NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

savingqueen

I have been reading along but not posted for ages, difficult to keep up with you all! I am still doing well with spends. Couple of extra spends that I was happy to pay and few times I have resisted temptation! Rest of time only spent on essentials. Success with DH - at weekend we needed a couple of bits so he popped out. I asked him to please, please, please stick to the list and for once he did!!

One situation was awkward. Went swimming with a friend and our children. Thought we were just going home after but decided I would say yes to a drink in the caf! so we could have a chat but only if friend suggested it. Had drinks for kids with me so would have just treated them to a bar of chocolate from the vending machine. It somehow morphed into Macrubbish (her idea) and I said I would buy the kids a burger and just have a cuppa myself. Somehow ended up elsewhere as she is on a diet so healthier foods, they were full so somewhere else entirely, DS hungry and grumpy by now so thought fine we will go for it.
Friend paid for me and DS whilst I was away from table and insisted on paying as she felt she had coerced me into going. She was persuasive but I could have said no to meal out. Also I was driving so would have needed to drop her home. I ended up letting her pay as she suggested going swimming again and coming back to ours for lunch. Friend eats out regularly and has more disposable income but not exactly rich. I am torn between posting some money in a little card through her door (bill was £25 for me and DS) or just making lunch for her and family next time. Next time I will be stronger and stick to original plans!!!! I mentioned to friend's DH we weren't going on holiday this year and he said "WHY?", not having the money didn't occur to him, they would just stick it on their plastic.

Sorry for long waffle. Indoors today with a poorly boy, 2nd in a row so NSD again. Sorted out a far, far cheaper phone/broadband deal with gift vouchers chucked in and cashback as well. Even without the extras saving a heap of money and feel so silly we didn't change before, everything else is shopped around for.

savingqueen

115k sorry for your loss x

ArthriticOldThing

Morning all. Wasn't too surprised to wake up to covering of white this morning as was up wandering in early hours(not unusual) and saw it snowing hard. Still, glad don't have to go out.:)
Would have been a NSD but got T*sco delivery coming this afternoon. Is a biggish spend:eek: but should not have to get much more than fresh veg etc for rest of month.
I know Ald* & Liddly are cheaper but it costs me so much to get there and back (in terms of both money and arthritis) that for me a delivery charge of £1 is best.
Have decided to experiment with my Breadmaker. Usually just made plain loaves but today am going to try an Almond and Apricot loaf plus Cheese and Bacon Loaf tomorrow. Will let you know how I get on.
Had better get on now - cooker waiting for good clean.

115K

savingqueen wrote: »

115k sorry for your loss x

Thanks, it was a friend of DH rather than mine but it was a shock as he was under 40 years old, very sad. It makes you appreciate what you have.

Bobarella

Hi All

We finally have snow in London as well today. Although thankfully not enough to close the schools or cause real issues. Its pretty much all gone now.
On my 3rd NSD in a row, I think this is due to doing a better shop last week & meal planning better.
Eating up some pasta leftovers at the moment which is warming, & have a chicken curry made up for tonights tea.

Decluttered one item today, an old waterproof jacket of my husbands, which is basically fine but now we cycle everywhere it isnt weather proof enough. It was the oldest item in his clothing collection, and as we celebrated 15 years of being together this week, it is older than our relationship!
I have a fleece that is similar, I purchased it in 1999, and it has just gone on and on, I've worn it on highland treks, to the other side of the world, on many dive boats, and for the last 14 winters at home. Still it goes on without a hole or sign of wear. It got me wondering how many of you had items like that? If I may name drop, the waterproof of my husbands was GAP & my fleece Karimor. I can highly recommend both.

Bob

joedenise

SavingQueen - I would just go for making the lunch at yours next time; you were, after all, coerced into going for a meal which you hadn't planned for.

Just make it a diet friendly for your friend. There are loads of good recipes on the net.

I'm having a NSD today and tomorrow as had an injection into my shoulder yesterday afternoon and have to rest it for a couple of days, including no cooking or housework! I'm so glad I mealplan so didn't have to worry too much about DH doing our food for next couple of days.

I prepped the meat for a lamb tagine yesterday morning so had been marinaded ready for DH to finish off prepping the rest of stuff ready to chuck everything into SC overnight and turn off this morning ready to reheat later. Just need to make some couscous to go with it.

He also made me some pea & ham soup, again following a recipe, for my lunch.

Tomorrow's planned meal is even easier - jacket potato & beans. I will probably have LO couscous with some chopped salady bits stirred through - will get DH to chop them ready for me to stir through.

Denise

fairy3

Finally did the car and house insurance and happily saved £140 combined which managed to come out of January funds (my month runs 9th - 9th) so two annual costs out of the way. Had a couple of calls and emails from other firms wanting to quote even though they are covered, annoying how my details are passed on.
Good luck with the pup's op tomorrow I have an old staffy 'boy' who is 11 and he is my constant companion.
On day 3 of fiscal fast and using up freezer pastry for a fish pie for dinner as not enough potatoes - not sure what the reaction will be but there are two choices (take it or leave it)
Edwink - Have a vision of a hen in a lovely knitted shawl snuggling up all cosy, hope she settles.
Sunny here with blue skies so hung washing out and river walk with the pooch on the agenda after lunch.
Have a lovely afternoon shipmates

Live_laugh_love

Was going to go for a walk today but saw the snow and thought Nope!!! Have one dodgy knee that I'm having physio for and the other is bruised from walloping it on a ladder at work so do not want to risk a slip or fall and any mote injuries!
So stayed in today sewing a raglan long sleeve t shirt with left over material. Got to the very last sleeve hem and promptly snapped one of the needles on my only twin needle!! So will have to spend some pennies to get a new one! Grrrr!!!!

savingqueen

thanks joe denise. I will do the lunch and I know they will appreciate the effort. I did pay for my friend to come somewhere expensive with me years ago when I was left some money. DH said I was to have a day out and then use the rest for sensible spends. Friend said she could never afford to do the same for me. So goodness knows why I am feeling guilty. Money huh?!


hope the hen and pup are both ok, obviously poorly people too! x

starsandmoon

Ive spent recently but in a careful way. It was my birthday at the weekend. As I have a Beefeater loyalty card I got a voucher for a free main meal as a birthday offer. If you fill out an online survey using a code off a previous receipt you can get a free bottle of wine. So we had a starter, 2 mains and a bottle of wine and the bill was £18 :j

Have started a spending diary as well as I fritter on food shopping. Do the classic pop in for milk and fruit and spend £30 on "bargains"

Money will be tighter soon due to a tax credits issue and my ex losing his job so maintainence off him until he gets a new one.