Does MSE save you money or cost you more?

Quackers

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

errrmmmmm....this is the reason I don't really come to play here too much.

Because I seriously do end up spending money.

That description fits me perfectly :D

pelirocco

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

I have to admit to doing that in the past ,I think its easy to get '' sucked in '' andget carried along with otherposters enthuisiasm

aliasojo

pelirocco wrote: »

I have to admit to doing that in the past ,I think its easy to get '' sucked in '' andget carried along with otherposters enthuisiasm

I am guilty of that too, sadly. There is no hope for me....save yourselves. :rotfl:

Odette

You can't really blame MSE for you spending money.

I think one of the biggest lessons MSE has taught me is that every bargin or BOGOF offer usually has something to hide. The people selling you these things are trying to make a profit after all.

Good luck though, my Mum is like this and it drives me nuts, but she tells me im tight! So

aliasojo

Odette wrote: »

You can't really blame MSE for you spending money.

To be fair, I don't think I was 'blaming' MSE. I was just pointing out that MSE provides access to bargain information which people wouldn't otherwise have if they didn't visit here. For people of a certain disposition, its enough to tip the scales.

That said, I am familiar with the phrase 'you can lead a horse to water.......'

clairewop

I've used the grabbit board a lot this last few months and everything i have bought has been used as xmas pressies for people, or if i don't think i can give the item to someone my mum will have it to give as a present instead, so none of it has gone to waste.

kitkat5566

I have to be honest, I was exactly the same, when I considered an item 'a bargain' i just bought it and thought it would get used or be given as a present and it never did. When I first moved in with my OH I had 3 boxes full of shampoos/ conditioners that I realised I never really needed that many! I also had bought tonnes of stuff for red hair as that had been a phase I had been going through and now I'm blonde lol so that was a waste! I also had boxes of foot products, among tonnes of other things that I purely bought as they were a bargain. My OH came from a big family who could not afford unnecessary expense (even if it did save you afew pennies!) so he taught me to only buy stuff if i actually needed it, and it could serve a purpose for a long time. I now am very careful, i was always terrible for buying for things on 'buy one get one free' but most shops repeat these offers every few weeks so it isnt desperately necessary to buy tonnes of the items. I am a big fan of boots, but only buy stuff i really need, i bought some xmas pressies and benefitted from the £10 of points the other week and was tempted to order again to get more points, however I then realised I would spend more than i was gaining and didnt actually need any of the items. I would recommend thinking carefully before buying items that seem 'bargains'. I regularly check on the grabbit bargains thread, but I have rarely actually bought anything, as there has been nothing I actually need! Sorry to go on!

ailuro2

If you've done the usual do I need it, can I afford it, would I buy it if it wasn't reduced and you're still tempted, then ask yourself the question will I be able to use it within a year?

That usually covers it.

I've bought reduced school clothes plenty of times for DD over the years that was too big - but have reined myself in a bit after I started accumulating a bit too much.

On things that we use all the time and would normally pay full price then I do stock up and save.

Like the recent Morrison's deals though - the champagne that isn't always in stock - go with a list of things you need, and don't let your head get turned by anything else while you're there. That's the whole point of 'offers'.

I've saved a packet through MSE - paid off the mortgage, made over £500 through Quidco, saved on insurances. The list goes on...:money:

squirrelchops

I was fuming only this weekend when I went to buy my usual skin care products as they had their bonus offer on where you get a bag with free samples in. Anyway chose my items and were £27.

The woman then tried to get me to buy all the bigger versions for the 'bargain' price of £60 telling me it was normally £84. thing is yes although in the long term it would save me money this was an additional £33 i didn't have. Also the stuff I bought would last me 3 months so I can pick up another 'bargain' when I do have the money if I want.

What made me smile the most was her exasperated tone of 'well I was only trying to point out a BARGAIN'!!!!

I then managed to extract myself from another make up person. I went to look at a specific item as I had run out of a similar brand but they don't sell it in my local store. I tried the one she had but I really didn't like it. i said 'I think I will wait and buy my usual one'....she was most put out and challenged me as to why I didn't want to buy hers!

Talk about pressure shopping. it is no wonder that some people getg caught up in buying stuff they don't need or can't afford. I have no qualms about only buying what I want......since I became a student again I watch every penny so no more impulse buys for me!!

Rockporkchop

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

This is me to a tee.

Your OP made me laugh, I only discovered the Grabbit board fairly recently and since then have spent a fortune by kidding myself I am saving money, although to be fair some of it has got me a lot of points etc.

I now have a large cupboard full of stuff - 24 bottles of Tesco Monistrol cava, a purple pashmina, more Boots toiletries than you could shake a stick at, various CDs and DVDs from the latest Tesco points offer, Boots toys from really good glitch, Lush items, make up sets, books, a silver top from Coast, ITunes cards (I don't have an ipod) - oh I could go on all day but am getting embarrassed now. I am currently waiting for deliveries from Very and Debenhams containing various Pirate Ships and dolls houses that I just had to buy.

The grabbit board is like a seedy addiction, a habit I can't seem to break. If Boots started to sell patches to wean me off it I dare say I would grab them too.