Buy Nothing for Six Months

Thistle-down

Still spend free, except for the £45 guitar I bought yesterday to flip on ebay. Turns out it's a really nice guitar, so I'm keeping it for busking and selling on the one I use now, which should bring in £175-ish.

Win!!! :j

agreenmess

Oooo just had a quick read and love the idea of this but would probably have to do a modified version, will surscribe to the thread and keep up to date with everyone though!

flyingmamma

errrr.....last week the oven died and today the kettle started to leak .....so much for not spending! at least we had a picnic in tbe park nsd today.gonna look at comparison sites for kettle bargains now. planning a nsd out tomor too, have £2.50 left from grocery budget for thisweek and a £10 outings budget still. this challenge is making me think about all the unnecessary purchases we have been making!

sparrer

Doing quite well since my last post, only spending on bare esssentials. Today though I'm treating DGD2 to having her eyebrows/lashes and nails done pre prom, then on Friday her hair and make-up. In true OS style we're going to the college where prices are a quarter of high street salons, and treatments done by 3rd year students so there won't be any horrific results. Hopefully!

The new car is running nicely, took her for a long run on Monday which used 3/4 tank in the old one, less that 1/2 tank in this one . It has an mpg gauge so I can keep my eye on speed, it certainly makes me think about it.

Tomorrow a friend is taking me to M&S in her new car so I can spend some vouchers on essential undies, I have enough that no cash will be involved. I thought they might have run out so phoned M&S who said they have a couple more months left, and renewed them for a further two years over the phone. That's service!

(Why is it that when someone else drives [insured, always] or is a passenger in mine they go out and buy the same make? It's happened 3 times now. Do you think I should ask the dealer for commission?!)

Don't know if anyone else gets frustrated by not having big stores nearby to take advantage of offers? I love living in a country area but if I wanted to take advantage of 'over the counter' freebies or similar I'd have to go 14 miles to the nearest big shopping town. On the other hand if I lived nearer to one I'd probably spend more money so maybe safer to stay where I am

Happy Wednesday

good_advice

Sparrer, I think people are copying your car purchase because you know a savvy deal. You should feel proud of your bargain hunting

I feel the same about living near a smaller town and missing out in some counter freebies. I felt that with the Body shop offer

Sometimes I shock people when I walk up to the shop counter with just a bit of paper (online coupon) and walk out the shop with something free. It happened again yesterday in Boots. Had to explain it was a £1 off online voucher you just print off your home computer. I paid 16p for a big bottle of shampoo/conditioner in one. For my cheek, I also got 4 advantage points on my Boots card.

agreenmess

sparrer - Where I live we only have two "major" supermarkets Tesco and the ever expensive M&S, we do have smaller Co-op's but not a huge selection. If I want to get to a Asda/Aldi I have to either fly for an hour or take a boat for 4 lol!!

Ilona

alibo100 wrote: »

Can I ask how you get two applications out of a hair dye? Aren't you supposed to throw them out once you have mixed them? Would love to know that trick would savd me money!

You find a small container, old yogurt pot will do, and mix half of the two solutions that you mix together, saving the other half in their original tube/bottle. I use a paint brush to daub it on my hair, making partings so it gets to the roots, starting at the front and working back.
Ilona
sorry I am a bit late posting this, forgot to come back to it.

Ilona

flower_delivery_guy wrote: »

That will require a lot of discipline but I guess if you can do that then you can achieve anything. I am trying to find some discipline myself, it seems to be the only way to survive these days.

Oooops, I'm getting a bit behind on this thread, must pay attention. Flower delivery guy, please send some flowers my way, but only if they are free, as I do not buy flowers, ever, even if they are reduced, because I cannot eat them. There are plenty of free flowers in the hedgerows.

You are right, a lot of discipline is needed. The only way to survive is to control your urges. If you can't be trusted to keep your money in your wallet or purse when out and about, leave it at home. Spending willynilly is a nasty habit, feels good at the time but leads to pain when the bills come rolling in and you can't pay them. Like a diet, scoff endless chocolate and you will never get rid of a lumpybumpy bum. Spend money you haven't got, and sink further into the mire. Your choice.
Lots of love xxx
Ilona
Meanqueen
Super Scrimper

Araboo27

Mistral001 wrote: »

I have just seen this post and I honestly thought that the OP meant being totally self-sufficent and buying nothing at all for the next six months. I wonder has anybody here ever done that. It probably is one of those 60/70's things that people used to talk about and a few would do, but it seems to have died out as even a concept.

Oh this is my dream for the future, once the kiddies are older and I can work part time

good_advice

Little steps over time make a world of difference.
It is having the right attitude and discipline to make minor changes and substitutions to more costly things. Everyone can cut back, save money without doing without spending for 6 months.

I read a book awhile back about a single guy that decided to spend a year without spending a penny!
He blagged an old caravan off freecycle and put it on a corner in a farmers field. In exchange for rent he had to work some hours for the farmer. He got food from the hedgerows and skips etc... owned a bike to get about.

I do not think families and house dwellers can go that far.
For us it has to be money saving family affair.
Changing a way of life and spending habits takes time and much thought.

Looking through our household bills is a good beginning. Some bills are set while others are flexible and can be reduced . need v want.

How? well here is an example... I have just cut my TV,phone and internet package in half.
Gas/electric, learn to become a low user. Not by doing without, just by unplugging and switching off when not in use.

I am sure many of us have idea's we can share?
I love voucher/coupon shopping. It saves on all sorts of things.

I have had a no spend day. I have been out in the garden with OH.
He tending the summer food crop while I cut back the shrubs that have now finished flowering.