NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

purpleshoes_2

Thanks. It's funny, sometimes when Im doing bootcamp and Im not drinking alcohol and not eating rubbish I expect to spring out of bed in the morning, its more like crawl, the instructor works us so hard but the upside is that I sleep really well at night, one week to go before it all starts again.

I don't know how much I'll save as I'm pretty broke, but there's bound to be a difference. This could be the year I start to earn more as I build my business.

I think spending sometimes is not only a habit for me, but a strange kind of comfort. I can do no spend days, but there are days even if I spend 25p, I feel better for spending that, but that is just the habit that maybe needs to be broken.

At one point I had a cupboard full of clothes that I thought would never go, I was your classic keep clothes in all sizes, but when I lost weight there I got shot of all the bigger ones, I freecycled loads about 2 years ago. Shoes I don't collect quite so much, I have quite a few handbags (including one of those doy bags mentioned earlier).

But I am determined to use things that Ive either not used for ages or never used at all. Ive burned around 5 candles that have been sitting for ages, at least a year. Im using the cleanser and toners that I have.

This is night 4 of make my dinner from whatever is around. I also have a thai curry on the go as well that will probably do another couple of nights.

Oh and today I also scooped up the last of my 2ps and 1ps that were lying around and actually used them, around 70p worth, goodness knows how I get them all, its not from the folks who do my classes, its just day to day, but that's them gone anyway.

I am also resisting groupon and the like. I get all the emails, but I have already bought two sunday lunches, its a local hotel and they do a lovely 3 course meal for two plus a drink or soft drink and you get that for £15 which is great value, my mum and I have been a couple of times over the years, one bought with credit I had on the account sitting from last year that I didn't even know I had so I am resisting buying more just because they have money off. Ive had some great groupon deals over the years, in particular hair cuts and colours, not expensive, around £20 but I need to reign my spending in on those too and I am doing (now that Ive coloured my own hair and it wasn't a complete disaster).

And I will keep donating as well, anything that I won't use that I can get shot of and donate to charity I will. It actually amazes me the quality of the stuff some people clear out, Ive not only had some really good bargains lately, its been stuff that would easily retail for anything from £25-70.

Keep up the good work everyone. If I get to the end of the year and have some money burning a hole in my pocket (who knows, this year could be the one), I'm going to go somewhere I've never been before, Iceland, Berlin or even Wales, don't care, just somewhere I've never visited.

What I am going to do at the end of the year is compare how much Ive spent on food and other bits and pieces and compare it to last years, even at this early stage I am sure there will be quite a big difference.

Rowan9

Islandmaid I am joining you on highlights and cut later this month and here I will pay more and that's with discount. But it is a thing I like to do and am happy with that so am not including a sad face. Please feel good about spending on something you like.
7 week wonder - we have two new tyres going on this weekend. But it's important to keep cars safe on the road.
Loving the thread.,lots of inspiration and good support on this vessel.
W

natnat13

Thanks Bexster, I've opened a lettings agency, so full on! I work from a home office but have costs for software, property portals, ads etc. I started in November and am definitely getting busier since Christmas. Its something I've wanted to do for a long time and I'm hoping it will be a great success. My landlords so far seem really happy. I had 10,000 flyers printed before Christmas and really must deliver some more, its very time consuming and will probably not have a massive return but it's all about getting my name recognised.


My grand hope is to quit my employed job, especially as I'm not getting many hours anyway and run the agency full time but around the children as much as I can. Earn some decent money, buy a house (with or without the bf we shall see!!!!!!)

kacie

Definitely not a no spend day here today, had to sort out my car insurance also did a small food shop, to last me the rest of the week. At least it was essential spends though

falady

Murphy2011 wrote: »

Help!!! Crashed and burned in a major way in Sainsburys on Sunday and feeling bad, somebody give me absolution please?

Went in for some basic bits and then saw a nice dress for work at half price, well it's only £9 so that's ok surely? Then I saw a mini chopper for only £6.95, well my food processor is broken on my Kenwood and surely £6.95 is better than a new Kenwood isn't it? Then I saw a George Zforeman grill at half price and Im trying to improve my diet so that is ok because it's helping my health isn't it, and then finally a half price fitness gadget with the same stupid excuse......bang goes £50 just like that!

I've managed to justify it to myself enough to get me past the checkout although in the run up to Christmas I was actually quite Scroogish, spent a tiny amount on presents!

Does anyone else just go off the rails sometimes? I think it is all tied in with emotions and I'm sure it won't surprise you to hear Im also most definitely on the cuddly side size wise as well....any ideas? Am I going to be thrown overboard, marooned somewhere on a desert island?

Murphy, you're definitely not walking the plank, don't panic! We have probably all done these things - I know I have (with alarming frequency!).

Perhaps if you no longer think you need them you could take some or all of the gadgets back? A new dress for work at £9 though - maybe you should keep that one I wonder if it's the same dress I bought half price in sainsburys a few weeks ago for £9?

Ali x

falady

:rotfl::rotfl::laugh:

rosyq wrote: »

Hello shipmates

GQ are you really telling us the 'perfect bag' doesn't exist? That I've spent years on my quest in vain? That the bags I buy and make, the rucksacks, the fancy leather numbers, the dinky over-the-shoulder cross body wonders, will never be perfect and will never fulfil my need for perfection? I'm not sure I can cope with this revelation. I may need to have a lie down :rotfl:

o

I'm sure GQ MUST be wrong!:rotfl:

purpleshoes_2

Don't beat yourself up over spending, I remember I went to a huge fitness convention in America a few years ago with money my gran had left me and I had budgeted quite strictly, certainly didn't spend more than a couple of hundred pounds in the week (it could actually have been much less)

One instructor I know who is more well off than I am spend a grand on the first day!!!

It's all relative, if I had more money Id spend more but I can still improve, however if I do at any point go off the rails, Ive got the rest of the year to make up for it and so does everyone else.

Most of the unnecessary spending I do happens in supermarkets, it's so easily done, that's why Im trying to stay away from them as much as I possibly can.

Plus, the use you get out of certain items matters too, I remember buying a dress about 10 years ago, was 15 quid, Ive worn that dress about 30 times, at least, probably much more. Its dressy so I wouldn't wear it daytime, but Ive worn that more than other items Ive bought.

I have a top that my mum bought me over 20 years ago from Monsoon, I didnt wear it for years but Ive worn it several times over the last year, if that dress and the other items you bought get well used, it's not wasted money.

FrugalWorker

Hi all, I've been following you along with interest over the last few weeks. I read this today and thought of you all.

There comes a point, when you’re staring down the barrel of middle age, when you realise that almost all of the stuff you’ve spent your life amassing is going into a skip when you die. That realisation is very liberating.


My husband calls me the anti-consumarist. I don't shop for pleasure, I read, walk, talk, play, share food, listen, jump or skip for pleasure. There are so many things, but it takes a bit of effort to figure out which ones are really enhancing your life versus pulling you down.

Good luck with it - FW

bexster1975

Natnat, that sounds exciting, if a bit full on. I see how making up the money in the short term isn't really an option. I have similarly grNd plans ( except I own my place, hoping to be mortgage free within 18. Months! - I expect I have a few years on you!) doesn't sound like you have time to worry about the b/f too much, which is frankly how it should be for now. The very best of luck with your plans, I hope you keep enough paid work in the meantime

Bexster

Possession

Deleted_User wrote: »

Going to see how she copes with clothes cutting, and go from there.

What about something like this for DVDs? No cases.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSecure-Storage-Wallet-Massive-Capacity/dp/B004CYR166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420580776&sr=8-1&keywords=dvd+storage