Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

Caterina

JackieO, for the last few days I have been cooking a modern version of wartime dishes, following the basic recipes but the one thing I am not depriving myself of is spices and flavourings - after all I do it for health reasons, there aren't any enemy U-boats out there waiting to bomb the ships that bring back spices from the Indies now!

So my Woolton pie would contain a fair amount of spices (probably nutmeg, turneric and paprika) and herbs (mostly home-grown, so this is very "home front-ish"). I have never cooked it but planning to do so in the near future and will let you know how it goes!

Snoek - I agree, bad fish is best left alone!

Tripe: I have always loathed it but there is an Italian recipe that cooks it with tomato sauce and parmesan, perhaps you would like it cooked that way!

*Vikki*

I am having my first urge of this year and scared as I am off for a few days now from work and will be wandering around shops as its something to do.

Caterina

I had a few days' splurge, bought a few books and a set of scales on Amazon, then decided to stop, but today my fingers were out of my control and they made me take a magazine subscription (mind you, this is fairly economical because I buy the mag regularly and it is much cheaper to have it on subscription).

Good to have this thread to remind me for the future, lots of good anti-splurge ideas!

MrsE_2

When I was a little girl my family used to say "money burns a hole in my pocket":o

My old granny (RIP) & DH say (said) that while I may spend money easily (too easily) I get fantastic value for money:)

Every month (when I get paid) I feel an urge to go shopping (proper shopping;)).

When I go food shopping I do stock pile a bit, but only on things that I would normally buy when they are on offer, which is back to what my DH & granny said about me.

laurel7172

I want, want, want some nut trees. And it makes sense to buy them ( bare root) *now* in order to get them into the ground a year earlier.

But do I need them? Or is it just a sneaky way to spend? Sigh...

Caterina

Nut trees are good for you and good for the environment. Really worth spending on them as they will give you a good return in nuts (if the birds and squirrels don't get there first!). You could do a lot worse than buying nut trees when you get the urge to splurge!

tandraig

if i get the urge to splurge - i go to the pound shop -and usually come out about a fiver lighter!!! most things are cheap and tacky - but some real bargains may be had if i need them or just want them!
failing that - wilkinsons - I just cannot go in there without buying something - they ALWAYS have a fantastic offer on!!

MrsE_2

If I could spend £5 & rid myself of the urge I would be happy.

I can easily do a couple (or few) hundred!

It actually gives me a bit of a high, carrying the bags out of the shop.

I feel like I'm in confession time.

ginnyknit

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:So are we starting the 'Urge to Splurge" support network. Like the computers on cars that tell you to move away from them - " back away from that ready meal, back away from that ready meal - you know you can make better" sounds in your mind whenever temptation strikes!

OrkneyStar

We are generally quite good .
If I do feel the urge coming on I take a wee wander round the charity shop, normally finding a bargain for me or DS for not too much money.
I also get my knitting/crochet out or bake.
We do need to get our living room decorated, since DS tore some wallpaper and also it is messy round the window frames after we got new windows in, so we enjoyed the treat of buying wallpaper for the central wall/chimney breast (a nice posh one) and lovely paint for the walls. DH will do this is his mid-term Easter break.
We also go away once a year and have a splurge (we live on an island so not so many shops to peruse)....hitting HMV, Next, Primark, Hobbycraft, Asda etc......I am being good and putting money away for that........only 5 ish months to go .