Not Buying It- A Consumer Holiday 2016

Lynplatinum

Hiya

Jackie O reading about your 'day off Saturday' that is almost what I have done today - have done the washing put it out; got it in and put on radiators to air; done 2 days washing up (fell asleep last nite before I could do it and it still only came to one side's worth as last nite's tea was a HM ready meal from freezer) and had long leisurely bath. Listened to the audio of Richard Dawkin's biography (loaned by a friend) while in the bath and while cooking a leek and chicken dish for tea. Spent aft watching re runs of 'New Tricks' - an early series - I had forgotten how good they were! While doing my exercises on the front room floor.

Was beating myself up for having a 'wasted day' but its been manic this week and I probably needed the break TBH! But maybe now I'll be full steam ahead tomorrow!

Anyhoo it was an NSD day and used up some food ingredients and it will please my friend that Ive finally got around to starting to listen to their kind donation!!
All in all NBI because nothing was bought; things re used(the audio recording); and food was by minimising freezer contents ! So not as bad as I thought !!
Nite all

tatabubbly

Today will be a NSD in our house as Oh has taken the car for work.

I've lots of housework to do today but I also fancy baking something. Must get my thinking cap on as I've lots of bits and bobs in for baking and I should be using them up!

Only another 2 weeks until payday and we are pretty broke till then but I'll definitely be able to stretch what we have until then. I have about 12 tins of peas and red kidney beans, now to use them

Skint_yet_Again

Have been spending so NSD are going to pot at the moment but they are necessary spends so not beating myself up too much.


I put my boots on and noticed the boot has ripped and parted from the sole and I can see daylight through them - ordered a new pair online to avoid going to the shops and got £10 in the sale with an extra £15 off with a voucher code so I am pleased with that.


Planning to use up stuff in the fridge/freezer today so I don't waste any food and then I have to go food shopping either today or tomorrow.


I am having my hair done tomorrow afternoon as I am starting to look like a badger and I have a wedding to go to at the end of this month. Its a friend of a friend who does my hair in her home and a cut / colour/ foils / blow dry is £40 so its cheaper than a fancy salon. It lasts about 6 weeks so £20 a month but I budget for it as I think its worth it. I've tried to do it myself at home but the results were not great


I have no idea of the dress code at a winter wedding... I am wearing a pair of black trousers and black boots, both already owned. I have a teal coloured floaty top I bought in the autumn sale for £3 and a teal scarf and gloves set bought new on ebay before xmas for £7.99 with free p&p, together with an already owned long black coat. I didn't want to look like I was going to a funeral in all that black IYSWIM. I have another pair of black trousers and a silk top already which I can wear to the evening do.


Anyway the cost of petrol (full tank each way) and the present is going to be £100 so I cant afford / cant justify a total new outfit as well.


Am going to have to make a decision about my car. This one has cost me a fortune since I got it but I cant manage without one. It passed its MOT last week with one advisory and a few separate warnings about things coming up - I was planning to wait another year but I don't want to fork out a fortune in 6 months time for all this other stuff. Will get the wedding over with and then look at my finances again.

dND

Well I ended the week as I started - by spending :eek: In my defence I have run my stores down and there is only so long you can go without buying So when the offers show up I tend to stock up for a couple of months.

On the last shop were a couple of hair dyes which are usually really expensive here and they were half price so that's my winter boost sorted. I don't mind the bleached blond look in summer but in winter I need to get back to my red heritage.

Next up it was bird seed which was on offer at around 60C a kilo. Normally it is just over an Euro a kilo; so if they get through a 4kg bag a month it is still only around an Euro for a week of entertainment from watching all the birds around the feeder. I should have enough seed to see out the winter. :j

I also 'treated' myself to two pairs of new work trousers. I've been in my summer capri style ones up to now and it is just getting too cold. I kept myself going by reminding myself that you burn calories when shivering but enough is enough! :rotfl: My old ones have frayed along the gusset (through flow ventilation ) and are really past repair but then I bought them about 12 years ago and they have been worn and worn - tesc0 boys (for the length with width) and they were if I remember correctly £3 each!!! That set me back 6€ a pair and I just need to lop 4 in off the bottom, re earlier posts:)

Then on the 3€ rail I spotted a long sleeved top that will do for informal best until the summer kicks in. I only have short sleeved 'good' tops' so that fills a gap in the wardrobe and I will be wearing it today as I'm visiting a friend for lunch.

With luck and a bit of planning that is my bulk spending done for at least a couple of months if not longer and SM shops will be back to their quick in-and-out for basics :j

I've also been able to schedule a weekend off - I moved fields with the alpacas and while there is not much grass in the new fields, there is some, and I was able to have a day off from shifting hay bales. I spent a lot of the day watching videos and spinning, a really nice change and being a Saturday, no visitors and I didn't even get the usual telephone cold calls that plague you here, up to 6 or 8 a day at their worst.

