NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

GreyQueen

edwink wrote: »

Hi GreyQueen

Maybe I should of said that the charity shop I mentioned in my post with the 5 garages is a small village charity shop that sells clothes and very small furniture items. Items like small coffee tables that sort of furniture not beds and sofas. So having 5 garages I feel is a waste of money. That was the point I was making about this particular charity shop and not charity shops in general.

In our town we have 2 BHF shops. One for clothes and one for furniture. The furniture shop has their storage facility above the shop. I agree that their rates/rental costs would be higher for such a large shop but their turnover is huge which in turn pays for this. I agree that BHF furniture prices are really reasonable. We purchased 2 recliner arm chairs and matching 2 seater sofa in their sale for £60. I really think this was under priced but the sale of it made room for another item of furniture from their store room upstairs and the charity gained another £60.

Edwink x

Aahh, and I was envisaging suites, wall units, dining tables and such like. In light of what you've said, I would agree that their storage sounds excessive.

I find BHF much more reasonable than the Sally Ann for furniture, but their regular BHF chazzers are extortionate for clothes, books, bric a brac. Funny how that works out, isn't it?

Have taken a donation bag to my new gift aid organisation, having wearied of seeing Hoxfam put my donations out without the gift aid stickers on so many times. This is the second bag to this chazzer, and I could see items from the first bag out on sale, with the gift aid number on, so am well-pleased. Also asked them about another item which is a bit heavy and which I wanted to be sure they'd take and they'd be delighted to have it, always being asked for mirrors. So that will go in the next day or two, plus something else.

I shop regularly at a variety of chazzers, but mostly ones in burbs or down the shabby city centre streets, a lot of the main street ones are so expensive, I just don't bother with them. If I wanted Primarche clothes at twice retail, I could just go into their store and overpay.:rotfl:

January 2015 will be a spendy month, due to the new washing machine and have also paid the water bill, which is a 6 monthly occurance, but other than that, I've spent very little.

Today, I have splashed out a huge £1 on some net curtaining, offcuts from bigger pieces and unused, to turn into delicates bags for my laundry. Two of the present three on the premises are wearing out, and I much prefer my homemade efforts to any shop bought versions.

Keep up the good work, it's so heartening to hear of your successes and long term plans.

Primrose

natnat13 wrote: »

Afternoon all

I did something spontaneous yesterday, booked a break to London! My friend is going next Friday / Sat for work and said tag along, she'll pay for my train ticket! I could really do with a break so I bit the bullet. I found a reasonable hotel for £60 and will try and do free things whilst up there. Any recommendations appreciated.

s.

Well everything in London is expensive, even coffee and snacks, but remember many galleries and museums have free entry so if you want to try and avoid spending a lot of money, how about visiting the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, and then the National History Museum and the British Museum which are also free entry. They all have cafe facilities There is lots to see, and gift shops (which are not cheap) and if the weather is awful, this will keep you under cover. Try visiting their websites first to get an idea of any special areas you would like to visit.

pm2326

Evening everyone

Well tomorrow is payday and I'm well chuffed as I've still got £100 in the bank and my Xmas money :T.

Since 1st January I've spent the grand sum of £8.68 on groceries and paid an additional £500 off the credit card and £75 off the mortgage :money:

I'm still working through the freezer and cupboards, I can see spaces appearing now but I think I may still have enough to get me through February but we'll see....only planned spending this weekend is a £10 haircut and maybe some fruit & veg.

apple_muncher

natnat13 - hope you have a lovely time in London! Are you aware that bus travel in London is now cash-free, so if you haven't bought your ticker before, then you cann.ot board. A travel card is your best bet - make sure it is an off-peak one (after 9.30 or 10am) and will cover tube and bus. And train tickrts into London qualify for a 2 for 1 reduction imto many paying sights.

Yes, the coffee shops are extorrionate! Our local pret does 99p coffee and I know there is a pret - or 3! - in trafalgar square, but I don't know what they charge.

117pauline

Just caught up again and it occurred to me that the most simple things appear to be giving us pleasure - for example, someone having done jackets although feeling poorly. For two minutes work and consideration, an awful lot of good feelings were got - what a win/win situation - saving money and feeling good about it.

And that, dear shipmates, is what I have really noticed over the last three weeks. Yes, I want and need to save money but I do not want it to turn into hard work and suffering because I think that way leads to us giving up the thrifty path.

My list of simple pleasures is expanding, my guiding lights too. I am really enjoying this and reading about everyone's successes.

Karmacat

117pauline, great post - and great sig! Thanks
"Don’t confuse your path with your destination........
Just because it’s stormy now, it doesn’t mean you aren’t headed for sunshine."

Slowdown

Ahoy, ahoy!

My third attempt to make contact today. My iPad is playing up and keeps freezing. Maybe it's feeling the winter weather?

So anyway, a relatively low spend week so far. Probably not on the phone bill though as have sent a few texts to DS1 in NZ just to check he's ok. And he is. He's already fallen in love with the place and declares it will be his future home. Long way to go to see my baby if he does end up there. Still, it would make for good holidays!

I was going to get some bits for supper earlier until I gave myself a talking to, searched the cupboards and fridge and came up with a not too healthy but edible option of sausage, egg, bacon and potato wedges. Didn't have to go out and spend though.

On the charity shop subject, I do like them but the very best I've seen are in Edinburgh. I went before Christmas and on one street in a posh part of town, not only were there many of them but they specialised, ie furniture in one, music and DVDs in another, books in anothe clothes in another etc. it was great and I picked up a few presents for DH who loves a charity shop present.

Where my MIL lives in Surrey there is one that has very posh stuff in. It's not far from the Chelsea training ground and lots of players live around there. They get clothes donated by WAGS and then they end up with queues outside!! I think they'd all be a few sizes too small for me.

Today I tidied up under the sink. Managed to remove three items from my shopping list because they were all ready there. Just goes to show. STUFF is lurking in corners I didn't know I had. Off to the butchers and SM tomorrow. Will also pop to town to get some bits from the high street shops so I try and support shops other than SM.

On Saturday I'm meeting a friend for a coffee and chat. Instead of generic coffee shop we are going to a local organic farm shop that has a little cafe attached. I'd rather give them a few more of my pennies than costalotta a few less.

We all seem to be doing really well and should be patting ourselves on the back. I haven't had to use the plank once yet and the captain's log is full of nothing but reports of fair winds and fine sailing.

I'm off to my hammock now, complete with woolly socks and night cap. Sleep easy sailors, for tomorrow we save again.

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

natnat13

Wow thank u Chez that's great. I love the jump on and off a bus idea, I'm going to do that x

natnat13

Now caught up and thank u to everyone else too. I think I'm going to take some snacks and drinks, I hope the weather is nice then I will bus and wonder around. I'm really looking forward to it now.

suki1964

Natnat, you will love London and it can be as free and as cheap as you want

Museums are free. Go to Kensington and walk through the tunnel to get to the National History, science and Albert and Victoria museums. From there jump on a bus for Knightsbridge for Harrods and the designer shops just for a gawk. Jump on the tube and get to Westminster pier, Houses of Parliament that side, cross the bridge and see the London eye. Walk along the south bank up to the Tate modern. Have. Browse then onwards to the wibbly wobbly bridge, cross that to St Paul's. From there you can dander down to covent garden. Browse and enjoy the street entertainment

Get coffees and ice creams in mc D's. Buy lunches in boots. Main meals in weatherspoons. Or go to soho and get dim sum lunch.

London really is no dearer then any other major city ( Dublin is dearer believe me ). Just don't get conned into the tourist traps and street vendors unless at an established street market

Enjoy and any other help just ask