Not Buying It- A Consumer Holiday 2016

RicardaRacoon

Morning everyone

Before I forget; hope everyone who isn't well feels better soon! Take it easy and rather stay in bed for a day or two to get rid of it before having it stick for weeks!

Had a good laugh when I read that Happytravelling found out what shore leave means... I wonder; does anyone around here really works/lives on a boat? That would be quite good fun I think.

Busy day ahead today as I will take photos at a local event in the afternoon and then go to a costume party with two friends in the evening. Don't feel too well, woke with swollen eyes and a runny nose and just hope it will not get worse since there was a fair bit of germs flying around our office lately...
I decided against the Charleston dress I was lurking around cause I really don't see why I should spend all that money on a dress that I wear one evening. So I will just dress up as 1950ies girl with a dress with polka dots, victory rolls (I know they are more 40ies, but love them!), a hairband and 50ies make up. If only I could get a perfect eyeliner done...

I guess tomorrow will just be a lazy day to recover from today and luckily I have Monday off too, that will be walk with my aunts dog in the morning and then off to my Mums knitting group in the afternoon. Been looking forward to that for weeks already.

No spends this months so far beside groceries, a few household essentials, knitting needles and my 30£ bedroom-makeover. But that is due to change with all the going out at the moment.
Got all the groceries in until Thursday, will not need anything for next weekend as I will be out so much that some soup from the freezer will do, so I have 9 days to cover and about 30% of my groceries budget still available, so that should work out splendidly.

Lyn, congratulations on finding a house and good luck (plus loads of patience...) with sorting everything out! I would defo send them some recipes, they might learn from it :-)

Seraph, welcome on board! very inspiring to read your story!

So, need to get a move on, laundry to take down and I don't suppose my cats will empty the dishwasher and pass the hover, so will have to do that myself :-) Little spoilt beast they are, messing the whole flat up with their fur and leave me to clean up....

wildthing01

Hello all

I am feeling better today, having rested yesterday, spent literally the whole day in jamas on the sofa watching appalling TV - had forgotten what utter tripe there is on daytime TV (was too ill to focus on reading or a film). I had bad restless leg syndrome by the end of the day, but today I feel much better for having done it.

Have cleaned and tidied the house in prep for friends coming later, and made some serious inroads into the washing - mainly the school uniforms, I like to get them all washed and hung up at the start of the weekend so don't have to worry about them again - I just hang everything straight onto hangers to dry so I don't have to do any ironing and can just shove it straight in the wardrobe when it's dry.

Not quite an NBI day today as I sent DH out to buy couple of bits for the meal I'm making later. I asked him to pick up a dessert as can't be bothered to make one, and was a bit annoyed when he came back with apple crumble - not only do I not like it (so will have to eat boring ice-cream instead), but I can make it myself so much more cheaply (I make it for DH even though I hate it, aren't I lovely?) If we're going to buy dessert, I want something I can't cook myself (and something I like!) Still, I suppose we're paying for the convenience of not having to make it.

NurseMaggie, I did buy a shrub for DH for Valentine's, and am really pleased I haven't just settled for chocs as usual, especially as we're on a bit of a health kick currently. I also took a bag of clothes to the CS, and resisted the temptation to buy anything while I was there.

yorpington

Hi everyone,

Might I join? Been on MSE for four years now; got debt-free in that time and now saving for a house with my lovely DH. I think of us as being quite frugal - we don't buy full-price, bulk-purchase to save money, hunt down good deals, pot our change etc - but we still don't save as much as we ought to on paper. I think we need to really watch where the pennies are going and clamp down on impulse purchases.

Had a good couple of days. Grocery shopping yesterday mostly at Aldee but with a few bits from Mr. S, where I used a lot of coupons to get a ton of bonus points (we cash these in at Christmas to pay for the food shop). Then today DH needed his hair cut at the bargain barber, and I got my eyebrows done (an indulgence but one for which I budget and is totally worth it) before trading in a few bits at CEX. Used a voucher for lunch out, and our free cinema tickets afterwards.

Despite having a good mooch around the shops while waiting between appointments, we didn't buy anything for which we had not planned :A Parking was a bit steep but cheaper than using public transport.

Home now; got pulled pork in the slow cooker for dins. I've got a few bits to put on eBay, and am planning a marathon Unsubscribe session to avoid those pesky email offers which suck me in! I want to ensure we're using our money for the things we really need and want; not frittering it away

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there me hearties!

Welcome Seraph123 - your story was amazing - what a pit to pull yourself out of - fantastic! You are proof that these things can be done!:j
Welcome yorpington - crying shame that parking was dearer than public transport!! Really foolish! Yep, I really feel that mooching round shops is inclined to raise our disappointment levels and the urge to buy - might I suggest the tactic of visiting the local library and reading a free paper/mag while being in the warm or walk round local church/museum or park if weather/health permits??? These are my strategies if stuck in a city centre for a while.

