have been watch you for some time but I've never made a comment. You are beautiful, articulate and so genuine. I felt terrible hearing how there are others out there who feel it necessary to pass judgment . Just keep doing what you are doing , sweetie . You are amazing just the way you are!!!
Our dog always runs to the door and starts barking (going crazy) when the doorbell rings. And it is still a challenge to get her back to the living room. So everytime i am about to order something i ask myself of i want to deal with a barking dog 😆. It makes me order less.
It’s so fair that you need a break from social media! I’ve only got my friends and even I feel this way sometimes - nothing to feel bad about at all 💕 Also congratulations on pushing yourself with the budget! I’m on the journey too and you’re a wonderful inspiration.
Maybe a ‘Low flow of PR’. Find the number of things you are able to receive a month without feeling overloaded, and use it as a guide number. Maximum of 1-2-3-4-X items a month or something like that. Mean comments are normal, unfortunately. I can’t understand how people can spend their valuable time to leave a mean comment and try to ‘explain’ how you should or should not live your life and create your space on the Internet. There is so many people I don’t agree with, and I never put any time and effort to tell them that :) I would just accumulate more negative energy by thinking how ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ they are. It’s better to let them be :) I hear in my head The Beatles right now: ‘Let it be’. Let it be Hannah :*
I'm someone here who loves you and supports you 100%. I have learned so much from your journey, and I just got a job, and ive written out a budget, and I'm gonna be following along with you (at least with a budgeting part). There is definitely a part of me that feels like "but if you are receiving free stuff, is it as effective?" But honestly that's none of my damn business. You are so open and honest with all of us that if you say it's working for you, I believe you, I believe that you believe it is, and if you change your mind, you will change your rules. You are clearly committed to this, and that's what matters. You are choosing to share your journey with us, it's been amazing, facinating, and really educational for me to watch, and I feel lucky that you are willing to be this open and honest online. Anyone who is giving you shit for it needs to fuck off.
I never thought to use visualization to “demanifest” something! You are brilliant! I’ve been calling it (in my head) the Colour Pop Vizualization. And, I feel that you have been very transparent and mindful of your budget and PR and sponsorships. I don’t think it’s for anyone to judge how you spend your budget or what PR/sponsorships you decide to accept. I think it’ll be interesting to see in about a year’s time, how your journey unfolds. Thanks for sharing and building our community!
I’ve yet to hear a thought you’ve expressed that I haven’t thought myself of my own mindful consumerism experience, up to and including your thought experiment with the colorpop product. My thought process wasn’t quite as visual as yours, but the outcome was the same. In the end it would just be another product in my collection, and the more products I own, the less often I can use them in my rotation. I’m still very confident that I own more eye shadow than I can ever use in my lifetime. I reached a point where I felt so badly that I’d never use all that I have and it would ultimately go to waste. This same idea has translated into other areas of my life as it has yours. For me, the impetus of this shift in my thinking was the anti-haul. Finally someone was telling me that I don’t have buy and own everything, and not only is that ok but it is more enjoyable to have a carefully curated collection of things. Now...have I stopped buying makeup items? No. I find that my desire to shop and buy comes and goes and is usually connected to stress in my life. I’ve already written too much but I relate to you in every video, and think to myself “Yes! Been there, done that.” I enjoy hearing you put words to the same experiences I’ve had.
I HAVE THOUGHTS! I try to moderate my thoughts because I know you get a lot of comments. First, you are magnificent! Try to not let the negative comments get you down! Just remember that youtube doesn't know if a comment is positive or negative, and both kinds count as interaction in the mysterious algorithm (I think). Second, PR. It's totally okay that you don't know how you feel about it or how you want to approach PR! It is new to you, and it makes sense that your feelings about it are going to evolve. Don't ever feel boxed in by your rules - they exist to provide structure and guidance to YOU and YOU are the only person they have to serve. We're just here for the ride, and I, for one, am so thankful for the time and energy and thought you put into all your content. And, we understand that you also need to take extra good care of yourself as you do your work in the world! Thank you Hannah!
Please don't worry so much about being too busy and getting inundated with comments. Your videos and your thoughts have still had an impact on me. Even today I went to Homesense, (I don't think it's in the states but it's like a more upmarket TJ/Tk Maxx) I had to buy a couple of things for my sister-in-law's baby shower. I walked straight past everythin to the baby section and found what I was looking for. Then when I walked back towards the till, a lady was blocking my way and before I could say 'excuse me', my eyes locked onto the shampoo/conditioner stand where all the fancy, salon quality, professional brands were. A really nice looking bottle of argan hair conditioner was at the front...calling to me lmao. "Ooo I like argan oil.", "My ends are looking a bit damaged,", "This might do for a month until I get my hair cut..." and "...And it's only £4.99!" Then you popped into my brain and reminded me that I had half a bottle of Aussie deep-treatment conditioner in my shower, a full bottle of generic hair conditioner, a bottle of Loreal's no cut cream (really good stuff btw), my favourite bottle of Moroccan hair oil, half a bottle of Lush's conditioning hair perfume and a full tub of Lush's R&B hair stuff. I didn't need the fancy conditioner for now, it could wait for another time. And now I'm home I'm so glad I didn't buy it.
Hi Hannah. I don't think I've ever commented on your videos before although I am subscribed and have been watching since about October 2018. I find what you are doing extremely interesting. I watched this video twice. You have influenced me with my purchases this year. I find I'm thinking more about what I spend my money on, have bought far less makeup (even though I have wanted things just to have them) and also find myself checking out how ethical the companies I buy from are. Thank you for your channel. I really enjoy it.
Also, I so relate to being burnt out communication wise, I get that every year around my birthday (even though I have maybe 20ish messages to answer to), I feel the love reading the messages but answering them becomes such a mental burden that I sometimes take a month hahaha. I can only imagine that process as a youtuber, I hope you take the space you need to not feel stress or pressure to reply/like comments.
