NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

rosiepup2000

I haven't been able to do an account for January because I didn't start to keep a proper record of my spends until the second week, but so far my non-essential spends have comprised a couple of LED lightbulbs (used my Amazon trade-in vouchers), a new basics toaster which cost a whopping £4.85 (my existing toaster is a basics one and has lasted over 6 years and is still going but is becoming a bit temperamental, so I suspect it's on its last legs, but can't complain at 6 years for a fiver), and £2.93 on books. I've also spent quite a bit on cinema and theatre tickets, but these are my great treat and budgeted for, so I'm not looking to cut down on those. I'm on track to achieve my goal of being able to pay off the bedroom furniture and furnishings I bought at New Year without dipping into savings :-)


The good ship NBI has definitely made me much more aware of what I'm doing, but old habits die hard! I went to Sainsbobs this morning to buy cat food because it's on offer at the mo for about half the price I'd normally pay. When I paid I got a till spit voucher giving me £6 off a £40 spend, and I immediately started working out what I'd get on my next shop, to spend the £40, came home and started writing my list out for next week....and then thought, hang on.....the last 3 weeks I've averaged about £10 pw on my essentials-only food shop. Practically all the stuff I was putting on my list was stuff I didn't need right this minute and would just have added to the stores mountain...so why spend £40 to save £6 when I could just stick to essentials and only spend a tenner?? So I'm binning the list!


I noticed in the Argos catalogue they're putting ratings on vacuum cleaners so you can compare energy usage and performance on hard floors/carpet. I think this might be an EU Directive and if so quite a useful one.


Edited to add - someone mentioned seeds/fruit bushes from Aldi - I bought a blackcurrant bush last year which did really well considering it was only its first year. I'd also recommend Lidl's veg/flower seeds which will probably appear in the next couple of weeks. They're very good value, and with occasional surprises. I sowed a packet of their flower seeds last year and found some tomato plants coming up as well. Tough little blighters, too, they were still producing tomatoes into December.

vulpix

I had a Henry for about 15 years.I retired him to freecycle and bought an upright as I thought it would be easier when i felt very fatigued.I regret it.I would be interested in reviews of those Airams or whatever they are called.Lightweight and cordless.

Did you see that photo doing the rounds at Christmas of a shop window nativity made up of Henrys? Cute.

Another hours work on the wardrobe and I will be ready for the next piece.Sorry to talk about it all the time,it is taking over, literally it's in the middle of the kitchen floor.It is keeping me from spending money though.

I always have a project on the go of some description.I just love mending something or restoring something that others see no value in.My whole house consists of other peoples cast offs which I have reloved.I suppose it is my hobby,extreme crafting.I will do a before and after shot of the wardrobe if anyone would like to see.

loving your work shipmates,heres to a smooth sail through February,
Vx

Busymumofthreeplusdog

vulpix wrote: »

I had a Henry for about 15 years.I retired him to freecycle and bought an upright as I thought it would be easier when i felt very fatigued.I regret it.I would be interested in reviews of those Airams or whatever they are called.Lightweight and cordless.

Did you see that photo doing the rounds at Christmas of a shop window nativity made up of Henrys? Cute.

loving your work shipmates,heres to a smooth sail through February,
Vx

Another friend suggested an air ram, pricey though. Will check out the reviews.
Thanks for all the tips. Oh did see the Henry nativity, some peeps have great imagination.

candygirl

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://images.esellerpro.com/2105/I/742/644/Hetty__sit_n_ride_play04.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Henry-Hetty-Sit-n-Ride-Car-Vacuum-Cleaner-Hoover-Casdon-Ride-Baby-Walker-Casdon-/251172893953&h=800&w=800&tbnid=t-VvAA7ipkpxTM:&zoom=1&q=hetty+ride+on&tbnh=80&tbnw=80&usg=__DJN86tqUxvWMc50A7i7ucQnAGeg=&docid=6hKRY5A4nf53tM&sa=X&ei=TWvNVLeYLoP3aqOYgrgK&ved=0CBIQ9QEwAw&start=1

I got my DGD one of these when she was tiny:D

edwink

vulpix wrote: »

I had a Henry for about 15 years.I retired him to freecycle and bought an upright as I thought it would be easier when i felt very fatigued.I regret it.I would be interested in reviews of those Airams or whatever they are called.Lightweight and cordless.

Hi Vulpix

We have a Hetti which I mentioned in an earlier thread which is fantastic!!

I would definitely recommend a lightweight/cordless Air.Ram as I have one and it so useful!! I have a very sturdy G*ech, one of their more expensive models. My Mother in law has one of their cheaper models and it feels cheap and nasty. She has already broken one!!

