NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Butterfly_Brain

I have just done the final count of my coupon lotto pot and have ...............drumroll.................£423:j:j:j

I have started a thread if anyone wants to join in this year :D

toozie_2

Slowdown wrote: »

Ahoy me hearties!



Also recorded two programmes I wanted to watch especially so I could skip through the ads. I have also taken to watching and getting up and doing a job during the ads.


Kind regards
Slowdown:)

LOL we do this, because the ads get on my nerves, either we watch a programme 1/2 an hour later, or I do a quick job in the adverts!

Loving this thread-thank you for the for sight to start it!:beer:

Igamogam

Fab idea:) I will follow with interest and try my best - it will certainly a year of buying only 'needs' and replacing when broken:D

Have to admit though we will be making a very large purchase later in the year..............:o

purpleshoes_2

Today wasnt a no spend day for me as I had the purchase of glasses I spoke about earlier on in the week, was very pleased in the end, got a sight test, as you get one every two years free in Scotland, a pair of designer frames and I got thinned down lenses, as Im very short sighted for 99 quid. The thinned down lenses cost 40 quid, but I had the 40 quid off voucher that I got through my door so that paid for that. I was amazed actually as Ive been with specsavers a while, moved branches a few years ago and have had my eyes tested at this branch before but I didnt get the hard sell on anything. Previously Ive been asked if I want anti scratch coating, anti glare. My mum nearly keeled over when I said it was 99 quid, she was expecting it to be double that. I had to get the designer frames as that was the offer so in theory I could have got a complete pair from the cheaper range and paid £70 but I like the frames, so thought I might as well use the 40 quid discount when I got it through the door. I tend to stick to the same styles, I also tried on a couple of more fashionable if thats the right word style, but my face only suits certain shapes, anything that looks slightly funky and out there, I look absolutely ridiculous in.

They'll do for a couple of years anyway and Ive not made my mind up whether Im going to keep wearing contacts, I probably will, but I can alternate the glasses with the contact lenses, been wearing lenses for the best part of the last 5 years and I feel like my eyes need a break.

My eyes are in decent health and my vision has only deteriorated slightly, I was well overdue an eye test and the optician was amazed how little change there was in the prescription, but I think Ive got to the point Im so short sighted there really isnt room for much more deterioration.

Apart from that, managed to get enough fruit, veg and assorted other bits to feed my mums rabbit, the urban fox she feeds, herself and myself for maybe 2-3 weeks for 15 pounds so will only need to do top ups to buy litter and cat food, have plenty of fruit and veg in to make soup, smoothies and curries as well.

Have only been out once socially in the last 6 weeks or so, I always feel really not inclined to socialise at this time of year, always feel a bit sad around Christmas and New Year, tend to look back rather than forwards, but its saved me money that I dont really have right now anyway.

My mum has a slow cooker she doesn't use and is going to give me, she had it put by for me years ago when I was planning to do a course in hot stone massage but didnt, you can heat up the hot stones in a slow cooker, so now Im going to use it for cooking.

nannygladys

Just a quick call in, still feel like poo with the lurgey, but I will survive (feel a song coming on - no!!!) So not had a proper dinner as I can't be bothered but I will make the effort tomorrow as I'm feeling better everyday.

At work again tomorrow, sfd today but will need a few bits soon, I just keep adding to my list
Nannyg

purpleshoes_2

CAFCGirl wrote: »

I wish mine was £21 a month! £43.95 here and I'm not getting my monies worth
But that's my fault I'm not pushing myself to go, and my schedule is erratic as to when I'm available, as I need DH to be home to watch our son, and then thats the time that the dog needs walking, and then its dinner time etc..... even as I type i know its excuses and I could find 2-3 times to go if I really worked at it, but in my head if im not going 5 times, im failing..... but then im just not going at all :rotfl:

I have quite a few anatomy books as I'm trained as a massage therapist as well. I'm debating my OU course though as I have to submit either a coaching qualification or an exercise instruction one (gym instructor/PT) and I'm just not convinced I want to do either badly enough to invest the money in it. But I'd liked to have a named degree so I'm still thinking....:o

All I can say is shop around. When I did my exercise to music qualification 7 years ago now it cost me £620 but courses are coming down in price all the time. You can get ones where you do the bulk of the study at home and only go in for assessment day, sometimes local colleges will do a gym or ETM course fairly cheaply.