Well today not an NBI day but went to the local Seed Swap - this is organised by my friend from the local gardening club - if you have seeds to swap its free if not £1 entry. I got in for free - taking home harvested aqualigia and rooted rosemary. Didnt buy owt in view of my move but treated myself to HM soup and HM bread for £1. I walked there as part of my attempt to get more active and so shift weight! Thence walked to T!scos and bought an outfit for DILs Baby Shower - dont know quite why shes having it as she has been given literally bin bags full of clothes for babe and almost all else already purchased!! American custom we could do without in my book :mad: I paid £5 in the sale and dont feel a bit guilty a I have bought/given stuff already. Will be polite and perhaps I will end up enjoying event ????

Tea was from stocks already in house and while oven was on I made an apple crumble that will do 4 puddings this week from apples that were a 14p YS on Tuesday.

So have one foot overboard today but one foot defo on board the good ship NBI -bargains bargains all the way :rotfl:
Nite all

tatabubbly

Lyn, with baby showers I feel it's just usually (well in my case) a chance to meet everyone before baby comes for tea and cake! Not really interested in the material side of it myself.

Back from our weekend away now and both me and my hubby had totally forgot about Valentine's Day, I'll make him a little card later on! Mum sent me over some maternity trousers she got in Lidl so I was delighted to get them, well needed now.

Gots to go to shops today and get food for fridge (it's ridiculously low) and heading to see a new house in an hours time, which I hope is suitable as I'm working on a budget!

I've one baby purchase later - a pump - person hasn't used it and is selling it ridiculously cheap so it will save me at least €70 on one from the shops. If I can't use it and decide to sell it on, I definitely could at a profit.

Aril

Day 43/366 No spending beyond what was on the shopping list. I wen through the freezer and fridge carefully to see exactly what we'd got lurking before I menu planned and actually managed to incorporate the lime I froze to stop it going off before I went away. Spent the time instead with a new group of people who like me are trying to do more green stuff at grassroots level. More cross stitch done.
Arilx

mavvymoo

Hi All Lyn Hope all goes well in the pool of sharks coming up thank goodness you are on board ship

Seraph123 Very inspiring well done you :T

Right I have managed to pick up 5 new bras for £49.50 As I have to pay £34 each :eek: for these normally. I was very impressed with my savings. They are needed and a thought out buy. Also saves me going into the shop later in the year and being suckered into matching pants to go with them at £16 a pair :eek:

I am taking all your advice on board and just being so much more thoughtful about what I buy.

Made me laugh the other day when I was swimming and a lady asked me where I got my costume from. and I told her it was an old stretchy vest top and old shorts :rotfl:She said what a good idea I would have never thought of that. Who needs to spend £50 on a costume when they dont have too


Mav x

eandjsmum

Morning all

Welcome newbies.
Tatabubby my breast pump was well used, also I was very lucky to buy a mooli grater which was wellused when weaning. Unfortunately you can't buy them now.

Yesterday busses were free here so free trip to Maidstone then treated myself to 2 new tee shirts and a cardi in the C/ shops there.
Also McCalls patterns are half price now so no excuse not to use some of my fabric stash.

Have a few days away this week planned.
So Dinner is from freezer. I don't plan to poke my nose out of doors today as it is quite cold here.

Have a great week all

yorpington

Hi again everyone. Nice one on the bra bargains Mavvymoo!

A very NBI Valentine's Day here chez yorpington. I had booked a fancy lunch out, but saw the light and cancelled it in time. We did exchange cards, but no gifts, then went to church (like a pp I don't consider tithing to be an unnecessary expense :rotfl:) now DH is baking some egg muffins for the week. We'll have a roast later.

tatabubbly

eandjsmum wrote: »

Morning all

Welcome newbies.
Tatabubby my breast pump was well used, also I was very lucky to buy a mooli grater which was wellused when weaning. Unfortunately you can't buy them now.

thanks eandjsmum! I spoke to the lady who I bought it off, she never used it as her husband went and bought her a double one when she found out she was expecting twins :rotfl: I'm not complaining - just looked up the price on boots website - €189 new and I paid €50 so a massive saving for us there

Well chuffed at that!

Did the shopping as well and got both me and hubby blades for razor - came to €60 all in. Not bad as I had to buy nearly all fresh fruit and veg, milk, bread, pasta etc as we didn't have any left.

For Valentine's Day, I made my OH a card and bought him a packet of Rolos (for sharing of course ) as we had a lovely weekend away but I wanted him to know I was still thinking of him as he's a romantic at heart. Love ain't dead in my house - I just don't need hallmark to tell me that!