NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

greenbee

I've been nagged about my salt intake for years kittie - I cook from scratch and drink amounts of water that are considered excessive, so I am required to add salt. I'm rubbish at it, but do tend to remember when I get symptoms. If I'm stupidly thirsty a teaspoon of marmite often solves the problem.

I'm fairly closely monitored by my GP due to health problems over the past 4 years. Treatment now appears to be working (but will require lifetime monitoring) so we're now working in solving my iron deficiency, which is a long, slow process. I'm fed up with people telling me to eat more red meat and spinach... If that worked the problem would be fixed by now!

Pollybear

I've been lurking through all the postings and I'll probably continue to lurk but just wanted to put my name down. I have been fighting the urge ever since Boxing Day to go and have a look round the shops. I don't need anything. I haven't been but it's been so hard. Some days I've been out for a walk just to stop myself thinking about it (not to the shops ). I hope I can resist through 2015. I want to be able to buy what I need, or what I truly want, but not just buy for the sake of it.

Hopefully reading along with all of you will help me.

VJsmum

mrsscattercushion wrote: »

Very late on board.......any room for stragglers??? :A

Just highlighted this post to say to anyone reading but not posting - don't let the ship analogy stop you joining in. Even if we have "Set sail" please don't let it stop anyone "coming aboard". All hints and tips, and experiences are welcome at any time.

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

My CFS/fibro eased a little before Christmas and I really thought it was going into 'remission' but unfortunately the last 5 days it has been bad again. So lovely to meet others who have an understanding of the condition, so many people I meet (including family) have no idea what it is, how it affects you and how it leaves you feelings.

Fortunately I am not a sufferer, but it does make me wonder about dietary influences - especially if the last 5 days have been bad. I gave up sugar and wheat last May (i would say 80 - 90 % of the time, and i do eat sourdough bread and pancakes two or three times a week) and have felt so much better for it. The cravings were tough for a couple of days and now everything "bad" tastes too sweet. Even over christmas i have only been able to eat a couple of chocolates in a day - not half a box. I have no indigestion / GERD, where this time last year i was having to lie down after meals as i felt so ill, and no constipation (sorry if TMI ).

Well, I have been a brave little soldier today - had to have a filling repaired and he did it without anaesthetic. Never had that done before - it was OK, a little uncomfortable but i managed. I was going to have a white filling (£80), but dentist said it would be better not to with that particular tooth, so silver it was - but it only cost £30, so i guess it counts as "not buying it"

Also thanks to this thread i haven't bought a new top from the Monsoon sale, anything from the Joe Brown's sale, or anyhitng half price in boots :T (which isn't really half price anyway). I have my eye on a couple of things in Joe Browns which, if they come down low enough, i will indulge in. If they don't, or my size sells out then "c'est la vie".

i have also not shopped much this week, just bought a couple of grocery items as and when. I am keen to use up stores in the fridge first, I will probably eke it out till Sunday.

Happy NEw YEar all

CAFCGirl

Resist the urge Pollybear

Back from my £3 cinema trip with a ticket for a free cinema ticket for this evening! So considering that, and an evening out with DH and friends to celebrate the new year on the cheap

[Deleted User]

I bought myself the most beautiful cd last week. I am going to get another for a relation who has developed a nasty cancer. It sounds much much clearer than on youtube but the whole of it is here. Called grace by snatam kaur. She has the voice of an angel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0IuOXxKnA

grunnie

I am also a fibro sufferer - was diagnosed 5 years ago though it hasn't got much worse since then. It mostly affects my back or at least that is what bothers me most. Bending and trying to get up again ouch. I gave up teaching 10 years ago when my OH retired.

sjprmc01

So, we didn't make it to the beach today as the weather was a bit nastier than we thought it would be. We did still go to the SM though. It was carnage! You'd think it was the end of days! Got what we needed and got out!!!

Slowdown

Welcome one and all.

