NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

Nargleblast

Fried eggs on fried bread? Now you're talking.......worth far more than expensive sugary cereals the advertisers would have us buy.

thriftwizard

How about pancakes for breakfast? I make mine with spelt flour, mixed up the night before with home-laid eggs & raw milk (available locally pretty cheaply, as is the flour) kept in the fridge overnight, then it's just heat the pan, wipe with oil, pour & flip & they're done. Cost pennies, dress to suit the consumer (I like mine with a very light dusting of sugar and a drizzle of lime juice - limes currently 10 for £1 at the market - but cinnamon's good too, and blackberries, currants or raspberries in season - we grow 'em all) and gets the day off to a very good start!

But when it gets really cold & miserable, you can't beat porridge with apple butter. I always soak my oats overnight (in a warm place) too, in water with a tiny pinch of salt, and they cook very quickly & taste very creamy. Again, it's a very inexpensive breakfast compared to anything in the supermarket cereal aisle, & probably a whole lot better for you. Apple butter is actually fat-free, just whole apples pureed & cooked down until they're almost solid, with sugar, a dash of vinegar, & spices.

Just been making up another batch of HM ginger beer to cheer us up & keep the winter blues away - lots of B vitamins! - but not so good if you drink it in traditional naval fashion, with dark rum... tastes lovely, has a kick like a mule and makes you feel awful the next morning...

purpleshoes_2

I wish I liked porridge, probably the only Scot alive who doesn't. Glasgow was v busy today, even with some really awful weather, not going out tomorrow night in that, its just too cold, wet and miserable.

Not sure how long I'll be hanging around on the boards, for various reasons, some stuff has reared its head elsewhere on the boards that I tried to deal with by closing my previous account down, but there's always someone trying to out you and there's s huge thread running on another section of the forum (for something like the third time this year) about what an awful person I am and it may end up that I go, either voluntarily or not, who knows.

But if that happens, I'll keep an eye on the thread, just wanted to say if I do disappear, well, sometimes online forums can be a tough place to be (as well as the total opposite as well).

I went out today in my 99p coat, jeans and top, every time I go into a normal store now I just can't pay silly prices for clothes. I was talking to someone yesterday who was telling me she spent over a grand on designer clothes for her son, she got maybe 4 clothing items and some underwear.

I spent 55 quid on clothes this year and for that I got around 40 items. I don't really think it's the hype that makes me feel a bit flat, its the build up. Some of my neighbours have had their trees up since mid November. I think you lose something when you start celebrating that early.

I had a lot of nights out planned for this month but cancelled most of them, just wanted to wait until the madness was over and have a couple of months down time.

[Deleted User]

Well my friends DiL finally pushed baby Maggie Rose into the world at 6.41 p.m. last night at 7lbs 15ozs and almost 2 weeks late I've just seen a photo on my phone, and she looks gorgeous (don't all babies) I'm pleased for them ,its great to have a baby at Christmas I had one on the 2nd December and one on the 19th so I know about babies at Christmas. Even the feeding was lovely as when I fed my two DDs 47 & 45 years ago we were stoney broke and only had a tiny artificial tree that sat on top of the TV.Everytime even now I see fairy lights on a tree it reminds me of my babies all those years ago.

NSD today although it was tempting :) DD wants to do a half marathon next year and has roped me in to give her encouragement We are going to raise some money for a local little girl called Ruby who has a particular nasty form of cancer.I won't be able to run,but I'll give it a darned good hobble if I can :):)
Hope we are all ship shape and ready for Christmas with enough vittals stored in the galley to keep us going through the rough weather of january
Cheers chums I'm off to me 'ammock :)
JackieO xxx

allybee101

Hi, permission to come aboard please, Cap'n Slowdown?
I've just finished reading all 43 pages - phew you've all been busy and January isn't even here yet!
I can't contribute hens and eggs- not conducive to a 4th floor flat, but I have a head for heights so I maybe I could man the rigging?

I feel like being off the hamster wheel is the best spot to be for me. I've observed a friend have significant building and decorating works done in the lead up to Christmas, so it's all perfect for the family visiting. Looks nice, but huge amounts of stress getting it all done, and I can't be bothered to try and keep up with the Joneses. I haven't the patience, funds or inclination to do so.

I'm aiming to pay off the credit card and also save up for a significant trip in 2015 so I need to pull the strings tight.

