NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

bexster1975

Hello all. Sorry I have been MIA. No excuse, just life!

I find it so odd that people judge thriftiness in such a negative way. I don't mind at all that I am "known" for being careful, but very few people comment in a positive way. Pm2326 - I, like you, discussmy private life very little at work. It suits me fine actually as you don't choose who you work with so they don't all have to be friends!
It's a pity people who "waste" money aren't ridiculed in the same way, maybe they would stop their far more harmful habits!

Hope you are all well, chugging along here ok.

Bexster

vulpix

I was similar to GQ in my working life.A single teaching assistant working with married teachers for whom there were no money worries.
They had new clothes all the time,nice cars,spa breaks,fancy houses,holiday every term etc.A couple had a)a holiday home in Turkey and b)a fancy narrow boat on the canal.Their children had the best of everything,clothes ,horses,electricals,cars,music,sport etc etc lessons.They ALL also drank loads of alcohol every night and talked about how they couldn't wait for a drink in the staffroom at lunchtime!
If they ever said they liked an item of clothing I was wearing I was out and proud and used to say "charity shop"I did it on purpose because it made them uncomfortable.Naughty,naughty.
What made me cross was when we went out as staff and I had chosen the cheapest thing on the menu and had tap water they had whatever they liked and bottles of wine,then expected to just split the bill.Some of the older ones understood but the younger ones were disgusted when I said no.
I wasn't jealous,they work hard,their money but I didn't enjoy listening to them discussing what was to me them wasting money.Vx

Primrose

Some members of my family and friends think some of my frugal habits beyond the pale like washing and recycling plastic food bags and buying clothes from charity shops but those same habits allowed us to pay our mortgage off much earlier than planned, and what a relief that was when redundancy subsequently came along and hit us? It's sad that those who denigrate frugality are the first to complain "Oh you're lucky" or feel envious of others when hard times hit them and they have no money for emergencies, having spent it all on expensive holidays or extravagant living. Modern affluence has led to too much short termism and money on credit and many young people expect to start off married life on the same standard of living that took their parents about 25 years to build up to.

Lynplatinum

Hiya all

Yes, pm2326 - you will have the last laugh!! As another poster on here said - when rough times hit you will own your house and have some security and savings - and if times get really tough - as they have for folks like me - then you will have a fantastic skill set of how to cope!! :beer:

On MM&M I am trying to record not only the spends etc but also the frugal things I do everyday out of habit that others think are odd. So today (hangs head in shame) I had an hour or two to spare between students and ended up pottering round a 'vintage' (AKA @I saw you coming' - see Harry Enfield jokes/sketches) and then to a Cost! for a coffee and cake I know I have an entertainment budget of £5 er week but was supposed only to be £2.50 this week due to over expenditure last week -ho hum!!

Still got some great nickable ideas from the 'vintage' shop LOL

Amazing these 'vintage' shops - it consisted of stuff that many of us were throwing out a few years ago!! i think 1970s will be the next fad - now what have i got that i must n throw out till I canflog it at a retro shop??????????????????

janb5

BirdNerdSophie wrote: »

Hi everyone, I need to catch up on posts but I hope you are all happy and well!

I've been doing quite well on the no buy front, aside from a Burt's Bees order last week which, in fairness, was heavily discounted.

I've also embraced some OS ways as I have been using distilled white vinegar to clean the washing machine and as a fabric softener which is just as effective as specific products.

Hi- brown vinegar works just as well and is about 25 p a bottle @ Lidl. Dont be fazed by your friends-I thought your post was very interesting and you have done brilliantly!

nursemaggie

I second that janb5 I have been using the brown vinegar too and it does not effect the colour of anything it is fine.

VJsmum

Was it this thread or MMM where we were talking about P*ndora bracelets? (one of my bugbears - each to his own and all that, but they annoy me for some reason). Anyhoo on a similar line, i was just sorting out my glasses cupboard ("Kondoing" it:cool:) and i came across a gift DD got for her birthday last year from her friend. It was a teeny tiny mug with Mr Spock on it - not big enough to use as a mug, not small enough to use as an egg cup. On the packaging (yes, it is still in it's packaging one year on) it says "collect them all".

so it begs a couple of questions
a) why would you want one?
b) why design something that is neither use nor ornament.

I understand marketting (ish) but why would they implore everyone to "collect them all" - why would anyone want to?

My current bugbear is those "bobblehead" figures. DD is a geek - and wants to "collect them all". I get so cross at the amount of money she has spent on them (it runs into hundreds), then having to put them somewhere, and they keep bringing out new ones - any franchise, Hobbit, Marvel, etc - there is a s*dding bobble head for each character.

:mad:

vulpix

I use brown vinegar too

VJsmum

I use white vinegar - I buy 5 litres at a time from the chinese supermarket. It costs under a £ for 5 litres

I haven't told the family - no one has noticed.:p

eandjsmum

Evening All


Today at work I got a comment on my earrings - they were made from leftover beads.
My clothes are either from CS or made by me. I have been lucky finding brand new clothes with tickets still attached. I wouldn't be able to afford them otherwise.
Don't tend to do meals much so can't comment there.


Next prob both kids have proms coming up so means 2 lots of transport, clothes ect. Never had these when I was at school. I think that parents are seen as cash cows