Not Buying It- A Consumer Holiday 2016

RicardaRacoon

Evening folks

I have been in town twice after work this week because I wanted a nice card plus a gift box or bag to pack my friends wedding gift. Found a card eventually but no nice box/bag so will make do with a box I have and wrap it up...
Plus wanted a handbag as the one I ordered looks strange. Found one eventually after about six or seven shops.
I hate shopping when I know that I need something...
Of course I ended up shopping other stuff instead like yarn, a nail varnish and an eye cream. The nail varnish was so inexpensive but I was still thinking very long wether I should buy it or not...

Lyn, great idea taking tea with you, so you can have it wherever you want, whenever you want.

Jackie, I always love to read your memories! I think you just valued your things more because you didn't had too many while kids nowdays don't know with which toy to play first. I have a donkey that belonged to my grandfathers best friend. He is, if memory serves me right, 88 and his mother made the donkey for him out of her old coat when he was a little boy. The donkey looks a bit battered but you can still see that he was treated nicely.

Bathory, I also have a very needy cat here at the moment... He sits on the backrest of the sofa, brushing his tail around my face...

Primrose, I think today parents just want to be in control of every aspect of their childs life. A friend of my mum is a teacher and she told us horrid stories of parents interfering with just about everything. Driving their kids to school because they think it is unsuitable to walk five minutes, complaining that it is unsave to let a 5 yo use scissors and stuff like that. Worst was apparently when one kid trew another ones hat into a puddle and both parents wanted a talk with the headmistress the next day...
I don't envy teachers and I don't know if I really want children one day as I guess someone would report me to social service for letting my children playing outside unsupervised at the tender age of 10....

Primrose

A reminder for all of you who keep a savings stash of money notes in your house. Put a reminder of May 2017 in your diary and swap any £5 paper notes for the new polymer ones because they will cease to be legal tender at this date. £10 paper notes go the same way in summer 2017. You'll be able to swap the old notes at the Bank of England by post or in person but your local bank apparently won't take them, so get rid of them before these dates. I'll post this on the "skinted saving" thread as well so hopefully nobody will get caught.

dND

Primrose wrote: »

A reminder for all of you who keep a savings stash of money notes in your house. Put a reminder of May 2017 in your diary and swap any £5 paper notes for the new polymer ones because they will cease to be legal tender at this date. £10 paper notes go the same way in summer 2017. You'll be able to swap the old notes at the Bank of England by post in person but your local bank apparently won't take them, so get rid of them before these dates. I'll post this on the "skinted saving" thread as well so hopefully nobody will get caught.

Thank you Primrose: I keep a purse with a little UK cash in it for my visits and had no idea this as happening. It's quite a short change-over window when you don't live in the UK

Primrose

dND wrote: »

Thank you Primrose: I keep a purse with a little UK cash in it for my visits and had no idea this as happening. It's quite a short change-over window when you don't live in the UK

I was clearing out a drawer the other day and found a few old French francs in it !

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there!!

Well and truely back on board the good ship NBI today. Walked to the car boot (thus Not Buying petrol) and bought nothing! (Well a single orange from the veg man as neither of the nearby supermarkets sell single ones - I cant eat oranges but have a new cake recipe using a single orange!!)

Returned from there and visited the Fun Day at the park - where I watched a gymnastic display as well as a dog show plus lovely ponies giving rides very patiently and lots of people watching - all free! :T

Then went home and sanded down and painted an old bookcase I had moved with me which had been in my shed for years awaiting a renovation. I used a trial paint pot a friend was throwing out. So it is now an elegant grey and will save me buying a bookcase for this place (other house had a bookcase built in).:j

So NBI all round!

Yes, Jackie O - am loving living here - am gonna have to take my car out tomorrow to keep the battery going!! - for example whereas I drove every day when working - often 4 hours or so a day between students! :eek:
Nite all

determined_new_ms

Hi everyone hope you don't mind me joining in

I read this thread in June and was really interested and inspired. So I went away and read some articles on ppl who had embarked on a "not buying anything new for a year" challenges. Was mega enthused! So decided I would give it a go. When I started I initially just set myself the challenge of a few days/a week and took it day by day (I'm very good at being enthused about things and drinking the koolaide and then forgetting/giving up.

