The benefits of getting organised!

lonelyinlondon

Hi All,
Just something I wanted to share....I bought a book recently called "Why am I so disorganised? Sort out your stuff". Apart from being a good read, if a bit "American", it has definately helped me save money! I cleared out various drawers etc and this has meant I found loads of stuff I didn't know I had!
eg wrapping paper
birthday cards
envelopes
deoderant
kidney beans !
moisturiser
a nice top
writing paper
various bits of make up and toiletries

That means no more excuses to go browsing round Boots, which is a major plus! I am going to work through all my spare stuff before buying anything else. Sounds basic but it worked for me, and I wouldn't consider myself above average disorganised/untidy!
:T

sans_2

I am in need of a clear up too, recycles a few bits of paper this evening, thats about all I've managed. :-(

Bogof_Babe

I think I've cracked it regarding toiletries (not how to prevent it, just how it happens).

We buy stuff on bogof that isn't to our liking when we use the first one - so second one to the back of the cupboard.

We buy the same brand year in, year out, then decide to try a different one - remains of old stuff to back of cupboard.

We buy special small sizes of things for holidays, bring back remains and keep in sponge bag "for the next trip", by which time there is something far more appealing on the market.

We get given stuff that we would never normally use, for birthday/Christmas gifts. Back of cupboard.

So - if anyone has avoided these pitfalls, or has any solution, I'm sure the majority of us would be delighted to share your tips!

Smiley_Mum

If I was single with no children, boy my house would be like a new pin. Unfortunately not the case. I usually check out books like that in Borders but don't buy them as I never have time to read them if I was to buy them.

I do try and be organised though, doesn't always go according to plan, mainly due to being cream crackered at the end of the day like most SPs on this site I'm sure.

Smiley_Mum

If I get any stuff that I can't use toiletry wise, as I have sensitive skin and it's not everything that I can use, I use it to clean the house, toilet, floors, windows. Lathers up as good as any washing up liquid I find.

lonelyinlondon

Smiley_Mum,
Thats good advice! Hope your kids are behaving, I am sure being a single parent must be a huge challenge. I would dearly love children but life has not delivered so far!

Anyway, the general gist of the book was "little and often", which is pretty obvious I suppose, but needed spelling out for me!Some other cheesy quote such as "small steps taken is better than a big step not taken". Very cheesy but you get the drift!

How do you guys resist Boots and similar part of Tesco's. I drift that way like I am hypnotised even if I have a list. Any other tips?

sans_2

Bogof_Babe wrote:

I think I've cracked it regarding toiletries (not how to prevent it, just how it happens).

We buy stuff on bogof that isn't to our liking when we use the first one - so second one to the back of the cupboard.

We buy the same brand year in, year out, then decide to try a different one - remains of old stuff to back of cupboard.

We buy special small sizes of things for holidays, bring back remains and keep in sponge bag "for the next trip", by which time there is something far more appealing on the market.

We get given stuff that we would never normally use, for birthday/Christmas gifts. Back of cupboard.

So - if anyone has avoided these pitfalls, or has any solution, I'm sure the majority of us would be delighted to share your tips!

Why don't you have a car boot sale and sell some stuff off cheap? Give some to charity if you aren't bothered about getting any money so it will still go to a good home.

Smiley_Mum

lonelyinlondon wrote:

Smiley_Mum,
Thats good advice! Hope your kids are behaving, I am sure being a single parent must be a huge challenge. I would dearly love children but life has not delivered so far!

Anyway, the general gist of the book was "little and often", which is pretty obvious I suppose, but needed spelling out for me!Some other cheesy quote such as "small steps taken is better than a big step not taken". Very cheesy but you get the drift!

How do you guys resist Boots and similar part of Tesco's. I drift that way like I am hypnotised even if I have a list. Any other tips?

There will always be some wonder cream, some fantastic shampoo or something that will be jumping off the shelf saying buy me, buy me. I just resist by thinking to myself, I still have a boat load of toiletries in the house, if I buy any more on points, or offers etc then I'm going to have to move thus having to spend more on heating, lighting, furnishing, carpeting, curtaining, blinding the place and I wouldn't be able to cope with that. Same goes for shopping at Tescos etc, I go in with a list and my planned menu for week and I do, most times stick with it. I think it's the thought of having saved some money and for it to be in my pocket rather than spending it and making the coffers of Tescos or Boots or whoever bigger.

