NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

FrugalinShropshire

Total commitment here as I ran down the icy garden and pulled 5 frozen leeks to make leek and potato soup, which was gorgeously warming and nourishing and made even more decadent with a spoonful of leftover cream on top:j

What is YS that I keep reading by the way:question:

BettiePage

FrugalinShropshire wrote: »

Total commitment here as I ran down the icy garden and pulled 5 frozen leeks to make leek and potato soup, which was gorgeously warming and nourishing and made even more decadent with a spoonful of leftover cream on top:j

What is YS that I keep reading by the way:question:

I thought it was yellow sticker? As in Whoops or reduced labels?

1of3

edwink wrote: »

Hi 1of3

Just a thought. My hubby has a tablet which you can use a Blu Tooth keyboard with. He uses the keyboard when he has to type a lot of text. Otherwise he just uses the screen on the tablet. His tablet is a L*novo but I think other makes do exactly the same with regards to Blu Tooth and keyboards.

Hope that is some help to you!!

Edwink x

Hi

thank you so much for this edwink. Sounds like a great idea. I can get by for a while but will keep an eye out for a great deal!

mrswive

Ahoy shipmates!
I've realised that I'm not quite as clever as I thought! There's me thinking I'm superfrugal and don't go round squandering the hard -earned on frivolities but turns out I was being a bit smug (and wrong!)
I came out of Waitrose yesterday with many bargains and was feeling very proud of myself until I realised that about 1/4 of the bill was for stuff I didn't need at all!
At the risk of boring you - apologies in advance - this is how it went:
shopping part one - the good stuff -
loo rolls £3 - (on offer)
savoy cabbage 80p
big bag of new potatoes £1.25 ( reduced)
bag of frozen plaice fillets £1.99 (half price)
kitchen rolls £1 (on offer)
Shredded Wheat 1.19 (half price)
4 pint milk £1
2 packs butter £1.98 (10% off with Wrose card)
6 free range eggs £1
net of clementines £1 (half price)
2 large loaves 68p (combination off offer and reduced)
2 nice secented xmas candles in jars 58p (reduced from £1.50 each)- not strictly necessary but very cheap and will go away for next year


not bad, pat self on the back, then.......


shopping part 2:
2 Heston stollens @ 75p each(greatly reduced)
box of Heston cocktail chocs £2.75 (reduced from £13.50 :eek:)
6 mini pain au chocolat 79p (reduced)
box of Mocha drinks £1.49 (half price)


None of that was necessary either financially or calorie - wise and cost £6.53, just under 28% of the total bill. Imagine doing that every time you shop!!!


I'm not saying that a few treats shouldn't be included sometimes, but that was a bit excessive! It's made me realise how easy it is to spend unnecessarily and I promise here and now to mend my ways and think a bit more before I buy.

CEW

mrswive wrote: »

Ahoy shipmates!
I've realised that I'm not quite as clever as I thought! There's me thinking I'm superfrugal and don't go round squandering the hard -earned on frivolities but turns out I was being a bit smug (and wrong!)
I came out of Waitrose yesterday with many bargains and was feeling very proud of myself until I realised that about 1/4 of the bill was for stuff I didn't need at all!
At the risk of boring you - apologies in advance - this is how it went:
shopping part one - the good stuff -
loo rolls £3 - (on offer)
savoy cabbage 80p
big bag of new potatoes £1.25 ( reduced)
bag of frozen plaice fillets £1.99 (half price)
kitchen rolls £1 (on offer)
Shredded Wheat 1.19 (half price)
4 pint milk £1
2 packs butter £1.98 (10% off with Wrose card)
6 free range eggs £1
net of clementines £1 (half price)
2 large loaves 68p (combination off offer and reduced)
2 nice secented xmas candles in jars 58p (reduced from £1.50 each)- not strictly necessary but very cheap and will go away for next year


not bad, pat self on the back, then.......


shopping part 2:
2 Heston stollens @ 75p each(greatly reduced)
box of Heston cocktail chocs £2.75 (reduced from £13.50 :eek:)
6 mini pain au chocolat 79p (reduced)
box of Mocha drinks £1.49 (half price)


None of that was necessary either financially or calorie - wise and cost £6.53, just under 28% of the total bill. Imagine doing that every time you shop!!!


