Does MSE save you money or cost you more?

aliasojo

I've just spent the afternoon clearing out cupboards full of 'bargains'.

I could open my own personal branch of Boots with the amount of stuff I have. If you consider how many 'glitches' Boots alone have, then you'll have a rough idea of how full my cupboards are/were. :rolleyes:

Remember the cucumber cleanser and moisturiser? Can't remember how much they were but I do remember the millions of points I got. I have drawers full of Danielle Ryman stuff (also a points glitch) and so much foot scrub and moisturiser that I could positively slide along the road on my soft and silky tooties if I actually used it all.

I have auto scan radios (which are rubbish btw), wind up radios, Homer Simpson gadgets,make up sets and Lord knows what else.

My problem is......mostly everyone in my social circle is also on MSE and has their own stockpile of bargains so I have no-one to give the things to. Some of the stuff was glitch freebies so it's not like I paid for those, but there are plenty things I did pay for and just don't need. Some of this stuff has been in the cupboard for 2 + years.

I gave some stuff to the school last year for their sale and I've just packed a few bags full of stuff for them for this years's sale. I'm happy to help them dont get me wrong, but next year they will have to do without my help because my New Year resolution is going to be 'ignore the Grabbit board'. :rolleyes:

So 'fess up. Are you a hopeless bargain grabber and hoarder like me or are you the kind of sensible and balanced type of person I hope to be next year?

pinkie_pie

I only grabbit if I would consider buying it but can't afford it (eg console games that are super cheap), if I was going to buy it anyways (like toys for the kids) or if it was free/incredibly cheap. eg free pashmina recently when you paid postage, giving to a friend at christmas.

pinkie_pie

But even in that sense it costs me more. Eg was gifted money to buy a tv as ours was at deaths door. So saved money with advice on here to buy one (no idea what looking for.) Was also gifted with a playstation as needed a dvd player, but on the other hand have spent money as bought (super cheap but not the point) games.

pelirocco

A bargain is only a bargain if it was something you needed

aliasojo

pelirocco wrote: »

A bargain is only a bargain if it was something you needed

I agree. My problem is that I think everything I buy will serve a purpose (therefore needed)......mostly for present fulfilling at a later date. Then for whatever reason, it turns out to be no longer suitable.

Ruby_Moon

I don't understand how this happens.
If you are wanting to save money and not spend it, why look on anything that involves spending money at all? The Grabbit board is for bargains but for people who might use said products anyway. And spending money to gain points, well, thats just idiotic.
One poster mentioned the free pashmina when you send the P&P. (these things are never "free") Do you honestly think it is a bargain? Wouldn't it be a better bargain if you saw a beautiful Pashmina on sale in a shop for £4.99 as you were passing?
Its getting out of the mind set of spending money full stop that causes so many problems, especially when you keep looking for bargains.
MSE saves me money in answer to the question though.

aliasojo

Ruby_Moon wrote: »

And spending money to gain points, well, thats just idiotic.

Not necessarily. On glitches and loopholes, the points are worth more than you are spending.

I agree about your 'mindset' comment though.

flippin36

Yes, MSE does make me spend more!. (sometimes)

Firstly it inspires me to be really, really thrifty. For a whole month I will watch every penny and enjoy the thrill of bargain hunting...but then.... the next month I tend to have a bit of a blow out! Its like being on a diet, when you come off it all you want to do is eat cake! iyswim

But also I spend more when I read about all the bargains people are writing about. For instance I was reading about brilliant bargains to be had at Poundland. I don't shop there usually but I just felt the urge to go bargain hunting for all these cheap things everyone was talking about, that I didn't even need.

And lets face it, its not just the bargains that we buy but the fact that reading about other peoples bargains means we end up in the shops and are most likey to buy one or two other things that caught our eye as we were looking.

But I only have myself to blame.....

nearlyrich

I have saved overall because I don't buy stuff just because it's a bargain.

aliasojo

nearlyrich wrote: »

I have saved overall because I don't buy stuff just because it's a bargain.

I need to be more in that mindset.

I think part of my bargain buying problem stems from the 'hoarding' aspect of my personality. I grew up in a house where we almost couldn't move because of my Father's tendency to keep things 'just in case'. (I daresay this originated during the war when you really did have to make do and mend and lots of things were saved and utilised in other ways.) It was normal in our house to hang on to stuff or collect even more, and I'm aware I still do this now.

nearlyrich

aliasojo wrote: »

I need to be more in that mindset.

I think part of my bargain buying problem stems from the 'hoarding' aspect of my personality. I grew up in a house where we almost couldn't move because of my Father's tendency to keep things 'just in case'. (I daresay this originated during the war when you really did have to make do and mend and lots of things were saved and utilised in other ways.) It was normal in our house to hang on to stuff or collect even more, and I'm aware I still do this now.

I have been there and done that and I still get ribbed about my siege tin cupboard, but I only bulk buy things we use these days. My wake up call was sorting out my mum's house, no-one needs clothes 10 sizes too big just in case!:rolleyes: you can recover from your addiction;)