NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

GreyQueen

Boomfloom wrote: »

When I was able to work, I was paid well and wasn't frugal at all. I used to leave about 50 quid in Boots every fortnight. Now I am down to value soap and cheap moisturiser and my skin is sooo much happier. I only put make-up on when I leave the house (two times a week or so if when I am feeling relatively well). I am working on weaning myself off it but I wore make-up forever and feel naked without it. My eyes are small and my eyelashes are short and not really visible. Also my skin is oily (while being dry). Any tips how to get over mascara and powder? :rotfl:

I have small, narrow eyes, under an epicathic (i.e. Asian) eyefold. Back in the eighties, a fellow student was using my mug to practise her black and white photography skill on, and remarked that I have Asian eyes. As a lily-white, green-eyed redhead, this always struck me as weird, until I saw a recent feature on the actress Renee Z*llweger, who they think has had eyelid surgery recently, and this is apparently not uncommon in some people of Scandinavian descent. And, as an indigenous Brit, some Scandinavian descent is almost inevitably part of my genetic background.

I just gave up on eye make-up altogether. With no upper eyelid visible at all unless my eyes are closed, whatever I put around my eyes (mascara/ liner) just made them look smaller. No amount of finessing with eyebrow curlers etc helped. So, when I wore makeup, I did naked eyes and concentrated on the lippy. Maybe that's a way forward for you?

Re the skin, I used to have the oily/ sensitive skin combo, too. The great news is that at 32 you'll likely have a lot of years of not needing skin cream (I still don't use any) when your peers are moisturising away. For me, after mucho experimentation with skin-care regimes and products, I realised that the less I did to my skin, the happier it was and the less trouble. I just was my face with a flannel and plain soap, and splash it with water. One thing I am scrupulous about doing is changing pillowcases every couple of days, so I'm not spending hours a night with my face mashed into a soiled one. HTH.

cuddlymarm

Hi everyone

I hope you don't mind me popping by occasionally to say hello
This thread is such a great incentive to use up what you've got before buying more.

Boomfloom - my mum used to make us eat a jelly cube a day for strong nails when we were kids . Don't know if it made a difference but it tasted nice

We've downsized now the kids are grown and moved on and are squirrelling away so that ( maybe ) OH can retire a little earlier than state retirement age so only replacement clothes if needed, one of the nice things of getting older is you don't tend to follow fashion. I've enough soapy stuff in the bathroom to keep us going to the middle of next year so my money is definately staying in my purse.

Anyway better get on
Keep making do guys
Have a good day
Cuddles

cheeseontoastwithham

I have just been reading the start of this thread and would like to state a few things about capitalism and why it is actually a fairer system.

1) Capitalism makes the government be more efficient and careful with our money and only spend it on necessities.
2) As lots of industries are not owned by the state, our taxes are lower than ever before (remember Laour's 96% tax in the 70s??) and we have the choice as to which gas, electricity or phone company we use - it is not imposed on us by some government that we didn't vote for.
3) It is based about the principle of individuals looking after and spending their own money rather than the government - it gives more people freedom and is far more democratic.
4)People always complain about companies making 'profits' but the great thing about capitalism is that you can just not buy from that company - you can't in a socalist economy as there is no such thing as choice.

Sorry to get into a political debate early in the morning but I feel I must get the benefits of capitalism across and there seem to be lots of misconceptions!!

tru

Traditional capitalism - yes. The greed and uncaring corporate mess we have now - no.

Traditional Capitalism

You have two cows. You sell one, and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

Greed

You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public buys your bull.

greenbee

VJ's mum - I dropped the castor oil from my cleansing oil a while back and it seems to have stopped it being so drying. I have a feeling that I don't really need it. Having said that, I was given some 'wonder oil' about a year ago, which is a blend of oils and smells delicious. It also seems to work! (I get my hair coloured and cut and bits waxed too... I have less time than money and I find it is the most efficient way of dealing with both. I just about manage to find the time to make the appointments... )

[Deleted User]

just saying that if you have good furniture and want it removed, then the local council probably provide a collection service for recycling to people in need. We need to replace a bed and the one being replaced is electric and in superb condition so will make a great bed for someone who needs to have the head or feet elevated or both at once. Very very comfy and another great feeling if I am honest but not just one sided as we will be glad to have 2 strong men in here to move it downstairs and out. I hope they come before christmas as it would be lovely to think of someone getting some comfort

See I am on the other side of the road here, my skrimping days are past and have been very beneficial. I am still all from scratch but can replace things that are necessary to our life as oaps but now I can hand things on instead of going on ebay. It makes me happy to know that we reached our aim of all those past years of frugality and paper envelopes and that I can spread a little happiness now

greenbee

Several of the local charities here also collect bulky items such as furniture, so it's worth checking. Both our local hospices have furniture shops that are well used, and are happy to collect.

Which reminds me, I need to do another drop off of 'stuff' before Christmas. I have mice, and it has focussed my mind on avoiding clutter!

cheeseontoastwithham

tru wrote: »

Traditional capitalism - yes. The greed and uncaring corporate mess we have now - no.

I think you are right - however I would blame the last Labour government just as much (if not more) than the bankers as they clearly did not enforce the regulations or have any idea what was going on. Also, it amazes me that companies can just set up in Luxembourg or the Cayman Islands to 'avoid tax', that is what seems wrong and needs to be changed - but no doubt nothing can be done due to the evil European Union with its President saying 'Luxembourg is not a tax haven' - what a joke!!

tru

I blame every single greedy selfish person and every politician that ever lived, especially Thatcher

cheeseontoastwithham

tru wrote: »

I blame every single greedy selfish person and every politician that ever lived, especially Thatcher

No - I like Thatcher - she had principles and was honest with the people, it is Brown and Blair who you should be blaming (and Major who entered Britain into the EU)

What do you hate about Thatcher so much (and don't say milk or miners please!!)