ELITE 11+ glitch loving, barmy bargain hunters

Savvybuyer

fairclaire wrote: »

Being normal is very overrated

Indeed. I'm not sure (a) I'd want to be "normal" anyway; and (b) that anyone at all is normal in every respect (or even in most respects).

Besides, who'd ever want to comply with being a "norm" just because that was the norm and for no other good reason?

Money saving - I've said it before, broken record again:o:rotfl: - often relies on not doing what is normal. Unseasonal buying is, of definition, not "normal" - if it were, then everyone would now be buying off-season items in a different season to the extent that the "seasonal" items for that season were now the "unseasonal" ones and therefore would now be seasonal!

Companies seek (solely) to make profit. Companies make profit by looking at market research that shows them how most people typically behave - and use this in order to influence and shape their buying preferences (I know...a bit heavy:o:rotfl::rotfl::cool:) in a manner that makes profit for the company. "Special" offers are there to create a profit by driving people into a store. The offers that most people - vast majority of people - take up as not necessarily the ones that save people money but make money for the company. We are absolutely at complete contrary aims to the businesses we deal with. They issue press releases on putting down the price of fuel. I mention when they increase the prices back up. They promote special offers "was £x, now half price". I mention when they go back to full price and that that is a price increase. Or, even, that the "half price" now (following a few weeks of being much higher priced than before) is now xp more expensive than a previous offer earlier in the year.

Doing the reverse of what most people do, and of using offers an unintended way, is one of the best ways of saving money. If they ever saved people money by their popular offers (that make them profit), they wouldn't run those offers at all. It's undoubtedly getting people, in some way, to pay more.

So, absolutely, do *not* follow the norm. The "norm", indeed, seems to be to pay £420 more each year to financial companies because you don't read the small print and do transactions that incur penalty costs. I would be happy not to follow that 'normal' way of behaviour! In theory. (As probably I'm guilty there as most people are. Although hopefully to a lesser extent than most people. But we certainly have examples here - such as when people buy non-comparable 3 for '2' offers on the APG and then say they expected them to compare. Sorry - read the T&Cs! And, yes, that may sound harsher than it should and I do know, I understand why people don't!)

Preaching to the converted I know...

Savvybuyer

Jelly_Biactol wrote: »

And why is "normal" perceived as, automatically, for that reason, being a good thing? (Or the implied suggestion is that it is.)

Normal is very often (but not always) wrong.

aau1

Tinyshoes wrote: »

Well I haven't updated to 8.1 yet. Just because have read it takes a while to do the updates.

But I am actually getting on with it fine I use the screen with the apps on and actually quite like it. Both my girls who have Win 8 use it in desktop mode. I don't have touch screen but find it easy enough to move around using the touch pad now. :T

The worse bit was making everything on the screen go big by accident, took me ages to suss how to squeeze everything in again. :rotfl:

I once managed to flip my screen upside down! That was an experience :rotfl:

davemorton

aau1 wrote: »

I once managed to flip my screen upside down! That was an experience :rotfl:

:rotfl:
I did that once to someone none techy at work, they wernt best pleased with me

fairclaire

Savvybuyer wrote: »

Indeed. I'm not sure (a) I'd want to be "normal" anyway; and (b) that anyone at all is normal in every respect (or even in most respects).

Besides, who'd ever want to comply with being a "norm" just because that was the norm and for no other good reason?

Money saving - I've said it before, broken record again:o:rotfl: - often relies on not doing what is normal. Unseasonal buying is, of definition, not "normal" - if it were, then everyone would now be buying off-season items in a different season to the extent that the "seasonal" items for that season were now the "unseasonal" ones and therefore would now be seasonal!

Companies seek (solely) to make profit. Companies make profit by looking at market research that shows them how most people typically behave - and use this in order to influence and shape their buying preferences (I know...a bit heavy:o:rotfl::rotfl::cool:) in a manner that makes profit for the company. "Special" offers are there to create a profit by driving people into a store. The offers that most people - vast majority of people - take up as not necessarily the ones that save people money but make money for the company. We are absolutely at complete contrary aims to the businesses we deal with. They issue press releases on putting down the price of fuel. I mention when they increase the prices back up.
They promote special offers "was £x, now half price". I mention when they go back to full price and that that is a price increase. Or, even, that the "half price" now (following a few weeks of being much higher priced than before) is now xp more expensive than a previous offer earlier in the year.

Doing the reverse of what most people do, and of using offers an unintended way, is one of the best ways of saving money. If they ever saved people money by their popular offers (that make them profit), they wouldn't run those offers at all. It's undoubtedly getting people, in some way, to pay more.

So, absolutely, do *not* follow the norm. The "norm", indeed, seems to be to pay £420 more each year to financial companies because you don't read the small print and do transactions that incur penalty costs. I would be happy not to follow that 'normal' way of behaviour! In theory. (As probably I'm guilty there as most people are. Although hopefully to a lesser extent than most people. But we certainly have examples here - such as when people buy non-comparable 3 for '2' offers on the APG and then say they expected them to compare. Sorry - read the T&Cs! And, yes, that may sound harsher than it should and I do know, I understand why people don't!)

I wouldn't want you to be normal either because you are just fine as you are. Ive enjoyed reading your posts tonight I have 2 boys here absolutely itching to get back into the sort of routine, that despite my best efforts, I can't quite give them

You don't even realise it, but you give me hope (and maybe other people too?) that kids with similar conditions will function 'normally' and even as highly as you do in the future

I love reading about your journey

Tinyshoes

fairclaire wrote: »

I had a letter from my civil service pension the other week, I think I mentioned it on here? After fathoming it all out and making a phonecall it seems it suggests that I can retire at 50 and have my preserved pension :eek: :eek: that's only 5 years away
Obviously there are other implications to 'retiring' that early and it's not on my agenda right now. But the thought that I could be saying 'I'm retired' in 5 years is very sobering :eek:

......even 'semi-retired' sounds old :rotfl::rotfl:

A very sobering thought for me as I am much closer to 50 than you.

Savvybuyer

Savvybuyer wrote: »

[...]
Normal is very often (but not always) wrong.

Is it normal for people to agree with my statement there? Quite possibly!:rotfl:

fairclaire

I'm off to bed. Big day for us tomorrow......I'm going all the way to school because it's Billy's first day. I think he'll be fine but his VERY scottish accent will make him stand out. He seems up for it though.
DS2......after a whole year wants to tackle the zebra crossing by himself, so he's walking ahead *progress*

night :wave:

davemorton

fairclaire wrote: »

I'm off to bed. Big day for us tomorrow......I'm going all the way to school because it's Billy's first day. I think he'll be fine but his VERY scottish accent will make him stand out. He seems up for it though.
DS2......after a whole year wants to tackle the zebra crossing by himself, so he's walking ahead *progress*

night :wave:

Well, work in the morning, so I best just follow you up and burn a lovely image in my eyes to make the horrors of tomorrow look nicer. Night all.

henrik777

Jelly_Biactol wrote: »

Depends on printer, of course, but this
http://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/blog/2013/05/09/what-inkjet-printers-have-the-cheapest-ink/
gives a rough guide of 1p-2p per page printed.

I guess it depends where you buy the stuff and where you print. Those who print at work might ne less inclined to waste and those who use wombles to buy ink/paper (especially in T) will have a lower threshold also