NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

savingqueen

(((((bunbun)))) I second having a look at MIND's website. I don't know his age but if he is at school/college/uni - have you tried having a word with them as they may have a counsellor he can see. Or your GP? Apologies if I am stating the obvious. One very positive thing is that he has a caring family to offer emotional support and guidance and a family member who understands the issues.


I am planning another NSD after a little splurge by his Lordship (aka DH) yesterday at the supermarche. Mince is defrosting to make a spag bol later, stretched out with all sorts of healthy stuff. Lots to do indoors and DH has taken boys to play footie in the park.


Have a great NBI 2015 day!

suki1964

Natnat, onwards and upwards . Well done on your new decisions for your life

Bathory, sorry to hear your bad news. Fingers crossed you will find something soon

Savingqueen, I'm with you on the boxed meal front. We had one the other week, ys, and omg I was ill all night with a raging thirst and heartburn. Never ever again

Bunbun, must be hard seeing a child struggle (((hugs)))

I too am someone who goes over things at night, reliving conversations and experiences. Last night was really tough with me rehashing long ago stuff, not good and have woken up knackered.

Still it's a lovely if freezing day here this morning. Just one spend today, the log delivery, £50. We still have enough logs for this winter but I like to have them delivered now so they get another years seasoning. We can't get hardwood, it's all forestry so needs a good couple of years to dry

Was going to hit the supermarket for groceries but found some cocktail sausages in the freezer so it's sausage casserole, there will be plenty of leftovers for later in the week.

Hubby is away foraging. The old farm is half demolished ( making way for two new homes) and he's seen a good solid door that will do our " greenhouse" The one we have there got caught by the wind and is split. Been patched but a new one can't be passed up on

Working tonight, a double shift tomorrow and Monday night so no spends planned at all and a good wage packet this month. So far I've managed to save £100 this year, trying to get back to my old personal saves of a grand. That's how much I feel comfortable with. That's not counting all my other saves, such as Christmas. Last year it depleted with not earning for most of the year and hubby not working, but it was having that cushion that got us through. So I'm squirrelling away as much as I can whilst earning

Anyway a pile of ironing has my name on it, along with the corrie omnibus so take care all xx

out_of_debt_at_last

The internal dialogue ran thus.

Primitive Brain; SALE!! Red notices!!! Bargains!!!! We shop there.

Higher Brain: We do shop there -sometimes. We have one pair of shoes (from there) in excellent condition. We're light on shoes, probably got up to two years' wear in this pair. Our habit is to wear the same pair all the time anyway, so any other pairs will sit around gathering dust. And because of lack of space, that will be literal dust as they will be on the bedroom floor getting underfoot.

Primitive Brain; B-b-b-but it's a SALE. Shouldn't we just look?

Higher Brain: Nope. Not needed on this voyage. Illogical consumption. They go on sale about every 3 months anyway. Shoe replacement when necessary can be scheduled to fit in with another Sale. Stop panicking, PB, even if the one pair of shoes fell apart, we could always wear our trainers up to the shoe shop to buy another pair. Heck, it's five mins' walk from our cabin, we could wear our flip-flops.

Primitive Brain (no longer listening) Oooohhhhhh!!!! Look - shiny things![/QUOTE]

WELL DONE FOR NOT GIVING IN TO THE PRIMITIVE!:rotfl::rotfl:

Murphy2011

Slowdown wrote: »

Your post stopped me dead in the water this morning. Work is pretty dreadful for me at the moment too and your comment about taking pleasure in the simple things is greatly valid.

Just before reading your comment I was sitting here in bed going over and over recent events at work. I was having imaginary conversations, dreaming what I'd like to say to an audience of staff before walking out in dramatic courtroom style! I was listing all the things I would love to say to incompetent managers and how great it would feel. I imagined how they would hang their heads and consider their own positions. Then reality dawned! Who am I kidding?

Then I read your post.
I remembered I am probably focusing on the wrong things. Why take up my day worrying about work and building myself up into a frenzy of agitation? I should be focusing on the delights of life. The little things that hold great value. In the past I may well have sought solace in a spending spree or a glass of something. But I havent. And I won't. I shall focus on the things that really matter. Today I will feel better than I did yesterday.

Thank you

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

Slowdown, haven't posted for a while so catching up but I have just cut and pasted this as it captures exactly how I am feeling about work issues at the moment.

I have been downgraded because of one persons perception of me, one which I believe to be wrong. I have put things in place to ensure that this won't happen again practically but I cannot shake the desire to make them change their mind, like me, understand me...it is an all-consuming thought at the moment.

Your comment also "stopped me in my tracks"

I suddenly realised that as long as I have sorted out the practical and he CAN'T impact me in the same way again THEN WHAT HE THINKS DOESNT MATTER!!!!!

I should only care about the opinions of those who matter to me, those who love me and understand me. Would I actually want him to be a "friend?" No, I would not. So why am I expending energy, sleep and effort on worrying about him?

Many thanks Slowdown, also GreyQueen as your words of wisdom have given me peace of mind also.