I need to have a think about the January 'no supermarkets' challenge. I am definitely on board with the decluttering - already removed significant quantities of 'stuff' to recycling, Ebay, charity shop etc.
I can't believe so much stuff is squirrelled away in a 2 bed flat! I now have two boxes set up for Ebay goods and the charity shop. I've been starting to go through the wardrobe and have another clear through. I'm not very good at removing stuff, but a few things leave on each review so I'm working on the 'slow and steady' theory.

DawnW

purpleshoes wrote: »

Not sure how long I'll be hanging around on the boards, for various reasons, some stuff has reared its head elsewhere on the boards that I tried to deal with by closing my previous account down, but there's always someone trying to out you and there's s huge thread running on another section of the forum (for something like the third time this year) about what an awful person I am and it may end up that I go, either voluntarily or not, who knows.

Please don't go - can you not just avoid the boards where the problems are occurring and stay here with us? I am debt free now, but prefer the DFW board, this OS one and the greenfingered one, as everyone is so nice. I am not saying that the people on the others aren't nice as well (same peeps in many cases ), but on one or two I have noticed unpleasantness and point scoring from a few individuals, and just cannot be bothered with it. I can never work out whether people who behave like that are keyboard warriors who wouldn't say boo to a goose in RL, or just genuinely aggressive and unpleasant people Life really is too short ....

mirry

Happy Mad Monday everyone.

Lavender, I love the Xmas wreath you made. I also made my first Xmas wreath this year Just using string and wire that we already had, it worked out free :j

I woke up this morning to my little border terrier wagging her tail and wanting to play fetch with her toy. She just couldn't understand that I needed a cup of tea first. She's spoilt rotten & so adorable but we were saying the other day how expensive pets are to keep with insurance,food,toys,leads/collars,coats,beds. We worked out its near £15-£20 a week.It breaks my heart to hear of people abandoning their pets because of money troubles .

Today is my hydro therapy appointment which is very relaxing, trouble is I have to pay taxi there and back to the hospital because I cant do buses due to having a fainting problem. But have some interesting conversations with the taxi drivers.

Nargleblast

thriftwizard - pancakes are indeed the thrifty person's best friend. Lovely with bacon and maple syrup (a mere hint) for breakfast.

Jackie - congrats Grandma, Maggie Rose is a lovely name!

purpleshoes - on every internet forum there are sad gits who have no real life and who get pleasure out of winding other people up. Some call them trolls, I just lump them in with other pond life in this world. You have as much right as anyone else to be here. If you leave, they will have won. Whether you are in reality nice or not, as long as you are civil to others on this thread then you are a welcome crew member. Just avoid threads where you know there is trouble.

cydney65

purpleshoes hang in there. I find it tough on most forums as I have mental health issues. Like DawnW I stick to those which are supportive like DFW and OS. I sometimes have a look at other boards but they often get a bit judgemental and I retreat for a while to get my confidence back. Big, big hugs.

Over the last couple of days I have been so, so tempted to buy, but I fixed my old Windows computer (dead proud of this ) and will look at tarting up an old bookcase instead of buying new for GD's books. I even resisted some jeans in A*da!

Hope everyone has a great day

CydneyX

suki1964

Well we have had a change of plan here, instead of just us two and mum for Christmas, we now have daughter and grandkids staying for Christmas so the spending will have to increase and I'm going to have to hit the supermarket today

However I will remain focussed and not buy into the hype and panic of last minute shopping for luxuries they may like. I'm still planing to only get what's needed with just the wee bits the baby really needs to get by for a few days

In a way this unplanned visit is a result of the ' mad Friday ' culture, or black eye Friday as it's known here. The daughters partner when drinking after work and has been MIA since. Not a good idea when you have kids and responsibilities .

I work in a bar resturaunt and this weekend was pure manic. Lads chucking it down their necks like there was no tomorrow, most of them with their holiday pay burning holes in their pockets, and many of them with kiddies to support

So we will have a lovely family Christmas here. 4 generations under the one roof and we will make sure the kiddies don't spend the time wondering where " daddy" is ( he's safe btw, just chose the pub and friends over family) and it's been a long time since we had kiddies here Christmas morning it will make up for the extra work

If I don't get back on to post, may I wish you all a peaceful, joyous Christmas Remember it's not how much you have in your purse, it's family and loved ones that count