NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

alec_eiffel

Hi everyone,

This month has not been a good one for us. We saved quite a lot but the month has felt very long, plus we were hit with a big vet bill last weekend which took the rest of our cash. Still we've had a reshuffle, w're just about OK and we have a couple of money off vouchers to use at the start of next month when we stock up and someone gave us a code for 50% off an event we want to attend, so May might be better than April.

Have a good weekend everyone.

WeeMidgie

Hello everyone, another week flies in and I'm sailing along on the good ship NBI. My savings are doing well, and I can't thank everyone enough for the encouragement and inspiration I find here.

I have enough reduced items from my haul at Morrisons today to see me through the weekend and into next week. Treat of the week has to be 4 heads of fennel for 25p each. I'll roast two with carrots, honey and thyme for my meal tonight.

As well as generally NBI in 2015, I resolved that this year would also be a no-spend year for clothes. I dress quite simply in a range of tops according to the temperature, and usually wear bootcut dark grey denims, which suit my shape and get re-dyed when they start looking faded. I jazz up the tops with the odd necklace or more usually a long scarf, colour matched to the tops. And I wear earrings. And a smile.

My attire isn't too dissimilar to most of my U3A friends, so I was somewhat nonplussed to be told by a visitor to our coffee club this morning that "you are pretty but would look so much more feminine if you wore dresses and skirts"!!

I do wear them for more formal occasions, but it's chilly where I live and I don't like the wind whistling around my legs! I must add that this woman is very nice, just a bit tactless! And has a very high-maintenance look! :rotfl::rotfl:I don't think she would venture onto our good little ship!!

Primrose

WeeMidgie wrote: »

. I dress quite simply in a range of tops according to the temperature, and usually wear bootcut dark grey denims, which suit my shape and get re-dyed when they start looking faded. I jazz up the tops with the odd necklace or more usually a long scarf, colour matched to the tops. And I wear earrings. And a smile.

My attire isn't too dissimilar to most of my U3A friends, so I was somewhat nonplussed to be told by a visitor to our coffee club this morning that "you are pretty but would look so much more feminine if you wore dresses and skirts"!!

I do wear them for more formal occasions, but it's chilly where I live and I don't like the wind whistling around my legs!QUOTE]


I laughed at this. I wear trousers almost all the time these days. I just find them more convenient and it means I can wear socks and not have to struggle putting on tights. But I did wear a dress when I went out for lunch with friendsrecently and laughed at my husband's reaction... "Blimey, you've actually got legs !"

[Deleted User]

I too wear less formal wear most of the time,I enjoy wearing longish cotton skirts when I'm on holiday but prefer to wear trousers or jeans as I spend a lot of time with my DGS and their two mutts, wearing smart clothes isn't really practical :)

I put my hands up and confess chums I splashed out some cash today I went up to London with DD to see 'Cats' at the Palladium it was a belated birthday treat from her and we also had lunch.When we went to pick up the tickets from the box office I saw that the Sinatra show was due for a run in July-October.As the last time I had been to the London Palladium was when I saw him 'live' many moons ago I thought it really looked good I rang my eldest DGS Danny and asked if he would like to see it and he jumped at it as he too is a fan.So I splashed out for a couple of tickets for us in August naughty but Oh so worth it as the music is my favourite and strangely enough his and has been for about 10 years which is odd as he is 25 this year !!! but he loves that era and he said go for it gran get two tickets and I'll pay you for mine so although I spent a large chunk of cash I managed to get top price tickets for half price because the chap saw my stick and said are you registered disabled and I said yes I am (true, and I have a card to prove it) ,no probs he said I will do you two seats for just under £60.00:j:j:jso we have got two really good seats for half the cost.So not too sinful, but I shall promise not to be led astray again honest chums :):)
By the way 'Cats' was amazing and a better show than the one we saw when it came out in 1981 when DD was 11.
Lunch was pretty good as well in Bella Italia right opposite, so good I am not in the least bit hungry and am just going to have a nice cuppa and feet up in a minute, been a long day
Promise I won't be keel-hauled or anything :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

pm2326

A weird thing happened while out shopping today

I went to nearest major town this morning and saw the expensive coat I want for winter in a sale and it was reduced by £110.....they only had 1 left in my size......it sort of fell onto the counter along with my debit card...and somehow ended up in my wardrobe this afternoon

I know I said I was going to raise funds first but I can't miss out on a bargain like that !

In my defence I will still be selling stuff to cover the cost and I did my weekly food shop this afternoon and I only spent £8.23 :T

vulpix

Well done jackie o and pm2326 on your bargains.Having money to spend when we see a bargain courtesy of NBI.
The house buyer who made an offer on mine and then lost their buyer has sold again.She is viewing again tomorrow.Fingers Crossed.
I think I will be able to overpay the mortgage by about £300 this month.It all helps.Vx

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there shipmates!