One thing to seriously consider when buying one of these types of cleaners is to look at the amount of dirt etc. that it will collect in the container before it needs emptying. The dirt collection container on mine is a little small and needs emptying frequently. G*ech say that these cleaners collect the dirt etc. in to 2 small bales inside the collecting container. But, I have had mine for 2 years now at that has never happened. When I empty it I have to be careful otherwise the dirt goes everywhere and is so dusty. Apparently they state that they are clean to empty because it collects the dirt in to these clean little bales but in my experience it does not!! You need to use a coin or something similar to open the collecting container once you have removed it from the cleaner. On emptying mine for the first time I found the blooming thing so hard to fit back together. My hubbie also struggled with it. We eventually got the 2 pieces back together and then used a coin to secure the locking screw back in to position. Lets just say I do love mine but I hate having to empty it as I take at least 10 minutes each time I empty it to get the 2 pieces back together again. I manage it eventually but it is honestly a complete and utter pain to do!!

On the plus side they are very light weight, clean up very well and mine holds it's charge for around 40 minutes. I originally purchased mine for upstairs because I can not carry my Hetti upstairs as it is too heavy. But I use mine upstairs and downstairs now as it is so easy to use especially being cordless!!

Hope I have not confused you and my experience is of some help!! Just give me shout if you want to know anymore about my one!!

I hope others on our jolly ship will be able to offer advice too!!!

Edwink x

Igamogam

vulpix wrote: »

I had a Henry for about 15 years.I retired him to freecycle and bought an upright as I thought it would be easier when i felt very fatigued.I regret it.
Vx

I have had my Henry since 1984:eek: Still going strong - replaced hose twice and bit on the end of the tube about 4 times..........wouldnt be without it and will be sorry the day it decides its had enough:(

Slowdown

Peep! Peep!

Piping myself to the decks mateys.

First day of Feb and we're still on board. Marvellous.

Had a goodish week as described earlier with eats out rather than spends on 'stuff'.

Yesterday DH and I went to a part of the North Kent coast called grain island. We seem to find the name of a place and wander off to walk round it. Took less than an hour to drive there and we had a wild walk. And when I say wild that's exactly what I mean!

It was a longer walk than expected, just over 7 miles, and the weather was very unkind. The ground was already muddy from sheep hooves, we were on the Thames estuary and the wind was blowing across the very flat land like a hurricane. About half way round it began to rain then snow. It was about -3 in the wind and we were soaked! I have pulled a muscle in the back of my leg slipping around on the mud and DH, who already has a dodgy knee, managed to tweak that! Result was a pint and peanuts in a village pub to thaw out and dry out followed by fish and chips at home. Every penny was well spent I can tell you.

Luckily we don't seem to be experiencing quite the same weather on this ship and the waters appear calm.

As for Henry Hoovers, I've had mine for 10 years and he's still going strong. I have a son called Henry which has made for fun over the years - "Henry, get Henry," shouted mum!

Might pop out and get some food bits today. I have got a bit of a stomach problem at the moment (not sea sickness) and need a couple of food stuffs to calm it down.

Hope you all have a calm and restful Sunday.

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

boultdj

Morning All, 1st of Febuary all ready, and in order to keep up the no buying I'm making it a baking day, should keep OH happy, plan is cherry scones, fruit cake, cheese scones and scoth pancakes, that should keep me out of mischief for a bit plus warm the house up as I'm loathed to put the heating on whilst OH & the furry owner are still in bed reaching that time of life has the advantage of free personal heat :-] will also clean the bathroom and read the meters and try and do a meal plan.

GreyQueen

I had a builder round my flat one time, when he glimpsed the Henry vac he started raving about them. As in how brilliant they are and how they can suck up brick pieces if you take the bag out. Needless to say, I stood defensively between my Henry and this madman.:rotfl:

Seriously, the Henrys seem to be the only vac that Real Men will be seen with in public, every gas engineer I know has one to use as part of the servicing of boilers. And builders have them.

Mine was bought in 1997, Mum's about the same time, Nan has one and even Skinflint Auntie, a woman with more cheap than an aviary, astonished us by buying one. Mine is yellow, and at the time you could get regular Henrys in red and yellow and, less commonly, green and blue. Now there is the Sir Henry (only seen him in red) and the Hetty in shocking pink.

Today will essentially be a re-run of yesterday, with a possible late trip into a Tosspots at YS mark-down time, if I feel like it.

[Deleted User]

has anyone got any ideas for using up bits and pieces of leftover liqueurs in cooking? I just took everything out of the drinks cupboard and am determined just to keep the few drinks that we use. I have amaretto, tia maria, pear vodka and so on. I am going to start today by putting a bit of vermouth in the scrag lamb casserole. If I don`t tackle that cupboard then they will all just sit there for another year and then another one after that