NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Margaret54

Phew these pages sure move fast:) but I am loving reading about all of you shipmates x Choppy waters for many here and hopefully with our backbones we can support each other whatever worries us. I only need to buy a few items in the morning all needed, and will pop into the local library rather than buy a few books:) See? all your good intentions are rubbing off on this wee shipmate too:) goodnight everyone see you in the morning x Margaret

emslovesmickey

Well i made the mistake of popping into Sainsburys today - and spent £13.31 (palindromic if pointless). Wish I hadn't gone in but what's done is done.

Payday is the day after tomorrow so barring any unnecessary spending (which I'm going to make d*mn sure there isnt) I should be putting just over £550 into my savings account tomorrow.

Week off work now so the not spending is going to be harder I think. I've just gotta keep focussed. I've got plenty of things to make task wise so fingers crossed it keeps me occupied.

Aril

Evening:D I have caught up on everyone's doings and discussions again:j

Clothes for best. I have lots of pretty clothes that I wear daily. Even for cleaning I have ones that I enjoy but if they get bleach on them it's not the end of the world. I dress up my jeans etc with a whole range of different styles and colours of scarves that I've bought or been given second hand. I've discovered that I'm naturally a skirt wearer so on my days off or at the weekend I tend to wear one so that it feels different to a working day. I've passed on several hippy velvety skirts and tops as I simply don't wear that kind of thing these days.

I'm not one for spending great sums on myself. However, what I have done with money I've been given as gifts is to book myself onto a couple of historical/practical one day courses. One is spending the day making medieval herbal medicines and the other single nail knitting. My greatest pleasure is to have time to mooch about in the library and then bring home a pile of books:j I haven't failed to see the irony that behind many articles about decluttering in media of late there is an author with a book on the subject hoping you'll buy it:rotfl:

I completed a four mile run today along the sea front at Worthing. It was an organised fun run but I took the deliberate decision to go near the back so I could run at my own extremely slow pace and enjoy the experience. Yes although not last I was in the last few but I loved enjoyed the views of the sea and the fact that I just kept going and didn't need to walk. For me it's about the distance not the time nor how fast everyone else is running....now I have sussed I am beginning to enjoy the jogging.


BunBun- my son has mild Aspergers and took his exams last year. He started to go out running [he got me into it in the first place when he persuaded me to do a charity 5K] which allowed him to deal with all the stress of his exams and some of the difficulties socially he faced. A year on he's much changed, more confident and has lots of friends.
Arilx

Rebelle

Ahoy shipmates!

NSD here today, feeling a bit under the weather & haven't left the house... in fact barely left the sofa all day, but at least I've caught up with more of this thread!

My only spend this weekend has been yesterday when I bought milk - & despite being tempted by the Pringles (Go on, said my Primitive Brain, treat yourself, it's the weekend!) I didn't give in & left the shop with milk & only milk! I am terrible for going into the corner shop or Tesco Express for one item & coming out with five, ten or even twenty pounds worth of stuff I don't need, so this is an achievement for me. :beer:

Had anticipated spending about £20 going out for a meal on Friday night with a good friend & her husband, but he went & paid the bill while we were still chatting... then afterwards we agreed I'd pay my share by making some jewellery for my friend & some for her to give as a gift to her niece, so a frugal night in the end! :money:

I've only recently taken up making jewellery, started as a hobby but I got such a good reception from the girls at work with the stuff I made (& made a bit of Xmas cash selling a few bits too!) that if I can get my act together & find the time this year, I hope to turn it into a proper little sideline business to supplement my day job, & possibly in future enable me to reduce my hours or even quit my 9-5 altogether. This is the dream, anyway....

I think this is why I've found this thread so compelling... because by taking the comprehensive 'Not Buying It!' approach towards wasteful spending & really being mindful about money & what you want to be able to do with it, it feels as though my dreams of not having to work 9-5 and escaping the rat race to live in a Tiny House (see here http://thetinylife.com/what-is-the-tiny-house-movement/ ) are that bit closer!

Hope everyone's had a good weekend, I'm off to my bunk hoping I'll wake up feeling better tomorrow ready for work.

