NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Bathory

Hi everyone, September was a good month and I managed to save back some money again. October so far has been a bit more 'spendy' as I needed new glasses and after that came a dreaded clothes shop which I didn't enjoy. So, poor purse has had a bit of a draining but the rest of the month should be calmer.

I don't know where this year has gone - does anyone know?. There is already tons of Christmas tat everywhere which feels like it was last wheeled out not that long ago.

I am enjoying paying attention more to nature even though where I live is built up. The other morning around 5.30am the moon was a stunning silvery crescent with Venus and Mars at either side of it. The trees are a show of russet reds, golds and oranges, there's that familiar nip in the air and a fairly dense fog that came down last Saturday morning was quite atmospheric to walk about in. The Northern Lights made an appearance as well but unfortunately I missed them. This morning however, a stripey spider had been busy spinning a huge web right across two posts of the open front gate and then sat itself proudly in the middle. Pity it had to be moved but I doubt it would have appreciated been taken on a bus ride to town if I had blindly walked into it .

pm2326

Over last 3 days I've managed to finished a bottle of Micky Finn I opened at Xmas, can only drink a small amount at a time as it's very strong tasting .....I now have a small space on my booze shelf and I wont be buying that one again!

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

I ve had a busy couple of days so have fallen asleep in front of telly and not got on here!:o Its not good for me as it affects my older type of contact lense + I wake up with horrific aches and pains in my neck due to arthritis!!! You would think I would learn not to over do it and end up doing this by my age but not yet!!

Anyhoo - well done all on freezer clearing - mine is mostly full of bags of newspaper as I dont want to be paying to chill warm air which enters the freezer every time you open it - if it is not full! As I want to move soon I dont want to fill the freezer up! however there is also loads of YS bread from Morr!sons!!! I keep trying to catch YS meat and failing!

Today went to MrT's as they used to do a lovely lavender furniture polish however, it wasnt in my local shop today!! I spent £4.04 on value polish; room spray; YS hummus; special offer cheese. Then on the way home I popped into B/M and bought individual portions of marmalade for 99p. The reason why I bought this is because I only sometimes fancy marmalade (because I rarely have bread in that is not frozen) it will be economic as I wont be throwing out a half a jar because (even in in the fridge) it starts to go 'funny'.

Am aiming to go past local butcher on Mon and buy some beef on their regular 'special offer' with the value being good at £5. I can then freeze some. My son is coming to stay at the end of Oct so am trying to cut stuff down and yet stock up for the visit of the ultimate 'skinny-no-matter-what-I-eat-hoover!! :rotfl:
Nite all!

[Deleted User]

Not a bad day pottered about and had a nice two hour visit from my eldest DD she is off to Las Vegas in 2 weeks time, and next weekend she is going down to Deal to close up their caravan so I may not see her before she wings off to the U.S. She bought me a nice pack of fresh ground coffe as she had been to IKEA in Essex with her boss during the week and saw it on special offer .She knows that I love fresh coffee, which was weird as I was running a bit low and had put it onto my list for when I went next to the shops ,she must have read my mind I think as I haven't seen her for well over a week.

Came home from youngest DDs with a small bowl of broccoli and carrots and four roastie spuds left over from tonight's dinner ,so that tomorrow nights veg sorted, and I'll dig something from the freezer to go with it in the morning. Also brought home the last bit of left over apple crumble so I'll make a small jug of custard up tomorrow to go with it for pudding.
I have some cheese quiche left over from Saturday that I made for tomorrows lunch and I'll have that with a bit of salad stuff. NSDs for me this week,Tuesday I am at a coordinators lunch for U3A which is a freebie and in the evening I am at the pub quiz which I get a small meal at thrown in with the price of the quiz so no real cooking until Wednesday I think.I have lots of stuff in the fridge to use up first so I am hoping that most of this week will be NSDs :):)

