Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

foxgloves

@EssexHebridean - Yes, I hadn't thought of that. Of course that would have been why one could never get through the tills without being encouraged to sign up for one of these wretched cards.

@Blackcats - Well we are very much of the same vintage, aren't we? And I think our generation's first experience of credit/debt was those enormous catalogues. My Mum didn't have one - she thought buying things on the 'never-never' was a bit common, but of course I had one as soon as I was 18. I didn't get into silly trouble with it, but it definitely encouraged me to spend more than I could afford. It would set out the weekly payment, which sounded like nothing but of course payments were made monthly so it was 4 x that figure. Then of course we'd all buy extra things so that payment started increasing. The only thing it could be useful for was buying household appliances as they would often be on 52 week interest-free payments. As I never saved anything, I did occasionally buy an oven or fridge in this way.....though it soon became clear that one's 'agent's commission' was a bit of a swizz because they covered this by pricing higher than high street shops on large items. Like most things, any potential usefulness of paying in instalments or BNPL was outweighed by temptation.
F

daisy_1571

But wasn't it fun leafing through the pages ? A new winter coat (checked, long, big collar)and a swimsuit (navy blue with thin stripes of red and a narrow red belt) were 2 things I know came out the catalogue but there must have been more.   Gratton?  Marshall somebody? 

foxgloves

Morning Campers!
 I'm just finishing my first coffee of the day & thinking about what I need to do. The budget-friendly bits are likely to be as follows:
*Clean downstairs using usual minimal products & washable cloths.
*Blind bake a pastry case ready for tonight's quiche. Another use-it-up as this is leftover pastry from the freezer.
*Check tomato ripening bag for further red ones.
*Write shopping list for weekend city centre visit. 
*Write up our discussion notes on Christmas & winter birthday present ideas into a proper working list & tick off the items already bought or ordered.
*Cast on Mr F's 2nd pair of birthday socks. I'm going to have both socks on the go simultaneously to get a matching pair without needing to spend ages dividing all the different colours into two. 
*Check for surveys - I have some emails to deal with so will have the PA tab open so I can jump on if any pop up. I'd ideally like to get back to my £40 monthly target.
*Must remember to load a voucher into my watery kitchen shop app. For any readers who are signed up to their loyalty app, there's a voucher (only this weekend) for a free LED storm lantern worth £12.99. I want one for our mantelpiece to replace a broken item but am flagging it up as it would also make a nice gift. Minimum spend, I think, is £10 but I will cover that with a couple of items from our presents list.
*Write a letter. Plenty of nice paper in my stash plus stamps so just a case of trotting off to the post box.
Well that's organised my thoughts into a plan for the day so I think I'll make a start on that pastry case.
Wishing everyone a calm, non-spendy day,
F x

daisy_1571

morning,  cross post lol

foxgloves

@daisy_1571 - Yes, it was fun & the arrival of the new season one always felt like an event, didn't it?
F

Makingabobor2

daisy_1571 said:

But wasn't it fun leafing through the pages ? A new winter coat (checked, long, big collar)and a swimsuit (navy blue with thin stripes of red and a narrow red belt) were 2 things I know came out the catalogue but there must have been more.   Gratton?  Marshall somebody? 

Marshall Wards. Then there was Freemans, Empire Stores, Littlewoods. Some were idenitcal though & owned by the same company. 

Makingabobor2

Have a good day @foxgloves. Sounds like it will be a productive one. 

KajiKita

La Redoute was my downfall when it came to catalogues ...

Thanks for the heads up on the watery offer - I will have a look

KK

badmemory

I think in many ways it was a lot easier when credit was a lot harder to get.  Mind you I still grind my teeth at the thought that I had to have my father guarantee my mortgages.  How my aunt must have felt I don't know because she actually earned more than he did. He never blinked, never once suggested that either of us would ever default.  He came with me for the final one in 1990 & was so pleased for me that I didn't need a guarantor.  Nothing like a bit of women's lib a bit belated.

ladyholly

Slightly off topic re easy credit in the past and the problems women had concerning their own finances but I remember my Mum actually banging on the counter of the local tax office when they told her my Dad had to claim a tax rebate on her earnings. I dont think I ever saw her so angry.

When we first enquired about a mortgage they would count 2x his income but only 1/2 of mine.

Thank goodness things have changed.