Will Summer Undo Lots of DFW Work?

LookingAhead

Hello peeps. I was just sitting here thinking the board seems kinda quiet tonight. It's been a lovely weekend so I guess a lot of people have been out enjoying the sunshine...and who can blame them, it's been a long time coming!

Then I thought "Hells bells......does this mean people are out spending a fortune at theme parks, beer gardens and shopping for lots of new summer clothes!?" :eek:

Does anyone feel like they are going to be sucked into a big spending cycle now the sun has come out?

Maybe we need some proactive advice/discussions now to get some ideas on how to still enjoy the sunshine but not undo our long hard slog over the Winter & Spring months.

I, for one, really need some new Summer clothes. But I just can't afford to go on a spree on the High Street. I need to confine myself to charity shops and maybe will see if any friends want to do a clothes swap party (I'll provide some nibbles!). I will also scour places like Bay Trading & John Lewis rails (these two shops seem to have clothes cut to fit my top half the best for some reason..) for much reduced summer t-shrts & tops.

I also want to get out and about in the sun & get some fresh air but again, spending money is out of the question this year. So for me I think I will have to go on walks with BF and maybe treat ourselves to a swift half (Ok I can stretch to that!) in a beer garden. Maybe we can take some drinks & rolls to a park and a chess board/pack of cards and see how we get on.

Failing that we can always tackle the garden and do some weeding together :rolleyes:

So....has anyone else been thinking along these lines...got any suggestions for combating the usual Summer expenditure but still enjoying the sunshine?

Kevicho

Hate to say it but i have other things to do so cant spend all weekend posting here

Ive been to my sisters today so havent done anything that would cripple my bank balance

To be honest in my case summer doesnt make any difference, ive been stuck in the house for 7 months now and my determination is such that im not going to let months of hard work unravel because mr sunshine is out

I hope everyone else feels the same

Mrs_Sparkle

I had a picnic with friends today- always a cheap way of eating in the summer. I'm hoping the summer won't be more expensive than the winter as I'm planning to do lots of free activities- walking, cycling, picnicking and of course gardening. In fact I'm hoping to save some money in the kitchen by eating home-grown vegetables- I've got carrots, potatoes, peas, broad beans, butternut squash and salad planted :-)

uberzoldat

I definitely think summer encourages spending.

I need some summery clothes too, but charity shops are great and shouldn't dent the pocket too much, as is poundstretcher, who have some nice tops for £2 each.

Luckily I live by the seaside, so lots of days out in the sunshine for nothing. Having said that, there may be one trip at least to the local theme park.....:o

Picnics, walking or cycling is great to get out in the sun without spending too much. Playing on swings in the park? Come on, I know us grown-ups still love to have a good swing, admit it!

lynzpower

I must admit LA, I am worried.

It just seems at the moment we have the most packed summer ever. Fair enough we have our summer hols at the family beach house, so no spend for that apart from the megabus :money: but its all the other bits and bats that might prove a bit problematic.

The summer is rammed. We have mine & OHs anniversary ( june) then lovebox festi ( only a one dayer, but is 40 each....no compromise on this we are going) OHs birthday he wants to go to another festie for it ( 65 each :eek:) plus a surpruise that Ive got up my sleeve for him ( its expensive, but worth it, he really needs to be treated well after the amount Ive neglected him in favour of being a DFW) and then theres creamfields we have free tix for but we have to get there, nottinghill carnival, hes got 2 more DJing gigs lined up ( unpaid, but free beers for him) and so the list goes on.

God knows how we are going to do it. But Ive chopped the CCs so theres at least no chance that they will be used for any of this. We might be down to beans on toast every night to afford these treats, but they certainly wont be paid for out of debt. Absolutely no chance.

beanielou

I agree & proved it yesterday!
Plants for my garden tubs £33
summery shoes £39
And now my shower has packed in & its just out of the guarentee:eek:

LookingAhead

Ouch lynz, that *is* an expensive Summer.

The old me is saying "yeah but you just gotta enjoy life!" though......I still have to beat it down quite a lot

However the new DFW me is also worried for you too. Really glad you have cut up your CC's though, at least that is something less to worry about. :T

You are in a great position that your OH will be happy to eat beans on toast to help save money towards a fabulous social Summer. If I proposed that to my BF, he'd be really p****d off but then again he is quite a homebody type so the thought of Creamfields would be a nightmare - for him.

If I think of any more (legal!) money making ways lynz I'll be sure to let you know but I think you could probably write a book on it already eh?

Ali-OK

I'm hoping it'll be cheaper.

More time in the garden - splitting plants to fill in gaps - cost £1.39 for Hormone Rooting powder to help them take. The dreaded weeding! I've got books I've been given for birthday and Xmas that I'm yet to read, so I'm going to have some R&R sitting out, if its warm and dry.

Spring cleaning - curtains and sofa covers to do and no using t/dryer. Car could do with a good wax/polish and I have stuff leftover from last year.

Sunshine makes things easier for taking DS out - more picnics, more time at the park and the open air pool (cheaper than indoor one). More walking by the river, feeding ducks, etc. Probably cost me an ice cream for DS. Last year's paddling pool should be fine to use again, so school friends can come over for that.

Possibly more entertaining here and at friends - bbq's, but we all chip in something anyway. A few family do's on, so petrol usage will probably rise.

Not buying any new clothes or shoes for summer - most of last years are in good condition and I've no idea what the fashion is - I don't buy mags and can't remember the last time I was in a clothes shop, so no temptation! Just sandals to get for DS. School fete and School Sports Day are usually cheap.

We have a fab weekend River Festival coming up and Kite Show, both free entry and usually don't spend anything, so looking forward to those. And there's often rowing competitions on the river at the weekends too.

Lastly, I reckon I can do a couple of car boot sales too. Just hope we have good weather!

LookingAhead

Ali-OK - you sound very positive and potentially very busy too!
Good stuff!

Ali-OK

uberzoldat wrote:

Luckily I live by the seaside, so lots of days out in the sunshine for nothing. Having said that, there may be one trip at least to the local theme park.....:o

Picnics, walking or cycling is great to get out in the sun without spending too much. Playing on swings in the park? Come on, I know us grown-ups still love to have a good swing, admit it!

Ahh yes, we usually go to the coast for a day, but my Mum does a fabulous picnic spread. It's the Theme Park, rock, fudge and parking fees that swallow up the pennies.

Talking of swings, I'll have to get the Swingball and cheap badminton set out - usually good for a laugh!

Ali-OK

LookingAhead wrote:

Ali-OK - you sound very positive and potentially very busy too!
Good stuff!

Saying it is one thing, doing it is another! :rotfl:

The physical stuff is all dependant on whether I have the energy and motivation on the day!