DuranGirl

Not sure whether this is off topic, but I thought I'd ask. I'm feeling really good about having decided to buy no new clothes, shoes or accessories for the next year, although I'm sure I'm in the honeymoon period. I'm hoping the 'not buying it' will filter into most other areas of shopping as well (mostly books and records are my downfall). I work with a lovely lady who really will not stop talking about all the shopping she does at the weekends, and I've found that I've completely lost interest in that kind of conversation, even at such an early stage in my challenge. How does anyone else deal with this? I'm nodding and smiling, and don't feel the need to compete at all, but it feels rude to draw the conversation to a close. What do you think?

pm2326

DuranGirl wrote: »

Not sure whether this is off topic, but I thought I'd ask. I'm feeling really good about having decided to buy no new clothes, shoes or accessories for the next year, although I'm sure I'm in the honeymoon period. I'm hoping the 'not buying it' will filter into most other areas of shopping as well (mostly books and records are my downfall). I work with a lovely lady who really will not stop talking about all the shopping she does at the weekends, and I've found that I've completely lost interest in that kind of conversation, even at such an early stage in my challenge. How does anyone else deal with this? I'm nodding and smiling, and don't feel the need to compete at all, but it feels rude to draw the conversation to a close. What do you think?

I was upfront with colleagues and just told them that I had no interest in shopping, also told them I never watch the same rubbish TV as they do and that talking about babies and kids was a big no (I have no maternal instincts lol)...after a Few weeks of them trying to get me to join in they just went off to find someone else to talk to about these things. Now a days, when they forget and start to tell me, they realise I'm not listening and start to laugh, it's a standing joke now.

Maybe you should just tell her about your challenge and why you're doing it, she'll only stop once you point it out but be prepared for her trying to persuade you you're never going to succeed

I should maybe point out that I'm known for being honest, as in I have had run ins with managers before after telling them how it is rather than how they think it is!

tuskel

Hello! *waves*
A really late newcomer and a newbie in general, I have been reading this thread for about a month now and am on page 63. (Just after Xmas) And it's lovely, I just had to join in.

It's never too late to start, but I was wondering - is there going to be a thread for 2016? I would make one, but as a total n00b, I didn't want to step on anyone's toes!

Anyway, a little introduction as well:
I'm tuskel, mother-of-one and part-time worker in Morrisons, I also volunteer in CRUK once a week and try generally make do and mend. I come from a small ex-Soviet country, but have been in England over 8 years now (OH is local). I come from a fairly frugal family, we never had an awful lot of money when I was growing up so I never had the latest toys and clothes, but we never starved or went out with a bare bum. My mother was always making things and it has rubbed off on me as well.

I think I am fairly good at not buying, but there are areas I could definitely improve, so I wouldn't mind some pointers and help if you see a glaring gap in the stuff I do:

*I cook from scratch on most days, started making shopping lists and planning meals last year about the same time and I can happily say that it has nearly halved our weekly food shop prices (also, as I work in M*rrisons, I get staff discount 10%, so that has helped) I am in the process of losing weight, I have lost about 3st over the past 5 years, but I still have another 2 to lose and I really want to kick myself up the backside and do it, so I rarely put any naughty things in the trolley and never anything on the list (if OHand DD want some, they can choose some themselves). I will not be ignoring supermarkets totally even in 2016, because I do work in one, and it is a bit hard to where I live anyway. We do have a little market stall, but I am not sure it is cheaper or better quality than M*sons. However, I do want to ignore massive megacorporations like Amazon etc, because they do not pay their fair share of tax, hence ripping us all off.

* I do not drink or smoke, but I like to eat, so my main vice is "treating" myself to a cappuccino and a slice of cake more often than I should and I can afford.

* I really want to start decluttering, and I have to make a proper plan for that - any help and pointers? There are lots of things that are OHs as well - he likes archive telly, so we have mountains of DVDs. I have no problem with that - everyone needs a hobby , but I wish we had nice shelves to put them on, at the moment they are in piles on the floor and on a few little shelves. I would like Billy bookcases or similar to organise them properly in alphabetical order and display all the nice boxes they often have. Mountains and mountains of old papers in the loft - really need to sort the bills etc out nicely. I am VERY BAD at that, so could do with a bit of help.

