NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

pm2326

Evening, first day back at work today and happy to report no money has been spent, still eating out of stores and see no reason to spend anything in the near future

currently watching the programme about necker island :eek:

Honey_Bear

Today was a planned spendy day for OH's birthday present. He'd already chosen what he wanted and as we went to get it, I wanted to pop into B00ts for some stuff that I've been meaning to get for a while, but I have a real aversion to the place. I put a couple of things that were on my list in a basket and went hunting for the next thing - they no longer sell it. Went hunting for the next thing - it's seasonal, not in stock.


And I saw the queue and thought, just how much do I need anything on this list? And I realised, it was all 'wants' not 'needs' and I want to keep my money firmly in my purse more than I want to give it to a chain owned by a hedge fund, probably offshore for tax purposes, but in any event, not local. So I carefully put the two items back on their hooks, popped the basket back on a stack of them and left.


Not buying it.

Busymumofthreeplusdog

Managed to plan this weeks menu all from freezer/cupboards. Managed a NSD yesterday but today needed milk (£3 from coop), oh but a bar of chocolate fell in the basket too. Oops another £1.
Will need to buy some bits for making cupcakes (dd needs them to sell on Thursday - all towards reducing costs for school trip).
Shouldn't need to do big shop til weekend. It will likely be SM online order as we live in the sticks and I find it easier to plan and buy that way.

Goldiegirl

bexster1975 wrote: »

Also, I'm not very happy with all this self- flagellation (spelling?) people are going in for here. ( now if that's what floats your boat, fair enough, but that's considered an overshare!!:D:p). I hope the thread is just allowing us to think about what we spend, not punish ourselves for it, or forcing us to explain ourselves to each other ( or ourselves?. At ease crew, it has to be fun too you know, else you won't make it till January payday.

)

I totally agree.

For me, this exercise is about mindful spending, not apologising for every penny spent and making yourself feel bad if you spend on anything that isn't an essential for survival.

Any regime that is too harsh is destined to fail, but it's not sustainable in the long term.

It's important to have some pleasures in life, and although some pleasures are free, sometimes you need to spend some money for fun activities. If you can afford to spend for the activity it's fine, don't apologise for it!

Slowdown

Now, now ,now, let's get one thing straight. This is a ship of vision floating towards the island of self realisation and personal contentment. It is not a ship of self deprivation floundering towards the island of hair shirts and misery.

We are here to stand upon the decks of HMS NoBuy and gaze upon the seas of consumer items. Sometimes we will see things we need and scoop them into our arms. Sometimes we will see things we don't need and let them float by. And sometimes we fall overboard, paddle and splash and fill our nets until they burst. Whatever happens we must do this with positivity in our hearts and sensitivity towards ourselves and our shipmates. We will all topple over once in a while. The trick is not to berate and chastise ourselves but to live on and learn.

Look at the items you have bought. If you love them, keep them and enjoy. If you don't, take a step back and analyse. Why did I do that? What will I do next time? How can I avoid it? What did I learn?

Don't look back with regret, look forward with new understanding.

Now me hearties, tuck yourselves into your hammocks, wrap yourselves in warm blankets of self love, lay your head on a soft pillow of new ideas and wake up tomorrow with a new horizon to gaze upon.

Kind regards and steering into the sunset so you all get a lovely view
Slowdown

cydney65

Well started the other cupboard and found all the kids' drawings from nursery nearly 30 years ago. Also found their first shoes and my youngest's hospital bands from when she was born. Got a bit emotional and had to stop!

Today we spent £5 in the Co-op on things we needed (and possibly a bar of chocolate which had been reduced to 25p ). Actually I must check our food spending so far this month as we really don't seem to be spending much.

Tomorrow the decorator is coming to strip some wallpaper in the hall in readiness for the great makeover. It looks like the weather is going to be horrible so we might take a trip to the local decorating shop to get some ideas.

CydneyX

System

FrugalWorker wrote: »

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

[I]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.
[/I]

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

Thanks for that quote, definitely food for thought!

purpleshoes_2

I think I'm well past staring down the barrel of middle age:)

Even though most days I act like I'm about 12 and a half.

I reckon by the end of the year there will be many people on here who have made positive changes and there's also lots of people reading who probably will do the same.

emslovesmickey

Definitely food for thought with that quote.

With regards to Dry January - I'm teetotal so it's hardly a challenge! Never been one for alcohol.

Today I've been at work, been stressed because of work and....not spent. Usually I'd pop out of work and wander round the shops but today I read another book. Reviewed it too, so that's 10% of that particular target done now. :j

thefrugalflirter

Definitely agree we shouldn't be beating ourselves up about the odd spend - I think this was my problem in the past with getting in shape.

I'd commit to eating nothing but salads and fruit, then inevitably cave and binge on choccy digestives (impossible to resist!), tell myself 'I've failed' and just give up. This year I'm being a bit nicer to myself and if I have the odd slip, picking myself up and starting again! I feel better already.

It is true that you don't have to spend to enjoy yourself - we had a really quiet Christmas, but it was so nice just catching up with friends and family and going for a long walk on Boxing Day.