I'm not saying that a few treats shouldn't be included sometimes, but that was a bit excessive! It's made me realise how easy it is to spend unnecessarily and I promise here and now to mend my ways and think a bit more before I buy.

Well look on the bright side. At least you recognised this 'fault' in the first week and not in week 51 of the challenge. It can only get better from here on in.

I decided not to over buy the treats for Christmas and kept to a very small budget for our Chritmas food shop but I still have a cupboard AND a box full of treats that haven't been opened yet. I am in the process of sorting them by use by and best before dates so that they are all consumed whilst still at their best :eek:

At least I can honestly say that I have had zero food waste since Chritmas as I have cooked down everything and frozen it all in 2 portion sizes for use over the next few weeks or so :j

Another SFD for me today and more decluttering. Wardrobes are taking some work as I want to be ruthless but I don't want to leave myself short of clothes either. Some items just have to go in a check back later pile.

Off for a nice cup of tea and a biscuit or 2.

Chez x

pollys

It's the extras that I need to cut back on.

We have been busy since 8am this morning. Back to work/school/college tomorrow.

I've cleaned the living room, washed, cleaned the oven, sorted the food stores and lots more beside.

I'm trying really hard to be more organised. I need to keep on top of things. If I'm surrounded by things that need doing I start to get panicky. I'm not a perfectionist but I do like to be in control of my stuff. It doesn't help when time is in short supply. Here's to an organised, productive year.

I've started a shopping list (on the back of a recycled christmas card) I intend to add to the list as we are running low of stuff. I'll need to get milk midweek, but I'm hoping not to buy anything else until next weekend.

Just having 5 minutes before I check on the teenagers - they are tidying their rooms. If I don't keep a check on them they will be on their iPads etc and I need their rubbish/recycling to put out for collection tomorrow.

Polly

mothernerd

Following along but only occasionally posting.

Having a frugal January, trying to eat from what I have in - did a massive shop on November 8th as I had a total hip replacement operation on November 13th (minimum 6 weeks on crutches) and would be dependent on DS3. When we filled in the hospital form his reply to 'help with meals' was "I'll buy you pizza too." Small (£40) shop at end of November as he claimed there was nothing to eat and £64.66 on December 20th, mainly fresh fruit, salad and veg + bread (all in the freezer in 2-slice packs) as he was going to spend Christmas with his gf's family (DS2 came in to tie my shoelaces - I am not allowed to bend or twist).

Had just over £20 in my purse so that is my budget for January, for everything (need to travel to my mum's to use the shower, not allowed to climb in the bath for another six weeks). Last two times I've had a lift to mum's but hope to manage the bus next time. Two £2 coins have been transferred to the savings cow (not much but more than I had before).

Have deleted a lot of e-mails and am surprised how quickly it is to check in the mornings. Didn't actually spend a lot but I have lost a lot of weight and after years of looking like a beach ball on legs or a badly tied sack of potatoes, I needed some guidance on clothes. However I have decided that I will return to making my own clothes and the material I have in, is plenty for a capsule wardrobe.

The only thing I am having difficulty with is, is a garden web-site - they are cheap and most of what I've had from them has been very good. This morning's was designed to press all my buttons, best sale offers 10 for under £10 including 20 perennials for £6.99, 2 fruit trees for £9.99, large tubs 4 for £10. Then I read Martin's e-mail and the mantras and went back and deleted it.

I will need things but any purchases will have to wait until my other house is sold. Also it's another transition year - last year I was trying to get the other house ready for sale (should have been end of March but as my health deteriorated, progress slowed) so I dismantled my raised beds, grew what veg I could in tubs and 'potato bags', added shrubs and bark and finally sewed a lawn (I have really bad hay-fever and hate grass). Now I'm back in the little house (other is finally up for sale) but DS2 (who was renting this) has let the garden (only a back yard) get overgrown, I took down the largest bed to make space for parking a car (to make this more saleable) and am not able to do much atm. I may have to move again as the plan is to use some of the proceeds from the other house to buy something that suits me and my mother (she will come to live with me if/when anything happens to her partner).