Girl...you speak my truth in every freaking one of these videos lol. I'm struggling with the exact same things!! I'm doing SOOO much better with the makeup purchases, but it's transferring over to other things, like art supplies, housewares, anything I can think of from Amazon etc. It's not about money for me...its about sheer overload of stuff. I think in my case, its this stupid idea in my head that I will somehow be a better artist if I have X, a better mom if I have X, a better person if I have X...which I'm sure (from your thoughts in videos) you can relate to. Instead of being "better", I just find myself overwhelmed and (if I'm being honest) ashamed that I didn't have the presence of mind to walk away from the purchase. No reply necessary, I get your current social media apathy...but I want to thank you (again) for your candor. It's like a group session for staying on the wagon lol
Personally, I like that you receive PR, because you are so transparent about the process, which gives us an inside look and is new to me at least, and because it seems like its own beast of a challenge. Like even though I can't relate to receiving such offers, keeping your stuff to a minimum while being offered free things is a particular dilemma that I think adds a new level of content (because you are so selective+introspective) and hopefully cancels out some of the meagre pay you get for all the work you put into this channel.
I think you're wonderful. I feel that people who watch a video and write something (that makes one feel the need to defend oneself) is a form of trolling through baiting, and is actually a strategem employed by trolls. It may seem innocent, but truly, if they doubt you or don't understand you, wouldn't it just be easier for them to just go elsewhere? It is easier for trolls to appear innocent and well-meaning than to just say something overtly cruel Their intention is to cause you to expend time and energy doubting yourself and defending yourself and your choices, which feeds their need for attention. There are a great many people on social media with personality disorders, and I often see UA-camrs or bloggers ONLY respond to negative comments left by people whose intent is to discourage and disparage (whilst never responding to loving comments). Thank you for your excellent placement of prepositions, as well as for your splendid vocabulary. Truly wonderful. Love from The Hague.
Ah Hannah don't pressure yourself to reply to comments, etc! I'm sure we all know what it's like to be drained, just take whatever time/space you need!
Sorry I should have added all this as one comment at the end, but I've been commenting as I watch instead. I just wanted to say - you don't need to justify your spending limits, your sponsorship's or your rules. You did that in the introduction of your beauty budget and, if people are unhappy about you receiving PR, I really think that's their problem, not yours. Your goal (I believe) was to improve your spending habits and save more money/pay off debt. This is clearly doing that. I almost feel like addressing this as & when people complain almost is opening it up for discussion, allowing them to 'continue' the argument (whereas if ignored they have nothing to reply to in order to make a further argument/discussion of it). You could either ignore these comments or just have a standard reply you post whenever someone questions your own rules about how you live your own life, like "I understand how you feel, however I disagree. Thanks for your comment."
It definitely feels like those few that are having an issue with it are ones that are still in the grips of their own consumerism and are having a hard time watching you receive things that they can’t. As Maeriel said, that is their issue, not yours. I love that you try to set the record straight in a gentle and compassionate way, but people will only hear what they are ready to hear and if they are conflicted already wnough to make comments like that, then they are obviously not in the mindset to be able to understand where you are coming from. Best to let them be and protect yourself❤️
Girl...Don't you give one more thought to those negative comments from people who do not know your process. They do not know your struggles. It's easy to criticize but not so easy to live it. This is your journey. We are just blessed to come along with you and we are learning about possessions and ownership and the buying process. You're a little like me, you live a lot in your head. You can't be creative and not live in your head some. I live out all kinds of alternative realities in my head. It is good to process things that way. Don't even give these criticizers any more thought or justify yourself to them. You have made it very clear what your goals are for your channel and what you were going to do after your no buy year. It has just kind of taken you on a loop. You are dealing with a whole other thing. Yes it's just a glitter, a little cheap glitter, but it is a big deal to you. Either you stay true to your self or you try to justify your self to people you do not know. Don't do that! You do what you have to do and we will have fun any way. WE love you Tango Girl.
Ok I stopped the video to remind you Hannah that you are a glorious human and so many of us here “get you”. Please don’t feel like you have to apologise for taking a social media break, trying out sponsored content or receiving what really is a tiny amount of PR. I LOVE your content. It doesn’t make me feel bad for choosing a no buy year instead of buying “stuff” I don’t need. You, my dear Hannah, have empowered me to be a better version of myself...so thank you ❤️
Beautifully written comment. I completely agree. :)
This is just my opinion, but I value your content not for the amount of things you buy or how you spend your budget, but for your thoughts and reflections.
I definitely relate to what you said about 'letting go of perfection', just by buying Costco underwear hahaha.
What I'm trying to say is: your content is valued and appreciated. You are so much more than the things you buy and the things you want and I can see that through your videos. Be happy and relax!!
I feel like people (myself included!) are really black and white in our worldviews - the idea that most of life is lived in the grey and the imperfect is uncomfortable to acknowledge. Your channel tackles consumerism, ethics, beauty, and all these other complex topics with the nuance and depth that they deserve (hence the long videos!). That complexity means things don't always pan out the way you want them to and that you often end up in grey spaces or moving two steps forward, one step back. I think a lot about how you felt progressively good in check-ins last year, but come September, you had a tough month and found yourself engaging in shopping behaviors a lot again. Or how you found yourself buying lip products in January and February because older shopping tendencies reared their heads even after your no buy. You're out here living your life, and that life is messy and imperfect and in the grey.
And I think you've rightly clocked that this triggers discomfort for the inner perfectionist in many of us, but I'd just like to take a moment to say that you and your channel have also helped many of us watching, myself included, loosen the vice grip of perfectionism in our own lives. I often think to myself, "Hannah is impeccably dressed and eloquent and looks like she walked right out of a painting that was somehow simultaneously Renaissance and Modern Art. But she also struggles and burns out and makes decisions that she regrets, and all of that informs her future and helps her grow. So it's okay. We, as people, can be both things. We don't have to be perfect in all facets at all times. We just have to keep growing."
Anyway, this novel is to say I appreciate you, and I'm sorry you're feeling a bit burned out, but I hope you find the time and space to regain some energy very soon. We're rooting for you. Oh, and the Bertie Wooster reference? Made my day!
P.S. - It's okay if you neither heart nor reply to this comment 😉 I just hope you see it and are reminded of how your channel has had a positive impact on many of us 💛💛
This is lovely. I hope Hannah sees this too.