Its also worth looking into seeing whether CYQ who are the awarding body for all things exercise would accept the anatomy qualification you already have. I only paid £100 for my gym instructor qualification as the company I did it with gave me a discount for already having my anatomy and physiology at level 2 through CYQ.

Also, you might not want to PT or be a gym instructor full time, but some people make a very decent living working even a couple of shifts a week in a gym, its always a useful qualification to have.

Gym more so than ETM as you cant work in a gym setting (unless with curves or energie fitness or similar gyms) unless you have level 2 gym, ETM isn't generally enough of a qualification to allow people to work in gyms although you can teach similar classes freelance and book onto many of the same fitness courses as gym instructors do, there is some crossover).

suzybloo

Bitterly cold here tonight, so instead of putting the heating on higher I have donned the old housecoat and I am now quite toasty.

I look after my grandson aged 6, 2-3 days per week to let his mummy work and for a birthday treat each year I usually take him to the cinema so today I spent £12 on two cinema tickets, but used my spree book so saved £2, not much but always something! As the film was on over lunchtime I made a lunchbox for him to take, with his ribena, cheese sandwich, fruit and a couple of sweets out if his Christmas stash :-) saving another £4 on popcorn, he was happy with his box and so was I!

Popped to tesco when we came back and didn't do so well :-( was £30 for groceries and another £22 for incidentals like couple new lunch boxes (so will save in the long run), reduced Spider-man pyjamas and a pack of vests for Dgs.

There should be no more spends other than bread on tues/wed and some fruit then too. I have given myself £100 for incidentals so I have to account for them too, as I would compensate my grocery saving with squandering on other things :-(

Tomorrow is a day for baking for the week, got a couple of over ripe bananas so couple of loaves will be made, and will use up the butter in the fridge and make shortbread with it. Zero waste is something I am hoping to strive for this year.

Once the baking is done I will do some mending as I have zips needing re stitched on a couple pairs of trousers, and will do a wee bit mending of OH's boiler suits and socks,

At least with old style you never get wearied!

natnat13

I have just cut up my CC! I have 2 and don't need them both so cut up one and cancelled it. I now only have my tescos one which I get lots of points which turn into days out etc.
I also transferred £23 out of an old ISA into savings and closed that as it was paying no interest.
I looked at first direct bank as they pay £125 for you to transfer BUT I discovered they charge £10 a month after the first 6 months and no interest! Good to read the small print. So instead I upgraded my Halifax account to a reward one that pays me £5 a month as long as I deposit £1000.


Off out to the pub now (my friends treat) but on tomorrow agenda is meal planning and writing down when insurances etc are due so I can budget appropriately. I WILL GET ORGANISED!


This is my 3rd NSD, unheard of for me! Tomorrow will be the same and hopefully Monday. Tuesday I will need to pay for DS's clubs etc.

Bathory

I've had 2 NSDs but today had to get milk and cat litter and pay the last installment of the council tax - no more of that til 1st April. A main shop is being done tomorrow as we are both back in work Monday and the cupboards are getting bare. I have also cut open a near empty tube of hand cream to get out the remaining bits.

Dee2

Hi all!

A few days ago I ran out of cotton wool pads. Normally I would be straight out to the shop to buy some. But because of Not Buying It I decided to go back to the OCM using olive oil, a teeny bit of castor oil and hot damp flannel. Why did I everstop this method? Its great! It takes all make up off (including mascara), face feels lovely and soft and clean after and even better my rosacea prone skin is calming down. I put it down to the simplicity of cleaning my skin - no chemicals and a good old rub with a flannel! I also am going back to exfoliating my skin with a bit of salt and olive oil, that works a treat too. Don't rub too vigorously if your skin is sensitive though.

I called at the market again today before work. All my meat is bought for the week and a bit of veg I needed. It was raining. My bags were heavy but I'm still enjoying market shopping much more than at the SM. I enjoy the friendliness of the stall keepers, the choice I've got and the fact that I feel very virtuous!

I'm finding that I don't actually want to wander round the shops anymore - hurrah!