Igamogam

Slowdown wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30849473

This is a link to an article about our 'Stuff'. Looks like many people are starting to question this desire. I'm really glad we are doing something about it.

As for wearing your best, I completely agree. I don't have a lot of clothes to begin with and I don't have the kind of social life that requires me to dress up very often, but I still have bits that I don't wear much just in case. Well, today I'm off to meet a friend at an organic coffee shop and I'm going to find something a bit nice to wear instead of my regular gear. I wouldn't usually but I have been inspired by lots of you to wear my best togs.

Fair weather ahead on the waves today. Try not to fall overboard shipmates.

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

Fab article SD - thanks

Igamogam

suki1964 wrote: »

Was going to hit the supermarket for groceries but found some cocktail sausages in the freezer so it's sausage casserole, there will be plenty of leftovers for later in the week.

I found exactly the same in one of our freezers the other day - heaven only knows how long thay have been there or why I bought them - not something we would eat! Made a fab slow 'cookered' sausage casserole with some 'please- eat-me-now' bits from fridge and it made a lovely warming meal with crusty bread Plenty left over to freeze for another day..........remembered now where they came from - event at work when some body brought in to boxes of them but they were never opened and where going to be thrown away........I hate waste :rotfl: had the idea I would make mini toad in the holes with them and had carefully portioned them into bags of 12!

Bathory

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I feel a bit better this morning, infact I'm probably best off out of it as I'd never known such carp management. I have also found out that they have done this to other temps as well. Hopefully I might be able to get something closer to home in my next assignment.

I struggle to spend money given to me as well. I have a clothing gift card, money from Christmas and some cash from my birthday which was back in August. I have this attitude that people have given me this money and I must be ultra careful how I spend it and not fritter it all away on what might be seen as rubbish.

suzybloo

What a gorgeous day here,but still rather chilly! I have surprised myself this month and I am so pleased at keeping buying to a minimum! This week I had a couple of spends but added together they came to £18, so in essence I still have £12 left from budget, but we are getting visitors tonight so will probably be £15-20 for some beer and snacks, and I have £11 in my purse which will cover all I need until Friday so should only be around £15 over grocery budget. With this no buying thread encouraging me I have managed to pay £500 extra off our mortgage this month, and paid the tax man£250 without going to the building society. Hopefully February will turn out the same, I cannot think of anything that we really should need, and with no council tax payable over the next two months that will give an extra £320 in the budget. I will remove it from the housekeeping on the 1st though, as like birthday money if it's not kept seperate it's just frittered away. In years gone by I have even sat and wondered what I could buy because it was spare! Well off now to sort out all my seeds etc that have arrived, and will plant some garlic outside, a d salad greens for in the conservatory :-)

FrugalWorker

Hi guys, I'm a stowaway, coming up on board. I'm not a spender on stuff in general - over the years have worked hard on my attitude to stuff. BUT - I have noticed I take on hobbies and don't follow through fully. I've also noticed that my spend on non essentials in work is far in excess of what is should be, so cutting back and increasing savings.

For people with gift cards, I've had exactly that problem - I use them to buy gifts for people. E.g. my sister loves perfume and had ran out, so in the christmas sales I used my Debenhams gift card I got last April for my birthday to get her some for her birthday in January. She wouldn't appreciate something home made/charity shop. I also encourage people to give me gifts that are based on food and drink (e.g. wine/restaurant vouchers/etc… this Christmas I got no 'stuff'. Only consumables which for the most part I was delighted with) - They are treats for me, and I get to share them with OH. I've enough for two weekends away, dinner out with OH and afternoon tea with my sister/mothers. I also got some dark chocolate from my secret santa in work and some Port from my sister that I'm looking forward to. Everyone knows I prefer experiences or interesting ingredients, wine/chocolate

To people with *good* stuff that you're keeping for special occasions - when I was 8, got a new 'party' outfit that I was keeping for parties, I grew out of it before my next party. I swore then that clothes should be worn. Don't get me wrong, I do still have the odd dress that just isn't suitable for everyday wear - but I don't believe in not wearing it. It's far more empowering to not feel afraid. I broke one of my granny's old cups from a tea set that I have - I didn't get upset, but smiled because at least it was being used.

NBI for me represents spending money on junk/food where I could have made better myself if I just organised myself a bit better. It also means spending less on transport and using my bike a bit more! I will still buy something if it's a need, like jeans or shoes but will spend the time on buying quality that will last - but to be honest, I'm good for now, unless I manage to lose that two stone I'm working on and in which case there are some new clothes I'll need.

Up on board for a while! To quote N1k3, Just 'not buying' It!

7_week_wonder

Slowdown wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30849473

This is a link to an article about our 'Stuff'. Looks like many people are starting to question this desire. I'm really glad we are doing something about it.

Great article - but I'm obviously not cured yet as my initial reaction was "Ooooh - he's written a book, I need to get it"

A quiet day here, OH is at work so I'm pottering with a bit of decluttering thrown in for good measure.

Have a good weekend everyone.