Life By The Seaside

beanielou

Hope physio goes well

elsien

Charity shops are my downfall. I’ve been buying clothes when I see them because they’re a bargain rather because I really need them and when you add it up it is a silly amount.

Trying to motivate myself to go through it all because the drawers and wardrobes are overflowing, and then decide what is going back to the charity shop. To be honest, I might have spent less if I had just saved the money to spend on one or two good things full price.
Lesson hopefully learned.

Catscoffeecake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050904#Comment_82050904

I find my local charity shops aren't great for plus size, which is why usually end up on vinted, but I usually buy items that are £2-3 so that with postage it works out about £5-6 each time. Usually all a good plus size brand that I know fits me well and lasts well. But sometimes it doesn't work out how you think, have couple items that didn't like when on which could do with going back on vinted. Also have some I just don't wear, so again probably same, if not first choice then needs to be sold really. Problem is that when £5-6 a time its easy to be like oh yeh that's nice, but it soon adds up.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

When I sell stuff on Vinted, I keep half of the proceeds as a balance on the app and transfer half to my bank account. I only buy items on Vinted off of the app balance 😁

With takeaways, we’ve started doing treat meals instead. So for 7 of us a takeaway can easily be £80-100, instead we buy something like a Thai takeaway bag from W@itrose… the bags are £10 each and we need 3. But it’s £30 rather than £100 and still feels like a treat. Often nicer (and warmer!) than a takeaway too 😂

Chocolatefund

I used to spend that £5-6 per day on a coffee out, plus £10 ish lunch at work every day. Thinking along the same lines that it's not much. One day I worked it out and I'd spent nearly £400 in one month just on eating out. Disgusting.

Went cold turkey the next month and didn't buy any coffee out and bought my own lunch to work. Not gonna lie, it was hard at first to resist. Science says 4 weeks without and the dopamine levels reset in your brain. 6-7 weeks it becomes a habit you've kicked.

It really is dopamine and daily habits. Never that we actually need it.

Catscoffeecake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050939#Comment_82050939

oh thats a good idea with vinted, I might have to do the same. In fairness I think I should be ok now until winter, and then it will hopefully just be some new boots. Shoes are hit and miss for me, so those I will definitely get new. But I may start putting my vinted sales into a clothes pot instead of off debt. Now just need to get the oomph to start selling stuff again.

I haven't tried waitrose ones before, we do have one in town. the m&s are supposed to be nice as well, think just need to do a bit more research so i can plan to have one at weekends.

Catscoffeecake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050941#Comment_82050941

It is scary how quickly it adds up, looking back at takeaways and eating out last month I spent £107 and that's without the meal for fathers day and I brought 10 items on vinted. No wonder I have no money left and have to take from other pots. Actually kind of disgusting.

I am hoping this month is going to be better as my medication regime is better, work isnt as stressful and I am starting my budget fresh from beginning of month rather than part way through and trying to catch up on myself.

Catscoffeecake

Reminder to myself of the rules I have set.

• No takeaways or fast food
• coffee is only with a purpose i.e. meeting a friend
• no clothes shopping unless its something that NEEDS to be replaced and only if within my budget.
• make a PAD.
• menu planning from cupboards/freezer
• reduce pepsi max/coke zero consumption. - was doing well until this weekend!

Sun_Addict

That sounds like a doable list. There are worse things you could be drinking than cola but understand it’s not the healthiest habit. I only buy coffee out if I’m going to sit and drink it in the cafe itself, no takeaway ones. However I do get one free coffee each week courtesy of 🐙 Other days when I’m in the office I take a Thermos mug with coffee from the home coffee machine.

It sounds like you’ve taken stock and you’re getting back in control which is brilliant 🙂

satchmo1

Could you suggest that your office invests in a coffee machine, with staff bringing their own pods? Even a double-pod coffee would then only cost 56p if the pods were bought on offer.