NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

parsniphead

DawnW wrote: »

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 ....

purpleshoes wrote: »

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.

Purple shoes, please don't let others drive you away. I tend to stick only to old style, DFW and a couple of other boards on here. I have ventured into others and have been shocked by some of the attitudes of people out there. I think perhaps the advice given about staying away from these boards is a good one. I hope you decide the stick around.

Ali

CAFCGirl

Its a windy cold day here, but I'm snuggled with a hot coffee, my menfolk (DH and DS) are in bed, and even the pup has eaten his brekkie and toddled off back to bed.
We plan on a long walk out in the fields and hills locally, shake off some cobwebs and reconnect a bit with each other. Having had a fraught two weeks when we've been less than kind to each other I think its important to do.

DawnW

GreyQueen wrote: »

Ahoy, shipmates, have something to share with you, been following this woman's blog for some time and really like her take on life. This is a brand-new posting freshly-caught yesterday.

http://annienygma.com/

Thanks for this GQ, a very interesting blog. I think that it must be more difficult to be frugal in the US, as they are further along the consumerist route than we are. Things that we would take for granted seem to be unusual to them - for example the post where she talks about her daughter wanting pancakes and the fact that she made them using what she had, rather than going to a store and buying a box of mix. I would imagine that most of us wouldn't even think about making a special trip to the shops to buy pancake mix (what is it anyway, flour??) - would we? Certainly wouldn't think to mention it in conversation, let along a blog?

mirry

Well it's terrible Tuesday, I've woken with yet another headache, 12 days in a row now? Realised someone gave me a diet coke yesterday full of aspartamines,.when will I learn not to drink that stuff?

Yesterday I helped a neighbour wrap his Xmas presents, he's only 40 but had a stroke a few years ago which left his arm damaged. He had 4 rolls of gorgeous wrapping paper and once I finished wrapping his presents he asked me to throw the left over wrapping paper (still on the rolls) in the bin:eek: I told him to put it away for next year but he said he doesn't want it in the house. So I've kept them

My mother delivered the kids presents last week and the wrapping paper she has used is absolutely gorgeous, gold glittery reindeers on it. I've already told the kids they are to unwrap it carefully so I can reuse it :rotfl:

CAFCgirl, enjoy your walk today, the fresh air helps clear the head and gives much needed time away from all the distractions in life. We have a woodland near us where we often spot foxes & deer, it's a lovely place to unwind.

CAFCGirl

What a kind thing to do for your neighbour Mirry - im sure he appreciates it. Reminds me of my late Grandfather - i took over doing his xmas shopping for him, he used to give me £50 per person (far too much) and then would give me £50 for wrapping, cards and gift bags! Needless to say that was never spent!

That's exactly what Im hoping the walk will do for us all. Though I'm hoping the newly arrived black clouds move on sharpish!

westlothianlass

Morning lovelies, I've been reading from the start but only managing to post now.
I would love to join you all on the journey.
We are pretty frugal just now and trying to simplify things in our lives but I still have a way to go.
This coming year I plan to spend more time playing in the garden, read the many many many unread books already here before purchasing anymore (secondhand of course) .
Another one with chickens and a very stroppy young cockerel, so we can have eggy bread in abundance:D.
Looking forward to learning and chatting on our journey x

suki1964

Another dark wet day here, my joints feel like they are on fire ( don't care what the experts say, the wet weather effects my arthritis) and I'm so sore I could weep - if I had the energy lol

I'm not leaving the house at all today till I start work at five. Hubby is taking the grandkids to the indoor play area to burn off some energy and to give me some privacy as I'm in for an op tomorrow and need to defuzz today. Also going to wrap hubby's pressies , just a few wee bits for the car

Lunch is already made, big pot of broth with fresh rolls and I'm just prepping dinner, a couple of chickens I got for 25p each Tiny wee things but I'll joint them and they can have them with wedges and salad tonight

Just realized I've got to sort out for tomorrow as well. Doubt I'll have the energy or inclination tomorrow It's also mums birthday tomorrow so guess I'll have to put a bit of effort in. I'd like to say sod it and go out for dinner but everywhere closes at 7 on Christmas Eve.

