NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Bigjenny

If anyone belongs to their Library, many "Lifestyle, other Magazines and Newspapers" may be available through the online service.

lessonlearned

Ahoy there me hearties.

Just having a lunch break. Have just finished painting the chest of drawers - a pale chalky grey - fab - and soooooo on trend. Get me.

Dawn I dabble a bit in antiques, well it's more BRIC a brac than real antiques but I've picked up some gorgeous items over the years. As you say often a Fraction of the price of the likes of IKEA and so much better quality. That stuff was made to last, proper dovetailed joints in drawers etc.

A lot of my junk shop finds cost pennies and I love restoring and upcycling them. It satisfies the designer in me.

One of my best pieces was a large 80,s orange pine Welsh dresser that I paid £25' about £10 worth of cream paint and a new shelf - job done. Saw one almost identical in the Laura Ashley catalogue for £600. It sits in my eldest boys kitchen in his cottage which was built in 1758 and it looks as if it was made for it.

My second son works in one of those "destination" garden centres yes that's what they are called in the trade:rotfl:

Destination, as in get you through the doors and you'll stay there for hours And we can fleece you of all your money.;) even with his staff discount the prices are outrageous. It's always heaving thanks to the restaurant.

As for the Deli section of the store - £4 for an artisan loaf. Daylight robbery although I have been known to shell out for the game pie, can't make that myself.

On Friday nights they used to sell stuff off to staff or just give it away, unfortunately new manager but a stop to that.

The Christmas displays are always stunning though. It's one of those places that I treat as a magazine. I browse to get ideas and then copy them for a fraction of the price.

Right better heave to, said son will be home from work soon, starving as usual and dinner won't cook itself.

fairy3

Afternoon all - been scrubbing the decks here and the smell of happiness today is zoflora 'fresh linen' on the kitchen floor - not that I can smell it due to this bally cold.
Inventory done of beauty products to 'use up' and no new buying of wrapping paper or tags, have made them! (hope no one minds it looks like a 5 year olds handiwork)
Would also like to organise my paperwork and have an alcove office idea - without the massive price tag

camelot1001 - had forgotten the gin ladies, had a tot of that too, and the heck sausages, well done on your savings on the day.

black_cat

K9sandFelines wrote: »

Found it on YouTube!!!

Glad you found it - I've only just read your post!
Here's the link for part 1, if anyone else wants it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aloZCNd_c4


It made me want to challenge myself to be more frugal but to still keep a balanced attitude...

nannygladys

Hello all

I think I'm pretty frugal, but when I look in my food cupboards it's getting beyond a joke really as there's only me here, I keep saying I'm going to stop spending on food and manage it for a couple of days but then I seem to fall back into bad habits, well not that bad but the food never seems to get any less, so in 2015 when everyone has gone back home I'm going to empty at least one shelf in my pantry(do I really need 8 tins of b beans and whole section for tomatoes?) THERE'S ONLY ME, that will be my mantra!!!! Lol. So that's my first pledge.

Second pledge is to use my crafting stash before I start on new projects, I have loads of small projects to start one's I have bought and either forgotten about or gone off, so that's my starting point.

I've had a good if tiring weekend, working Saturday, then babysitting dgd overnight at their house whilst they attended a wedding and staying overnight, got back home and had a couple of hours nap on the settee!!!!! Old age creeping up on me.

Nannyg

Dee2

Well done on your chest of drawers Lessonlearned!

My future purchases are going to be more mindful - buying less but buying better wherever I can - preferably from local sources.

I work in retail in a shopping centre and I havent seen much of the season of goodwill recently - but I have seen a lot of stressed faces.

The Christmas tree went up this afternoon and it looks lovely and cosy - no new knitted cushions were purchased! (So take that CL!)

Butterfly_Brain

Goldiegirl wrote: »

A very interesting thread.

For the last few years I've been moving to a simpler, more streamlined life.

I've decluttered many items that I've had tucked away for years and years, and haven't replaced them with new STUFF.

