Reformed shopaholic? please can you give me the benefit of your advice

CompletelyLost

That's good you dealt with the letter, Frogletina. I'm another one who puts off doing things like that... I hate form filling, sorting out anything to do with money & basically anything else important!

NG: I've never heard of midi length. I know I definitely wouldn't suit that length though. The odd time I wear a skirt/dress (errr... never!) I go for about 4-inches above the knee. So neither mini or knee length.

Have fun doing your returns, I know I do At least your being practical, even though work clothes probably aren't that exciting. I'd probably enjoy trying find something fashioable as well as work-appropriate. I have literally one pair of black trousers & a shirt, both which are far too big, so when I go to an interview I look like I'm drowning in my clothes.

NGlady2

Evening girls

Just home from my afternoon in the city had a lovely aft with my mum I did what you said you would do CL trying to find something fashionable yet practical - yet will fit damn next being so tight on the sizes. Also worked out I have water retention like the rest of you, argh. Found a dress I loved - two inches too short for work Narmind!

So refund totals: £80.99

I am going to break my spends into catagories - work and non work spending, as I feel my refund totals should be spent on essential work wear.

Brought work clothes adding up to 51.00 - This brought me a work shirt, work skirt, two basic t-shirts for under shirts, and a work bf cardigan - quite happy with this. Only nego I feel was in Newlook cos I was returning sans receipt they wouldnt honour a promo that was on atm - nevermind though, cant win them all.

then theres £37 of non works
This was £10 dinner £5 buses £4 work foods but this did buy me two yoghurts, some pitta bread and tomato dip and dad brought me four frozen meals FOC and a bottle of water and a magazine £2 also I know, I shouldnt have I did buy myself another tea dress, its same style as one I live in and there was a tenner off it

so I have £29 left to be spent on work clothes and still break even, going to do this before it gets sucked into other money though.

here endth the lesson

Frogletina

Well, how mad am I

Signed up with radio times to get the free issues and I forgot to cancel and there is a direct debit on my account which went out today for £24.99

I used to always buy this as I quite like it, but was going to cancel it before the charges started as I had got out of the habit of buying it and therefore was saving money. But to pay so much in advance, and during this time I will have a holiday, seems to be a waste at the moment.

Entirely my fault, as when I found the offer on MSE the advice was to cancel the dd before it started. No idea how to calculate this into my spending of £3 a day!!! I don't want to show that I have gone over my daily spends

I might use money given to me by my houseguest, first I have had this year! However, his money barely pays for food each week. (good job I have so much in the store) He asked me what I thought about what he will be paying when he moves into his new place. I said, well it's about 3 times what you give me and it is still a bargain (how bad am I!)

So I have now decided I am both mad and bad - things can only get better.

Anglea

Hi girls I'm a bit behind with the replies as I was out most of yesterday and you have been busy on here.

Fr. that must be a horrible feeling about forgetting to cancel. However, RTimes is a good read so it's not the end of the world. And the price is much cheaper than normal. Is there a way you could cancel now if you wanted?

That's good news that you've made contact about the photos. Re lodging money, I don't think most people have a clue how much looking after them costs.

NGlady - I did look at your posts last night but felt like I'd drunk 5 pints of scrumpy by the time I'd finished Mind you, I won't gain any weight nor get a hangover! I find what you and CL get up to with vouchers, returns and all that as most confusing LOL

That's a good idea about work and non-work expenses.

CL, I read about your couple of work outfits. If you are accepted for a work placement I take it you'll have to go shopping.

You asked about my library expenses - for audio books.

Frogletina

Anglea wrote: »

Fr. that must be a horrible feeling about forgetting to cancel. However, RTimes is a good read so it's not the end of the world. And the price is much cheaper than normal. Is there a way you could cancel now if you wanted?

That's good news that you've made contact about the photos. Re lodging money, I don't think most people have a clue how much looking after them costs.

Hi Anglea

I'm not sure if I can cancel the RT now, I've lost my log in details - should get code with next RT - but I do enjoy reading it anyway.

I've had a reply regarding the photos - he says he is sure he sent the originals back ages ago after my last prompt! But he will check and make copies of his copies along with a couple more he thinks he has of my dad and will send by registered post

Re: house guest. He's a friend who was a bit fragile when we first met and I just took him under my wing and I don't need to have any extra money. And I'll miss him when he moves out but we will still be in touch, he won't be far away.