Prachi S you’re amazing and I agree with you 100%
thank you so much, Prachi
💙
Prachi--YES!!! Wish this had been my comment bc it encapsulates EVERYTHING! ❤️
I love listening to your musings! Here are my thoughts on the PR issue. I view your monthly budget as a Personal expense. It helps you to attain personal financial goals such as savings, retirement or travel. I view PR as a business expense or transaction completely unrelated to your personal budget. As a former business owner, I had to be diligent about separating my personal and business finances.I'm sure you need to do the same with your small business. PR is not FREE. It is a transaction between two business parties. There is an underlying expectation that the receiving party perform a service for receiving the item at no cost. Budgeting creates financial freedom and success in both business and personal situations. It is always worth your time and energy.
I love this. Thank you.
So I'm in a tight financial situation for maybe the first time in my life. Ever since I started watching your videos, I can hear your voice like the voice of reason on my shoulder. Whenever I want to buy something I think "what would Hannah say?" For example I need to wean my baby off of bottles and there are a million options for "transition cups" etc, so I was all up on Amazon researching the cups and then I realized that my kiddo drinks water out of regular sippy cups just fine and we already have those so I need to try to milk in those first before spending money we need on something we might use for a month. Your basket situation is very similar. Learning to make do is a very new concept for me. Thanks so much for making this content! I'm here for all of it, sponsored or not.
Hannah, you need to make sure you take extra good care of yourself, so that you can be the most effective version of yourself as you do your work in this world... No worries, I love your videos WHENEVER they appear... I will still watch. Big hugs from Texas. 🤗🤗🤗
I know you are really good at recognizing what you need, so don't stress or feel disappointed. Everyone needs a break sometimes!
This eye look and sweater is gorgeous on you! The bangs look so good on you. Always take the time to recharge Hannah! Take care of yourself, don’t get overwhelmed, take your time and enjoy your life and all the projects you have going on!
I am 6 days into my no-buy year....which was inspired by you. 🤗 You can't pour from an empty cup. Take time to refill. We love you. 💖 Rock on H! 🤘🏻💋
Most well-reflected content on youtube.
We all totally understand being spent! Take care of yourself. I would love to see a video about your sleep/ self care routine... when you feel up to it.
I really appreciate how thoughtful all of your content is. So few of us think through our spending process and you “thinking out loud” and narrating the imagined process of ordering the glitter was SO relatable for me. Can’t tell you how many times I just feel disappointment when opening a package. Then I just have more stuff, which I’m fighting against just like you.
Also, Joe sounds a lot like my husband. I see a “need” in our home that he is completely fine without. But he is the one who doesn’t have a problem with compulsive spending in our relationship. I can (almost) always find a reason to buy something. Watching your channel (among other habits) are helping me to curtail those urges.
I wonder if some people don't like the PR because they view it as some sort of loophole to a game they are trying to play in one way or another. The thing that is easy to forget is that we all get PR in one way or another. Last month, my friend gave me a pair of brand new, nice pajamas that her inlaws gave her for Christmas and she didn't want. I love them, they're beautiful, and I'd never pay full price for them. BUT I don't love them as much as pajamas I'd have selected myself and spent the money on. There was no journey or rhyme or reason to me owning them; they just fell into my lap. When the collective "we" receive samples with purchases, buy one get one offers, are given gifts, etc, we are also accepting products as if they are PR. I would venture to guess that we also don't view those things as a help nor hindrance to our respective budgets. The items that you want, that you spend money you earned to purchase, and start a "buying journey" with by accepting it intentionally into your life are VERY different than anything you could receive for free even if they're one and the same item. You're doing wonderfully, and I'm encouraged to evaluate my own buying habits silently with you, cheering you on through the deafening internet!
clickypens I really think people don’t like PR because on some level they wish it was them.
One could argue that she has a lot more options when it comes to stuff like that. For example: She needed a bag so she got a
new, perfect bag for free. I (and most people probably) don't have anyone that gives me a new handbag for free when i need it. I'm not saying her budget it meaningless but it seems like it is easier for her than for other people. Of course she puts a lot of work into her videos and deserves the pr she gets but it's not the same as someone else on a budget imo.
@@XEveryoneLovesEmilyX I guess my ultimate point is you never fully want or appreciate things that you don't earn. There is inherent added value to items that you work for save for, select, purchase, and take into your life that isn't present in things given to you. She does have more opportunities for things to be given to her, but I was suggesting that if you apply the same feelings/perspective to those items as the things you received throughout your life for free, it might provide a more accurate outlook on the items she is able to receive for free.
@@XEveryoneLovesEmilyX Her budget could never be the same as someone else on a budget because she, like all of us, is a unique person with a unique situation. Each person's budget is going to be different due to a variety of circumstances - one person might be able to comfortably budget $500/month instead of $200, and another person might only have $40 to spare. One person might be in a major city with loads of ethical shopping options, someone else in an area where choices are much more limited. If someone's problem is with eating out rather than makeup and skincare, the way they'd have to adapt to a strict budget would look totally different. Any of those things will change a lot about a person's budgeting experience.
As one example, Hannah gets to receive PR in exchange for her hard work on UA-cam, which frees up room in her budget - but she pays sales tax on her purchases, and I'm in Oregon where there is no sales tax, which frees up room in *my* budget! It would be impossible for anyone to do a one-size-fits-all budget channel, so we just have to learn what we can from each other.
erikawithac yessssss!! Thank you so much for pointing this out. If you expect anyone else to have a budget with parameters exactly like your own you’ll be sorely mistaken. I, like HLP, live in California and I promise you our food budgets are double middle America’s (if not more) through no fault of our own. Having a higher food budget reduces your discretionary income. That is just one of a ton of examples how everything affects a persons budgeting journey. I would just love if we could all be kind and use the lesson instead of the specifics to learn something 😁
I always love your check-in videoes because to me they feel like having a chat, a very inspiring and illuminating chat, with a friend. I relate to so much of what you say! And I feel like I am on a journey that is parallel to yours.
I love and respect how transparent and honest you are with yourself and your viewers. We need more people like you on this platform, and in the world ♥
Hannah: you have always been authentic and true to your vision of conscientious consumerism. I’m not sure why that is lost on some people.
I love your willingness to be vulnerable and explore these messy gray areas. This reminded of an article about how there are two general types of people when it comes to how we handle temptation best - either total abstinence (like your no buy year where the answer was always an easy "no") or moderation (like a budget). I find it easier to completely avoid something tempting that I don't need, but that would drive some people crazy and they prefer to be able to do a little bit in moderation. Can apply to food, shopping, so many aspects of life.
