NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Bobarella

Hi All
Have had to go into london to buy a gift for the teacher which everyone has put in for. Anyway. I am now sitting in John lewis using my free coffee and cake voucher and just feeling so overwhelmed by the crazy amounts of things around me. I can't believe I ever shopped for pleasure now. In their cafe one smallish sandwich with no accompaniments such as side salad, crisps etc was £5.50!! I live in London anyway but I can't remember the last time I bought a cafe sandwich and at those prices who does?? Have been reading up on Amy Dacyczyn (the original martin lewis) over the weekend & I find having those thoughts in my head so helpful whilst sitting somewhere like this cafe. So that's my top tip of the day for all of us on the buy nothing journey. Read as many inspirational non spenders as you can find, & think what would they do? When faced with consumerism. Over & out!
Bob

1of3

Hi All

Can I come aboard?

Ive not been able to post for awhile but have been lurking and reading this thread with great interest.

I am at a stage that I am just weary with the instant gratification/Me,Me,Me culture and the perfect this that and other.As MrsLurcherwalker said-we all have our own version of Christmas but just because it is not an advertising departments version of what it should be doesn't mean it is not right!

parsniphead

I think the reason I like this thread as it seems to me likes lots of threads rolled into one. I tend to come to this one first as it is satisfying if I don't have time to read the others.

I have to go to the local shopping centre this morning with mum :eek::eek::eek: ( the shopping centre not mum);). It has to be done but only need to get one thing. She wants a new purse for Christmas and since the horrible shopping centre opened the local towns have been decimated to the point of p0undland and their ilk. I do want to buy her one which will last as I know it will be stuffed full within hours of getting it.....it needs to be strong.

Right off I go, hopefully back within the hour.

WeeMidgie

Just realising that the envelope cash system has enabled me to build up sufficient money in my main current account to easily cover all the next month's outgoings - as recommended in YNAB. This means that I can set up the envelopes to the end of January just now, instead of waiting til the 1st of the month - when of course the banks are closed.

I haven't used all the petrol allowance for this month, nor the pet food money, so will once again finesse those envelopes closer to actual consumption - an ongoing process. Re the cat food and cat litter, I have sufficient in reserve in case the weather turns nasty... A bit like the YNAB money buffer! So the resident felines will be fine for the next few weeks, whatever the weather.

It's trial and error, but I'm finding as more and more months go by, I'm gaining so much in peace of mind and financial security with this simple system - I know I need a lot less to live happily on than I would have believed when I was working full time. In fact I think the stresses and strains of full time work led to extra expenditure which just doesn't happen these days.

I also grew up with some very aspirational and "entitled" programming - e.g. used to think I "needed" a new outfit for Christmas - haven't done that for many years now, but it was something my mother did for herself and for us, but I now see as unnecessary. This year I wore a beautiful 20-year old silk jacket, which looks like new, to my work Christmas do and was complimented on it.

It has taken me a large part of my adulthood to stop filling with "things" the emotional gap of a middle class but emotionally deprived childhood. Becoming secure in myself, and loving the warts-and-all me has gone a long way to stop trying to find perfection through the false promises of consumption!

CAFCGirl

fuddle wrote: »

Unfortunately some clever person has already thought of that as an advertising slogan and is most probably earning mega bucks (because of our spending) for it... be more dog. :cool:

LOL I did wonder if anyone else would notice the similarities :rotfl: Although being more like my own dog means running free, chasing leaves in the wind and sniffing as my main source of entertainment - no spends necessary LOL

CAFCGirl

I spent this morning baking dog treats, all ingredients I had indoors and was pretty darn simple. I now have about 1000 small nibbles which are needed for his training programme. Plus Duck the Dog loves them!

HUZZAH - feeling righteous

chella

Does anyone know if there is a thread on trying to shop but not using the big supermarkets?? I find that when I go to Tescos I am bombarded with offers and such. I tried yesterday to find a butchers in my city and as big as it is there isn't one single independent butchers. I found one greengrocer.


In my city we have 2 Neros, 3 costa coffees! 2 Sainsburys 2 tescos. Hardly any small independent shops now. I did find a small haberdashery shop but it was expensive!


If I can I am going to try and avoid using supermarkets in order to help me not get so caught up in the commercialism of it all.

CAFCGirl

Would one of the meat delivery services be an option Chella? We had The Well Hung Meat Co before now.
Or are there any farm shops nearby who may have a butchery within them?

CAFCGirl

And a quick google revealed this http://nosupermarketchallenge2013.tumblr.com/

http://ayearwithoutsupermarkets.com/the-rules/

chella

thanks for the link, I just found another aswell , was just hoping there was some MSE oldstylers doing something similar.


There are butchers and grocers outside of town, about a half hour bus trip each way, but I wanted to avoid spending the money and the time also if that makes sense.


I walked around the city yeaterday and everywhere was supermarket chains and coffee shops and charity shops.


I have found a great little place that I can walk to on a nice day, slightly more expensive, but I can deal with that. I am sick of the supermarkets!


Apart from the marketstall, which sells cheap but on the verge of going off fruit and veg I found one small greengrocer.


The market stall is cheap, but satsumas look like they have been dropped, you know when they start to go mushy, the grapes look the same. I wouldn't mind but I want to be able to pick what I buy, the market stall have it all pre bagged so one out of 3 is half mouldy.


I am also not going to buy toiletries or under the kitchen sink stuff til at least march! I have loads to use, yet only 2 weeks ago bought more. I feel I am so caught up in the shopping and the habit of buying that I want to make 2015 a drqastic change.


Also needed new winter boots which I found in New look, but resisted. On looking through my wardrobe I have 4 pairs of nearly new boots, loads of items infact. I have really spent/wasted/frittered away a lot of money in my 15 years or so of living on my on and buying!


Just off for a read of the link now