But I am now almost at the 2 month mark and I have not purchased one thing new in that time :T over the last 8 years I have been interested in moneysaving because we were in debt. Then I became interested in minimalism and have been somewhat against mass consumerism but always seemed to waiver/forget buy new things (or second hand). Shortly before reading this thread I became conscious every time I went out I came back with several bags of items.

I have loved it so far! The first couple of weeks were the hardest. My mind kept wandering to saying I *needed* this that or the other. I have had 2 days when I have felt I have no clothes and need to get more, but I just sit on that feeling and by the next day it's gone and my wardrobe feels adequate again Having a toddler has meant I am having to be resourceful and go to the boot fairs to stock up on autumn winter items when I see something good.

Other than that I have borrowed, made, made use of what we have already. I made a birthday card for my lo using items in stores, made a birthday cake and borrowed the tin, went camping and borrowed a mattress.

When I started this challenge I had been out of work for 1 year. Not entitled to any benefits as I live with my partner (although our finances are separate) I have been fortunate as while he doesn't earn loads he can cover out living expenses, although it is getting tight!) I have survived this last year by using my savings and doing a couple of temp jobs for 5 months, doing Ms assignments and ebaying but have been completely without income for 3 months now :eek: thankfully I will be starting a part time job very soon.

What has been great in doing this is some things that I hadn't considered when embarking on it. The challenge has quickly morphed into something more about sustainable living than money. I have taken an allotment on and have been spending a lot of my free time there. Because I have haulted this consumerist streak our wheelie bin has 1 or 2 bags in it each fortnight. I've been able to reconsider my work life balance and have decided to take on a part time job and choose more time over money. Although when I start it my income will be less than half of what I was earning before losing my job, with less childcare fees and not spending so much cash mindlessly I don't feel like it will be a major reduction in our lifestyle. I will still be able to save and go on a holiday, go to festivals and camping. I am building a little savings account for our little girl with her child benefit as am spending a lot less on items for her each month (one thing I'm not prepared to rule out buying new is shoes for her).

Anyway thanks for letting me share this!

[Deleted User]

Well done determined new ms that's brilliant you have really got a handle on NBI a treat, and sorting out your work/life balance means your little girl will benefit no end having a Mum around a bit more. Its all really about choices and deciding whats most important to you and your family.being a Granny to my grandchildren and seeing and looking after them is to me like being a Mum all over again,when mine were little cash was very short and I too had to work to help keep the family afloat at times and missed such a lot, that I am now in my 70s getting instead I love it and the boys all know why their Mum is busy and have been taught by me that given the choice she would be with them,but its not possible as yet So you go for it and good luck Good to see you on here
JackieO xx

dND

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Hi everyone hope you don't mind me joining in

Welcome dnm :hello: , This is a great thread with lots of support and ideas. Also check out the Make do, mend and minimise thread too, the two complement each other really well .

moneyistooshorttomention

Primrose wrote: »

A reminder for all of you who keep a savings stash of money notes in your house. Put a reminder of May 2017 in your diary and swap any £5 paper notes for the new polymer ones because they will cease to be legal tender at this date. £10 paper notes go the same way in summer 2017. You'll be able to swap the old notes at the Bank of England by post or in person but your local bank apparently won't take them, so get rid of them before these dates. I'll post this on the "skinted saving" thread as well so hopefully nobody will get caught.

How does one tell the difference between "old" and "new" ones?

Are the "new" ones in circulation already and, if not, when will they be?

Lynplatinum

Hiya

As those on the MM&M thread know - due to some very worthy expenditure at the weekend - a hog roast + some car boot bits I had on my metal list my pennies got very short this week and so Sun; Mon; Tues were all NBI - made do with food from stores. Today I needed loo roll and milk and that is all I bought!! So still within my £0 total for the week!! yea :j

determined new ms - welcome aboard!! I was on benefits for 4 years after my divorce with two growing boys - things I never compromised on were shoes for the boys and myself (we did a lot of walking everywhere) and paying for dentists. They have grown up with healthy feet and teeth (unlike many of their friends who are now paying dentists a fortune and are crippled with pain intheir feet) and also a healthy respect for money!! It can be done
And you aare in the right place for support BTW my boys are now 30 and 33!!
Nite all