I've always been frugal by nature, but I have to buy stuff and it can be an exhausting mental exercise. How much is enough? What are my needs and wants, honestly? What are my motivations for what I buy? Truly acknowledging and wrestling with all the questions and my own answers is good, but daunting. I admire your thoughtfulness about your own shopping journey. I own very little makeup so I don't relate to that specifically, but I enjoy the fascinating analysis of human behavior because you make me think. Thank you!
I think that just by listening to your videos, it's easy to tell that your budget is effective even with you receiving some PR. It's causing you to question your behavior and wrestle with conflicting desires which I think is really the point of your challenge. Finances are so much about behavior and habits, and less about people not understanding the numbers. So keep going! If you decide PR is for you, awesome. If you decide it's not, also awesome.
Girl, you better take extra good care of yourself, cuz the work you do is so valuable to us (to me). We need you to be filled with inspiration and information and not burned out. Abrazos amiga💖
You really don’t need to defend yourself, I am positive that at least 90% of us get it. But if you feel like you have to make a video explaining all of the points applicable, it will just be another great video from Hannah that I will watch!
Self care is important, especially when doing such hard emotional "remodeling" so to speak. Take the time you need to get the most benefit from it! We are all just incredibly fortunate that you are allowing us a glimpse into your journey.
When you speak about luxury products being "more Hannah", my heart just goes out to you and I think it's a real indicator of the toxic style of marketing that consumers in general as subject to (eg how much money you spend makes you a unique individual, as well as the products that money is being spent on). It was a moment where I had to pause your video and unpack that emotionally for myself a bit because it hit me like a ton of bricks. Thank you so much for being so honest with your self-reflection! Lots of love!
I love your content! I will usually watch your videos once to take in what you say and the whole vicarious experience thing, and in the evenings I often listen to 20-30 minutes of you talking to fall asleep - both instances are incredibly valuable to me. I'm grateful that you are creating these videos for us! Take some time for yourself to recharge, especially as a Pisces, this is so important. Hope you feel better soon!
mariamerch1 I do the exact same thing! Her playlist of empties is kind of my thing hahaha
Hannah I feel like you are a God send to many like me, so don't even think about the haters. They just want to hate and get under your skin and ruin you. You have people behind you rooting for your success in this journey of not buying/buying things and with your success many of us can find/found our own success.
Hi Hannah, just a thought- have you considered a 'one out one in' policy? It might fit in very well with Hannah's reckonings!x
Hey Hannah I am a makeup artist and the Hollywood flawless filter is not a concealer and I wouldn’t recommend it for under the eye. I personally would recommend Estée Lauder Double Wear Liquid Concealer. They have a great shade range and I prefer it for lighter makeup days. It can be built for higher coverage and is a versatile product in that respect. I find it to be extremely flattering as it doesn’t have a completely Matt finish and is suitable for those of us that have some fine lines. It’s one that I love to use on brides and I honestly don’t think you will be disappointed
Hannah, your videos are very insightful and a pleasure to watch. I just want to say, it's a lot to look at comments on every video. I don't think you need to apologize for being behind. You post videos pretty regularly. It would take so long to read every comment. You work full time. You're trying to write. You have a lot on your plate. It's absolutely okay if you haven't read comments on recent videos. It's great that you have such high standards for your channel. I truly appreciate your work on youtube. I hope you continue to find it enjoyable.
Hannah I absolutely love your channel. Your topics, your depth of; analysis, self and reflection is so so refreshing. Your eloquence in communication is unsurpassed by so many YT’ers.
Please don't let these keyboard "warriors" get you down. Your videos have been incredibly meaningful to me. I hope you keep fighting the good fight, because you have been so inspiring to me. I think if anything the small amount of PR you do receive makes your budget even more meaningful. Some youtubers go ham on the PR but the items you choose are always so well thought out. I love hearing your reasoning about all the choices you've made and dilemmas you've come across during your budget year. These discussions have made me a more mindful consumer and that has had a huge impact on my day to day life, so thank you!
After hearing about your tougher month I wish I could give you a virtual hug. Please take the time off you need to relax and recharge. I really enjoy the content and the personality. Your channel is one of few that helps me discover me and the world that affects me.
I love how you put into words the process of Buying the thing.. Using the thing and the life of the thing. I have been sort of doing this process.. Dont want more things that will detract from the things i already love. Every time i get an urge to shop i will sit down with my things and just appreciate them.
*climbs to the top of a mountain and shouts* I love Hannah Louise Poston!!! What you are going through is a mental journey and I am so here for the ride. I love hearing you explain your thought process, struggles and battle with the grey area. Every single one of your videos makes me look inward and reexamine my ideas on the "stuff" in my life. You inspired me to do a no buy 2019 and you continue to inspire me with your content. Thank you for being you and take care of yourself. Do what you need to do, we will all be here to support you. *climbs down the mountain*
thank you so much, Brenda! xoxoxo!
Because of you, I’m going to be starting a channel to keep myself accountable to my goals (it’s not the channel I’m commenting with, so don’t worry I’m not sub searching lol)
5 years ago, I starting my channel, then private’s all my videos and stopped posting. I gained weight, started feeling crappy about myself and just kind of gave up.
I’ve been watching all of your videos and it’s really inspired me. I created a new channel and will be posting about my health journey (financial, mind and body), so, thank you!
you can do it!
I'm sorry that people feel the need to pick apart another person in this type of forum. I appreciate you and appreciate the thought-provoking content, and the way you challenge me to examine my own shopping habits. I have recently ended my love affair with acquiring more, and am enjoying using up what I have. I'm on a no-buy for several types of items, like hair care products, shower products, lipstick... until I use what I have. It's even spilling over into how I buy groceries and I am using up all the meat in my freezer before I buy more. So, thank you, Hannah, for what you are doing on your channel to encourage me to take a hard look at my spending and my priorities. Hugs to you!
