NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

pm2326

GreyQueen wrote: »

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.

I'm going for a wander later too.

It's lovely and sunny here but a little chilly at the minute, did all my housework yesterday so I'm going to tidy front garden (weeds coming through the gravel) then package up some mags I've sold.

Nearest post office open on Sunday's is 4 mile away so this afternoon I'll bus over there (have annual pass so no cost) and walk home. That'll stop me buying anything while I'm out as won't want to carry it all the way home :rotfl:

eandjsmum

pm2326 wrote: »

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


Had a similar experience with a pair of reduced Birkenstocks the other week, however this was after I had been to town to do sort out an ISA. :rotfl:


In my defence savings are up,up,up and spending is way, way down.

emslovesmickey

1HANNAH wrote: »

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

That's lovely that. It's nice to hear about a kid using their imagination instead of playing video games The film is great - I used my cinema gift card to go and watch it on opening night.

I get paid tomorrow so I put the remainder of last months wages in my ISA. Since the beginning of the year I've saved over £2k!

Bathory

Hi everyone,

I start back in work tomorrow and its right in the middle of a city centre surrounded by loads of shops. :eek: I see this as a test on Not Buying It and how disciplined I will need to be. The wage is a bit bobbins but in this day and age I think this has become the norm and even so, around 70 people applied for the position.

Since joining this thread I have become better at not spending on rubbish, and although I do fall for silly stuff occasionally, it is not as frequent and I think before parting with cash. My new job is for 6 months so in that time I will be squirrelling away as much as possible (although allowing for the occasional treat) as I have learned from doing temp work that it can be pulled from under your feet with virtually no warning. OH however, has gone from temp to permanent work, but the transition from weekly to monthly pay is going to mean that the month of May will be extremely tight for us both until payday.

pm2326

Bathory wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I start back in work tomorrow and its right in the middle of a city centre surrounded by loads of shops. :eek: I see this as a test on Not Buying It and how disciplined I will need to be. The wage is a bit bobbins but in this day and age I think this has become the norm and even so, around 70 people applied for the position.

Since joining this thread I have become better at not spending on rubbish, and although I do fall for silly stuff occasionally, it is not as frequent and I think before parting with cash. My new job is for 6 months so in that time I will be squirrelling away as much as possible (although allowing for the occasional treat) as I have learned from doing temp work that it can be pulled from under your feet with virtually no warning. OH however, has gone from temp to permanent work, but the transition from weekly to monthly pay is going to mean that the month of May will be extremely tight for us both until payday.

Congrats on the new job :j

If you think you're going to be tempted to spend I would either not take your purse or take only the amount you need for travel costs etc, that way you can only window shop!

I did this for a nearly a year when I kept buying snacks at work...now I take my purse but it stays in my bag and never gets opened during the week :rotfl: can't actually remember the last time I bought something at work!

Lynplatinum

Well done Emlovesmicky - that is an amazing amount to save in 3/4 months!! Imagine how pleased most people would be if they were told that they were going to have a £2,000 pay rise!!! What a brilliant present to give yourself!!

Bathory - congrats on new job!! My tip is to take minimum with you, as previously said BUT I would also take an emergency £10 or £20 - hidden away from your usual purse/wallet. In your purse/wallet on a piece of brightly coloured card have Martin's Mantra written 'Do I really need this??' (or if its food - 'Do I really need this on my hips?' LOL)

NBI today was that I dropped my car off at the garage and walked the 1hours walk home - such a beautiful bright day - looking up at fabulous blossom against a blue sky and talking to several friendly dogs and their owners. lovely and saved the £4 taxi fare and went toward exercise goals - which should lead to weight loss!! :j

All this for free! Chat to a friend who came round for a cuppa and pottered in garden weeding plant pots again (almost free!) and then another friend came round and has agreed to come and help me revamp my kitchen!! All free! I am just so lucky!! Even had some work today which should help with cost of kitchen renovations!

Sailing on sunny seas just for today :-) Hope you folks are too!:A

emslovesmickey

I spent £7.86 on a cross stitch chart of middle earth yesterday, which im going to do after i finish the seven still in my stash. HAED have a sale on their charts at the moment - 45% off so I thought it was best to get the chart now. Didn't realise how big it is though - over 100 pages! Should keep me busy for a long time.

I've also been planning next years birthday presents (i know im organised but its only cos i saw something that gave me an idea) I'm going to get water soluble canvas that i can use to stitch things onto t-shirts/bags.

[Deleted User]

Well done Bathory on the job and a pat on the back for emslovesmickey on your savings thats amazing.

I have no shopping or spending to do today and only a little bit of sewing then it will be feet up and a bit of knitting until around 2.30 when I go off to let DDs mutts out and be there for my 3 DGS coming home from school.

Jack(15, is doing his French oral GCSE exam tomoorrow) and has been walking around muttering darkly in french for the past few days so I promised I would help him revise this afternoon.

My purse is firmly shut this week though ,still Friday will be the start of a new month and the left over cash from the food purse goes straight into the holiday 'fun' account which pays for trips and treats on holiday.
Hope you all have a good NSI day
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx

suki1964

Vulpix hope all went well with your tests and you don't have long to wait now for your op. I also read on MM&M that you have finally finished the quilt, well done you:T

emslovesmicky what a fantastic amount saved :T something I need to really start doing seriously again

bathory good luck with your new job

Still laughing over the mower, even more so when the following day whilst being used it did konk out and needed lifting for a mend :rotfl::rotfl:

Been a funny ole week here it's turned really cold and we have snow, hail and heavy frosts. The potatoes have turned black and the broad beans are struggling hope they all pull through ok. Luckily the cabbages, carrots and onions seem not to be affected and everything else is still under cover so fingers crossed we won't get too far behind this season. This growing marlarky isn't as easy as it seems

Hubby started work this week. He came home knackered and in a fowl mood last night which wasn't ideal as we had theatre tickets to see Evita ( bought for us) Still we went along and he stuck it out till the interval. I was enjoying it but his back was killing him so we left and came home. Tbh the chairs were that uncomfortable my own neck and shoulders were feeling the strain. It was only a local production, but such talent from the leading players

Spending wise I'm keeping it to needs only still. Been doing a lot of baking lately and cooking for colleagues. I really need to look more into this as so many people ask me to make blah blah, I'd love to take it forward and earn a few bob from working from home. ATM I only charge for ingredients, not time. Don't get me wrong I'm no supercook,,I just enjoy it. Made some curry dishes for the boss to sample as I'm hoping to do a curry night in work

Not working much this week as babysitting grandson for the weekend. We have a trip to the family farm planned if the weather stays dry, it's not expensive and there is plenty to see and do. Also will get him to make biscuits and cakes to take home and I think he can make pizza for tea. He's getting funny about what he will and won't eat and when his mum was small and going through the same stage, home made pizza always worked in encouraging her to try new toppings

So other then a few bits and bobs like milk and cheese, I'm hoping to avoid the shops again this week and be able to see an increase in my savings again

eandjsmum

No spends since Friday and have been paid back some petty cash. Will do a big shop after work tomorrow though. The kids are fed, beds changed, washing on. definitely have more time now not spending.