NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

purpleshoes_2

fuddle wrote: »

and a piece of coal... always a piece of coal! It was thought, where I came from, that if you had coal you were reminded that what could have happened but er, I never understood it (and still don't) as my village was a mining village and coal would have paid for the gifts!

Theres a few mining villages near me and my mums house is built on top of a mine shaft, she nearly didnt get her mortgage due to that

Chocolate coins and satsumas and maybe a chocolate santa, I loved having a stocking at the bottom of my bed, was fab.

Ches

fuddle wrote: »

In a bit of a pickle as my timing is way off but I have had a promotion and will very soon be office based and out of uniform.

I need to think of some key pieces of clothing that will last, will do without needing washing every day and that are easily accessible (both practically and funds wise as I haven't budgeted for it!)

Any ideas on how to begin building a skeleton work wear wardrobe with the minimal amount of pieces needing being bought :cool:

Congratulations

Aril

Hello:D

Have been busily unsubscribing to lots of emails rather than just deleting them for them to send me more. I think it's from the time that I used to send for loads of free samples when I was first made redundant. I don't generally as a rule do that these days but I will remain on the mailing list for Hot Deals UK as I just check the freebies. A couple of weeks ago it yielded a voucher for a free 400g pack of the expensive cat food our moggie has worth a fiver:D One of the free kindle books also spurred me on to download the free kindle reading bar. I don't check the offers thought...fatal otherwise!

Other thoughts- worth checking the Love Food Hate Waste site perhaps to see what recipes they have or tips for reducing and hopefully eliminating your food waste this Christmas. Apart from the landfill issue it helps to visualise the food that gets chucked as money instead as you throw it away I think. Concentrates the mind:rotfl:
Arilx

fairy3

I love the way this thread twists and turns, can't wait til it sets sail!
Roadside - thankyou for your comments on sharp knives, have a motley collection but only really use three : a small vegetable/fruit one, bread knife and a medium one for everything else which is the right weight and feels right. Reminded me of my mother who had the knives sharpened by the local butcher many moons ago - wonder if that service is still available?
Have bookmarked the wardrobe links for a read in the new year as no longer working so much need to revise my 'style' which is similar to a teenage boy at the moment with sweats and hoodies galore.
Am sorry that people are stressed about giving more to the children and know that I have been a victim in the past, new outfits,xmas eve presents etc etc - now they are young adults there is less in their 'piles'. I asked them tonight what they love best about Christmas and these were the replies 'breakfast baguettes' (cooked breakfast all in one sandwich so less faff in preps for lunch) 'grandad doing his moves on the dancefloor', 'pigs in blankets' 'arm wrestling with uncle' and the 'malteser challenge' (two people seeing how many maltesers they can get in their mouth before one either gives up, starts laughing or sprays everyone within a five foot radius'. Suppose everyone is different but it was nice to hear that its not all about the gifts.
I have a small car which is paid for and very economical and would struggle without it as PT is so poor here but am going to be mindful of what trips are necessary and limit willy nilly trips.
Have spent money today on three items from coop - two joints of english hereford 21 day matured beef and a large english chicken stuffed and topped with wiltshire bacon, all half price and total spend was £15, they are all in the freezer for 2015.
Sorry seem to have blathered on a bit......am off to wrap the last of the gifts and may have a cheeky sherry!

Ches

I have to confess to being a very boring gift giver. My family are all short of money so they get needs not wants from me, boots for DD, TV licence for DS2, dressing gown and slippers for GD etc. I would probably help them buy these things anyway so in a funny sort of way it saves me money giving them as Christmas presents.

purpleshoes_2

Aril wrote: »

Hello:D

Have been busily unsubscribing to lots of emails rather than just deleting them for them to send me more. I think it's from the time that I used to send for loads of free samples when I was first made redundant. I don't generally as a rule do that these days but I will remain on the mailing list for Hot Deals UK as I just check the freebies. A couple of weeks ago it yielded a voucher for a free 400g pack of the expensive cat food our moggie has worth a fiver:D One of the free kindle books also spurred me on to download the free kindle reading bar. I don't check the offers thought...fatal otherwise!

Other thoughts- worth checking the Love Food Hate Waste site perhaps to see what recipes they have or tips for reducing and hopefully eliminating your food waste this Christmas. Apart from the landfill issue it helps to visualise the food that gets chucked as money instead as you throw it away I think. Concentrates the mind:rotfl:
Arilx

I use the love food hate waste site, also supercook

No waste for us this christmas, and any leftover carbs I do have, they get fed to the birds.

It amazes me how much food people chuck out. I cant afford to so I dont.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

Gosh I have missed a lot on here! I haven't had time to read all the posts but I have thought a lot about this thread over the last couple of days.

For me its about working out what I need to spend money on and what's important to me rather than making purchasing decisions based on impulse and/or because I am buying into clever marketing.

So I will keep wearing make up and keep having my hair coloured. These things are important to me (I am long past an age where I do it to impress anyone else). But I will only buy the trusted skin care products that I know work and replace them when they run out.

I will stop buying clothes. I have had one big clear out of my wardrobe and need to have another. I will replace things when they need replacing.

I will carrying on using Lid*l because I just dont think I have time to do the shopping any other way but again I will be smart and only buy essentials.

In other areas of my life I will use less, be more savvy about what I buy and try to continually define need versus want. This actually feels really exciting!

Ches

I am with you all the way Yorkshirelass. I don't neeed any new clothes and what I do have won't need replacing in the next 12 months. I don't experiment with make up or toiletries as I know what suits my skin and I stick to those brands. Have been wearing make up everyday for the last 55 years so can't stop now, I wouldn't be me. I also shop in L!ld and as they don't carry a huge range of goods we eat fairly simply. I am not a hoarder so I don't need to declutter and I love everything I own. Definately a 1 in and 1 out household (although there is a bit of a time warp with OH's stuff).

Aril

I'm one of those that has been buying her makeup and nail varnish from £land [and her perfume:D] and Wilko long before it became trendy. I don't wear a lot but am known for my bright lippy:D

Arilx

purpleshoes_2

Aril wrote: »

I'm one of those that has been buying her makeup and nail varnish from £land [and her perfume:D] and Wilko long before it became trendy. I don't wear a lot but am known for my bright lippy:D

Arilx

I buy my make up and nail varnish from superdrug as its not animal tested, but the nail varnish is a pound a bottle and its good quality, their make up is also cheap

Perfume, I also try and make sure its cruelty free but you can get 100ml for 12.50 thats BUAV approved and thats really good value

I dont wear a lot of make up either, lipstick and eyeliner on a night out, nothing day to day, but I like my nails done and a bit of perfume on and Im happy.