Elite 11+ shopping and chat thread

mhoc

re living on tight budgets - yes I've been there.

Sorting out old files and paperwork yesterday I found my carefully handwritten budget charts - way before the days of anything as exotic as an excel file.

Coming in was OHs salary, the family allowance (I still call this even now ) and I also factored in MOCs - some months these amounted to over a hundred :T

And every month at the bottom the final figure after incoming and outgoings was always a minus figure, we always went into the overdraft at some point in the month.

and that was the norm and I've kept these sheets - it is very grounding and it makes you thankfully for every day and that we don't have to live under that heavy burden day in and day out now ..

mhoc

I was hoping that it would come off one of the other fleeces but nothing else worked except this claret funnel neck one but even so I am very happy with a fleece for £2.50 :j

I have been looking at fleeces but not seen anything I really fancied so a massive thank you to the initial OPs and testers
:A

OK I had to go for a much bigger size but to me they don't look that huge and anyway I tend to wear numerous layers underneath - vests, long sleeved t shirts, thin jumpers and even thin cardigans as I feel the cold badly

Its a better colour anyway than the usual blacks and navys -

I've also got one of the red Daxon rain jackets coming, less confident about this looking OK on but we will see

Also if these 2 - the fleece and the rain jacket do look OK I have jackets I've been handing onto that I can out in the charity bag

HILLBERN wrote: »

I had £15, had a quick play but it doesn't come off every item and it only comes off 1 item
But Free is good for me



1 itemCollect in store on Wed, 5th October, 2016

CLARET PLUS Long Sleeve Funnel Neck Jacket Clothing
PLUS Long Sleeve Funnel Neck Jacket
CLARET, Size 26
Quantity: 1
02557106
£12.50

Promotion Details
Balance before savings:
£12.50
£15 off Womens Coats & Jackets
-£12.50
Total savings:
-£12.50
Total (excluding delivery):
£0.00
Delivery Total:
Free
Total:£0.00
Order total: £0.00
Order date:Tue, 4th October, 2016

mhoc

I think we will have to keep a closer eye on the marks sparks offers if its a specific amount rather than a percentage - I think I've had £10 off trousers before

OH has a Sparks card and he gets manly offers - this is his this week
20% off towels
20% mens formal
20% off tea and coffee and hot drinks
£10 off mens coats and jackets

I will have to have a look at the mens section now but I don't if there will be fleeces as cheap as the ladies ones

Serendipitious

TrulyMadly wrote: »

Just messing about with M&S.

I have £10 off coats and jackets loaded onto my Sparks card.

Just managed to put this in my basket for £2.50:)

I haven't got time to play around but it might help someone:)

Thank you so much x

Mine said £15 off jackets and coats, so I got the animal fleece gilet in grey for free.

Even better, there's now a Simply Food which does C&C with ample parking that I pass regularly, so no more trailing round town just to pick up an item. Many thanks. x

LEJC

Arthien wrote: »

Hope you feel better today, maybe take some time to do something nice that you enjoy and cheer yourself up?

I don't think many of the Elite really know what it's like to be on this kind of budget anymore, I'd say most of us do what we do to have nicer things at a reduced price, not out of necessity. I know my in-laws were on a very tight budget when they were both on jobseekers and the only way they got by was family food donations because it was just an unrealistic amount of money, once bills etc. were paid, and there was no such thing as luxuries. It definitely makes you think how life could be different doesn't it.

For pudding, I bought a £1 large swiss roll from T, and I had it with custard on Sunday, and will either be with ice cream from the freezer, or plain (or perhaps custard pt 2) tonight. Cheap for 12 portions

I'm fine....I am a thinker and mull things over,sometimes longer than I should.

The film we saw was hard hitting and seemed quite apt in relation to the frugal month....not just in terms of a tight budget to work to but how society and the establishments deal with sections of the community that dont conform to a standard.
compassion and kindness and taking a little time with those less fortunate or able....I wont spoil the plot but as a Director the perceptions of Ken Loach were spot on.

There have been times in our adult lives where we've lived on an overdraft but we've always had a roof over our heads and dare I even suggest 2 sets of parents who whilst they wanted us to stand on our own two feet would always be right behind us should we fall and they were in the positions to catch us!

I know only too well that I'm far more fortunate than some and could give this frugal stuff the heave ho tomorrow if I really felt that it was damaging but it has given me a small insight into what it might be like to have to survive on £10 a week for a food budget.
I respect those that dont have the choice I do. Its not easy having to make basic decisions of whether to buy x or y or to heat the house etc...its making me think!

bubbs

Don't know if reported but tres still working in sd

LEJC

There are times that I wish our superD hadn't changed to a savers!

Snap-ant

bubbs wrote: »

Don't know if reported but tres still working in sd

:D Yes can confirm this - bought another 2 this morning

curl_girl

Something strange just happened.
I clicked on TMs post to thank her, my phone went mad vibrating and a Google spin the wheel came up! !!!!!!!!

Most weird hope i haven't download something strange

Morning peeps.

Serendipitious

For mhoc:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/regatta-men-s-thompson-microfleece-was-18-00-now-2-99-6-94-delivered-winfieldsoutdoor-2522584