Fresian's Free Of Debt (Woo!) Now, to stay that way...!

moo2moo

I too got caught out with whoopsies and Tescos DTD promotion. In fact the only way I can see to benefit is to shop via My Supermarket and select only those products which are more expensive in Mr Ts especially if that item is on offer in Asda and not in Tesco although they have to be identical items which means sticking to the big brands... has all the hallmarks of a very big con.... only 25% of my till reciept was applicable and they happened to be mostly branded whoopsies.

Lipstick99

Don't buy the bag - there is a Mulberry sale in June/July. A few weeks away. Also the outlet stores are better value...
And you are not buying british goods, Mulberry have a factory in Turkey.....

mooomin

MellyB wrote: »

I am actually after a Mulberry bag myself but I have to keep thinking 'Oooh it is a lot of money' - they are lovely, my friend had a tan coloured Bayswater one and has said that I can have hers when she find another bag...

If you don't want to part with all that money, what about a Longchamp bag. I think I'm going to get this one in Ebony if I don't get a Mulberry one...

http://www.longchamp.com/gb/handbag-roseau-1686158-2-600615.html

Ooh that's pretty Melly

mooomin

Lipstick99 wrote: »

Don't buy the bag - there is a Mulberry sale in June/July. A few weeks away. Also the outlet stores are better value...
And you are not buying british goods, Mulberry have a factory in Turkey.....

Thanks for letting me know about the sale time - much appreciated.

Didn't even think about buying British to be honest It's not normally something I consider...

mooomin

Morning all

Final decision made I think - won't be buying the Bag Of Wonder (unless the sale yields a cracking discount...!) We got an email at work yesterday saying that our tax calculations may be wrong when we get paid tomorrow due to the twin issues of it being bonus time and having had to change tax codes due to the last Inland Revenue c0ck up. They also essentially said "Don't worry, the tax office will check and you should be sent a refund" but I suspect that won't be until the next tax year and probably quite a while into it too. Dirty robbing b@$tards.....

So, new plan is:

• Use bonus as savings into ISA
• Withdraw money from this for holiday to The North at the end of April and for spending money in June when we go to York
• Keep saving into VSP and possibly use this for Handbag of Joy at the end of the year

At least if I do it this way then there will be money sitting in my ISA in case of emergency.

I think this might be more sensible, but a lot less fun

EssexHebridean

flying_fresian wrote: »

Finally, common sense! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

EH - you are absolutely paying for the kudos of carrying the bag, but they are beautifully made, honestly. I questioned paying a lot of money for bags before I bought my Radley(s) but realise now that you really do get what you pay for.

I suspect that I've been a DFW for too long to actually buy the bag I want, as it really is a barmy amount of money to spend. That being said, if I put the cash in a savings account and find a good deal in the outlet in York, then that's being a teeny weeny bit MSE...:D

Do you get £450 more value from the Mulberry than a Radley then?! Really?!! :rotfl:

flying_fresian wrote: »

I have eaten at Marmalade a few times (Used to be called Portree House) and thought the food was good and not too expensive.

Cafe Arriba (above Over the Rainbow in the centre of the village) is a really nice wee cafe, not sure if they do evening meals or not.

A lot of the other places in the village will be overpriced to take advantage of the tourist trade sadly I'll give you Mama Fresian's address :rotfl:

Thanks for those recommendations - I think we might try Marmalade actually as I've just had a little look at the sample menu on their website - very reasonable prices and the food sounds lovely!

Souk08

Hi petal, carp news on the tax thing. Been a funny sort of day here. Mum out of hospital (ace) but two mates made redundant totally out of the blue today (boo, but one's getting a mahoosive payout and he's my fine dining friend so maybe okay really!!!!).

Knackered but got to goto Leeds for work tomorrow. AAARRRRGGGHHH. The only thing getting me through is the thought of all the fun I can have come payday again!!!!

mooomin

Money post

PAD/Spends - £160
Entertainment - £67.84
Groceries - £165
ISA - £1213.29
VSP - £313.47

I'm leaving myself £200 of "fun money" aside from this from my bonus plus my usual spending money. I'm trying to get today's Radley offer from Groupon but can't get it to work. BAH!!

beanielou

There is a Radley offer in Martins newsletter
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/discount-voucher-codes/radley

mooomin

Morning all

So far I have spent about £17 of my bonus on a new necklace and have my eye on a lovely Radley bag online. If the £40 voucher in Martin's newsletter works with the 20% off code on Quidco then I should get the following deal:

Bag cost = £160
20% off - £32
Voucher - £40
Total to pay = £88

The voucher only cost me £2 as I had Groupon credit, so that's a total cost of £90 for a £160 bag....and 5% Quidco too :rotfl:

My brother has bought one too and we're going to buy my mum a Radley purse for mother's day instead of the usual bunch of flowers.

Tonight I'm off out for dinner with some friends which should be fun, but also cheap and cheerful as we go to the local Carvery every month. At the weekend I'm planning on going to the farmer's market to treat myself to some nice vegetables and cheese and then to Costco to stock up on meat for the next couple of months.

Hope everyone is doing ok.