NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

[Deleted User]

Hi all, I hope you've all had a good week! It's finally snowed here in Surrey, not much but more is expected. I hate snow so I'd rather this was our lot but we'll see.

February is going to be a tight month even with payday tomorrow so definitely 'Not Buying It!' apart from train fares, petrol for DH's car and the occasional SM to top up. We have around 7 days which we have planned meals for but we haven't got much lurking in the cupboards/freezer so spends will be necessary.

Coulddobetter

Had to buy fuel this week and managed to get to a Tesc# as I had 12p off a litre. I filled up for £46 rather than the usual £50plus most impressed. Went into M&S which was a mistake. I saw and bought the most lovely dress for a dinner I have to attend. Got it for £19 so very impressed. I have a lovely pair of shoes and a handbag already. I have 2 other work dinners that I have to go in May and June so not too bad. It could have been worse. Work pay for travel, hotel and dinner but not drink so I stick with water. I begrudge spending my cash on drink for a work do. It is most odd.
Had to buy a leaving present for a colleague but luckily some others are chipping in so should cost me more than a few pounds.
Very icy tonight, the car was skidding a bit so not looking forward to the drive tomorrow. This is when I wished I was retired. One can only dream.
Could do better x

Slowdown

Ahoy shipmates!

Is it time to attach the icebreaker to the front of HMS NoBuy? Some of you seem to be wading around in chilly waters!

Thanks fairy3 for the 'Eat well for less' programme recommendation. I watched it on iplayer this morning and thought it was really well done and will educate a lot of people. I did not know about the concentrated Orange juice bit. I buy it because its cheaper but always think I should be buying the fresh because it's better for you. How wrong you can be. It's just as well the crew of this ship know how to look beyond the labels. Found it amazing that a family of four could spend £13,000 a year on their supermarket shopping. And that didn't include any meals out! Amazing. Thing is, I think there are a lot of people out there hooked on brands. And not just food, but clothing, coffee shops etc etc. we fall for it time and time again don't we?

On the NBI front, I have still steered clear of any unnecessary spends this month. OH was paid today so I can think about next month's spends.

Unfortunately my social calendar is a bit like a number 7 bus. I do nothing for ages then everything comes along at once. Went out to dinner with an old friend last night, have a lunch date with two old workmates today and then DH and I are off out tomorrow. I'm consoling myself with the fact that I'm spending money on enjoying myself with friends and not buying 'stuff' I don't need. After all the saving money is a by-product of not buying it. My main intention was to declutter my life and stop feeding greedy greedy companies platefuls of my hard earned cash.

I'm off to the butchers today for my meat. I love walking to the village and having a chat to the butcher. It gives a feeling of community when you get to know your local shop keepers. We also have a fantastic chemist here. The chemist is brilliant, gives all sorts of consultation advice, tells you when to see a doctor and stocks a terrific range of goods. I go there now for all my medical bits and pieces and now for shampoo etc too as though it's a few more pennies, it's the same story of trying to keep the little man going.

I hope everyone has a lovely day and keeps warm. Snuggle up all of you in the snow bound parts and the Good Ship NoBuy will glide though the ice like a knife through butter. You won't feel at thing!

Kind regards
Slowdown

edwink

Slowdown wrote: »

Thanks fairy3 for the 'Eat well for less' programme recommendation. I watched it on iplayer this morning and thought it was really well done and will educate a lot of people. I did not know about the concentrated Orange juice bit. I buy it because its cheaper but always think I should be buying the fresh because it's better for you. How wrong you can be. Slowdown

Hi Shipmates

Hope everyone is keeping warm in these very chilly days we are having at the moment.

Can anyone fill me in on the orange juice part on the "Eat well for less programme" please. I try to buy fresh because I always think it is better!! But, reading Captain Slowdowns post it appear not to be!!

Keep warm everyone!!

Edwinkx

CEW

edwink wrote: »

Hi Shipmates

Hope everyone is keeping warm in these very chilly days we are having at the moment.

Can anyone fill me in on the orange juice part on the "Eat well for less programme" please. I try to buy fresh because I always think it is better!! But, reading Captain Slowdowns post it appear not to be!!

Keep warm everyone!!

Edwinkx

Hi Edwink,

Apparently there is absolutely no difference nutritionally between juice made from concentrate and fresh fruit juice. I have to admit that I thought fresh was better for you and had started buying this.

