NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

[Deleted User]

My youngest DGD Holly is a Pandora fan and loves it.The only thing I every bought her for her charm bracelet was last year when she graduated from Uni and her Mum managed to find her a tiny owl with a mortor board on its head.which she was delighted with and DD found by scouring different websites and managed to find it for me around half the asking price:) definitely a chip of the old block my DD .
Still not spending much,yesterday I toddled off to my outpatients appointment on the bus as I'm not allowed to drive until 6 weeks are up, so out came my bus pass and off I went .Very lucky where I am as the buses actually do run on their schedule and arrive when they are supposed to :)so free ride to the hospital and back then picked up my prescription from the chemist ,again free ('cos of my age ) then walked past the shops and came home. No point looking at the moment anyway as I can't carry anything heavy anyway.So my purse remains firmly closed :):) I can really get used to this way of life. DGD's B/F Toby has a birthday next week so I am going to look through my card stash (I craft cards as well) and find a nice one for him later on today,another freebie DD managed to find him a West Ham mug with his name on for me when she was in the West Ham shop a few weeks ago so thats his pressie sorted as well:)
Using up the slow cooked ham today for lunch with salad, I will also be making some HM soup from a pack of swede and carrots that I found in the freezer last night I had only paid 20p for it about a month ago as it was YS so with some diced onion and a couple of sticks of celery that should make several portions of soup for this week.. I may stick the SC on and make some rice pud as well today as I have a large tin of evaporated milk that will with a little ordianry milk make me a two pint-er which can be used during the week for puds. So the shops won't see me much this week either :):)
Have a good day chums
JackieO xxx

Lynplatinum

Confession time

I have bought: £16 worth of birthday present (requested JLewis vouchers so I couldnt make my own presy!) + nibbles for surprise 60th birthday + £30 on new jeans (other had holes in em - how?) and non wired bra (others v old and totally disgusting!! )

So in all have spent an unintended £46 this week. Not helping me stick to regime!! BTW I have been scouring CS for jeans for about a month (9 in local town + other towns I pass through) but no luck due to my size - plenty if you are size 10, 12, 14, and some 16s but v few size 18s! (Only old granny polyester trousers in that size usually!!) Its another reason to loose weight I know but - surprisingly - this rarely happens over night! Why arent their weight loss fairies???

Back to topic - was this all v wicked of me or can I be forgiven???
What is you folks take on this kind of expenditure?
Nite all :A

[Deleted User]

There are times and probably this is one of them where you really have to spend out Lynplatinum . If only to spare your blushes in the clothes dept
I spend very little as a rule but sometimes its a case of you really do need to part with some cash.Today I will be parting with a whopping great dollop of the stuff to pay for my new ramp from the back door down to the garden Its been long overdue for ages as the steps were crumbling away and becoming dangerous. I could have probably left it for next year but then the possibilty of actually falling and doing myself a damage was a bit daft.
I am of the age where I no longer 'bounce back up' again weeble-like and broken bones mean a prolonged stay in hospital.Neither of which appeals .

So today out will come my chequebook and a chunk of dough will be on its way to the gardener. He has made a really good job of it and the special boards are I know quite expensive as they have a non-slip surface with gripper bits embedded into them.It means long-term I don't have to move to a bungalow (never fancied one of those )and I can stay in my cottage for the rest of my days . I have a stair-lift for the very steep stairs, and a downstairs walk-in shower room that I had fitted a couple of years ago. Hopefully the garden ramp is the last bit of re-fitting my little house so its safe for living in as I get older and less able to get around:)
Although it will cost a bit, its still a cheaper option than moving, with far less of the upheaval as well. I am a three minute walk from a small shopping precinct and less than five minutes from a mainline train station and bus route.So even when I give up driving (not just yet for a year or two I hope) I am in a great spot and would hate to leave here now.Plus I have great neighbours as well.These are things you have to think about when settling for what will probably be your last address :):)
So enjoy spending a bit of cash and getting what you need

JackieO xxx

GrannyKate

Lynp - I agree with JackieO - this is about buying only what you need and the occasional thing that brings you joy. Not buying what the shops are trying to sell you.
After 6 months of this I am surprised by how easy it is to walk round a shop and not buy anything. Had a rule that if something comes into the house something must leave. Now try to make sure at least 2 things leave. This week we have spent some money on a new duvet and nice new cover. OH has been ill since before Christmas but seems to be on the mend but old duvet was rank after all time spent in bed and evil drug side effects. Room looks fresh and clean and puts that time behind us if you see what I mean.
Took the opportunity to revisit bed linen piles - three old duvet sets left for CS along with 7 king sized sheets (why would anyone need 12 for just our bed and spare room). Some other stuff and old towels went to dog sanctuary. Moved dining room round and emptied and sorted glass cupboard (I have lots but they bring me joy and we use them) - a few went to CS. I have one ornament and souvenir type display cupboard and that was culled of things which I dislike, some of my mothers which no-one wanted etc. Only bring practical things back from holiday now if anything.
More spending today as looking for a couple of smaller pairs of trousers as weight very slowly coming off and clothes starting to fall down.
Fell off the wagon yesterday when we decided to call in at a tearoom near home which we had seen but never visited - scones, jam and clotted cream mmmmm!

vulpix

I quite agree about essential spends.Jackie your house modifications are much cheaper than a house move,and nice neighbours are worth their weight in gold.One of the reasons we are moving house is because we have odd neighbours both sides.I am moving whilst I still have a bit of an appetite for it.I moved a lot in the past but I am finding this one the most stressful.