Night all - & thanks for the continued inspiration! :T

[Deleted User]

Good evening chums I can relate to the cancer scares I had breast cancer in 2007 and I have never been so sacred in my life ( and I am quite a stoic sort of person as a rule) I thankfully have recovered after a mastectomy,chemo and r/therapy, then 5 years of drug therapy I have had two ops.last year, and am awaiting my final op. within the next few weeks for the reconstruction.
Its a long and frightening road, but I feel every day that I am so very,very lucky to have survived.There were many ladies and a few chaps as well when I was poorly who sadly weren't as lucky as myself.

Every day when I get up I feel thankful that I beat the grim reaper of another soul. I never ever take anything for granted as your whole life can change in the space of the minute it takes to be told "I'm afraid in not good news "
I enjoy every day to the full, I sometimes feel guilty as at my age it seems so unfair that young women lose their fight while myself who has seen many years on this earth survive,but as my DD says "there is always a reason for things Mum" which I guess is true ,but what that is I haven't a clue.

So each day to me is a chance to give something back, to the life I so very nearly had cut short, by this awful illness.

My youngest DD is doing a charity walk at the end of March for a little girl in our area who is very poorly at the moment with cancer ,two years old and really going through the mill poor little lass.
My DD has five strong healthy children, and bless her leads a very full and busy life working full-time along with her OH to keep the kids,but she is also doing her bit to help someone else who is having a hard time . I shall walk with her part of the way rattling my bucket and asking folk to help out if they can.I can't do the walk myself as I have a slight walking disability and I'd probably end up in the hospital again.But if you see a doddery old dear in the Chatham town centre are towards the end of March shaking a bucket please throw anything you can in it no matter how small for the little girl, Ruby, who is fighting to stay alive. If you live anywhere in the Medway area you will know who I'm talking about
www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Ruby-Laura-Smash-Cancer

For any of you who are going through similar you have my best wishes and hopes that you can also beat this blasted disease
Thank you

Now on the Not Buying It Boat I hopefully may have sorted my computer out. A great techy poster on the site suggested that maybe my CMOS battery had gone which apparently causes a great deal of "security certificate error " notices to appear.(which I had ) so much so I was even finding it hard to log into my emails.He suggested that I adjusted the time (which had't been working since before Christmas ) and it would make things work better (yay it did) and my lovely son-in-law Simon says if I buy a new battery he will fit it for me ,costs about a quid :):) maybe saved me the cost of getting a chap out and /or replacing my computer :):)
Isn't it great if it works .This site is fabulous for help.
I also had a plate of left over veg to bring home tonight which I will use tomorrow night for dinner. Nothings going to waste at all :):)
JackieO xxx

GreyQueen

:T Well done on resisting your Primitive Brain's wish for Pringles, Rebelle, I have to turn my ears away from their siren lure, too.

Have spent precisely £2 all weekend, on cakes of all things, to take to a pal's where I spent yesterday afternoon. Naughty, but nice.

I'm going to be looking at a new wristwatch later today. I have an appalling history with watches, even the expensive ones last under 3 years, so will be having a cheapy. The difference in survival of a £10 watch vs a £30/£50 or £70/£80+ watch is nil in my nearly 40 years' experience of wristwatch wearing, so am just not prepared to part with mucho cash. I could just tear up a couple of twenties to replicate the money-wasting experience of having a better watch.

Will have to pick up a few bits and pieces of groceries this week, as am down to one egg (which will be eaten shortly) and need a few other bits. My rubber chicken fed me for a week but its all gone now.

Keep up the good work, my lovelies, I'm still pleased and amazed I was able to pay cash for a washing machine in early January without falling into EEK! territory on the old bank account.

Bobarella

Hi All
Nice to catch up on everyone's news. I had a good head start in the not buying it department as I worked both days over the weekend, which in turn brought in tips, free coffee & free lunches. I used some of my amazon trade in credit to buy a new rucksack that is a replacement for my old from college one that has done me for about 15 years afterwards! The new one is highly luminous as I am now cycling most places in city traffic. And it's much bigger so I can get my son's school bag, lunchbox in etc when we ride home. When I think now of any need I immediately think, how can I satisfy that without spending. Which tells me I've come a long way.

