NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

blackcatsx2

This morning when I was getting ready, I was thinking I wish I had a cosy beige cardigan (not sure when I became the type of person who craves a cosy beige cardigan but anyway!). Then I remembered that last Summer I bought a beige cardigan - now I hadn't seen the cardi for a while and I did wonder if I had imagined it, but eventually I found it tucked at the back of the wardrobe.
This has taught me that I must have so much stuff that I've forgotten about and that it's time to tidy up my wardrobes and uncover some more hidden treasures - who knows what other colour cardis I might find!!!! It was quite scary to think though that I had literally not bothered with a purchase and genuinely didn't know if I'd actually bought something or where it even was in the house!!
On another note, Jackie O mentioned easy to look after veggies etc. I grow cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets and they do really well and don't need any complicated pruning just plenty of water regularly. They look pretty in the baskets too. The variety is called Tumbling Tom and does so well that I don't bother with the upright plants anymore. Hope that helps.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

A few splurgy days coming up, today was my Waitrose del - loads of HP meat, so in my GC I have split it between Jan and Feb - still £90 in my Jan budget, so I should come in under Freezer is full to bursting, so much for me getting rid of it

Its 2 good friends birthdays this week, one a landmark birthday, and we,ve decided to go out for a meal at a 'posh' burger place nearby to celebrate my eldests 21st ( was last Fri, but we all had the lurgy) and 2 friends b,days - so that will tug at the purse strings too. I have made them fudge as a prezzie, so minimal cost there.

fairy3

Afternoon shipmates hope you are all warm and cosy as it's brass monkey weather here! Snow has kept me in and busy decluttering the dreaded attic - small steps. Think there should be a part of the ship called 'Not keeping it' as so many of us are getting rid of 'stuff' that we don't need.
Have been sorting my saving stuff into boxes marked car boot, ebay, CS and recycling and the last one is the black bag for the bin. Have the date of the first car boot which is March so may have to hang on to stuff til then.
Car and house insurance are due next month and am being bombarded with quotes through the post - will put aside a couple of hours next week to get some comparison quotes with cashback if possible. One company offering M&S vouchers for getting a quote why? Just take the money off the cost of the insurance, always makes me feel they are going to add on to the price anyway.
On the storecupboard and freezer rundown - ongoing and have prepared a polish sausage creamy pasta bake for dinner and had everything in so NSD today and purse shut.
Have a good day everyone x

GreyQueen

I've been busily not-shopping, find it so much easier and more relaxing than shopping-shopping, too. Plus you don't have to find a space for the things you didn't buy once you haven't bought them home.

Umm, am getting a bit tired, not sure that makes sense but will leave it there anyway. I haven't shopped but I did pay my water bill online today, and buy archery tuition yesterday. But not actually buying Things.

Shooting a longbow in the 21st century probably falls under the heading of eccentricity, but it brings me joy.

natnat13

Evening, is everyone sea sick it's a bit quiet on here!
I have been selling stuff, sold some gold for £75, a wii fit board for £10 and selling some beanie babies for £15 tomorrow. So that has more than paid for my waitrose order.


I have a female friends 50th on 21st Feb, I'm not sure what to get her cheaply? She has quite posh tastes! They have recently redone their house so I'm thinking a nice vase maybe? I will try and spot a bargain somewhere, I've been doing surveys and earning points and nearly have enough for a £10 amazon voucher but that is for my brothers birthday also next month.
I had a bit of a wobble yesterday, costa and a magazine but was having a bad day. I'm ok today, NSD.

Aril

Ahoy there me hearties:D

No spends since I was 'ere last mopping the deck:j Yesterday I had the day off so went over to visit a chum and her 9 week old Sprocker. He was gorgeous and it was splendid to be able to take some of the mincemeat flapjack. Lovely said chum...I love it when you bring something homemade:p

A little more progress made on the gargoyle. I needed some stuffing so bought a suitable toy from the Hospice shop [made sure I chose the ugliest so that I d didn't feel too guilty:o] and have used its innards. Also needed some pipecleaners but found just the one tucked away in my craft box:j

Found a coat hanging up downstairs that I never wear so that's heading out of the door now. Was on the point of chucking away some pink lippy as it's too pale on my already wan complexion. However, as am running out of blusher I tried the merest dab of it on my cheeks making sure to blend it in carefully...result. Worked a dream!

