Old Hag Seeks Less Stress

Sancti

Another week begins!

Savings well and truly underway, managed to sell my old phone on for £150! Once it's arrived with the mobile phone company they release the funds so that's exciting (the best prices I found were on GiffGaff, if anyone else is interested). Also found an old computer part that's worth a good £50 so that's up on eBay, had a few offers on it although it hasn't sold yet, but I'm hopeful! I also found a pair of Timberland boots for the winter IN A CHARITY SHOP FOR £5 I was completely blown away, I've never done charity shop shopping before and it's brilliant :rotfl: They do need a bit of cleaning up though if anyone has any tips?

Opinions please. I have a Grandmother who I'm very close with, but she's very materialistic. She was orphaned in WW2 but came from quite a "well to do" family and it's left her with a complex where money spent = the amount you love someone. It sounds awful but she herself is very generous and wonderful, it's just kind of how she is (and she's almost 90, I'm not about to condemn her for anything!). I lived with her on and off for 5 years as a teen/young adult and she's one of my closest family members. Every Christmas, she's the person I spend the most on, I always make a big effort (which she does really appreciate) but it costs me a freaking bomb. Anyway... During my clear outs, I found a silk scarf given to me on a date from hell. I showed up, and the guy was 30+ years older than his profile, and I had to block him as he kept going on about our "wonderful future" :rotfl: I think the silk scarf was a bit of a peace offering, he did say "I know I'm not what you were expecting" so who knows. A N Y W A Y, it's by a company called Weston who aren't cheap. It's brand new with tags attached. I was going to sell it on, but do you think it's completely horrible if I re-gift it to my Nan?

I've never re-gifted anything before, but it kind of feels like if I sell it, all/the majority of what I get will be spent on her anyway, and I think she'd like it? But is re-gifting for a Christmas gift completely horrible? Or is this just a weird complex I have from spendy days? Feel free to tell me if this is either a brilliant or awful idea.

Hope you've all had a good weekend! xx

Drawingaline

If its something your nan would like, regift it.

twiggy86

I would say totally acceptable to re-gift if your nan would like it!

My answer would always be the same but I just googled them (totally to be nosey!) and wow they are pricey! I would guess that you wouldn't be able to sell it for near the amount they are new, so you would then spend out more on your nan on top in any event. So if you feel guilty maybe you could buy her something small to go with it?

beanielou

Regifting is great��
Sounds as if she would love it so a win win I think.

in_need_of_direction

Are you likely to find anything else as suitable that you can afford? If not then regift it and be happy that it’ll get some use

Sancti

Thanks all I've decided regifting is the way to go! I just felt a bit guilty, but it's leftover weird habits I guess. It is completely brand new with tags so it's not even like it's used, not sure why I felt so weird about it but I feel way better now! They seem to go for around £50 on eBay, I usually get her a gift around that and a xmas stocking, so this means I just have the stocking to contend with (which I usually manage to do relatively cheaply). Also once eBay/PayPal took their fees I'd probably be money down anyway!

Things on eBay beginning to sell, very exciting. Going to post all the first bits off tomorrow. Been using TopCashback but having an absolute mare with it. For some reason not one of my purchases has shown on my account, so I'm having to track them in a separate document and then make claims after 7 days on each one. Such a pain, I haven't actually received any cashback at all yet from 5 different transactions so I'm truly wondering if it's worth the hassle. After many excuses they've now blamed my browser (Firefox) as the reason nothing is showing up, but I tried switching to Chrome for JUST the purchases and that hasn't worked either, frustrating. Hate things not working first time!

Also had a mare with Littlewoods, I'm having a fun week :cool: Turns out that if you clear a "Buy Now Pay Later" balance in the month that it's due (as I did this month), they will automatically charge you the interest anyway and take payment, until you cancel the direct debit. Checked my bank yesterday and £36 had gone out, I called them and they were so blase which annoyed me more honestly. "Oh yes, we take it automatically and keep taking it until you cancel the direct debit, it's just our systems". Wonder how many people have actually lost money to this??? They advised me to make a claim through Littlewoods which would take 10 working days to process and refund. I pointed out I could cancel the direct debit with my bank, and it would be returned on the same day, and got a heap of excuses about how I would have to "claim indemnity with my bank" and it was "safer" to wait for the Littlewoods refund. Anyway, cancelled it with the bank, Natwest are reasonable human beings at least, much rather deal with them if it comes to it.

When I'm in town tomorrow I will be passing my favourite little "knick knack" shop, it sells loads of cute homewares. They're in the next town along which I'm rarely in so usually manage to avoid temptation, tomorrow will be interesting! There's also a Next which is my current WEAKNESS for baby clothes. Decided to just leave my cards at home until I can be trusted :rotfl: At least then I can guilt free window shop?

Sancti

Also TopCashback advised they lodge missing claims every month, and they can take 2-3 months to resolve, so my plans for earning cashback before late November were pointless anyway! Not very impressed with it, but guess it's potentially a few quid in January!

Sancti

Exhausting few weeks! Ended up in hospital with anemia (who knew it could get that bad??) and had some breathing issues so been relatively housebound. However, I have NOT done my usual act of buying loads of crap to make myself feel better, so that's a win.

Hit the big milestone of £500 saved. Bought baby's crib, mattress and 2 chests of drawers, plus some kitchen storage and a cupboard shelving unit, all for cash instead of credit which was such a booster and I'm so proud of myself!! Credit card has not been touched to date. Replenishing, so far savings back up to £300, I actually think I may very well be able to do this without any credit at all?? Seemed impossible a few months ago but changing my habits and tracking things better has made so much difference. Will adjust my savings signature to reflect how things are going, I can detract the things I've bought from my goal so the numbers will all shift.

Had my brother and my sisters birthdays this month, but stuck to my guns on the £20 each budget for the first time ever (I'm a complete sap and always buy loads of bits). Have another sisters birthday on the 14th Nov but otherwise a free run until Christmas. Slightly stressing about paying for Christmas now, but I've shown myself how much I can do with baby saving so quietly hoping I just do it all cash. It will be tight with so much baby prep to do but here's hoping!

Only paid an extra 2% off the credit card this month which is really disappointing, but October is a new page. Littlewoods owed only £50 now, I sent off a £50 invoice today so as soon as that is paid I will be catalogue clear!!

Baby steps!

beanielou

Baby steps are always good
You are getting so organised

CreditCardJunkie

Wishing you all the best.of luck! You sound like you're doing amazing!

I've just had my first baby too! Try not to get carried away like i did, people are very kind and you will get bought A LOT of clothes!!

We stocked up on nappies and wipes during baby events (Asda have their's at the moment), and it's been so handy not having to run out for things like that!