Have a good Monday all.

Bob

vulpix

Hi shipmates

I had breast cancer 3 years ago now.I focused on being stoic for everyone and made no fuss to make it easier for everyone else. I carried on working as long as I could and quite sucessfully ignored it and never talked about it.I never allowed my inner chimp to discuss cancer,steadfastly didnt allow myself to acknowledge it It's only now that I can reflect on what a toll being brave took on me.Thank goodness I can potter about at home and my biggest foe is this bloomin wardrobe.

I in my adult life struggle to spend money on myself.Quite happy to buy second hand but sometimes it just makes life harder.Why didnt I just buy a wardrobe?I wanted a Victorian one yes but I could have saved up and bought a beautiful antique instead of ripping my hands to pieces removing old veneer.I bet I sell it when i'm finished too!

I am having a day off from it today to let my hands heal a bit.It's a beautiful day so am going out for a little walk and possibly coffee with my eldest daughter who is such good company.She is very much like my old me strong and practical.

Have a lovely day all Vx

[Deleted User]

Morning chums I have to go to the shops today to buy a CMOS battery for my 'puter and thats all I'm buying,nothing will tempt me to prise open my purse for food.My friend gave me a spare Aldi £5.00 money off voucher to use before close of store this Thursday so I am saving the rest of my food money to use it on there I have about just over £41 and coppers in my food purse so fingers crossed I resist all temptations to buy any food before Thursday :):).I think I will use it for some basic long term stuff like rice,pasta and maybe some tinned stuff.with a few veg thrownm in for good measure.I have just rewritten my freezer list of stuff and there is a slight bit of room in there so I should be able to jam maybe some meat in there at a pinch by Thursday.But then it means hopefully I shall have a shopping free month in February as it being a quite short month anywaya I have menued it already :):) IYSWIM.
Onwards and upwards chums
This is what I have already in the freezer
Freezer Food 26th January 2015
1 x packet multi-seeded wraps,
1 x bag of flavoured butter, 3 x portions chopped bacon
7 x 7ozs portions minced beef, 1 x packed sliced bacon
3 x 2-portions sausages, 1 x bag diced pork
1 x portions salmon Fillet, 1 x bag of flavoured mashed potatoes
2 x pepper sauce.1x garlic sauce.1 x lemon sauce.
1 x smoked cod steak, 3 x 2 portion sausages
1 x Turkey Leg, 3 x southern fried Chicken pieces
1 x cod loin, 1 x river cobbler fish
1 x lb stewing Lamb, 5 x chicken drumsticks
1 x portion diced beef for casserole, 1 x bag diced red peppers
1 x bag sliced mushrooms, 1 x bag carrot & swede diced
2 x bag chopped bacon assorted butters & sauces for marinating
1 bag stewing lamb
1 x small portion short crust pastry 2 x breaded fish/chicken???

Middle Shelf
1 x portion smoked mackerel & assorted fish
1 x bag frozen cauliflower
2 x portions spare ribs,
1 x bag of stewing lamb & lamb fillet
2 x chicken quarters
1 x bag carrots, 1 x bag diced swede and carrots for casseroles
2 x Lambs shanks,
1 x bag stewing steak meat,
1 x portions shoulder pork steaks
2 x boxes diced white onions, 1 x bag sliced mushrooms
1 x Angus steak
Bottom Shelf
2 x bags fish cod, salmon kippers etc
5 x vegetable curries
1 x salmon steak, 1 x gammon joint
1 x fish cakes,
1 x quarter pounder b’burger
3 x breaded fish

So what ever I buy on Thursday I will have to shoehorn into existing space :):)

Onwards and upwards chums :):)
JackieO xxx

[Deleted User]

I am going to buy today. Seeing that the euro is so low ie 75p, I am going onto my favourite german fabric site and am stocking up with beautiful wool cloth, probably a few lots. I want to make a jacket for myself and skirts etc, maybe a coat next year so I am going to enjoy myself for the next hour