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone :beer:

[Deleted User]

GQ weird or what,I decided as its winter to get some of the frozen apples out that I portioned up back in September.My DDs in-laws have a huge tree and often send me down via DD two big carrier bags of apples and I sit and peel slice and cook in water with a dollop of honey.Once frozen they usually take me right though the rough part of winter when I don't fancy going to the shops.I love apples with plain el cheapo yogurt,delicious and the yogurt's not too bad either ,usually about 45p for a whacking great pot.Very versatile as well as I sometimes dollop some into a curry if I have been a bit over liberal with the spices :):)
Today eldest DD will arrive shortly for her weekly scrambled eggs and pot of coffee and natter I hear all about her busy week and feed and water her and she relaxes which is good for her and it recharges her batteries.Then late afternoon I will be off to youngest Dds for dinner as usual.I will make a Victoria sponge cake for DGS Jack as its his favourite ,probably the only cake he likes, as he doesn't like shop bought cake at all.I may make some melting moment biscuits for the other boys as a treat.Yesterday was lovely and I highly recommend anyone who is feeling a bit 'frazzled' with life to 'Take a day off to yourself ' if you can.But today life gets back to normal for another week.Still NSD for me this week at all as I have nothing I need to get foodwise and I'd rather stay in the warm at the moment .This blessed cold is still hanging around,roll on the spring.
Have a good day everyone what ever you are doing
JackieO xxx

mavvymoo

Morning all
Had to buy new trainers yesterday as the toes were out of my old ones.I run quite a lot and really needed them so it had to be done Paid £60 for them which was £20 less than they should have been So not too bad.

Had a look round but didnt buy another thing so was very pleased with myself and did have a smug look on my face for the rest of the day

I also need a new swimming costume but they are so expensive and just not right (I just need it for swimming and lazing around in the hot tub) So nothing high cut on the leg or low cut on the boobs :rotfl: So have decided just to use some short black shorts I have got and a stretchy vest type top thingy I have already got and if I say so myself it looks ok

So am making do and not buying it which is music to my ears


Mav x

greenbee

Good running shoes are an investment Mav. They save you having to pay for gym membership/diets/therapy Running gets you outside, gets the endorphins going and means you can eat what you like... I must get organised so I have time to go today. I also need to make some time to go and get some new running shoes - I'm using a new running app that allows you to track how many miles you have used your shoes for and when to replace them which seems like a good idea!

chirpycheap

JackieO wrote: »

P.S. chirpycheap, make a list and stick to it ,only shop when you have at least 7-10 things on the list ,adapt what you have in stock, and change meals to what you have to use it up first.My late Mum taught me how to streetch stuff until it squeaked and practice makes perfect honey, and I have been practicing for around 50+ years

That is really excellent advice Jackie. I usually head to the shops as soon as I run out of a single item.

I have been doing Slimming World for five years now and I think that I have got into healthier (but expensive) eating habits. I buy an awful lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and yoghurt. With money about to get a lot tighter I need to explore alternative ways of healthy eating.

My plan is to swap some of my expensive buys for cheaper ones so more cabbage and fewer fancy salads. Fewer posh fruits and absolutely no ready prepared pots of fruit and organic will have to be a treat. I'll be looking at offers on fruit and vegetables in the supermarket. I must admit that I'm set in my ways but I'll be exploring frozen fruit and vegetables. I know tinned vegetables are cheaper, I'm not keen but I'm willing to revisit them.

Do people buy yellow stickered fruit and vegetables and find that they are okay? I always worry that they will be inedible. I once bought a YS bag of lettuce and it was rotten when I opened it and it's sort of put me off.
What tricks and tactics do other canny shoppers use to keep down the cost of fruit and vegetables?

wildthing01

Have had a lovely day today and not a penny spent! A fab morning playing in the snow with the kids, then an afternoon in front of the fire watching DVDs. Have managed to get a few washes done, persuade one child to have bath and the other to do their homework (now they need to swap!), and have persuaded DH to accompany DS to classmate's birthday party later, so can get in my jamies and truly relax! Have had one of those days where I have really appreciated my house, the area we live in (very easy to get out in the snow, and it looks so beautiful on the trees), and my kids (they've been lovely today, hardly had to tell them off at all!) and husband.

Sorry if I sound smug -not meant to, just trying to be mindful and appreciative of what I have - i try to take time every day to think about the good things in my lfe, and this makes me less likely to spend money on tat to make myself feel good!

greenbee

chirpycheap - I tend to buy fruit and veg in season from my local market garden/farm shop. I also buy a lot more veg than fruit, and freeze when there's a glut and prices are good. Pretty much any veg can be turned into soup (I have lettuce soup, cucumber soup and asparagus soup in the freezer at the moment) to be used at a later date. Odd strawberries, melon etc are frozen for smoothies. I sprout seeds as well, but generally don't have salad in the winter - soups and stir fries (last stirfry had leftover xmas sprouts in it!) tend to dominate.

I buy spinach, peas, broad beans and sweetcorn frozen. I pick my own raspberries, blackberries and blueberries in the summer and freeze, as well as stewing/juicing apples and stewing plums. These last for breakfasts, puddings, and smoothies all through the winter. I also currently have grapes and clementines frozen from YS bargains after christmas that can be used either for juicing or cooking.

Have a look at what the best value options are where you are shopping (and do try you local farm shop/market/independent greengrocer) and menu plan round that. At the moment you'll probably find carrots, parsnips, swede, turnip, leeks, onions, cabbage etc in season. If you're not worried about food miles, basic/value courgettes & broccoli are usually around all year.

I also make my own yogurt, which not only keeps the cost down, but also means I'm not just nipping out to the shop for it so saves money that way.