This is so interesting - when you bought the Costco underwear I think it was one of the first times I had a secondhand reaction to one of your choices. I was like hey! no! she should save the rest of her money and stop buying makeup because underwear is actually important! I’m saying this not to add to the chorus of would-be Hannah controllers, but to say that your Beauty Budget is teaching me to think more critically not only about my own buying habits, but how I consume UA-cam content. I think a lot of people at this point are used to maybe two kind of UA-camrs - people who you reliably expect to spend tons of money (I spent 1000 dollars on WHERE?! type clickbait titles) and people who are trying to pan products or save money or do a full no-buy. What’s so wonderful and DIFFERENT about what you’re doing in your channel is you're somewhere in the middle of those two, you’re totally transparent about where your money goes, and you take the time each month to be emotionally transparent as well.
Because of that you’re gonna get people who are frustrated because they don’t know how to deal w/ your content. It’s not the kind of thing I think you can watch without at least CONSIDERING your own personal relationship to spending money on nice things, and people don’t want to do that. I do though, so keep on truckin Hannah. I love your channel, you inspired me to get on UA-cam, from one writer to another: don’t stop what you’re doing.
edited bc i used the wrong you're ... feeling English major Shame
I loved that Hannah bought underwear at Costco! It was so relatable. I mean when a budget is fairly small, it may not always be realistic to have top quality everything in smaller quantities. One will inevitably have to make choices.
@@rachellopez8357 yes totally agree!!!
The nature of doing a no buy on UA-cam and even having the opportunity of accepting PR does create a divergence between her life and those of us who aren’t offered PR because we don’t have a public platform. In many ways it is similar to how you can’t study something in anthropology without altering what you are studying. It’s best to just recognize her life and her budget are atypical by their nature BECAUSE they are on UA-cam. This does not mean that the struggles are somehow completely unrelatable. The perfect is the enemy of the good, let’s just go along for the ride and see what we can learn about the human experience.
I have really been enjoying your channel! I had already started a year of wearing no makeup at the beginning of the school year so we have had some similar struggles. Listening to you verbalize your thought process has been eye opening for me. I especially identify with “looking for things to want”. So in January I began my own no buy year for clothes and home goods. Thanks for inviting me to think differently about stuff and money! I have already started to brace myself for the change of seasons since I know that getting out those clothes will prompt me to want newer versions of what I already own.
I love this video and I love your channel - it is probably my favourite channel on youtube because of your honesty and the openness with which you're sharing your journey. It's one (huge) thing to embark on a no-buy and a budget; it's another (huge) thing to start a youtube channel documenting it all, making meta content about how the two interact with each other. I think you're doing wonderfully. Keep up the good work, Hannah, take a break if you need to and take extra good care of yourself :)
As AOC said “when you decided to be brave rather than perfect, opportunities open up” ❤️❤️❤️
You know exactly what you're doing and what life you're living. You have kindly chosen to share your self-reflection with us. That's hard enough without making it public. But to feel like you need to justify or explain things to those who choose to be negative? You don't owe anyone anything. Just keep doing your thing.
I've been on a tight budget and I know it's tough. I've also been decluttering while receiving gifts, and I understand the struggle. Perfectionism, compulsions, identity issues. All I can say is thank you. You open yourself up and I don't feel so alone.
Hi Hannah,
You look so beautiful today. I’m loving your bangs! I have wavy curly hair and wash my hair about once a week, and get it trimmed around twice a year. I have an appointment at the end of the month, and I think I’m going to get some curtain bangs. You are so inspirational to me. Please don’t think you need to justify your choices to anyone. You put a lot of work into your channel, and it is only fair that you choose to receive some of the perks that go with that. You are making a huge impact on consumer behavior and the way that impacts the world. My four daughters also are reaping the benefits from your channel topics, because although they aren’t watching it, it has opened up some really important conversations that we needed to have. Thank you so much!
Hannah you're one of the most honest and trustworthy UA-camrs on the internet and how anyone could feel in a bad way about your opinion on something that was sent to you, is entirely beyond me. The vast majority of us do 110% believe in you and will always be there/here for you. Your No Buy Year and Budgeting this year has taught me SO much about the reasoning behind my own behaviour and you are forever an inspiration. Don't ever stop being your true and honest self, and enjoy the benefits that come from all of your hard work and dedication. xx
Also: YES BERTIE WOOSTER! "You can't be a successful dictator and design women's underclothing. One or the other. Not both." I've definitely decided what I'm binge watching tonight! Thanks!
Sorry to hear you are feeling drained of late. It's ok to step back & give yourself a little time to regroup. I heard a lot of positive progress reported for which you should be very proud & happy. Take care & have a wonderful rest of your week ♡
I liked the imagination trick you described. I’ve been really trying to resist the excitement of new things.
One of my favorite quotes has been "I said what I said" a lot of people have opinions on everything that does not mean that their opinion is more valuable than your opinion especially when it is your life your channel your budget your rules. We are just spectators so I am saying from the bottom of my heart do you Hannah! You explained how you were going to handle PR in a previous video and you said what you said.
I feel a lot of kinship with the issues you raise although I am a lot older than you. You raise some very genuine issues about women in a home and couple relationships. Why do you get to pay for the laundry basket? Men also appreciate a good living environment. And yet women are vulnerable to persuading themselves that they need things when they don’t.
Or I am. I inherited a strong aesthetic sense and it is often a problem!!!
Your videos DO inspire me to take better care of my self, my things and my budget. Thanks for being a gem 💗
Your honesty with yourself and all of us is what makes me love your channel so much!!!
I love your channel for many reasons! But one of them is how kind and forgiving you are to yourself. I want to learn to so that as well! The path is indeed steep, and I am very fortunate to be able to accompany you on it and learn some of the lessons you share with us. 🌺 Knowledge isn't a flower to pick, it's a mountain to climb.
Many have already expressed similar thoughts to my own so eloquently, so I feel it sufficient to simply add my voice of support for the work you do in this world.
Thank you as always for your tireless vulnerability. Today was an encouraging reminder that even the most thoughtful and humble of UA-camrs can't escape criticism, let alone being effected by it. Though I'm not a content creator, I feel less helpless and alone in my own daily rebellion against unwanted and unhelpful opinions. Just walking through that is it's own work and once again, by sharing your journey Hannah, you've been effective in your imperfection and continue to put beauty out into the world 💖
Dear it is completely normal.. social media are very heavy and can make pressure and that can change mood.. it will change and sometimes it’s good to say things and it will be better. We are all like that in whatever field may it be friends, family or mostly work
Stay strong Hannah. I'm always impressed by your thoughtfulness and self-awareness. Ignore those haters.