Hey Jackie ease up on yourself fellow sailor - the point of NBI and MM&M is to live life to the full and enjoy yourself - it looks like you got a well deserved bargain too!!! Just dont get taken in by the big corporations and all their hype - but if sommat is a treat for you - go for it girlfriend!!! Have fun! I went to Belgium last month and am off to a concert this month with a clear consience because I was frugal the rest of the month (s). :j

Wee Migie (excuse spelling) your U3A companion is a tad tactless!!! You must be a real good person - cos I would have been so tempted to come back with sommat like 'well I prefer the real person look rather than so much artifice! Make up firms make so much out of stupid people dont they!! ' Yep - I regularly eat Pedigree Chum for breakfast (and I wear a little make up )

NBI today - managed to make myself come home from Scrapbooking class and snack on a crumpet while the jacket potato cooked and NOT get a takeaway which I was tempted by! LOL Also happy me pepper plants have at last shown their first leaves and so it is hopefully going to mean that I wont be buying so many of them this year!

Sail on calm waters folks!:T

RicardaRacoon

Hello everyone

Can't sleep (had a lay in and a 2 hour nap today, so not tired at all...) so decided to get my finances for this month sorted out. It is high time that I come back on bord, especially food spendings had been riddiculous this month... But to my defence I have to say that I also had visitors over Easter and it was my last day in my old job on Friday and we had a small party on Thursday with snacks and wine...

Well, I had quite some higher bills this month for insurances, train tickets etc. Then there is a short trip cominig up next week and I alreay booked the next holiday, which is a trip to Disneyland with friends in May... We got quite a good deal for the hotel though, but train tickets are quite expensive as it is bank holiday weekend...
Plus I bought loads of clothes this month. Really needed something decent to wear and a haircut for my new job.

I also spent quite a bit on small bits and bobs, sewing supplies, a big load of yarn for my charity knitting and so on....

So I think I will turn May into a saving month and expect to not be in the mood for too much shopping as I will be tired out from my new job.

Jackie, I think the tickets are a very good spend! Quality time with your grandson makes it worth it!

pm well done on getting the bargain coat! Sometimes waiting really pays off!

I had a good laugh about the "stolen" lawn mower. Gla the police was able to laugh about it as well!

Lynplatinum, our police only comes when called when they can drive to the scene... My granny has view over a field from her house and last summer when it was really hot and dry some teenager attempted to burn down the crops. So granny called the police who said that since they can't drive to the corner of the fields where it was going on, they won't come... Should they manage to set the field on fire she should just call the fire brigade...

So, I'm off to bed and will try to get some sleep as I will meet friends tomorrow at ten for coffee, knitting and chatting.

Have a nice Sunday!

1HANNAH

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Ahoy there shipmates!

Hey Jackie ease up on yourself fellow sailor - the point of NBI and MM&M is to live life to the full and enjoy yourself - it looks like you got a well deserved bargain too!!! Just dont get taken in by the big corporations and all their hype - but if sommat is a treat for you - go for it girlfriend!!! Have fun! I went to Belgium last month and am off to a concert this month with a clear consience because I was frugal the rest of the month (s). :j

!:T

Totally agree with what you said here
For me NBI is enabling me to focus more on quality time and experiences with family/friends. No one on their deathbed ever says they wish they had spent more time buying stuff
As we've been NBI, yesterday my DH took my eldest to the cinema to see the new Avengers film (cost about £20 for them both to go :eek: but ds1 is 9 and I can't ever remember DH taking him out on his own for the day ever, they both came home happy and excited. Usually DS1 would be nagging to be on the xbox all weekend, this morning he's sat playing with lego, building something inspired by the film (bonus is saving some electricity too ) (I spent the morning with DS2 at my parents for a brunch followed by a class party!)

Today will be spent pottering round the house, parents coming for lunch, homework & reading etc so a NSD (other then our much needed weekly Tesc0 delivery that is!!)

Have a good day all

GreyQueen

I used to share a house with a couple with a young son. I was sitting in the kitchen one day when the wee lad, then about 3 years old, was 'helping' a visiting friend bake a cake. He was standing on a stool so he could see over the table and dropping slices of apple into the cake mixture.

Over two years later, I heard him reminisce about that moment! I was astounded that such a young child would remember such a modest and quiet moment, but he had obviously banked that memory among his favourites.

I'm going out later to wander around the city and visit the blossoming trees. A lot more fun than shopping. I'm not taking a camera, I'm not aiming to do anything other than mind-bank their ephemeral beauty.