Tonight I've menu planned for the forthcoming week. One recipe from the new to me Rose Eliot one and one our new Hairy Bikers purchase. Will need to buy some bits but was able to use a lot of what we've already got in. Am able to make an extra trip to Sainsburys on a Friday afternoon when I'm coming home from work to buy the Fairtrade bits and take advantage of any YS goods that catch my eye and pass the price/useability test ie will I use it?:rotfl::rotfl:

Arilx

Liliyanna

Hi everyone :hello:

Well everything is ticking along here, it keeps threatening snow but doesn't deliver thankfully. Still very cold though, OH thinks we should put all the heating on so that the whole house is an average temperature but I insist on low temps in the rest of the house and a higher temp in the front room as that's where we spend most of our time once home from work. What does everyone else do?

I'm going to make and freeze several portions of mashed potato when I batch cook at the end of this month but am not sure how to go about it. I'm thinking of making quite a dry mash and then once it's defrosted and reheated forking the butter/milk through it. I'm hoping making it quite dry will mean it's still quite firm when it's defrosted. Does anyone have any experience with this??

I've got my bestest bud coming over for a few days on my next days off so will have to make sure I don't splurge. I've still got £50 worth of Christmas vouchers for my favourite restaurant so I think I'll treat us all and then being frugal for the rest of the visit won't seem so harsh

I keep reading how everyone is decluttering and I'm so jealous, I keep telling the OH we're going to knuckle down and sort our overflowing wardrobes out but they can't be ar!!d and I neither can I when it comes right down to it. Will put it on my list for feb. Another thing on the feb list is exercise, I'm currently near the top end of the yoyo weight thing and am starting to struggle with one of my hips, think this is my body telling me to cut out the chocolate. To be honest I thought I would loose a bit when I stopped drinking but that hasn't happened


Well enough wittering from me shipmates, I'll see you all tomorrow


Lily x x

I_want_a_baby

Evening all,

Feeling quite tired the last few days so I've been reading but not posting, I think the baby may be having a growth spurt!

Little wins:
£100 halifax cashback received
£5.32 topcashback requested
Bottle of shampoo given to me from mum - into toiletry stash
Stuck to meal plan.
£20 of food budget remaining and shouldn't need to shop before end of month.
Bought a tube of factor 50 sun cream and a handbag size factor 50 too, for the kids which were reduced from £21 to £5.75.
Daughters birthday party set to be very frugal, almost all food homemade, frozen birthday cake bartered for 3 pairs of jeans, two vouchers found for trip to soft play and going to use a £5 lovetoshop voucher to let them pick a nice tea/pudding from Iceland.
This means I may be able to save some £s from the birthday budget.
£40 left in fuel budget and still half a tank in each car.
Plus my savings target has now reached 14.12% which is over the 8.33% needed by the end of the month!
Been sticking to meal plan.

It's been so freeing 'not buying it'. I've really enjoyed looking outside the box to see how we can save money, stretch things out and make do. I've kept a spending diary since the beginning of December (the longest I have ever kept one). Everything purchased has been thought about and purchased carefully. It's great!

I am hoping if I can keep saving above target then I can stash a little away for a holiday from home this year, we can't afford a proper holiday and it would be stressful with a new baby but I would love hubby to book a week off and have a trip to the beach, a trip to the zoo, a couple of picnics and fun days out.

Spending less on material items, bills and food so I can meet my savings target and spend on wonderful experiences and memories with my family. It's going to be a fabulous year aboard this ship!

IWAB x

rosiepup2000

I've been doing quite well with the no spends but made the mistake of venturing onto ebay last night and saw a pair of shoes which would be very nice and practical, but as I already have TWO pairs of very similar shoes I think it's safe to say I do not really need them. But they are nagging away at me. Must resist. Must resist. Hopefully someone else will buy them quick!

emslovesmickey

Spent £7.78 today. The talk went well so it wasn't comfort food but I did get some milkshakes and some snacky stuff for when I'm off work next week; thought I may do a cheapy film night. I also got some washing powder. It's six days now till payday and, unlike last year where I had no money in my account long before now, I actually have almost half my wages ready to be moved into my savings account.