NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

savingqueen

Spent some money having cake and coffee with DH today BUT:

we had cake rather than lunch so cheaper
we went to a little independent coffee shop rather than the costalot DH fancied - similar prices if not a teeny bit cheaper
we found somewhere to park for free rather than paying the usual £2
DH considered a couple of small items at charity shops but decided not worth the money. Neither of us saw anything we needed at a price we wanted to pay so didn't succumb.
today's treat was some rare quality time together - DH had a day's annual leave and kids were at school.

re: cheap petrol stations, in our area Asdares are nearly always the cheapest. However I admit I have never looked into which stations are the most ethical... will do so.


I am thinking more and more about ethical spending. Our budgets are fairly tight and we need to cut back a lot further to fund house repairs and some other important spends. I amresolved to buy as ethically as I can on the budget we have. If something costs the same or nearly the same to buy ethically I will do my utmost to use that particular retailer. If it is too expensive, we will try and do without and if that doesn't work we will buy what we can afford instead. If we have a very bad patch, price will have to take priority. This will be an ongoing project alongside several others, learning as I go. I have noticed the more mindfully I spend, the less rubbish I buy.

Effyb4

I've had a no spend day today. Instead I've had a very productive day making courgette muffins (they didn't last long), sweet potato and lentil soup for lunches (28p per serving) and finishing off a crocheted hat with a skull on it for DS1 (using left over wool).

eandjsmum

Only food spending here today. The breadmaker packed up this weekend. I haven't used it for a while as the kids didn't like the bread it made. It will go to the pink bin for recycling along with some clothes to the clothes recycling. Rumors of a jumble sale coming off here so I need to get a cardboard box and put some stuff in it.


The breadmaker will not be replaced, its place on the counter top has been taken by a more worthy recipient - the slowcooker.

vulpix

I am still wardrobe painting.This is going to take weeks because each piece is having 3 coats of paint and then wax and I want it to look nice so am being a perfectionist.I am fed up with it already.I want to do some of my patchwork instead.

We went to view a house today.The location is great but the house is "architect designed"? This in effect means it looks odd,the layout is difficult but its got a nice garden.If it is still for sale when ours sells It will be a contender.You can improve the looks if the location is right.

I have taken to my bed again.My gall stones are playing up and have been for a couple of weeks.I wouldnt mind but I eat properly.Its not the agony, just low er level pain and discomfort.After 4 years I cannot wait to have them out.I had the pre op before Christmas and was told I would get a date in January.Bring it on!

We have bought some metal shelving off FB today for £15.When this mahoosive wardrobe is out of the garage we will have yet another tidy up and use it in there.

Is anyone considering cashing in their pension in April?

Laters Vx

natnat13

Great day here. I slow cooked a chicken for the first time ever, was lovely. Then got the rest of the meat to make a curry, will bulk with lentils and veg and that will last 2 days. Also bunged some sweet pots and carrots in with the slow cooker juices and blitzed for soup. While the roasties and stuffing were doing I made 24 mixed fruit buns and some cheese scones.


I spent no money as I forgot to pay school! Will do that tomorrow. I also put some stuff on the fb selling site and have already made £18. I'm going to go and sell some gold at some point this week too.


Had really good chat with bf today as well, told him what I want and he was very open and honest so hopefully things will be better, last chance!

bigspender0611

only spend today was £1 for my tea club at work

(for that i get tea coffee milk biscuits and squash for the whole week, as much or little as i like)

and as i pinched the £1 off OH's pile of change next to the bed, technically my third NSD doing well!

7_week_wonder

Evening everyone,

dND - when we first got married I moved into my OH's house and decided not to plant asparagus because I had thoughts of moving. That was 15 years ago this Easter - so now I'm going to get round planting some crowns as a figure we won't be moving any time soon

I've been in a philosophical mood today (coming back from visiting my mum sometimes has that effect on me) and have been pondering being frugal and how to get the balance right between comfort and thrift. I reckon I'm going to aspire to Aril's signature "Aiming for a life of elegant frugality wearing a new-to-me silk shirt rather than one of hair!".

I've been meandering around following the great link given by 115k and I came across two brilliant pieces. The first was in Psychology Today and is titled Happiness Comes from Giving, Not Buying and Having. One bit really struck a chord "consciously living a lifestyle of ‘strategic underconsumption’ (or thrift) can also lead to well-being". There is a more detailed article about that here. It seems to tie together the Not Buying It and mindfulness approach of this thread perfectly!

Anyway, time to stop philosophising and get myself organised for another day at the coal-face tomorrow.

Have a lovely evening everyone and stay warm.

Superdopsa

Evening shipmates!


It's been cold and dry in Devon today - with no sign of snow yet where I live.


Have had a few spends over the last couple of days - this has been in Lidl and on fresh bits to complement what I have already have in the cupboards and freezer. Don't think I will need to do a big shop any time soon.


I changed from Anchor butter to Lidl's own make the other week - and to be perfectly honest can't tell the difference. I am eating Quaker porridge at the moment - but only because I bought a load when they were on offer at Tesco! Can't think of any other specific brands I use - although if I were to buy chocolate digestives they would have to be Mcvities!


Trying to save money this week on busfares so aiming to walk to and from work tomorrow - taking in the library on the way home to return a book. I really should start ploughing the pile of books I already have. I tried to count them the other day (well the ones I can actually see), and I think if I read a book a week I should have enough to see me for the next 2 years! That is one thing I need to do - STOP BUYING BOOKS!


Have a good day tomorrow one and all - and stay safe in whatever weather conditions you have.

suki1964

Heffi1 wrote: »

Had my 50th birthday on Friday

So I am now officially middle aged

Tell me this isn't so!!!!

Darn it, I hit 50 in August and I still act like a teen. And sometimes think like one when it comes to " real life"

Real life still scares me. There I am, 50 plus and I'm still struggling to make good choices. When do we become adult? When I was a kid, adults knew it all, I'm kind of still getting all this s**t together! sometimes failing badly

Anyway, no snow since Saturday but about 3 inches of solid ice sat around on the roads. Makes driving rear wheel drive interesting lol


Spending wise I'm doing great. However hubby got cabin fever today and insisted hitting town and having a dander about the shops. He succumbed to a pair of RL trainers reduced from £88 to £11, and a love to shop voucher I had covered that so really a no spend day..Opps forgot I also spent £3 on bird food ( wee !!!!!!s eat better then we do lol )


Worked tonight as well as all weekend. Mostly ate the leftovers from Friday and a result as hubby has said please cook again,and now I know he likes certain textures and veg, it's opened up a new line of eating cheaply yet healthily Tomorrow will be Turkey and leek pie but Wednesday I'm looking to make a butternut squash risotto. Both mum and hubby have huge reservations about the squash but I've found a great flavoursome recipe so I'm making it so tough :rotfl: There's boiled eggs for the dislikers lol


I need jumpers. It's cold. My home is warm and work is warm. But I never want to go out because it's cold. I have just three jumpers to my name, one I try to keep for funerals ( not being morbid just because of the culture here I attend a good few funerals a year) but I can't seem to see anything that suits a lollipop shaped 50+ yo looking on a budget. Any ideas anyone?


Anyways it's bed time for me. Thank you all for the support you all give through posting. Like some on here, I read everything, and use what suits me. So safe sailing xx

emslovesmickey

Maybe some adults are better at pretending they have it all together! I'm 30 and I still feel like I haven't grown up!

Was tempted to spend yesterday - they had some nice jute squares in Poundland that would be good for my crafting, but instead I got some chipboard for free from an envelope that was delivered at work. Can put that to some good use!