Next year will be the start of a major change in our life, as we will be retiring early in a couple of weeks time.

I intend to carry on reducing clutter, including things that have survived previous decluttering culls.

I have bought very few clothes this year, and will be going through my wardrobe in detail. I have many clothes which are starting to disintegrate, as I've worn them so often. They will be thrown out, and I will look at everything left. I'll consider whether it's suitable for my new life, does it fit, and will I wear it. If not it'll be eBayed or sent to the charity shop.

However, I will not be afraid to shop.

But I'll be only shopping for things that I need or will enhance my life.

Once my wardrobe revamp is complete, I will be able to see gaps that I need to fill, and will make considered purchases accordingly

We currently have two cars, mine is 12 years old, my husband's is 8 years old. We are going to get rid of one car...... But later in the year we may replace the car that is left with a new one. We'd keep the new car for many many years, and will be considering a hybrid to keep our running costs down over the years.

We currently have Sky TV, which we're getting rid of in the new year. We'll be buying a freeview box, so we can continue to enjoy HD TV, and have to facility to record from TV.

We're considering buying a larger freezer, as our current freezer isn't big enough for our current batch cooking/bulk buying requirements.

We'll probably buy a flask and cooler bag to take our lunch with us when we go out.

But, as lessonlearned said, it's all mindful purchases , not just getting stuff for the sake of it.

Once the things are bought, we won't be updating them a year later, these things will hopefully last us for years.

I'll certainly be looking into this thread with interest, to see how everyone's getting on.

You can use your old sky box as a freeview one, that is what we have done.
That should save you a few bob

Butterfly_Brain

Went and kitted DS out in clothes yesterday and because we had a 25% off Matalan coupon the whole lot came to £68, and we paid £51, so we saved £17 which is now in the savings pot

MoonJelly

I cancelled an Ebay purchase which was in my basket (but not paid for). I still want the item but I think I would benefit from a decent pair of shoes instead. I have been told by my GP and podiatrist to stick to flats from now on and I find I my only flats are cheapies from Primark and totally unsuitable for winter. Yes I have trainers but I think I may need something smarter for job interviews. However this is a purchase that will wait until next year.
I got all my face creams together and I mixed them and filled up the half empty pots. Now I have enough creams for 2015 or nearly. Since I have so many hair things I will be doing the same. I can mix hair oils and lotions and these will last ages! Lucky for me I have a stock of henna and this will keep my grays at bay for a few months.
My only 'problem' at the moment is that I am losing weight. At some point I may have to get new trousers!

WeeMidgie

I can tell I'm in good company here! Lovely to read so many posts by like-minded souls, and to note the common experiences and philosophies. Gratitude for my 'enough' - for having family (not nearby, alas), good friends, shelter, food and heating, and peace of mind - is key to me. At this stage in life I can see the shiny trinkets for what they are!

I had that "Garden Centre" experience this afternoon! It looked like the buyer(s) for the stock in the gifts section had been taking a mind-altering substance - hard to comprehend that there could be so much useless, garish and over-priced tat!

I'm a few years away from retirement, but cuts at work may accelerate that, most likely around 2016. So I would be living on savings for 3 years in that situation, till the state pension kicks in. Like others, I have been affected by a long-term health condition, and would not willingly submit myself to the stresses of the DWP claims system. Hence my ongoing quest for simple living, and the squirrelling away over recent years of as much as possible of my p/t earnings, plus a house downsize - now cured of my book obsession as a consequence.... the clearing out took months!

I intend to treat 2015 as an experiment in ultra-low-cost living, as a rehearsal for the future. Agree about essential replacements when repair is not possible.

Someone mentioned YNAB. I tried it but couldn't get on with it. I use a weekly cash envelope system for spends, which suits my little brain, and regular bill payments go out of my bank account by direct debit on 1st of the month.

I too stopped watching tv some years ago, and don't miss it. I have a low-cost and greatly enjoyable social life via my local U3A.

I'm delighted to be joining in with this adventure!