NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

117pauline

I am really enjoying this thread as it gives me lots to consider.

So far I have had my half hour in the garden, made a beef casserole (now in the halogen oven, to see if it can stew too) and off to do a couple of mystery shops in the city.

I have only had my halogen oven since Christmas but already I love it. It will be interesting to see whether it reduces our gas bill too. We also had to replace our ordinary oven as well as the front glass shattered.

I am a big fan of mindfulness and its positive influences on my life. There is a place for it in nearly every part of life, just wish I could remember that all the time!

The one thing I have noticed is my use of my car. I was guilty of the "no-thought" driving, just getting in the car to go anywhere. Now I am considering each trip and so far my trips are half what they were which is good news.

Still eating from the freezer which is good whilst buying just the little fresh items. Think I can manage till the middle of next month. Still "paying" my food purse but really noticed how my spends are down.

Have a great day
Pauline

[Deleted User]

Morning all :j
My January spends are nearly totted up. I get paid in the middle of each month and for me I've only counted from 1st Jan to 16th Jan this month. I didn't count any of Xmas in my spends as that money was from last year. And its easier for me to go from payday to payday. So I will be going frim mid Jan to mid Feb etc.
Im up to date on this thread too and have started reading a few other threads.
I will report back in a day or so but suffice to say I'm quite pleased with how I've done this few weeks. I'm getting the hang of balancing frugallness but spoiling myself a bit.
I'm thinking of starting to do some surveys in my spare time. Can't until my laptop is repaired but will have a look on my mobile in the mean time. I dont like doing much on my mobile makes my eyes hurt after a while...
Enjoying the time I have off and being a bit (well a lot) lazy...:p

savingqueen

GreyQueen wrote: »

Re the sink, I am in the same situation in a hard water area. I do find a microfibre cloth helpful. I have taken to using one to wash the dishes, after many years of being an afficianado of the scrubby-sided sponge, and a quick wipe around the sink during the day keeps things spic and span.

Try soaking a cloth(s) in white vinegar and leave it on the scaled areas overnight before rubbing with a microfibre cloth or sponge (old toothbrush great for taps)and then rinsing. I mop up excess water on draining board after washing up so it doesn't collect and remain there and that has made a big difference.

sjprmc01

Seems a lot of us are reformed characters re: Boots!

I thought about it around 9.30 am I was like 'ooh I'm sure it's boots 70% day today' (to myself) and then checked on grabbit, had a read, and wondered what all the fuss was about .

Plus I've banned myself from toiletry buying (although I did make a lush bubble bar and bath bomb sale order) I SERIOUSLY have enough for about 5yrs min.

I tried to use a body shop 'wild cherry' body butter last week, except it was that old that it didn't smell of wild cherry it smelt of paint, and slightly moulded paint at that. What's the point in me spending any money on nice smelling stuff for it to be wasted when I go to use it! NO MORE!

bigspender0611

Hello all, late joiner here!
I've read through most of this thread with a lot of interest as i hate to admit i am a compulsive shopper and waste £100s a month on things i do not need.
with mine and OH's joint bills (food, utilities etc) we are already very frugal, we only shop at Aldi and spend about £30 a week (i am aiming to lower this to £20 a week)
Dog has a sensitive tummy so cant get away with cheap food for her but if we buy the large sack it costs £37 and last approx 7 weeks (cheaper than one small bag a week)
i have made myself a set of rules, beginning 1st feb (as i am also reading Allen Carr's Easyway in order to stop smoking!)



so...
BANNED ITEMS
Clothes - this is where most of my money goes. If i consider i spend over £100 a month on clothes, i have nothing to show for it, and i am always moaning that my home is unfinished and a bit scruffy. so this money will now be put into the house for approx 6 months, and will then go into savings after that

lunches i havent made myself. i shall be bulk buying veg and making soups to last me all week at work, and also using leftovers etc more efficiently

unnecessary corner shop purchases (chocolate, pop, other junk, as we dont include any of this in our food shop so i shall just have to go without!)

my plan for 2015 is that all of my disposable income will either go into savings, towards mine and OH's holiday (as we havent been for 3 years), and home improvements.

i will also be allowed to buy books for uni course (doing an open uni english lit degree, so quite a few books required!) and i also do shellac nails as a hobby/pocket money maker so will need supplies for this occasionally. but any money i make doing this i will put aside and will be used for re-stocking, new colours for summer etc (this money currently goes on cigarettes! disgusting!)

also in desperate need for new bedding (inc. duvet and pillows) but this will be factored into the home improvements budget. apart from the clothes shopping i am quite thriftily minded, and a lot of things done in the house so far have been on a budget and i am always complimented for my interior design eye
rooms to be done/finished are: master bedroom, pc room, bathroom and living room needs a little bit of a spruce, but nothing a lick of paint and some new scatter cushions wont fix

i look forward to starting my spend diary and keeping up with this thread. hopefully it will keep me on the straight and narrow

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Less poorly today, I,m up and out of bed at least

I,m with you lots - turned my back on the Nex! Sale, even though I got one of the first spaces - nothing spent :T

Normally 'stock up' for prezzies and smellies from B@@ts sale too - again nothing spent :j

Have noticed that Nex! Have put my limit upto 5k:eek: will phone them as that is mad.......... Might even cancel it all togther.

Just done my shopping list for tomorrow and struggled to get it to £20, that, for me, that is AMAZING.... £100 is about the norm

bigspender0611

oh i am also aiming to be debt free by the end of 2015 - so debts to be paid off first, then the saving commences.
if i only purchase essential items, use up old toiletries and make up before considering new items (may have to tell the Avon lady i dont want a book through the door anymore) then this should be relatively easy. even if i only pay off debts, then start saving in 2016 thats better than how my finances look right now.
other plans include a MASSIVE clear out (bit of a secret hoarder), and get rid of books ill never read that i have somehow acquired using amazon trade in.
some fantastic ideas on here - keep them coming please

i'd also like to ask if anyone has tips on how to clear out when you have very little time to do so! i work full time, alongside a full time degree so time is something i do not have a lot of (unlike dresses and blouses )

jellybean08

Permission to board?

After being struck down by a strange flu/sickness bug 2 days into the new term I've had lots of time to catch up on the mse forum.

I read this one with much interest. I've managed to get myself into a pickle regarding spending too much with money I didn't have and therefore have worked out I will need to spend the next 2 years being very strict and not spending any money, in order to pay it off. However, I have gone through the house and discovered I have so much stuff! So despite the usual bills, food and diesel, and perhaps presents for others there is absolutely nothing that I need.

I look forward to picking up lots of helpful tips and support along the way. My biggest downfall has to be 'just popping to the shop'. That or buying clothes that I kind of need, but only because I'm too fat to fit into my many nice clothes. There seems to be a simple and free solution there of losing weight. Wish me luck!

vodkawitch1

Welcome aboard Jellybean

I spent £12 today but that did include hair dye and light bulbs. Intend to keep the purse closed now for as long as possible.

emslovesmickey

I spent £10.05 today on food for work. I'm not sure if that'll be the only spends today as I'm tempted to order a takeaway (oven is on the fritz at the moment) and I'm really wanting to get some alphabet stamps for my crafting. I'm trying to keep busy to keep my mind off them though. I could always get them for my birthday. So it's off to blog world now, then some stitching.