It takes me so long to buy anything these days ...

easy

Does anyone else feel that life is getting very very complicated ?

I love this forum, it's fascinating and I spend lots of time chatting and trying to help other posters when I can.

BUT .... I've just realised that it now takes me AGES to buy something we want or need, because I go through all the research for everything.

Yesterday I was looking for a new outfit to wear to DH's office Christmas do. Found what I wanted on the debenhams site, then had to go to 3 other retailers sites to check if they had it cheaper, and THEN had to get out the calculator to work out if double nectar points was worth more to me than cashback through Topcashback, having compared whether topcashback or quidco would be the best rates .. phew

My mother asked me to get her a new electric blanket last weekend. I spent about 3 hours, not only comparing makes, but working out which is the best deal (Saisburys electrical, nectar points, click & collect if you're interested).

I think I may be becoming obsessed. We can't even order a takeaway without me doing a 15 min web-check first !!!:eek:

bap98189

I think it has become a lot easier to compare prices thanks to the internet. Without leaving my desk I can check prices in any number of retailers, whereas before the internet it would have necessitated either spending a period of time on the phone or physically trudging around different shops.

BugglyB

For any moneysaving endeavour its worth working out how much you're saving vs the amount of hours you're putting into it. If you're doing three hours work for £3, you're only earning a pound an hour, you could probably earn more playing a tin whistle on the high street

easy

Bap, I fully agree with you, it has, but because we can, we do, and sometimes life seems to be disappearing down a hole of researching how to live it.

I mean, even when I go physically shopping, I need to remember to use the correct credit card to get my cashback, and the correct loyalty card to get points, and take in whatever vouchers I need to maximise the points, or whatever.

It's all great stuff, but sometimes I just wish life could get simpler again ....

easy

BugglyB wrote: »

For any moneysaving endeavour its worth working out how much you're saving vs the amount of hours you're putting into it. If you're doing three hours work for £3, you're only earning a pound an hour, you could probably earn more playing a tin whistle on the high street

You think I have TIME to learn to play a tin whistle ???

Do you mean a tin whistle or a penny whistle ... is anyone selling penny whistles on a BOGOF deal ????? ;)

Hermia

BugglyB wrote: »

For any moneysaving endeavour its worth working out how much you're saving vs the amount of hours you're putting into it. If you're doing three hours work for £3, you're only earning a pound an hour, you could probably earn more playing a tin whistle on the high street

Not the way I play the tin whistle!

I totally agree with you though. You have to think about money saved v time. My aunt will regularly drive between four supermarkets to get the best bargain. It takes a large part of a Saturday and obviously costs her for the petrol. I think she would save more money just going to one supermarket and spending the saved three hours putting her clutter on ebay or doing surveys.

sassyblue

I agree with you OP, it's lovely to be able to research but it can rot your brain sorting it all out. :rotfl:

166million

And then you panic in case there are any shops without websites which might have it cheaper! :eek: Or what about clearance or reduced items that don't appear on the internet?!? It's safer not to buy anything;):money:

thrifty-gal26

I have to check if there is a voucher/code/cash back etc before I buy something!

Totally agree with BugglyB, you have to have to way up the time spent vs money saved.

mountainofdebt

And you have to factor in the wait (if buying in internet) not to mention the risk of the cheapest place runing of stock while we faff about trying to find that cheapest deal!

claire16c

Hermia wrote: »

Not the way I play the tin whistle!

I totally agree with you though. You have to think about money saved v time. My aunt will regularly drive between four supermarkets to get the best bargain. It takes a large part of a Saturday and obviously costs her for the petrol. I think she would save more money just going to one supermarket and spending the saved three hours putting her clutter on ebay or doing surveys.

She could just go to sainsburys whilst they are doing that brand match scheme. Like you said driving abut is a waste of time and money because if she saves 20p on a loaf of bread shell just spend it driving to that shop anyway! I dont worry so much over the shopping because I like to shop in Sainsburys anyway so I just buy what I need and thats that. Or if I go past somewhere else on the way home from say work or something Ill go in there.

But for other items like electricals, or the worst of them all - holidays, I will be researching for months!