Meet the frugal's, 365 day challenge of buying nothing.

pigpen · 27 February 2007 at 1:36PM

Oh I fully understand that one.

I LOVE paying my debts, it makes all the months saving worth while.

I hate breaking into a nice crisp £20.. even a dog eared one I have trouble parting with!! They are purple after all!

I get to pay my bills tomorrow!!

patentgirl · 27 February 2007 at 1:47PM

Hi Lauren

You are doing so well I wish I had the courage to do what you are doing, although since joining site earlier this month I have changed my spending habits dramatically just got to get rest of family on to it now Lol! not an easy task
Getting plenty of tips this is a great thread

claireak1 · 27 February 2007 at 4:48PM

lauren_1 wrote:

YES i do!!!!!!!!!!,
I have a sore throat so need a soothing recipe, little man has a cough but i will get him some tixylix (have a 50 point boots voucher if i buy some) and mt vesuveus is about to errupt on my face

Answers on a postcard. lol

Hi Lauren,

I haven't read all the posts yet, so this may have already come up, but for your wee man, assuming he's wee enough to qualify for free prescriptions, he may be able get over-the-counter medicine (such as tixylix) free too through the Minor Ailment Scheme.

Problem is I'm not sure if it is available everywhere, or if it is a local initiative.

All that was involved for me was a visit to the pharmacy I usually go to (Boots), where I asked about registering for this scheme. I filled out and signed a small form, and voila! anything my son needs he can get free. This is available to anyone else who qualifies for free prescriptions, such as my Mum who is over 60.

Hope this helps - good luck:T

Claire.

Luiz · 27 February 2007 at 6:12PM

Lauren

A big well done - I bet you're learning a lot about yourself and about how our culture manipulates us :-)

Approaching life without the constant need to think about shopping is a bit like cutting out caffeine/chocolate/smoking - it's really not that easy - you get withdrawal symptoms and there's a real risk of bingeing with the guilt and despond following. Watch out for this.

Get to know your local library and use it - you can borrow CDs and DVDs, order books you want to read, magazines and children's books.

Try to reduce your trips to the supermarket to a bare minimum, shop on a full stomach and don't walk round in the direction they want you to take - it's amazing how quickly you can loose the power or independent thought and end up spending much more than intended !!! I have fun with supermarkets now and anarchically jump from aisle to aisle, sticking to my list and avoiding unnecessary purchases. It's amazing how empowering this is.

Get to know your local shops - I found out recently a local greengrocers is much cheaper than the supermarket and buys local, fair trade and organic when it can but doesn't mark up a premium on it :-) cheap and happy at the same time.

Try to buy good quality meat and buy it less often - make it a treat and make it last more than one meal. I can make a chicken last 4 meals with little effort. Buy large joints and make them last with shepherds pie, rissoles, soups and in sandwiches. You'll find you spend less, strangely enough.

You can still have fun shopping, but the fun comes from the people you get to know on the market stalls and local shops - you'll find all sorts of extras can come to you if you build relationships with people. Shopping itself becomes less important than getting out in the fresh air and eating good food lovingly made.

I wish you all the very best - you have the right mental attitiude and lots of support

Louise xxx

House_Elf_2 · 27 February 2007 at 11:40PM

Spendless wrote:

Empty glass baby food jars are perfect for making gel air freshners in :j .

Made some air freshners this afternoon using a store of creme brulee jars. (I have been keeping them for the children to make tea light holders, but that can wait 'til summer). Meanwhile, it smells very pleasant around here!:cool:

Inspired try the grocery challenge again for March. Need to start somewhere!!! Still not brave enough to do 365 day challenge!

lauren_1 · 28 February 2007 at 11:19AM

DAY 9
Well, there is not much to report really, i did my exam last night.....definatly got 10 wrong for sure but overall pretty confident.

Nothing much to report spendwise, i even took my own dinner in to the canteen, i did penne al forno with pasata sauce and diced motarella and spicy sausage stired in, yummy, saved me £2 for the day.

Have to go back to the dentist to get this filling reset.

will update tomorrow.

JET34 · 28 February 2007 at 12:14PM

I know what you mean about £20's I got a £50 for christmas and don't want to spend it it sooo red and nice....:T

I think I might be mad:D

lauren_1 · 1 March 2007 at 11:15AM

Day 9

Well i passed another test yesterday, after school i went to meet a friend for a coffee at costa's BUT i did it the DFW way:j

I refuse to pay £1+ for a cup of tea so just asked for a mug of hot water, said i was detoxing and popped in one of my own teabags:beer:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Got my filling refilled and settled for the free amalgam filling as its only my molar, if it was a front tooth then i would of stumped up the £50 for a white one, but then i would need to get my teeth whitened to match or do they do a creamyishbeensmokingfor6yearsanddrinkingtoomuchcoffee colour??

Chodalob · 1 March 2007 at 8:38PM

How's the challenge going?

lauren_1 · 2 March 2007 at 12:14PM

Well i crumbled in tesco and bought some real bread,even value bread is cheaper than making your own and generally tastes better too.
Oh and i also bough myself a can of coke it just jumped on to the counter and demanded i drank it.

Apart from my hiccup this morning it's not going to bad now the withdrwals of spending seem to be getting better and better

Meet the frugal's, 365 day challenge of buying nothing.

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