Old-style "spend To Save"

bellaquidsin

ceridwen - if you do decide to buy a coat from one of the more expensive outlets it's worth waiting for the sales.

I have had some really good reductions in the Eastex department e.g. I spent £120 on two skirts and two jackets this year. The full price would have cost me £408.

The best reductions are to be had when the sales have been running two or three weeks so obviously there is an element of 'gamble' as the stuff is well picked over by then, but I was more than pleased with my spoils this year. It has given me a matching skirt and jacket (suit) a black jacket which will team with lots of my existing skirts and a good skirt which is wearing really well.

I am size 14/16 so it's not just a case of only odd sizes remaining.

It's worth a try if you are not too desparate and can wait for the new stock to come in if you don't find what you want.

Bella.

Olliebeak

ceridwen wrote: »

........I have done alternative therapy courses (I am qualified in a therapy already - but its on gone to a backburner as I was alternating between despair that nothing seemed to happen on the one hand to some people and wondering whether what just happened was placebo effect that it worked on the other hand - never could make up my mind.......

Have to admit that I've often thought that about alternative therapies. But, personally, I don't think it's always about 'something happening'. More than often it's about 'making somebody feel better about themselves'. For some people who are very ill (or terminal) it's the caring touch, gentle massage, gentle voice, mood music, even just the one-to-one conversation and attention, that is very much a part of the therapy - not actually aiming for a 'cure' or relief from pain. Try your local hospice - they may consider giving you a trial run with some of their residents; and local nursing homes may benefit from your services. I know that some oils can't be used with certain medical conditions - but having trained, you will know which ones they are.

Hardup_Hester

This thread reminded me of a conversation I had many years ago when I was visiting the hairdressers, I haven't been for many years now. I was asking her how hairdressing was affected by recession, she replied that she'd never noticed any effect, people either carried on having their hair done and counted it as a necessity or had their hair done because they'd cut back in so many areas, they felt they deserved a treat. My hairdresser was in her late 40's so had a few years experience to draw on.

thriftmonster

One of things we are saving up for ATM is to get photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof that we have. Solar panels would be no good as we have just got rid of the water storage tank - but we both love the idea of even some independence from NIE (our electric board). There are partial grants for it as well here.

My larder is well stocked - but that's because I'm partly convinced that the nanny state will impose rationing upon us on the grounds of tackling obesity - plus it only takes a week of gales and the shops are stripped bare here in NI. I have always worked on "hope for the best and prepare for the worst"

the_cat

Once you have as much food stored as is possible without it going off, how about buying some supermarket savings stamps? No interest obviously but you have already said you are prepared for that.

Come to think of it, how about gift vouchers in general. As long as you could usefully use them in the future (either for yourself or for Xmas gifts etc) and they do not have an expiry to them you would be 'saving' where they don't impact on any future benefits....

ceridwen

thriftmonster wrote: »

One of things we are saving up for ATM is to get photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof that we have. Solar panels would be no good as we have just got rid of the water storage tank - but we both love the idea of even some independence from NIE (our electric board). There are partial grants for it as well here.

My larder is well stocked - but that's because I'm partly convinced that the nanny state will impose rationing upon us on the grounds of tackling obesity - plus it only takes a week of gales and the shops are stripped bare here in NI. I have always worked on "hope for the best and prepare for the worst"

Would be interested to know more about your photovoltaic panels please - how much help you anticipate them being towards the fuel needs of your household and likely cost of installing:D

On the "rationing" front - well, hadnt thought of that one. What I do see mention of in the more extreme environmental blogs is hints that the govt (U.S. in the case of the one I am thinking of) should ration food to its citizens - as at the moment rationing is happening by another method anyway - ie "rationing by price" (ie some foods are being put out of peoples financial reach with the increase in prices - the "law of supply and demand" stuff). I saw her point she was making - but dont know what I think about that. Personally - I am anticipating that over the next few years people will be growing food on all sorts of bits of land that at present are just decorative gardens, wasteland, etc, etc.

ceridwen

the_cat wrote: »

Once you have as much food stored as is possible without it going off, how about buying some supermarket savings stamps? No interest obviously but you have already said you are prepared for that.

Come to think of it, how about gift vouchers in general. As long as you could usefully use them in the future (either for yourself or for Xmas gifts etc) and they do not have an expiry to them you would be 'saving' where they don't impact on any future benefits....

Hmmmm.....hadnt thought of that

zarazara

can you sew? if you buy a sewing machine you can do alterations for people and make pretty lavender bags and doorstops etc which you could sell on eBay or at a local market.
or you could do another job 1 or 2 days a week to bring in some extra cash for saving.

DawnW

ceridwen wrote: »

Hmmmm.....hadnt thought of that

You actually do get a bit of 'interest' sometimes. At Morrisons for example, if you buy 49 stamps they give you 1 free one, and if you buy 97, 3 free ones. I save them for the Christmas food shop every year.

scrimperjan

I have just got the book done by the Self-Sufficientish guys (you could call that investment spending - £25 - whew!)

Ah, the self-sufficientish book! I've had that on my wish list with Amazon for ages, but now it's available I'm dragging my feet a bit because of the cost. Is it worth laying out for, do you think, ceridwen? I already have the John Seymour guide to SS (the original one, I think it dates back to the 70's) and Self Reliance by John Yeoman,... is the Andy and Dave book a good investment?