Broker than a broke thing. I have very small earnings from self-employment but didn't earn a bean last year and paid out for a number of improvements (did everything I could myself). If I had been diagnosed earlier I would have qualified for disability benefits but fall between several benefit classes so get nothing (I did check carefully). Should be back on my feet by mid-February but probably need to re-think my business. Basically I am broke until the other house sells (and probably need to change Estate Agent - it was a rushed decision made 2 days before the move back here and 10 days before my operation).

Currently filling in outlined plans - some things I can do now, others for when I am better (lots of housework that need doing, but involves movements that are on the banned list). Have just been given permission to walk in the house without crutches so can carry things much more easily. on the other hand have things to go to the cs that I couldn't get Ds3 to take - there is a hopper on the car park facing the house so have taken bedding and clothing.

I_want_a_baby

12 chocolate cupcakes made.
Veg from garden, washed and trimmed. 4 carrots and a parsnip will be eaten for tea as they are not good enough to last. 4 large parsnips and 8 large carrots in fridge for another day.
Settling down with a fruit tea to watch my husbands first attempt at sweeping the chimney. Wish him luck!

Really interesting to read about the reduced items from waitrose! Exactly what I would do. I've realised since starting this challenge only 4 days ago that I quite enjoy shopping for food, I quite enjoy having full cupboards and having lots of choice.

My shopping list has around 10 items now but none of them are essential. I've really had to battle with myself to not go shopping! I thought maybe I could pop and get them at 3 today and maybe pick up some YS bargains but reminded myself the aim is to not keep consuming! Plus these mysterious YS bargains don't appear on my meal plan!

Tea for tonight -
Christmas turkey in gravy (from freezer)
Christmas stuffing (from freezer)
6 Christmas Yorkshire puds (from freezer)
The last 3 bendy parsnips (fridge) and one from garden.
Homegrown runner beans from freezer (stored a bit too long - 5 more bags to use).
4 carrots from garden
Homemade mash (fridge)

A completely OS use it up meal and I'm hoping it will be rather yummy!

Well done everyone, you are all doing amazingly!

IWAB x

pm2326

Afternoon everyone

Lazy day here today as not feeling too clever, headcold keeps reappearing every time I think I'm getting better. Still in pj's with a cardi over top and not done any housework except put a wash on and hang it on the airer to dry.

Ended up going for a walk to B&M yesterday as realised I didn't replace my disposable Razors so would be a rather hairy shipmate by the time I next do my planned shop at end of January! But it was worth it as they had reduced loads of milk to 30p as had today's date on, bought 2 cartons and stashed them in the freezer as they'll always be used.

Lunch was some more of the soup/stew I made yesterday, have loads left so that'll do my lunches for a few more days. Tea will be a roast using freezer & fridge contents.

Have worked out how much I need in bank account to cover remainder of bills and a little safety net for the rest of month. Paid a lump sum of credit card with the money that was left over.

katkin

mrswives' chocolate goodies sound lovely - pass them round the ship please! :j

I had to spend money as the electric kettle blew up, caput it was. £15 half price for a red cool-looking Russell Hobs one had the tea brewing again

I spent this afternoon reorganising and paring down my clothes, shoes undies etc. It didn't take long as I don't have much and though I've lost weight I kept hold of my work suits to take them in. A few pairs of nearly new shoes are heading for the CS. Far too high, who am I kidding I'm nearly 50 and they caused pain!...From now on its comfort & minimalism all the way :cool:

I refused to cull my scarf collection mind. Hubs set up a new hanger / holder thing for them. Very tidy x

Make-up, hair things and toiletries are minimal so no bother there. Just a quick clean and check over.

Next on my list is the kitchen cupboards / pantry. It's not bad either but it could do with a clean and new labels, date-stock rotation.

Keep up the good work Ship Mates :A