no spending for a year?

AdmiralX

Recent spending: The cost of reconnection and taking away the old appliance, say cooker (£74) and washing mach (£34) is horrible, in the first case it is close to 30% of the cost of a new thing, yes, that is labour. That comes every 7 years because it does not pay to insure the thing any additional years - it pays to buy new appliance. In fact the dearest cost is the labour cost when it is done by hand, like changing bulbs even: you can but 100 incandescent 60 watts bulbs plus a ladder for the cost of call out of changing just 5 of them at home.

rubytuesday

I confessed to my daughter that I had failed in my bid but I said I still thought I had done really well to last all that time.

She thought it was a rubbish attempt so to her!

AdmiralX

Recently I had been ponndering, when you are not sure about the outcome of a service, like cleaning, redecoration, plastering, grouting, fixing a handrail, making curtains, recovering a sofa etc, is it not better to attempt it yourself and give the cash to a charity?

spookybuffy

AdmiralX i think it depends on the person. some mite want to give it to charity but some may need it for other reasons whether its bills or they want to do something. There's many reasons why people cut back and save and not everyone is capable of doing the miner thing around the place.

Its a good idea but i think it depends on the person.

PenguinOfDeath

Just found this thread and will be watching with interest.

I have subconsciously been trying this for over a year now. being unemployed for a good while, redundancy and wanting to buy a house do not mix! so after being forced into this way of thinking, I have been taking it forward until the house is mine!

So, grocery shopping has been brought right down (from about 350pounds a month, to 160 ish for me and OH)

the only clothes I have bought have been 50% off or more, that said I hardly buy myself anything as my wardrobe is pretty full now

taking all lunches to work

I don't really use make up or cosmetics so that's easy for me

cinema is only visited on a Tuesday when the prices are cheaper, plus you yet a voucher for money off if you go again within 2 weeks so works out better if there's a few good films on

I have cut my alcohol consumption right down, not only is it better for the old waistline, I can help friends out by giving them a lift if we do visit the pub etc

I've cut out buying newspapers and magazines, was fed up of paying 3quid plus for what amounted to a bunch of adverts, and dont get me started on the bilge most newspapers churn out! internet provides an adequate replacement for me.

Can't remember the last time I purchased a cd or paid for downloading music. mainly listen to dab radio at home, and since the radio in my car broke I listen to my mp3 player, I'd barely use it otherwise.

Gave up my gym membership as I didn't get the use out of it for the money (council run leisure centre), prefer to go cotton walks when weather allows and will make use of public tennis courts in a few months! Oh for the day when I have room for my own exercise bike!

Books are a big weakness of mine but I still have lots left over from Christmas and I like to swap with friends, probably should look at going back to the library like I did when I was younger...

OH is going to start selling on ebay soon so I'll root things out for him to add on for me soon.

Sorry for bleating on, that was quite cathartic ...as you were

AdmiralX

PenguinOfDeath wrote: »

I have subconsciously been trying this for over a year now. being unemployed for a good while, redundancy and wanting to buy a house do not mix! so after being forced into this way of thinking, I have been taking it forward until the house is mine!

Home is not just a shelter but you can work from there.. While unemployed you can use internet free and libraries to learn a language. The biggest cost in food could be snacks, & wine, an allotment helps. For cosmetics I buy base face moisturizer, shampoo base etc all organnic from say Neals Yard and adding some essential oils of your choice… You can make soap yourself if you did not know this.


I read papers online/ library. Long walks help better.

Books are a must and the greatest friends. Their paper yellows though. Some books with better paper last for ever. You can keep those you want to read again. So is music listening of any kind whatever you like. There are many FMs for all tastes and good to listen to any genre. You can buy an instrument cheap and try it with a teacher a while. Not all cost dear. Visiting galleries moden or anything is free and many have free music once a week. Theatre / movies is a need it is not just an entertainment. It can be v cheap in London – Costs £12 the Travelex tickets and can get previews cheaper.

AdmiralX

The quilting work which one finds in many cultures from distant past is a marvelous piece of sustainable living, every inch of any fabric and thread was used with skill and artistic eye.

loobylou232

I have had a no spend weekend - Yay! I anticipate spending on the Boots sale on Wednesday but that is me done! The kids want to spend their Christmas money and have an idea of what they want so I shall utilise my bargain hunting skills on their behalf to help them make the most of their cash (I only let them spend half anyway, they have to save the rest. if I get really good bargains they don't even realise they''ve saved some!).

I am really looking forward to this challenge now. Wonder how much I can save? Bring it on!

spookybuffy

well done loobylou232 :T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T :A

rubytuesday

Right I will be getting back on track after an expensive weekend visiting the 60th Birthday of a sister I only found out about a couple of years ago.

No more superfluous spends for me until February where I will allow myself one charity shop day and then get back on track again.

Total cold turkey has me kicking against the traces and the spending goes haywire!