I'm so sorry that you've been dealing with people who aren't getting what you're doing here! I adore your content for so many reasons, and a big part of it is because you understand the emotional rollercoaster of tackling this subject and show us the highs and lows of every discovery as you figure out how to navigate it for yourself. I have the same struggle with wanting to curate some perfect version of myself while also having the strict budget of a creative, big dreams for the future that involve needing to save up, and wanting to shop ethically and not acquire too much. It's not any easy feat by any means to stay balanced on that tightrope and we all fall off over and over again because we're human. Thank you for always being yourself and not letting comments from people who are out of touch with their own flaws affect your decisions.
I don’t think you need to explain yourself any further to the doubters. Those of us who watch you religiously understand that your budget is meaningful. With your channel growing and getting more views it will happen I think. I do appreciate how transparent you are with your spending and gifts and PR. ❤️❤️❤️
It hasn't been an awful long time and I already can't remember what you look like without your lovely bangs ❤️
Thank you for talking about your feelings about haters! I understand that you don't want to elaborate and respond much, and I do think it's helpful that you publicly state that you don't have time or energy for it. We all have haters in our lives, and it's encouraging to hear that we don't have to humor every single one of them. Many times people say gnarly things just to get a response, and not giving a response is a valid clap back.
Also, I think you look like a cool-toned lion with your new haircut and that glorious green sweater.
I relate to this video so much. I have found that a much bigger struggle for me is not “buy” versus “no buy,” it is living with in my means. What does that even mean? How do I balance needing to live within my budget and focusing on saving (both for mid-range/big- ticket items in the future as well as for retirement) with treating myself to the little luxuries of life? What are the categories in which I can really splurge and what are the categories in which I should pull back? How do I find the “real me” versus the “fantasy me” and what/how do my purchases play a part in my identity? And why am I spending 20 minutes contemplating a lipstick purchase? (Do men do this? Do they stare at flat front khakis and think “these khakis will make the world see me as strong and powerful and competent?” Just - augh!)
Hannah, you are quite simply a verbal art form! Lovely!
Hannah, you're an inspiration to me. You are forging the pathway I want take. Firstly by doing your no-buy year, then charting your journey after that year and how you cope with buying again, albeit on a budget. Sadly there will always be anonymous nitpickers who feel entitled to criticise even though they haven't walked in your shoes. Please don't take mean comments to heart. I look forward to your thoughtful, lovely videos.
You have changed a lot of things for me. I look at my purchases and stuff so differently now. Thank you💜
Definitely take any breaks you need to! I just started working full time again this week after a year of part time because I burned out and fell apart (like I checked myself into a hospital). Please take care of you because nothing is worth your health and wellbeing.
I've been pretty good with not wanting to buy things. I am pleasantly surprised but I expect I might get a weird urge soon since the seasons will be changing and am more motivated to do stuff in the spring so I might want to shop. I have been recording how much money I am putting to savings and how much of my debt I have paid off so far this year so hopefully those tangible numbers will help me stay on track.
Still binge-watching through your videos since I found you...first of all you look gorgeous in green with the sweater and the eyeshadow and I keep loving those bangs. Second, I love reading comments in your virtual home, as they are often so articulate, in depth and sophisticated, it is so interesting to see how different the general atmosphere can be in different channels... I know this is an older video, but I still feel like sharing my thoughts about the PR thing, because I had been turning this thing around in my mind while watching previous videos. I love what others have shared, for example about separating the business part from the personal part, and how your budget has to do with personal, and the PR has to do with business, makes so much sense. Also the fact that nothing is "free" because in order to receive those offers, (I know nothing about YT just imagining) you need to have created content, have a certain amount of subscribers, etc, which means hours, and days, and weeks, and months of (unpaid) work....then the fact that whatever you do, you are so transparent about your inner explorations, your soul shifting and thought processes, the growth of your awareness...which is fascinating and the main reason I am here...what I think that maybe can be tricky, and I am writing this while thinking about it, and not at all in a judgemental way, but trying to figure out some confusion I had while watching some of the videos, and exploring what was in my own feeling disoriented, is that when you receive, and get to choose some of the fabulous things, be it a bag, some clothing, some make-up or skincare you had been wanting, could it be that it somehow lessens the grip - for someone who has a shopping problem, like me - of feeling deprived with your budget? Not sure if I can word this in the correct way...If I had the opportunity to receive and get to pick out some things I usually would spend on, that would somehow muddle up something in my own process of restraint...If I just received a fabulous new bag, the burning desire to spend for another one I had been lusting for would get somehow soothed, and just the fact that I know I can receive bags, make-up, etc. somehow shifts something on my decisions about what I want to buy and how I want to spend my money...maybe the whole PR thing just makes your experience less relatable? ....I hope this came across in the way I meant it, as a thought process on a delicate issue, in a space that is open to dialogue and growth. ...keep up the wonderful work Hannah, and nurture your soul always as a priority, the rest can wait...💜
Oh my, the burnout thing, so relatable. I think it goes back to what you were talking about in your no-buy year with only starting the day off with so many mental resources. I feel like when I help others, reflect on internally difficult issues, etc. I'm tapping into that same type of mental well and while it refills when tended to, it still needs care to "function" properly.
I appreciate you, your content matters, and I hope you feel better soon.
I watched this video whioe I decluttered my lipstick collection. Good inspiration!
I wanted to tell you that I have the same weighted blanket as you. Zonli also makes amazing covers for those blankets. They make them stay clean much longer, as it’s easy to wash the covers. The blankets themselves can throw your washer out of balance.
I absolutely love your channel and I always find myself feeling excited when I get a notification that you’ve uploaded a new video. :)
With regards to your transparency around PR and sponsorship, I personally find it extremely refreshing and I don’t think that accepting PR undermines your message at all.
😊💕
LOVED THIS.. as usual :) I know just what you mean about packages. When on a 'no buy' I enjoy knowing nothing will be coming through the post! Also love the PR and the sponsored post because it's more thoughtful content from you. Take a break as you need it, you don't need to apologise or explain to anyone. (Although don't go away for too long.. ha!!)
