Any "embarrassing" money saving things you do?

VfM4meplse

Feral_Moon wrote: »

So are you suggesting she was going to eat all those packs of doughnuts, fruit yoghurts, several pots of coleslaw/humous etc plus various salad items and fruit - none if which are suitable for freezing, I might add - all within the 24hrs or so they would remain edible?

Yes, by all means buy meat, fish, vegetables, bread/bakery items which can be frozen or immediately converted into something like soup which can then be frozen. But, what on earth do you do with several packets of iced doughnuts, numerous tubs of coleslaw etc and why buy it if you're not going to use it?

I watched this from the link provided wth interest!

It occurred to me that I did exactly what Ilona did for years, until very recently (by that I mean just 3 weeks ago): I'd often have a "pot-luck" meal, not necessarily balanced as I there are 2 areas I look at, fruit and veg, and the bakery, and inky very rarely the chiller cabinet. The reasons I stopped were two-fold: firstly my Mum has been staying with me a lot lately and she cleared out my stash of YS goodies in the fridge on bin day, complaining that she can't eat old food. I wasn't over the moon at the time but in fairness didn't miss what had been discarded.

The second was stopping sugar a short time afterwards. I realised that part of the reason I was eating so much was because although I wouldn't buy bakery goodies at full price, when reduced to the right price all bets were off and I would buy and eat cakes and pastries in ridiculous amounts. Stupid I know, but I ended up eating a lot of junk and not a lot of "proper" food that way. So when I saw Ilona eating that YS dessert with triumph I felt more than a little uncomfortable, in fact was actually turned of YS shopping further. Had I seen it a month ago I might have been encouraged to continue down the same track.

It does help that I have an Aldi close by, prices are reasonable and YS don't seem to exist.

Feral_Moon

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I watched this from the link provided wth interest!

It occurred to me that I did exactly what Ilona did for years, until very recently (by that I mean just 3 weeks ago): I'd often have a "pot-luck" meal, not necessarily balanced as I there are 2 areas I look at, fruit and veg, and the bakery, and inky very rarely the chiller cabinet. The reasons I stopped were two-fold: firstly my Mum has been staying with me a lot lately and she cleared out my stash of YS goodies in the fridge on bin day, complaining that she can't eat old food. I wasn't over the moon at the time but in fairness didn't miss what had been discarded.

The second was stopping sugar a short time afterwards. I realised that part of the reason I was eating so much was because although I wouldn't buy bakery goodies at full price, when reduced to the right price all bets were off and I would buy and eat cakes and pastries in ridiculous amounts. Stupid I know, but I ended up eating a lot of junk and not a lot of "proper" food that way. So when I saw Ilona eating that YS dessert with triumph I felt more than a little uncomfortable, in fact was actually turned of YS shopping further. Had I seen it a month ago I might have been encouraged to continue down the same track.

It does help that I have an Aldi close by, prices are reasonable and YS don't seem to exist.

You've succinctly summed up my issue with these kinds of programmes and the "grab it for (almost) free" culture it fosters. People will buy anything if it's a bargain, regardless of whether they actually need it.

Like you, I shop mainly at Aldi so don't need to target the bigger supermarkets in search of bargains. On the rare occasions I might visit Sainsbury, Asda or Waitrose I'll always check out the reduced item sections to see if I can pick up any bargains, likewise on my almost daily visit to the Co-op.

If stuff is on offer then I generally take only that which I would ordinarily use anyway, or maybe something I perhaps wouldn't buy at full price but if it's reduced price then I'll try it. I certainly wouldn't buy anything I couldn't/wouldn't use "just because it's reduced" and available.

Reminds me of a woman I saw in the local Asda last week. She was at the reduced section, picking through the many items available when I approached at her side. As soon as she saw me she started grabbing handfuls of items and stuffing them in her trolley before I could even see what was available. I just walked away and left her to it. Sad

Ilona

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I watched this from the link provided wth interest!

I ended up eating a lot of junk and not a lot of "proper" food that way. So when I saw Ilona eating that YS dessert with triumph I felt more than a little uncomfortable,

I was told to eat it like that, it's called acting. I never buy those sweet desserts.

I know what you mean though about buying junk just because it's cheap, it does require self discipline, of which I have plenty. I allow myself one treat, Friday was a packet of donuts. I won't go YS shopping for another 3 - 4 weeks, I alternate with Aldi, because it's closer to town and I can do the discount stores at the same time.

Ilona

Tiddlywinks

Tink_04 wrote: »

Must be a rebel - we all do it - even the boss - just odd letters not parcels or anything ..... ah wel at least its changed the subject!

It's not about being a rebel - franking machines are 'loaded' with money that the business invests for its post.... not to support their staff.

Does the business owner know you are spending their money on your post?

If you don't have permission to use their money then it's theft, plain and simple. No different to taking loo rolls, pens etc.

milasavesmoney

Ilona, you are elegant in your responses, as always!

GreyQueen

I used to love to hit up my local Tosspots at YS time late Sunday afternoon but, like others have said, I realised I was making unhealthy choices just because they were too cheap to resist. Bakery was a particular weak spot.

Since I started eating more healthily (fresh foods and low carb) nine weeks ago, I've lost a stone, all cravings for sugary carp and the urge to YS it.

I did look in the reduced section of a Liddly where I happened to be buying some veg yesterday afternoon (orange labels) but nothing in there met my criteria of being unprocessed and as free of chemicals as possible. So I left it - and the two lush cheesecakes in there - for someone else.

Funnily enough, although I am shopping differently, I'm not actually spending any more money, using things like Liddly specials and the Super 6 at Aldee.

Ilona, watched that programme and liked your style. Nice one.

suki1964

I guess I ys shop differently. I only buy meat, fish, produce and dairy

No matter how cheap cakes and desserts are, they aren't on my radar so I don't even look and think wow what a bargain. Same as ready meals, we don't eat them so I don't take them

I'm no paragon of virtue by any means. It's just that I know I will feel extremely ill after eating a ready meal, or at least spend the night with a raging thirst and if I bought cakes and desserts I'd pig out big time

Pollycat

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

It's not about being a rebel - franking machines are 'loaded' with money that the business invests for its post.... not to support their staff.

Does the business owner know you are spending their money on your post?

If you don't have permission to use their money then it's theft, plain and simple. No different to taking loo rolls, pens etc.

I agree with this ^^^^

Tink_04 wrote: »

Must be a rebel - we all do it - even the boss - just odd letters not parcels or anything ..... ah wel at least its changed the subject!

Unless the 'boss' is the person paying the money for franked letters, you all may find yourself in trouble.

VfM4meplse

Ilona wrote: »

I was told to eat it like that, it's called acting. I never buy those sweet desserts.

I know what you mean though about buying junk just because it's cheap, it does require self discipline, of which I have plenty. I allow myself one treat, Friday was a packet of donuts.

That's my problem, when it comes to sugar I have none

suki1964 wrote: »

No matter how cheap cakes and desserts are, they aren't on my radar so I don't even look and think wow what a bargain. Same as ready meals, we don't eat them so I don't take them

Ready meals have never been an option for me, it's only now I can walk past goodies without any urge to buy.

I can still buy multipacks of crisps and resist though. When they do get eaten, I save the empty packet and use them to bin fruit peelings etc in, contains them nicely and saves my bin from becoming a soggy mess.

GreyQueen

VfM4meplse wrote: »

That's my problem, when it comes to sugar I have none

Sugar is a highly-addictive substance for most people, which is why a lot of us can't have sugary stuff in the house.