Can I just say the ship analogy is just a fun way of looking at the voyage ahead and while we may set sail at midnight, many little life boats will be bobbing around for anyone who wants to jump aboard at any point during the journey. This is a magical, expanding ship that has no capacity restrictions or boarding passes. Hop on, hop off whenever you like.

Re:fibromyalgia I was diagnosed with this about 11 years ago. I honestly thought I was going nuts as I was diagnosed with all sorts to begin with and spent a year going backwards and forwards to the GP, having more blood taken each visit. Finally I was sent to a rheumatologist who diagnosed it. It was a big relief as I was beginning to think I was losing the plot. I manage it through a combination of things. I have been to weekly yoga for many many years which has been a great help. Meditation helps too. I only work 3 days a week now and I try to keep the stress down. I was given anti inflammatory meds to start with but they made my stomach bleed and I ended up with other meds for that. I have avoided them ever since. I also try to keep my activity levels up now I can though it was hard to begin with. I still feel very stiff and in pain sometimes but I try to listen to my body and adjust accordingly.

I met a friend for a cuppa this am. We met half way between which meant a coffee shop at an out of town shopping place. Afterwards I popped to my village butchers and bought lamb neck fillets which they diced for me and it is now sitting in the slow cooker with veg and red wine gravy smelling yummy. Won't be drinking tonight as I have to drive to York and back tomorrow to take DD back to uni. A 7 hour round trip! But I'm hoping the roads won't be too busy on NY day.

Reinstated my Abel and Cole order to arrive on Friday so will avoid the shops as much as poss over the weekend. We have a tesco metro in the village and it's ridiculously expensive so I'm going to try and avoid it as much as possible.

On hair colour I decided I would try and go grey gracefully recently, not because I object to colouring but I'm afraid of the chemicals after all these years of doing it. I was wondering if anyone uses henna and if so what's it like and is it more natural?

Counting the hours now until I start in earnest. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because I really feel like I'm being true to myself but also nervous of all the pitfalls and traps I may fall into. Still, I'm hoping you'll all yank me back on board if I splash over the side!

Great to hear from you all. Keep it up, crew.

Kind regards
Slowdown

117pauline

Yet another Fibro sufferer here too - isn't is strange so many of us are all on this thread?

I have had support from my GPs and two consultants who have been so supportive and are still trying to find out what is causing my stomach and bowel issues. They have believed me when I have described my symptoms which was amazing as I had thought I was going mad.

I know the theory of pacing but I hate the word so much! I find it hard to stop doing things on good days and pay the following days. Mindfulness, both movement and meditation practices have really helped me along with Vitamin D supplements which made a huge difference. I hate having 37 tablets a day but at least I do occasionally function in the real world!

A Happy New Year to everyone aboard, and those lurking too

Lets sail off into a better and more frugal New Year, whatever that means to each of us
Pauline

I_want_a_baby

Just a quick post,

Hugs to all suffering with various conditions, I hope participating in a simple back to basics not buying it year may help even a tiny bit xxx

I just wanted to say the scores are in and I underspent by £103.89 from the Christmas budget which had now been transferred into my paying off debt account! Yey! To compare last year I overspent by £85!

I've also written my supermarket challenge rules on an index card to go into my purse to remind me what I am aiming for. I'm looking forward to shopping mindfully, consciously and thinking about needs vs wants and what lifestyle I'd like to live, I'm sure it can be done on a small budget if we think about it enough!

Husband found a large piece of wood possibly oak at the back of the shed. It's currently sat on top of our stone fireplace while we decide if it stays or not as a mantelpiece. It has two holes drilled through top to bottom but with a candle place on them I'm sure our make do and mend mantle will look just lovely!

Tonight will be an evening spent eating up lovely Christmas treats, drinking tea (can't drink alcohol as pregnant), doing a meal plan for the first week of the challenge, plans for the veg plot and fruit garden and snuggles with my kiddies and husband. I couldn't imagine a better way to greet a new year :-)