This sweater looks AMAZING on you! Truly beautiful! ❤️
Thank you for being so honestly introspective and open to all aspects of your journey. And, explaining it all so eloquently. The critics in the comments can be objectively observed as an aspect to recognize and dismiss. The ones that are not challenged themselves in any way to be publicly vulnerable, scrutinized or endure incessant examination. Not a fair playing field, therefore, they are disqualified. There! Done!
I love and appreciate the way you share your thoughts so openly with your followers. It's what makes you so special. xo
I love the practice you shared about imagining the entire process of what it would feel like to buy, wait, and use the items you wanted. That seems really helpful, I'll have to try it out with the next thing I feel an impulse to buy even though I KNOW I don't need it!
Please remember to take care of yourself.
And i do think its harder to be on a budget instead of a no buy, ive been going back and fourth between thr two for two years because i become overwhelmed some months and decide to not buy anything except food that month.
I love your content, Hannah. Most of us do. Sponsorships and PR do not alter your message. ❤️
Yes! I love it when I feel this way so truly about a UA-camr and I so truly do about Hannah.
People need break sometimes, so don't push yourself too hard~ Take as much time as you need :)
Try not to be so hard on yourself. Haters are going to hate - no matter what you say or do. The rest of us love you for who you are and appreciate all you do. Take care of yourself. Don’t worry about the fact that life (and especially social) has gotten a little behind for a bit. Take your time and we’ll still be here. ❤️
Yay! Your videos are always so great to watch. I’m sorry you had a rough patch with comments. I totally understand wanting to explain yourself and defend yourself but people who leave those comments probably won’t care to hear your explanations anyway. Or if they do, it won’t change their minds. As you said, you are doing your best and that is all anyone, including yourself, can ask! Keep up the good work! I enjoy following your journey - whether or not I would make the same decisions as you, that does not matter (though you are much more thoughtful in your decision making process than I would ever be! I have that think before I speak issue lol)...we are all different which is what makes sharing our experiences special and insightful! I hope you have a lovely day, Hannah :)
Awwww...I have been watch you for some time but I've never made a comment. You are beautiful, articulate and so genuine. I felt terrible hearing how there are others out there who feel it necessary to pass judgment . Just keep doing what you are doing , sweetie . You are amazing just the way you are!!!
Your Colourpop story - you are such a good storyteller, you had me on pins and needles lol!
How I LOVE a deep dive on shopping behaviors! Your meat is the best meat🤣🤣🤣
I think you are an amazing inspiration! Keep going on your journey!🌸
Our dog always runs to the door and starts barking (going crazy) when the doorbell rings. And it is still a challenge to get her back to the living room. So everytime i am about to order something i ask myself of i want to deal with a barking dog 😆. It makes me order less.
It’s so fair that you need a break from social media! I’ve only got my friends and even I feel this way sometimes - nothing to feel bad about at all 💕
Also congratulations on pushing yourself with the budget! I’m on the journey too and you’re a wonderful inspiration.
Way to go Hannah! You belong to yourself alone. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey with us
Maybe a ‘Low flow of PR’. Find the number of things you are able to receive a month without feeling overloaded, and use it as a guide number. Maximum of 1-2-3-4-X items a month or something like that.
Mean comments are normal, unfortunately. I can’t understand how people can spend their valuable time to leave a mean comment and try to ‘explain’ how you should or should not live your life and create your space on the Internet. There is so many people I don’t agree with, and I never put any time and effort to tell them that :) I would just accumulate more negative energy by thinking how ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ they are. It’s better to let them be :) I hear in my head The Beatles right now: ‘Let it be’. Let it be Hannah :*
I'm someone here who loves you and supports you 100%. I have learned so much from your journey, and I just got a job, and ive written out a budget, and I'm gonna be following along with you (at least with a budgeting part). There is definitely a part of me that feels like "but if you are receiving free stuff, is it as effective?" But honestly that's none of my damn business. You are so open and honest with all of us that if you say it's working for you, I believe you, I believe that you believe it is, and if you change your mind, you will change your rules. You are clearly committed to this, and that's what matters. You are choosing to share your journey with us, it's been amazing, facinating, and really educational for me to watch, and I feel lucky that you are willing to be this open and honest online. Anyone who is giving you shit for it needs to fuck off.
I never thought to use visualization to “demanifest” something! You are brilliant! I’ve been calling it (in my head) the Colour Pop Vizualization. And, I feel that you have been very transparent and mindful of your budget and PR and sponsorships. I don’t think it’s for anyone to judge how you spend your budget or what PR/sponsorships you decide to accept. I think it’ll be interesting to see in about a year’s time, how your journey unfolds. Thanks for sharing and building our community!
I’ve yet to hear a thought you’ve expressed that I haven’t thought myself of my own mindful consumerism experience, up to and including your thought experiment with the colorpop product. My thought process wasn’t quite as visual as yours, but the outcome was the same. In the end it would just be another product in my collection, and the more products I own, the less often I can use them in my rotation. I’m still very confident that I own more eye shadow than I can ever use in my lifetime. I reached a point where I felt so badly that I’d never use all that I have and it would ultimately go to waste. This same idea has translated into other areas of my life as it has yours. For me, the impetus of this shift in my thinking was the anti-haul. Finally someone was telling me that I don’t have buy and own everything, and not only is that ok but it is more enjoyable to have a carefully curated collection of things. Now...have I stopped buying makeup items? No. I find that my desire to shop and buy comes and goes and is usually connected to stress in my life. I’ve already written too much but I relate to you in every video, and think to myself “Yes! Been there, done that.” I enjoy hearing you put words to the same experiences I’ve had.
I HAVE THOUGHTS! I try to moderate my thoughts because I know you get a lot of comments. First, you are magnificent! Try to not let the negative comments get you down! Just remember that youtube doesn't know if a comment is positive or negative, and both kinds count as interaction in the mysterious algorithm (I think). Second, PR. It's totally okay that you don't know how you feel about it or how you want to approach PR! It is new to you, and it makes sense that your feelings about it are going to evolve. Don't ever feel boxed in by your rules - they exist to provide structure and guidance to YOU and YOU are the only person they have to serve. We're just here for the ride, and I, for one, am so thankful for the time and energy and thought you put into all your content. And, we understand that you also need to take extra good care of yourself as you do your work in the world! Thank you Hannah!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your no-buy year, albeit right at the end of2018 😂 I’ve loved catching up on your journey ♥️
P.S. I love your sweater 😍
On a superficial note--that sweater is gorgeous!