Also Lyn,new clothes sometimes are good for us.Its ok being a charity shop queen like me but it feels so nice to have new clothes sometimes.I lost quite a bit of weight last year and my clothes were falling off me so I had to buy some more.Mainly new underwear,pants kept falling down!I do not intend to amass as many clothes again so I have curbed my charity shop habit.

I was working in the local charity shop the other day and liked a cardigan but put it back as I decided I only liked it because it was a good make.I did buy 3 things that I sort of needed though at the cost of £3.A large oak frame £2 I intend to put some ikea prints in it which are presently in a clip frame that was chipped in the last move.A paperback 50p for my next hospital visit.A large wicker basket 50p.Well ok I didn't technically need that one,but it looks nice in my kitchen with fruit in .


GrannyKate,I admire your resolve in the getting rid stakes.I have got rid of masses in the past year but as i now no longer work and Mr V has halved his hours I think we might not be able to afford this again so better hang on to it. I am not a hoarder by any means but think I could do better.
Vx

agnesjr

Afternoon all,

Sun has got his hat on today, swifts chirping away outside my window, chores I can manage done, dogs snoozing and I am reading away at this thread.

In line with recent posts and holding on to stuff - I am not a hoarder at all. Lots goes to cs regularly. But since joining NBI ship, I have culled 'stuff' even more. It gives me great pleasure to do so, and hopefully will help when I eventually get to move to the seaside (may be a few years, but still a girl needs a dream).

Now, there are a couple of things I have not parted with - yet. Divorced over 25 years ago, and still have wedding album! And some 3 small pieces of jewellery my ex bought me. Why? Well you tell me. Never look at the album ( ok, once in a blue moon usually if someone asks to see pic of Granny , or get a laugh at the style). Jewellery has not been worn for 25 years. Odd indeed.

We recently had to clear the decks (house) of a relatives house, who was going into care. They weren't a hoarder per se, but had lots and lots and lots of just in case items. It was like a time warp 70's house version of the shop on tv from 'open all hours'. And it ain't finished yet. I have never felt so overwhelmed by stuff in all my life.

Looking around our Dear Mums small bungalow, she too has lots and lots of stuff. She now lives alone and has a massive dining table with 6 chairs (???), which takes over the kitchen. Cupboards with at least 12 plates/cups/bowls etc. In fact every nook and cranny is filled with stuff. It is like an obstacle course getting around the house without banging into stuff. We hope Mum will be with us for many years, but after the clearing out fiasco above....it scares the daylights out of me thinking about it all in the future.

As a result of this - my sister and I are minimalist fans. Not clinically so, but we can't stand lots of stuff. More to clean, store, etc. We are also fans of something in, something out.

And now the crew of NBI are helping me think more mindfully about spending. Was going to do a grocery shop yesterday, and then realised had meat, chicken and gammon, frozen veg, in the freezer. In fact enough for at least 5 dinners. As with lots of things, it is all in the way you look at it and remember to switch off auto pilot buying it mode.

So glad to be on this 'cruise'

Ches

vulpix wrote: »

I was working in the local charity shop the other day and liked a cardigan but put it back as I decided I only liked it because it was a good make.

Vx

I so identify with this but I have yet to learn to 'put it back'. I have got a good wardrobe at little cost though and I don't hoard because I circulate it all back to the CS eventually but I would be a lot better off if I could ignore the bargains in the first place

Primrose

Oh I,m with you on the hoarding problem. Having had to clear out my parents' home of thirty years and now getting older myself I'm getting increasingly anxious to declutter before I grow incapable of coping with the exercise. The trouble is I,m married to a "might come in useful one day" hoarder and it sometimes becmes a topic of domestic dissent.

As a person who likes to try and plan ahead for the future I realise there quickly comes a point when you get beyond being able to cope with such a wholescale exercise but my husband is happy to let the future take care of itself. He always has something more interesting and productive to do, and I agree, decluttering isnt much fun but it's very liberating once it's achieved. I might ask for the promise of a "decluttering weekend" as my next birthday present. Not sure how that would go down! :eek: but at least it wouldn't cost anything!

GrannyKate

Well I survived a trip to an outlet centre without going completely overboard. Saw quite a lot that I liked and could afford but did not need and managed to resist buying. I got sandals that I need and some trainers for my walking and exercise plans - both good makes at reduced prices. One pair of trousers in one size smaller - my aim is another 2 sizes off so don't want to buy too many clothes in intermediate sizes. Joyful spending on outfits for GD8 and GS 11weeks. OH got a few clothes but kondoed some others as soon as we got home.

[Deleted User]

I had a massive 'cull ' of glasses from my kitchen a few weeks ago.I am now down to four wine glasses four tumblers and a pretty glass my late ma-in-law gave me and that's it. I couldn't believe how many I had accumulated over the years. I live alone, and very rarely drink anyway now as I drive most days,so to the chazza they went .

I saw a lovely dinner service there with matching tea pot milk and sugar ,cup,saucers,side plates bread plate ,dinner plates and soup bowls and soup and veg tureens plus a gravy boat looked absolutely gorgeous and I thought what a shame it was probably someone's pride and joy At £30.00 it was a bargain for someone,not me as I still have a full tea/dinner service in the cupboard that never gets used now. I may have to cull that I think, as I doubt my DDs would want it ,although I collected it cup by cup over a period of a couple of years back in the 1980s and its bone china as well.
Never see's the light of day now.