When I said I wanted to watch the programme to see if I could pick up some tips OH said he thought we wouldn't find anything helpful. We were both quite surprised. I will definitely be watching next week if only to see how foolhardy some people are.

Chez x

[Deleted User]

Morning shipmates, I think rather than letting the Gregg Wallace chap loose on them they should have steered them to this site and especially this part of the forum.

The family must be a God send to the big supermarkets. I watched as the Dad bought stuff he didn't even know what it was for Obviously more cash than sense

Their main recommended buys from the "experts" seemed to be burgers and bangers.Where was the chicken,fresh fruit,salads,fish ect.Seemed apart from the brocolli to amount to quite a bit of processed stuff and very little in the way of actual cooking .

I think there should be a programme called " Can't Cook,Can't be Ar$$ed to Cook"
The chap fancied himself as a chef in the kitchen but seemed to not give much in the way of variety at all.
I suppose we get the version that wants to make the "experts" look good but I just thought ,especially Mr Wallace, seemed a bit of a burk, and if he is a chef, I'm a monkeys uncle Not a great deal of cooking went on.

A slow cooked casserole packed with veg or some steamed fish or chicken would be a healthier option for dinner than the OJ,cereal AND bread and butter AND jam for breakfast .

Whats the matter with porridge,cheap as chips, warming, filling and keeps you going until lunchtime.

I admit I have quite a large store cupboard but it saves me from shopping for 10 days at a time and yesterday I made sure that everything I bought will tide me through most of February ,especially if we get the expected snow as then, because I use a stick to walk with I sensibly stay indoors rather than risk having a fall and clogging up bed space.

Talking of which I am awaiting a bed for my op. but have been told by the hospital that for a couple of weeks they try to keep as many beds free as possible for this reason. I am not too fussed as its not an emergency op. Another few weeks won't make a deal of difference in the scheme of things.

Well time to get a wriggle on and do a spot of ironing,not much and I'll soon get it polished off
have a good day chums and keep warm and wrapped up well
Cheers JackieO xxxx

purpleshoes_2

I personally don't drink any fruit juice, the fresh stuff is sugar heavy and generally heavy on the calories, I don't buy the stuff from concentrate either. You are better having a bit of fruit and drinking water. Even smoothies end up having a lot of sugar in. Another thing I avoid is aspartame, it's in so many products. Also volvic water with a touch of fruit, full of added sugar, something like ten teaspoons per bottle. Innocent smoothies are also loaded with sugar.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Following on from 'eat well for less' - it surprised me that their meal plan didn't show how to stretch the Sunday roast, I,m guessing most of you here do, I base my meal plans on the Sunday joint or whole chicken.

No mention of rubberising whole chicken/ meat joint.

The family came over as pretty 'normal' compared to some that are on these types of shows, and the kids were great - is Greg Wallace the only food presenter they could come up with? Time for new blood - maybe someone that actually does the shopping/meal planning thing for real.

fairy3

Morning shipmates - Have commented on the eat well less on another thread but the pull of the labels, marketing and colours of the packaging did seem to influence the family (Booths) in their shopping choices and when the programme repackaged 'substituted' food in plain packaging Dad's face fell and became less interesting.
There were blind tastings for cheese and tea with groups which saw Tosco's everyday tea and A*da basic cheese coming out winners over middle and high end versions which was done well and highlighted taste over price.
Tomorrow will be the whole of January without going into a SM and have to say have not missed it - have had to resort to back up plan of Coop on a couple of occasions and Waitr*se once (when the weather saw the market stalls packed up too early for me) but items have been less then five and essentials.
Stocks are coming under control and cupboards and freezer have spaces and have no desire to refill thanks to this thread!

vulpix

Edwink, concentrated OJ is cheaper because it costs much less to transport it to the factory in concentrated form.It is then rehydrated.Nutritionally it is just the same.

Snow

Not seen husband for days! He went to work on Wednesday,slept in his car that night and stayed in a B&B last night.Other people have made it into work today so he is now on his way home.

Youngest is enjoying sledging.

I am,yes you guessed it working on the wardrobe.

Just had a call about working in the charity shop.Start next week,I will have to be very strict with myself about buying stuff.I also start at the library next week too.

Vx