Please don't worry so much about being too busy and getting inundated with comments.
Your videos and your thoughts have still had an impact on me. Even today I went to Homesense, (I don't think it's in the states but it's like a more upmarket TJ/Tk Maxx) I had to buy a couple of things for my sister-in-law's baby shower.
I walked straight past everythin to the baby section and found what I was looking for. Then when I walked back towards the till, a lady was blocking my way and before I could say 'excuse me', my eyes locked onto the shampoo/conditioner stand where all the fancy, salon quality, professional brands were. A really nice looking bottle of argan hair conditioner was at the front...calling to me lmao.
"Ooo I like argan oil.", "My ends are looking a bit damaged,", "This might do for a month until I get my hair cut..." and "...And it's only £4.99!"
Then you popped into my brain and reminded me that I had half a bottle of Aussie deep-treatment conditioner in my shower, a full bottle of generic hair conditioner, a bottle of Loreal's no cut cream (really good stuff btw), my favourite bottle of Moroccan hair oil, half a bottle of Lush's conditioning hair perfume and a full tub of Lush's R&B hair stuff. I didn't need the fancy conditioner for now, it could wait for another time.
And now I'm home I'm so glad I didn't buy it.
Hi Hannah. I don't think I've ever commented on your videos before although I am subscribed and have been watching since about October 2018. I find what you are doing extremely interesting. I watched this video twice. You have influenced me with my purchases this year. I find I'm thinking more about what I spend my money on, have bought far less makeup (even though I have wanted things just to have them) and also find myself checking out how ethical the companies I buy from are. Thank you for your channel. I really enjoy it.
thank you!
Also, I so relate to being burnt out communication wise, I get that every year around my birthday (even though I have maybe 20ish messages to answer to), I feel the love reading the messages but answering them becomes such a mental burden that I sometimes take a month hahaha. I can only imagine that process as a youtuber, I hope you take the space you need to not feel stress or pressure to reply/like comments.
This green sweater paired with those bangs 😍 sis yaaaassssss!
Girl...you speak my truth in every freaking one of these videos lol. I'm struggling with the exact same things!! I'm doing SOOO much better with the makeup purchases, but it's transferring over to other things, like art supplies, housewares, anything I can think of from Amazon etc. It's not about money for me...its about sheer overload of stuff. I think in my case, its this stupid idea in my head that I will somehow be a better artist if I have X, a better mom if I have X, a better person if I have X...which I'm sure (from your thoughts in videos) you can relate to. Instead of being "better", I just find myself overwhelmed and (if I'm being honest) ashamed that I didn't have the presence of mind to walk away from the purchase. No reply necessary, I get your current social media apathy...but I want to thank you (again) for your candor. It's like a group session for staying on the wagon lol
Personally, I like that you receive PR, because you are so transparent about the process, which gives us an inside look and is new to me at least, and because it seems like its own beast of a challenge. Like even though I can't relate to receiving such offers, keeping your stuff to a minimum while being offered free things is a particular dilemma that I think adds a new level of content (because you are so selective+introspective) and hopefully cancels out some of the meagre pay you get for all the work you put into this channel.
I think you're wonderful. I feel that people who watch a video and write something (that makes one feel the need to defend oneself) is a form of trolling through baiting, and is actually a strategem employed by trolls. It may seem innocent, but truly, if they doubt you or don't understand you, wouldn't it just be easier for them to just go elsewhere? It is easier for trolls to appear innocent and well-meaning than to just say something overtly cruel Their intention is to cause you to expend time and energy doubting yourself and defending yourself and your choices, which feeds their need for attention. There are a great many people on social media with personality disorders, and I often see UA-camrs or bloggers ONLY respond to negative comments left by people whose intent is to discourage and disparage (whilst never responding to loving comments). Thank you for your excellent placement of prepositions, as well as for your splendid vocabulary. Truly wonderful. Love from The Hague.
Ah Hannah don't pressure yourself to reply to comments, etc! I'm sure we all know what it's like to be drained, just take whatever time/space you need!
Honestly if you're feeling overwhelmed there'd be no harm in you taking a week off! We all need some downtime now and then :)
Sorry I should have added all this as one comment at the end, but I've been commenting as I watch instead.
I just wanted to say - you don't need to justify your spending limits, your sponsorship's or your rules. You did that in the introduction of your beauty budget and, if people are unhappy about you receiving PR, I really think that's their problem, not yours. Your goal (I believe) was to improve your spending habits and save more money/pay off debt. This is clearly doing that. I almost feel like addressing this as & when people complain almost is opening it up for discussion, allowing them to 'continue' the argument (whereas if ignored they have nothing to reply to in order to make a further argument/discussion of it). You could either ignore these comments or just have a standard reply you post whenever someone questions your own rules about how you live your own life, like "I understand how you feel, however I disagree. Thanks for your comment."
It definitely feels like those few that are having an issue with it are ones that are still in the grips of their own consumerism and are having a hard time watching you receive things that they can’t. As Maeriel said, that is their issue, not yours. I love that you try to set the record straight in a gentle and compassionate way, but people will only hear what they are ready to hear and if they are conflicted already wnough to make comments like that, then they are obviously not in the mindset to be able to understand where you are coming from. Best to let them be and protect yourself❤️
Girl...Don't you give one more thought to those negative comments from people who do not know your process. They do not know your struggles. It's easy to criticize but not so easy to live it. This is your journey. We are just blessed to come along with you and we are learning about possessions and ownership and the buying process. You're a little like me, you live a lot in your head. You can't be creative and not live in your head some. I live out all kinds of alternative realities in my head. It is good to process things that way. Don't even give these criticizers any more thought or justify yourself to them. You have made it very clear what your goals are for your channel and what you were going to do after your no buy year. It has just kind of taken you on a loop. You are dealing with a whole other thing. Yes it's just a glitter, a little cheap glitter, but it is a big deal to you. Either you stay true to your self or you try to justify your self to people you do not know. Don't do that! You do what you have to do and we will have fun any way. WE love you Tango Girl.
Gorgeous as always! I could listen to you talk for hours.