NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

skint_chick

I love this thread already! I work part-time 3 days a week because I have an autoimmune disorder - it's finally under control with diet and lifestyle adaptations - but I find that people judge me a lot for only working part-time when we don't have kids, despite working for a non profit and using my free time to volunteer with socially isolated adults.

I've read a lot on minimalism and simplifying life and decluttering my home and life has certainly helped a lot - from selling stuff I don't need on ebay/gumtree and donating to local community groups/freegle. It focuses my mind on not buying stuff as I don't tend to lose stuff and know what I have. My diet is very much homemade from scratch as I have a lot of allergies and have a specialised diet to help my autoimmune symptoms so this is easier for meal planning and keeps costs down even though I'm buying more fresh food and grass fed meat.

My plans for this year are to learn to meditate and take on another small volunteering role in my local community for a few hours a week. I plan to make birthday cards/presents from craft supplies I already have. I have enough clothes, I'm using Christmas money from my parents to buy 2 new bras. I'm completely giving up alcohol for 2015 - I can only drink cider and would have one or two pints every couple of months when I'm out but have decided sparkling mineral water will do as I don't like being drunk and it always makes my stomach sore - and I really don't need the calories!

katkin

Have a great Christmas Shipmates :xmassign:

It's lovely to read about those with wee ones, its the best bit about Xmas. Mine are 27 and 25 so its not quite the same. My oldest appears to be quite serious about a young lady he has met. I get all excited at the thought of the 2 of them settling down and giving me grandchildren ...must be diplomatic and not ask too many questions tomorrow

As I sat in awful traffic jams today in the town centre it gave me the chance to have a look around and ponder the consumerism of Xmas. It was busy, people had lots of bags and grumpy faces. I'm glad I stepped away from it this year. I feel a lot better for it and not only have I saved money, but I gained time, made and re-purposed things, been thoughtful in my gift giving. I feel calmer.

This not buying it is going to have some good effects on my wellbeing as well as my bank account in 2015 I reckon :j

skint_chick

fuddle wrote: »

Oils for cleansing. What is the best at non drying? I used olive oil for a while but bizarrely it dried out my skin. I use Aqueous for the odd bit make up removal (and shaving, will always shave my legs and underarms, I can't not) and Pears for morning washing but I would be interested in visiting the oil route again.

You should read this blog post on Minimalist Beauty to figure out the best oil for your skin type - this helped me get my oil cleansing sorted and my skin has never looked so good and the last person who guessed my age thought I was 28 (I'm 37 : D)
http://www.minimalistbeauty.com/one-year-using-high-linoleic-oils-exclusively/

thriftwizard

Furoshiki sounds really interesting too - though not cheaper, which for me at the moment sort of defeats the point but all of this has got my brain buzzing with ideas.

Karmacat, Furoshiki's only expensive it you think it needs to be - i.e. if you go out & buy special cloths, etc. But it's quite easy to rip up a colourful old duvet cover or curtain, say, & edge it (two minutes on a sewing machine, twenty by hand whilst watching something interesting) or acquire old headscarves from a jumble sale/car boot/charity shop for around 50p each - that works out cheaper than bought wrapping paper.

Found a new way round the "Christmas stocking" for adult kids dilemma. Even though my "kids" are 19-and-upwards (and one of them isn't actually mine as such but attached to DS2) I still like to try to surprise them with some small & inexpensive but well-chosen goodies to wake up to, but we outgrew the "stockings" themselves long ago. Things like nice soap, little bottles of hand sanitiser, pretty packs of emory boards, post-it notes, gel pens, sugared almonds, bombay mix, yogurt raisins, little tubes of jelly beans, nice chocolate, depending on the recipient's tastes, bought over the course of the year and stashed away. This year I've used paper take-away bags (Not used ones! We use them when we're doing markets, when we run out of recycled bags) and stamped them with an assortment of festive stamps left over from years of card making, then tied them shut with an eclectic selection of glittery ribbons & bows etc. rescued from the Tip over the last few months. Yes, people do chuck out unused gift wrap, and packs of cards, etc., rather than use up last year's designs; definitely more money than sense.

Anyway, I'm going to take this opportunity to wish everyone here a happy & peaceful Christmas, and a New Year of serene and fulfilling (but inexpensive, and preferably free) delights & discoveries!

parsniphead

Merry Christmas shipmates.

Little one in bed and a huge pile of gifts for him under the tree.........a few from us and piles from the family. This is exactly what I didn't want for him, to think this is what Christmas is about but what can you do.

I was going to get him some special Christmas pyjamas but decided against as I'm a bit skint and he has plenty at the moment.

I have most of the food prepared and was given a ham which I cut into four and put three in use freezer. I can see pea and ham soup or turkey and ham pie in the near future.

Have a lovely, contented day everyone.:beer:

westlothianlass

Merry Christmas shipmates
I hope everyone has a lovely day no matter what your doing.
This thread is definitely making a difference to the way I'm thinking, I've never been an extravagant spender but still managed to buy stuff I didn't need. Right I'm off to have an early night with a cuppa and a book ( I know how to live eh :rotfl:).
Hugs to all x WLL

Butterfly_Brain

Happy Christmas shipmates, whatever you are doing tomorrow xx

vulpix

Hello All,

I am pleased to be back from Germany and in my own bed!

It rained and was dark but we had a lovely time,walking,eating,reading and chatting.I did spend 4 euros on 2 Christmas decorations.2 daughters spent 6 euros each on groovy German bobble hats and the 3 others spent nowt.I think there is about 40 e's left for the next trip we will plan.

Tomorrow there will be just my middle daughter and myself at home so we will go into Rusholme in Manchester and have a curry.

Boxing day there will be just me and 2 daughters so we will just have something from the freezer.

Saturday there will be a houseful so Christmas dinner then, but more like Sunday dinner,not ott.

I haven't been to any shops apart from weekly Aldi since october and don't intend to change my routine.

Best wishes to everyone,particularly those who are missing people this year.

Cxx

GreyQueen

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Happy Christmas shipmates, whatever you are doing tomorrow xx

I was planning to kill the prodigal son and eat the fatted calf........... or was that the other way around? and perhaps stay off the sherry...hic.:beer:

Goshdarnit, back in my salad days, when I was a long-haired leather-jacketed rocker hooligan, I used to sink J Daniel's finest with abandon. Now I get squiffy on bliddy sherry - middle age is so un-cool, y'know? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I told Mum today that I'm giving up chocolate in January. Quick as a flash she said which one?

I don't get no respec' in da family home. I'd leave but they're feeding me pretty well and I only have to do some chores and make them laugh. Sort-of a cut rate court jester........:p

Home; the place where they're too soft to change the locks so you can't get back in again.

edwink

Just to wish all my shipmates a very Happy Christmas whatever you are all doing!!


Going to spoil all the hens and ducks tomorrow and cook them roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire puddings and pieces of cooked bacon. Well is it Christmas and we don't like to spoil them too much!!


We did the same last year! You should see some of the rescue hens when they grab a piece of Yorkshire pudding and run up the garden away from the some of the others with a large piece of Yorkshire pudding sticking out of their beaks or a piece of roast potato!! It is so funny and lovely to see them so healthy and happy after having spent 2 years of their lives stuck in a cage!!


Edwink x