Grayqueen, great planning schedule there. I always enjoy your posts

Purpleshoes, glad you are still aboard

edwink

Welcome aboard Westlothianlass


Great to have another with hens on board. I think we can safely say that it will be eggs for brekkie every morning now. YAY!!!!!


Edwink

icontinuetodream

It's time for the great leftovers cookathon here!!

Solstice is now over, the kids are at their respective partners houses until Friday, we are away at the weekend and I have a fridge full of stuff that I want to get the most meals possible out of so that I don't have to buy it for as long as I can hold out!! :rotfl:

I intend to do a session of freezer tetris first - both to make room and to have a stock-take - then a cupboard and fridge inventory. I will look at stretching the contents to the max and filling up the freezer with hm 'ready-meals'....I intend to make pies, soups, ravioli and a whole host of other stuff - just need to know what I have to work with then it's full steam ahead!!

A bottle of something sparkly or a few cocktails will lubricate the process and with my new cd playing, it should be a very good day!! :rotfl:

Hugs to all that need them.....and keep on Not Buying It!!

Minimalist

I need to start making the mental link between my Christmas-denial and its inevitable consequences (unnecessary stress and expense...)

Normally I avoid shops like the plague in January…but that would be a good first step, thanks edwink. Storage is at a premium in our small flat, so wrapping paper might be a stretch (not sure I can stand looking at it in the cupboard for a whole year!) but getting some Xmas cards in the sale is a good idea. Then I would also be well-placed to start writing them a bit earlier than usual…

Thanks for sharing your Xmas project plan, GQ - some great ideas there. I will definitely be adopting your mission statement: avoidance of hasslement

I do like the idea of keeping a list of gift ideas and making notes during the year, to help make them a bit more personalised - rather than the wasteful and un-thoughtful “throwing-money-at-the-problem” approach I’m sometimes guilty of...

I’ve dropped hints to some relatives - to the effect that we don’t need any more STUFF - but maybe a more direct approach is needed next year! I have a Christmas present amnesty with friends, although we still do birthday presents - several of us have birthdays around Xmas (including me on Xmas Eve and another friend on the day itself :eek:).

I’d love to just go away over the whole Xmas / New Year period, but we are conscious that our elderly relies aren’t getting any younger…so unfortunately we are committed to the A1 trek (multiple times!) for the foreseeable future. One of the nicest Christmases I’ve had was years ago in Bruges - the gift-giving part is done on St Nicolas’ day (6 Dec) in Belgium, so the rest of December is completely free from consumer-tat and shopping. Christmas Day is then all about the family meal, and spending some relaxing time at home. :beer:

GreyQueen wrote: »

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is not to do this horror called Christmas Shopping at all. You will aim not to venture into the shops at all in December, unless for perishable foodstuffs which you have run out of. Keep the Crimble decs off until 24th to keep Xmas in its place on the calendar. Skip over TV adverts and Xmas editions of the women-mags.

This is great advice - I’ve managed to avoid seeing any Xmas TV ads so far (by a mixture of not watching and recording/fastforwarding when we do). But not doing any December Xmas shopping is something for me to aspire to in 2015 - replacing it with more relaxing and enjoyable activities, especially getting outdoors. (I particularly enjoyed your idyllic descriptions of manure logistics, GQ - a refreshing contrast to the spending-frenzy underway in town!)

I’d better get off and finish a few outstanding bits and bobs before we head off on our seasonal road trip - so in case I don’t get a chance to get back online, I wish you all a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday, however you choose to spend it this year! And my thoughts are with those for whom this time of year will be difficult - take care of yourselves and stay safe. And thanks again to everyone on the thread for sharing their insights and inspiration - 2015 is going to be one interesting trip! :T

Ellie x