Not Buying It- A Consumer Holiday 2016

nursemaggie

Thank You Aril. At some point in my life I acquired a silver coaster. Just the one so I refuse to buy silver cleaner. will try that. Think I will use the one I don't like.

Aril

Another like minded soul!
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14402878.Meet_the_woman_who_buys_nothing_except_food_and_toiletries/

butterfly2507

Hello shipmates! Still here, still reading

I've actually done good the past few weeks and even set up a few items to sell on €bay. So far I've made 10,50 € + shipping But the auctions are still up until tomorrow

Happytravelling

Aril- thanks for another inspirational link. I need some inspiration!

Had a bit of a review for the first 3 months of the year, and whilst we've spent on average £80 per month less on fuel than our budget, we've overspent on food/ toiletries by an average of £11 per month. I knew we had a big overspend in January, but I thought my sensible swaps would have done more to bring this down.

Think I'm making the mistake of perusing websites too much too, as although I've not bought too much, I'm getting that "I'm missing out!" feeling.

I need to think positive- I have bought only one item of clothing and only one dvd (the dvd was from a charity shop) this year. I've also donated several bags to charity shops so more of my items can be hopefully re-used by others.

Aril

It's just been the basics today. Returning the library books on time [I put the due back date in the diary so it doesn't fall out of my head] on my way back home from work- parked for free in Sainsburys so recycled the plastics and topped us up with the basics coffee [Fairtrade] and a couple of yellow stickered items. All menu planning done for the week ahead and the washing dried on the line.
Arilx

dND

Happytravelling wrote: »

Had a bit of a review for the first 3 months of the year, and whilst we've spent on average £80 per month less on fuel than our budget, we've overspent on food/ toiletries by an average of £11 per month. I knew we had a big overspend in January, but I thought my sensible swaps would have done more to bring this down.

Think I'm making the mistake of perusing websites too much too, as although I've not bought too much, I'm getting that "I'm missing out!" feeling.

Well done Happytravelling on the £80 reduction, that's quite a saving :beer:

I found it took a while but then realised I was spending half that I used to spend. I now shop at Lid!s or A!di in preference to the hyper markets as the reduction in the walls of choice ( I mean, 20 ft of 5 shelves high, of sliced ham and chicken :eek:) make shopping quicker and more enjoyable. And before long the feeling of freedom from over-choice overwhelms the thought of missing out - although there is the occasional binge.:o

One thing we get here in France is the 'publicity'; each week the post delivers the advertising blurb from the major chains. Wasteful in paper but when you live in the sticks as I do it can save a lot of car fuel driving to the shops to see if the have what you want on offer. I peruse them each week and only go to the hypermarkets if they have a decent offer that more than covers the cost of my fuel getting there.

Usually it would be the offers on cat food but since I discovered the on-line site I now use, (generally cheaper and delivered to my door), my visits are rare and almost a treat So not going avoids all the 'little extras' that ended up in the trolley on the long hike round the supermarket.

It also takes time to find the the cheaper alternatives that you like to replace the other stuff you were buying. For example I now honestly prefer Lid!s 'magnums' to the real ones and their 74% coco chocolate to any other standard brand.

As the saying goes, every journey starts with the first step and as you're taken that step you will get there :j

Bathory

Hi everyone,

I've not posted for a while. I will be honest and admit that I am struggling a bit so far this year with the not buying it challenge. I did however, manage to resist spending a £10 voucher off a £30 shop for clothing, Having looked round the store offering the deal I decided there was nothing I wanted, not even in the sales, so ripped the voucher up.

I feel like I've not done as well because I'm not having as many NBI days and have felt the need to have a fresh look and replace stuff around the house. Its nothing that was expensive but I have replaced a number of items. Some worn out things like bedding and towels were cut up for rubbing rags and stuff like kitchen utensils/crockery went to the local charity shop. A new carpet is next as we are fed up of the laminate flooring in the front room (always cold in there and its been laminated for years) so I'm looking out for sales or maybe off-cuts if they're big enough.

I've got to go into town today to pay a bill but no way am I paying £4.50 for a return on the bus so walking it - should take around 30-40 mins. I hope to have more NBI days in the coming months.

angela110660

Aril wrote: »

It's just been the basics today. Returning the library books on time [I put the due back date in the diary so it doesn't fall out of my head] on my way back home from work- parked for free in Sainsburys so recycled the plastics and topped us up with the basics coffee [Fairtrade] and a couple of yellow stickered items. All menu planning done for the week ahead and the washing dried on the line.
Arilx

So glad that i can renew my library books online these days - just done this morning and the times I forgot in the past are no more!

Primrose

angela110660 wrote: »

So glad that i can renew my library books online these days - just done this morning and the times I forgot in the past are no more!

Have you signed up the "Library Elf" System? think many libraries now operate it which will send you a friendly email reminding you how ever many days in advance you choose, that your books are due for renewal. I find this an invaluable system because our library no longer stamps the renewal date in the front of the book and time flies so quickly that I often lose track

[Deleted User]

So yesterday I sinned cashwise, I went to London with my DD and had a brilliant day out. I treated myself to my favourite Chanel No.5 perfume which costs quite a bit ,but is my 'luxury' treat and will last me around 18 months, and at £76 its one very expensive smelly but gorgeous :):).

I spent even more in M&S in Oxford Street, but I did get half a dozen nice tops which will do me for the rest of this year. I had some birthday/ Christmas cash, plus vouchers so in total I suppose I spent in all for the whole day £146.00 which sound a lot but I got good value for money and I was very pleased with everything I had bought.I also included in that bought a friend's birthday present for this month. Our 'posh' afternoon tea was gorgeous, and by last night I was totally stuffed and never even bothered to make any dinner as I was too full still of the sandwiches and fancy cakes :):)
As yet I still havn't been food shopping this month and I am eating from my freezer.Tonight I have a couple of sausages my last big jacket spud from the veg box and probably some bits of salady stuff.Using up as much as I can as I am away next weekend on my spring break.Just worked out I only have five more dinners to cook before I go so freezer diving looks on the cards for me :):)