NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

VJsmum

Popping up also to say thank you to everyone who has posted on this thread.

I don't post much - and not at all lately - but lurk along nodding sagely at everyone's posts.

This time last year i was looking at a house overflowing with stuff, resenting buying anything much and unhappy with work.

A year on, largely thanks to this thread and KonMari, tons of stuff has gone from the house (though it is still to be finished), I buy much more thoughtfully and have saved lots of money as a result and have new beginnings work wise in the New Year.

I usually hate christmas and new year, but this year I have shopped (couldn't get out of that one) but without stress, revelled in cooler weather and darker nights and am looking forward to the festive season.

- thanks all :T

:xmassmile:rudolf::xmastree:

[Deleted User]

I just think of how I would feel if it was one of my family stuck somewhere, I still have not yet lost my belief in the goodness in people and quite honestly its not such a big deal giving someone a helping hand now and again .When she got out almost in tears, I just said, if you see someone who needs it, pass it on. It doesn't hurt and a bit of helpfulness goes a long way.Life could be so much nicer if people did this,and I am all for niceness :):),cost very little, only time and a splash of diesel.
Today my eldest DD is coming for her Sunday Morning coffee and scrambled eggs and we put the world to rights
relaxing afternoon in front of TV and then off to youngest Dds for dinner about 5 ish.Normal Sunday with the family .
All the cards are done and dusted and only the presents to wrap.No food shopping to buy just yet as I am still eating my way through the freezer.
I swear the food multiplys in there as it takes ages to diminish :):)
Have a good and frugal day chums
JackieO xxx

grunnie

I am more of a lurker than a poster as I don't have anything interesting to say but love reading this thread everyday. It is so helpful when I am on a state pension and a very small work pension. Have done all my cards and only give gifts to family I see and small cheques for my oldest son and his family who don't keep in contact very often. For the first time in over 40 years I won't be chief cook on Christmas as I am going to my new DIL and son. :j
I meet up with friends every Friday and the last Friday of each month we have a sale or swap shop. Any item whether it is a scarf or beads or a household item we no longer need and use we bring it to the sale. One pound for any item and when we have raised £100 we give it to a local charity. Each of us gets a turn of choosing the charity. A great way to tidy out and maybe more suitable for the Konmarie thread but very money saving as I have acquired a few bits I needed.

eandjsmum

Shipmates I need to get writing the cards and wrapping the presents. I must do it. perhaps this afternoon while watching a Christmas film to get me in the mood . Dinner is in the slow cooker. The Ironing is done. Just a bit of tiding to do an NBI for me today.

Jackie O I went to Dickens yesterday, apart from getting a hair -cut and a new pair knitting needles I brought nothing else, not even a coffee . The streets were Jam packed.

VJsmum

JackieO - if it was Minster Sheppey you went to, you could have given me a lift . Trains stopped between Strood and gillingham and a replacement bus. So I went the long way via Dover, rams gate etc. took bliddy ages.....

Should be ok for going back today though.

pm2326

I decided to go into town this morning to have a walk around our towns Xmas fair as the weathers improved enormously.....what a disappointment

I know it's supposed to allow local crafters the chance to get their goods seen but stalls of cheap tat being sold at ridiculous high prices? Nobody selling Xmas goodies, no nostalgic smell of chestnuts, no carol singers...but we have an inflatable Santa grotto with no elves, fake snow or decorative reindeer!

Only good thing is my purse stayed shut, I got plenty of exercise as I walked there and back and I have very rosy cheeks!!

suki1964

grunnie wrote: »

I am more of a lurker than a poster as I don't have anything interesting to say

Sod that for a game of soldiers!!

Your voice is as important as anyone's

None of us live the most exciting wonderful lives. It's posting how it is for us, right now, this minute, that may inspire someone else

So speak out

pm2326

Has anyone made a cake in the Slowcooker before and did you use some sort of liner?

I decided to try it and I've made a ginger and mincemeat cake using a recipe designed for the oven, also used up half a jar of OOD mincemeat and the remains of the golden syrup from Jan 2014......I wasn't sure how long it would take so thought I might be lucky and have some today but it took longer than expected.....then again ginger cake is better the next day anyway!

Only problem I have is that it stuck to the sides even though I lighted oiled the sides of the pot....after some reading on inter web it seems liners are the way to go but I don't know if they're worth it as they're about £2 for 4 liners best deal I can find is 20 for £7 & free post....and whether I could use something else like cling film?

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Yep nearly a year!! Awesome isnt it?? i have just learnt so much from you folks. :A

It has changed my life in terms of the fact that I no longer feel vaguely ashamed of being frugal but proud! I am not rich but in a much better financial and there fore less stressed state!

I am NBI from a moral and environmental standpoint rather than just necessity of not having monies. I am watching with amusement bordering on horror at how there are HUGE queues of cars to get into every retail park round here - shoehorning their way into already full car parks!! Not for me thank heavens!!!

Today spent not a penny as a friend came and stayed overnight and as a thank you took me and DS2 to a carvery for breakfast - the sausages and bacon were lovely!!! Not done this before and its always good to try something new! They payed! Also they bought their dog up with them and so we went up the woods doggie walking - great fun as the dog had not encountered leaves that stuck to her fur!! (They live in Portsmouth and dog is used to running along sand!) She kept on stopping and trying to shake the leaves off - so funny! home then for a piece of HM chocolate and orange cake and a cuppa. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday :j Feel very lucky!!
Nite All

[Deleted User]

VJsMum yes it was the Minster on the Island I haven't been over the new bridge before ,or come to that to the Island for many years .luckily the lady showed me where to turn It was off Scholes Road and it seemed like the middle of nowhere in the dark :):) but I was OK getting back to Rainham as I just pinged my sat-nav to home and it was fine

Lynplatinum, isn't it great to feel so free from the stress of shopping.At the moment I am being very inventive with my stuff in the freezer.Today I have for lunch a wrap filled with pan-fried Haloumi cheese and salad and I will use up the last two mushrooms as well.Dinner tonight is a plate of LO from DDs dinner last night as usual,so I only have to 'ping' it in the microwave and add some gravy as its a plate of roast lamb veg and even a Yorkshire which I will stick into the remoska to crisp up.I have some cabbage in the bottom drawer of the fridge that I will stem as well so another NSD day today

As you say, when you see so many folk rushing around shopping, its lovely no to be part of that mad throng.
I think we have all learned to stop and think before joining in this year. I have even sorted out some small presents to re-gift from last year that were in the drawer and had been forgotten. Christmas really doesn't have to be as fraught as it seems to get for so many people .
A lot of the stuff I have made myself and although I shall be flitting between my two DDs for a week I always make sure I take lots of home made food goodies with me :):)
Right I'm off to my 'Healthy Living' walk from the local library which is free along with the cup of coffee that follows it :):)
have a good day chums whatever you are doing
JackieO xxx