Not Buying It- A Consumer Holiday 2016

wildthing01

Siebrie wrote: »

I did not buy any lunch today, even though I forgot to bring mine. I always have a sachet of instant soup in my desk drawer, the fruit basket at Reception yielded an apple, my boss had brought a dieting colleague a tub of mascarpone (to eat with fruit instead of birthday cake) that she did not eat, free coffee/tea/hot chocolate, someone had ordered soup and did not eat the two slices of accompanying bread, there were some breadsticks and cucumber sticks left over from a work lunch.

Btw: I cooked the apple in the microwave with some sugar and butter in the core, and ate it with the whipped mascarpone; yummie!

Wow Siebrie, that's quite impressive! Sounds like you probably got a larger and better lunch than if you had brought your own in!


Lynplatinum, thanks for the grated carrot tip, I'll def try it. I can prob grate other veggies too and add those in to stuff. Will also think about what extra veggies I can add into my Gino Da Campo pasta recipes (that's who I mostly use, his meals are extremely simple to make and very yummy. Think it should be easy with a risotto as you can pretty much shove what you like in there - DH is fussy like me with veggies, so need to be a bit creative, but think I can think of some ideas.

Also, loving your ideas for using gardening and housework to keep fit/lose weight (sorry, can't work out how to put two separate quotes in a post!) - as well as making my money work as hard as possible, I like to make my time and energy work as hard as possible (as I have little of either), so using pre-existing jobs to double up as keep fit appeals to my keen sense of efficiency!!! I have read that when bending down to load washing machine/dishwasher/hang laundry etc, you should squat as per a legs/bums/tums class, rather than bending at the waist - better for your back and tightens the thighs/glutes. I've been trying that, but keep forgetting! We cancelled our gym membership recently as we just weren't going, so need to keep fit in other ways. I am already a fan of using the stairs instead of lifts and parking at far end of carpark so walking a bit further.

I have another day off today (using up annual leave) and am making DD's birthday cake as it is her birthday today. Have been struggling with cakes since moving house, think the oven in our new house is a bit rubbish to be honest (it;s v similar to the one we left behind, but doesn't seem as efficient), and I've been producing flat biscuity or soggy cakes. I've asked friends and my Prue Leith Cookery Bible for advice and am going to try some different things: marg instead of butter (don't normally allow marg in the house as I think it's evil!), room temperature eggs, and a properly pre- heated oven, so am just having a cuppa while I wait for the eggs and oven to warm up a bit before I start!

[Deleted User]

When I was getting ready for my Race for Life last year I drove a measured mile in a block from my house, turn left bottom of the road ,turn left again,long flat straight bit,turn left, again up a small hill ,left again and down an adjoining road,left for the last time and back into my road and home. It clocked exactly one mile

When I first started doing it it took me almost 50 minutes after a few weeks I found I had whittled it down to 21 minutes and back again and did it every morning before breakfast.As my life is always fairly busy during the day this mile was really good in helping me to keep focussed on my goal

With sensible dieting I lost two stones in around three months .Obviously as I was losing I was carrying less stuff around with me so my speed increased. I have osteo arthritis and need a stick to walk with but I was quite happy to do this in my own time, and was so pleased with the result .

Decent shoes and making sure you stay warm and dry when walking is all you need.During the period I was walking I saw the seasons change and people flowers coming out as spring wore on.

I also got to chat to the dog walkers passing by and nod to the folk who were tidying up their front gardens.

When the big day came in July eventually with my DD and four DGS we did a 5k walk which is around three miles and raised well over £600 for Cancer research a cause very close to my heart.

The last kilometre I took my shoes off and walked in my socks as my feet were feeling a bit ...tired by then. But I was so pleased that I had managed it, and not only lost the weight but felt so much more healthier for it.

So Lyn you go for it and find a walk that suits you and do it daily, and surprise yourself at what you can do.

I haven't got the time or inclination to go to a gym.it seems to be full of fairly healthy stick -like creatures anyway, and I'm definitely not stick-like :):)

I do enjoy a swim though and my local pool allows old codgers like mysef in for free during the week.so thats another good bit of excersise (and free,like the walking )

Next week DD and I will restart our training programme again for this years Race for Life . I don't race so much as its many years since I ran anywhere ,but a good hobble with me stick will get me round I think :):)

I do go on the local Healthy Living walk every Monday morning from my local library run by the council.Great fun and about 45 minutes long,then a free cuppa at the library when you get back.

I am not going anywhere today though as its persisting down outside and very windy as well , so its fire on and book out for a read this morning
Still not going out means not spending any dosh ,win-win I think
Have a good day everyone what ever you are doing
JackieO xxx

HOWMUCH

Wildthing01 ML did the maths re pizza on one of his Friday night money saving shows and you should have gone with the 14" pizza you get more for your money, be back later just got a spare 5 mins before collecting DGS from nursery. X

Aril

Day 27/366 Another NSD. I had planned to see if I could snare any YS bargains in the Co op on my way home but to be honest the weather was so pants that I just headed straight home Following a conversation with a friend tonight I have just discovered that a local book I want to read that is out of print is available online for free as it's out of copyright time. Have also discovered another free exhibition coming up and arranged to go dog walking round a local wood I don't know very well next week. Free fun!
Arilx

WeeMidgie

Lynplatinum wrote: »

WeeMidgie - which telecoms person are you with?? Am thinking of engaging B!T in battle as I am fed up of the amount I pay - what tactics did you use?