* I am not a very girly girl, so I don't own a lot of makeup, and I have recently weeded everything I didn't wear out my wardrobe (and stuff that has become too big - yay!), but I do work in a charity shop and get tempted a lot. I also like to make/alter my own clothes, so there is a lot of crafty stuff I am currently trying to use up before I buy anymore (4 big boxes of wool and other art supplies, 2 boxes of embroidery threads, I only recently got my rag/fabric down to one box - there is much improvement!) I do mend our clothes when needed until they really are not wearable anymore and knit my own socks etc.

*Need to start saving up, just got a letter today that we are not eligible for free school meals anymore, I am going to start paying for electricity after Xmas, need a new sofa as the old one is on its last legs, same with the dining table (broken leg wedged against the wall ), mattress could do with swapping as springs are coming out, but I did get a new mattress topper last January, so it can wait a bit longer, DD needs a new bed, as she is still sleeping in the cotbed and she's getting abit tall now (she's 7)

*I have a weakness: Lego. We have quite a lot of it now, but I got drawn into the Elves range this year and wanted to get every set (very bad). And I love the first wave of Harry Potter, too, so that has to really stop or I have to save pound by pound. I also like board games and books, but shelf space is really limited now, and I do have to choose what to keep. Kindle has come in handy, especially for free books and the library.

Gotta go now, school run (literally!), so catch you later!

tuskel,
sincerely

EDIT: Whew! Ran to school, then went to the park and ran back almost all the way as well. Part of my new get fit and thin regime! I was pleasantly surprised to find that I am able to run for about 15 minutes in a row - but I have been cycling to work for a few months now. I don't drive btw, although OH does, so no costs in that department for me.

More on the avoiding supermarkets note - I am also quite sure that the market stall just gets their fruit exactly in the same place as the supermarkets, it is not just local produce, or I would buy more from them. I mean, you get your regular bananas, nectarines and pineapples there, which do not grow that well in UK. However, we do have a wonderful ironmongers owned by a local family which sells absolutely everything. Besides all the usual stuff, like locks and screws and batteries etc, they sell exotic pets, pet food, and toys, engrave stuff and cut keys, dylon dyes, gardening things, work clothes and all sorts of cleaning stuff, storage boxes, and every Xmas all the trees and lights and everything. Just this morning I went in and saw they are even doing a range of kitchenware now - handy, because our lovely kitchen shop of which I was a regular customer, closed last year when the guy running it retired after about 20 years. I really should support it more.

Also, I would love to grow more of our own food. I have been experimenting with several things over the past few years, even though our garden is smaller than my parents' allotment was! Tomatoes grew allright, although they split, I grew potatoes this year - should dig in and look how they did. Carrots have been wonderful, really happy with our heavy clay soil, although I have to keep slugs off them (they really love dill as well, can't grow that at all!) and blackcurrant grows like anything, I should get another bush of it. The main thing is, I am too lazy to potter about. Even now, the grass is totally overgrown and I really need to pull all the onions up. Hopefully the weather will keep for another day or two!

What I really would love to learn is foraging in UK. I have only found a few things here I am confident to pick - blackberries - rare back home, weeds here; hazelnuts, and 2 apple trees, one for eating, one for cooking in our town. Borrowed and interesting book I randomly saw in the library - The Garden Forager, so I should check some plants out I have seen around.

eandjsmum

HI peeps
Welcome Tuskel
Durangirl when in that situation I just think about the level of debt I'm not in. Buying new things every week takes up a lot of time,effort and money. If you've gone out and done something tell her about that. The lady I work with loves shopping but knows I'm not as keen, but we talk about what we've done. I just tell her about my art.

I have spent I brought tickets to see my DD over half term I got a bargain by pre booking and I am looking forward to seeing her.