CompletelyLost

Hi ladies,

Froglet - what a pain about the Radio times sub! I have made the same mistake before, too. I think I read somewhere that if you contact them they will refund you for the issues that you haven't yet received. But if you enjoy it, then maybe count it as a treat for yourself?

Anglea - ahh right, thanks for explaining the fees.
I'll definitely be in a mad rush to find workwear when I do eventually find a job. But for now, my current stuff will suffice.

NG - sounds like you were practical & got a fair bit for your money. I also hate Next sizing - I bought a coat from there and the size 8 was HUGE, yet I've had tops on in a 14 & they've been too tight. Stupid.

I was good today Got rid of a ton of clutter, 10 ebay parcels, sold some furniture that my mum was going to send to the tip, and only spent £2.25. I went to the super cheap charity shop (which is more like a jumble sale) and found a lovely pair of gloves hiding amongst the tat, which match my coat perfectly! I almost bought some a few weeks back but they were £5 so I put them back. Guess how much my new ones were??? 50p! And they're nicer than the £5 ones. Just need to shove them in the wash before I wear them. I also spent £1.75 on some diet coke.

I think I'm doing well. I find myself considering every tiny little purchase - asking myself "do I need it or do I have something at home similar that I like better? Will it end up as clutter, be returned or end up on ebay in a few weeks/months? Could I get it cheaper elsewhere? Do I reeeeally need it or could I live without?":rotfl::o

CompletelyLost

Today I went into the city for a little look around... it seems that remainder of the xmas sale stuff is being reduced dirt cheap, so I picked up some mega bargains.

2 pairs jeans - £2 each (vouchers used)
black cardigan for interviews, etc - £2! sooo pleased with this (vouchers used)
1 pair gloves - £1.99 (I know... deffo didn't need these )
1 bra - 50p
1 pair shoes - £3 (paid with a very old credit note, just to spend it before it expired)

So I basically spent £2.49 cash and got all of that

How is everyone else doing? x

Also saw some absolutely gorgeous boots in Debenhams but 1) they were £60, and 2) they didn't have my size. GUTTED, but it's probably for the best.

Frogletina

Hi all - hope you are ok

CL -didn't you do well!

I nearly ate out today, but what I wanted would have taken me over my £5 for food today (and that's cheating really, as I think I should count food out as personal spending) so I went to M & S and bought some carrots and runner beans, and a pineapple juice and went back home to eat

I bought a book for a birthday present with some wrapping paper (6.99), out of my present account. And I had a couple of vouchers which I spent on some trivets for the kitchen and a nice bowl and saucer.

All in all, I've been quite happy with my day. Except i'm dieting and I ended up eating some chocolate, within my calories but not really the right food to eat

NGlady2

Hey all - ive had a pretty good day too

Ate very well at work - realised this week to avoid my naughty break time cob I need to remember to take a little more food with me. So I have two breaks and a dinner, I am taking about 5grms of fat worth for each of them - bearing in mind how I used to eat sometimes thats still great

Realised that I wont really be able to do many NSD's when at work. I only brought a 70p drink today instead of 110 though woohoo. But theres always something like a birthday collection to put into, so thats another £1 down the pan.

Spent rest of my refund money last night - on another black skirt, two cardigans and a work dress - so got quite a lot for my money, woohoo just what I needed

Also found out im getting a small 'thank-you' voucher from work today so thatll be about 20.00 towards 2 work bf cardigans from newlook yayza.

Need to be careful this week really, got a girls night out sat night, and whilst I can afford it, I also dont want to go really mad with it, decided though to have my hair done for going out its a tenner but for how much better it makes me feel, sooo worth it.

Anglea

Hi all

CL my goodness you did brilliantly in the sale. No you don't need any more boots do you? plus you got some really good bargains in that other charity shop. But what was that comment about considering if you needed to buy something or not? So you needed the other pair of gloves did you? LOL Well done on de-cluttering.

Fr. I had to laugh reading your purchases of veg and trivets next to CL and NG's shopping sprees.

So you were naughty on the chocolate. I've been very unwise with biscuits

NGlady, I bet you could open a shop with all your clothes How is it your hair will only cost £10?

I didn't leave the house last couple of days felt really tired and no shops Sunday so 3 NSD's and no books!!!!