Hi Lyn
I'm with (Pie in the) Sky, the package is line rental and broadband with evening and weekend phone calls. I found the tel no for the retentions team, quoted a good offer from Plusnet which ended yesterday at midnight, and asked how closely they could match it to persuade me to stay with them. (Martin's advised tactics).

To be honest, I didn't have to push for it. They were keen to keep me, and I was happy with the proposed deal. It took about 2 minutes!

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there!

Firmly back on board today!! an NBI for groceries and for entertainment but I did buy a trainticket (to go down to Cornwall to look for another house - having been let down! ergo - a different money 'pot').
Day2 of Healthy Living - out walking today for about and hour and a half :j - to the bank to pay a bill and then on to the train station - they couldnt offer anything better than on line prices! also both of the main cashback sites have no train price offers at the mo!!

Thanks for your advice Wee Midgie - will give it a try on Friday when I have a few hours free in the AM.
Nite all

suki1964

First of all, a belated congratulations tatabubbly

Been Mia for a while and have just caught up with the thread, it's changed directions so many times I can't begin to put any of my thoughts


The flu knocked me for six. I was extremely unwell for a long time, even now I'm still only working on half throttle, but I'm getting there, albeit it slowly

Still it's kept me out of shops which is no bad thing

Actually I find I find excuses not to shop nowadays, I'm actually hating it. Our daughter is getting married in a month and I have still not been out to look for an outfit, I'm actually having nightmares over the thought of going. I decided last night I will book a personal shopper at debenhams and get it over and done with I hate clothes shopping with a passion, not helped by the fact I'm just over 5 ft, have no bum, the skinniest legs in the world, but a round belly. I look like a lollipop lol

I live in skinny jeans and flat shoes but I have been told on no account can I wear jeans to the wedding so a frock has to be found - along with shoes, handbag, hat or one of those things you have for your head if you don't wear a hat - I've no idea, all I know is it's going to cost an arm and a leg.

I started back working this week and just put my first pay claim in:j. I doubt I will get rich but I'm going to get fit that's for sure :j I forgot how much leg work you do in this, I'm fine whilst I'm trudging around, but getting out the car when I get home is a bit of a struggle cos I've gotten stiff. Still between the flu and all the walking I've already dropped a dress size ( now me boobs are going as well so I really do look like a lollipop) :rotfl:

Good news is now two of my hens have resumed laying duties and the other two will start again soon as well. Missed having their eggs over Nov and December Shop bought , even free range, are just tasteless in comparison

im still using up the great reduced offers I got at Christmas so shopping bills haven't been too bad. I am going to have to pop out today for a bit of veg as there's a lump of left over pork in the fridge that is screaming out to be made into sweet and sour, so I need a pepper and scallions. Also got to get bread otherwise I'd do without, but as I say, still not running on full throttle so easy cooking for me ATM and I really cba to make bread today. It's too cold, and my fire looks like it needs me lying in front of it for the day

Good to see new members, it's nice to know we aren't alone in our fight back against consumerism

wildthing01

Nearly fell off the wagon yesterday - nipped to coop to buy cocoa powder as bad planning meant I ran out halfway through making DD's birthday cake. While there, had a quick glance at the YSs and saw some butterscotchy choccy things reduced to 49p for two, as well as lots of other choc bars etc. Was quite tempted, then I stopped and had a word with myself: I was about to go home and make a 20cm square choc birthday cake that we'll prob still be eating next week, so why on earth would I want to buy more choc/cakes??? What was I thinking??

So I went home with spinach leaves for DD instead (they're one of the few veggies she'll willingly eat), plus the cocoa of course.

All thanks to this thread - it's really helping me to focus on my buying habits.

Aril

Day 28/366 A massive spend of 20p on two pet bowls from the charity shop purchased by Mr GBT on his daily constitutional as we broke a second plastic one last night in as many weeks. I had originally thought of buying them from the sm but then my NBI part of my brain went ping and we were able to spend more mindfully instead. Mr GBT has been a little star and has realised that we've still been paying subs for an activity that the teenogre is now longer able to do as he works on a Thurs eve so he's cancelled said direct debit. That's another £27 per term we won't have to spend.
Arilx

thriftwizard

A close shave for me today; promised expeditions for the DDs to spend their Christmas money, one to one half of the conurbation to a posh department store, the other to the other half for a more practical hunt for some underwear. And I spotted such a lovely glittery dress, reduced from £70 to £10, and it fitted me & looked good...

But I need another glittery dress like I need a hole in my head! I have enough and there's no room in my half of the wardrobe. I do have somewhere to wear them; I'll be wearing one on Saturday night, but that one only cost me £1 off a charity shop £1 rail. So I put it back with a sigh, but I don't regret it because I managed to stick to my guns and NOT buy it!