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there folks

Durangirl - I used to work among folks much better off than me but I was in a position where I had to be polite to them. I felt like screaming at them 'shut up you self centered selfish stuck-up **** have you no thought for the company you are in that might not be as fortunate as you and so not able to go out shopping every flippin minute!!' AND BREATHE - as you can tell :rotfl: that attitude still winds me up to this day. Shopping is not the only thing in life!

which links with

Tuskel - welcome! you seem to be doing great so far. I am in the process of moving house and am sitting wondering how I accumulated so much stuff!!! Two suggestions for you 1) try hiring a video/book/film before you decide it is a 'keeper' and then buy the hard copy - otherwise you will end up with loads of stuff you will never watch again and

2) (link with Duran girl) Find other ways to treat yourself. Things and shopping ARE NOT the whole of life! So my personal treats are:- Yoga and then lying on the floor - wrapped in a blanket listening to a really good play or interesting programe on radio 4 or some music (very primal - like being cuddled as a child) OR going for a walk somewhere beautiful OR doing some good for others - chatting to the lonely - fundraising etc OR doing my weekly bake OR reading a good book (from charity shop or friend) OR pootling in my garden OR calling that person I ve been meaning to chat to for ages!!!

With work colleagues having stuff like this to talk about makes you more interesting and I found that others too were fed up with the shopping talk and we ended up having a work book club which was fab!

All of the above are definitely NBI as minimal expense is involved!
Nite all

PS what do other folks do to treat themselves in an NBI way?

tuskel

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Ahoy there folks

Durangirl - I used to work among folks much better off than me but I was in a position where I had to be polite to them. I felt like screaming at them 'shut up you self centered selfish stuck-up **** have you no thought for the company you are in that might not be as fortunate as you and so not able to go out shopping every flippin minute!!' AND BREATHE - as you can tell :rotfl: that attitude still winds me up to this day. Shopping is not the only thing in life!

which links with

Tuskel - welcome! you seem to be doing great so far. I am in the process of moving house and am sitting wondering how I accumulated so much stuff!!! Two suggestions for you 1) try hiring a video/book/film before you decide it is a 'keeper' and then buy the hard copy - otherwise you will end up with loads of stuff you will never watch again and

2) (link with Duran girl) Find other ways to treat yourself. Things and shopping ARE NOT the whole of life! So my personal treats are:- Yoga and then lying on the floor - wrapped in a blanket listening to a really good play or interesting programe on radio 4 or some music (very primal - like being cuddled as a child) OR going for a walk somewhere beautiful OR doing some good for others - chatting to the lonely - fundraising etc OR doing my weekly bake OR reading a good book (from charity shop or friend) OR pootling in my garden OR calling that person I ve been meaning to chat to for ages!!!

With work colleagues having stuff like this to talk about makes you more interesting and I found that others too were fed up with the shopping talk and we ended up having a work book club which was fab!

All of the above are definitely NBI as minimal expense is involved!
Nite all

PS what do other folks do to treat themselves in an NBI way?

Thanks! I already buy almost all my things, including books and clothes etc from the charity shop. I do love a good bookshop, and we go there on family days out - really! - to just browse and go to the cafe, and in the end maybe one of us buys a book. Honestly, I could spend a whole day there, not talking at all to anyone, just reading!

I have started thinking about whether I actually need something before I buy it, but I do still like window-shopping, and I should definitely try and do something else. An actual walk without going to the shops at the end of it would be a revelation. (I just suddenly realised that I am addicted to going to shops as I tell myself I am doing something useful, even if I don't buy anything. But I'm not!) And the listening to the radio whilst wrapped in a blanket - have to try that out. Although I do have a great dislike of doing nothing while I watch TV/listen to the radio, I have to knit or sth at the time... I need a slanket!! (No, I don't! )

tuskel,
sincerely

Edit: treats in NBI way: making a cake with my daughter/ having a bath and reading a book in there/ playing a board game with my family/ reading generally/ doing something that has needed doing for a while and looking at it, feeling proud/ going for a visit/ working in the charity shop - we always have such a laugh!/ noticing something small outside, like a robin, or leaves on trees or an interesting-shaped cloud... That actually requires much thought nowadays, which is a shame.