Before MSE, it was frightening when I went to Tescos, would go around like something possessed and buy enough food to feed several armies because I had all these ideas of what I was going to do for dinner, lunches etc, and then something would crop up and it didn't happen, the food ended up getting binned or frozen for use later. Not the best way to go. Now, I'm usually pretty canny when it comes to shopping. Even when the offers are there begging for me to pick them up, I ask myself do I need three loaves for £2 or whatever, do I have the space in the freezer. If I don't need it, I don't buy it. I just buy one loaf, even if it means paying £1 for it instead of £2 for 3. We are encouraged to buy more than we need every day and the waste is probably phenomenal, becoming very much like the States in that way. A friend of mine said that his parents in Clearwater have 8 wheelie bins for household rubbish and not for recycling and they are two flipping pensioners, hard to believe. Next time you go to Tesco, when you see an offer that you feel enticed to buy, really think about whether you are going to use it or not, if not, just buy what you really need, not what you feel you will eventually use and then for it to get binned, or lurk in a cupboard for years (toiletries etc).

When you are about to buy something, ask yourself, would you rather have the cash or the item. Do you really need it, do you have something similar, can I do without it.

Sorry everyone for going off thread, rant over.

lonelyinlondon

Brilliant advice there, just what I need. I will think of all that next time I go into Boots/Tescos. They must deliberately set up the stores to tempt us, very clever!

I suppose i have to ask myself WHY do I feel the need to buy this unnecessary stuff? Feeling tired, bored,stressed, fat!"!!! Don't mean to sound a bit of a saddo but what are your feelings about that?

Smiley_Mum

I think since I saw the Tonight programme about Tesco where it showed the underhand tactics it employed to get people on their side over new supermarket sites etc or whatever, thinking that everyone can eventually be bought, really got up my hooter. Ever since then, I just try and make what I can out of them, within my budget though and so long as I can use the stuff. I wouldn't like to overspend and then have to chuck anything. If I buy stuff, I like to be able to use it and not have it languish in the fridge etc. Granted they have some good offers, so long as you know for a fact that you can put them to use like the BIG (Beef in Gravy) offer. I just buy what I need and not what I think I'm going to need which is usually way more as something happens to put the plans to heck, and the cook up I was going to do doesn't happen and the stuff gets chucked. I'm in town most days anyway so buy fresh and usually buy my meat from the local butcher, although a tad dearer, it is very good quality and I know where it has come from, unlike supermarket meat. Aberdeen Angus bred cattle farmed in Brazil and people being misled thinking that it is Scottish beef and it's not. If I buy AA beef from local butcher, I know that it is.

Tesco even stated on the Tonight programme how they can dictate what people buy the offers they provide. Look how they encourage you to buy goods when you get your clubcard points statements etc. Sometimes I might have a bit of a craze on something and buy it a lot then when I get the vouchers through I'm sick of it and I don't buy it. I don't always use the vouchers that they provide simply because I don't need the stuff as I already have sufficient. I tend to find that when they do offer extra points on my card I need to buy a boat load of the one item, like over £2.50 in butter, I already have four packs in the freezer. I may have spare bottles of this, tins of that but don't need boatloads. I don't need boatloads of groceries and just buy what myself and my boys need. I'd rather just buy what I need as I'm sure the offers will come around again, people buy like there was going to be no more shops the next day. Just watch people at Christmas. I've seen some people go around with two trollies for goodness sake, and they can barely push them, or see over the top etc. Do they really need that much stuff. Even on a weekly basis, I see people come out of the local Tesco here and boy they have tonnes of stuff, crisps, snacks, convenience meals, coke etc etc, mainly junk really. Do they really need it.

Becles

I was feeling a bit down today. I hurt my shoulder/neck a few weeks ago digging the garden and it hasn't settled, so I'm currently awaiting a physio appointment.

Anyway, it's been really painful today and as I'm a SP I can't rest as much as I want to! Went shopping and it was hurting pushing the trolley, and the boys were hyper for some reason and then I spotted the Cadburys Fruit & Nut (my fave!!) on special offer. Was really tempted but managed to resist as I'm short of money this month (Self employed and didn't do much work in Aug due to school hols) and I'd like to lose a little weight for my wedding next year.

Felt very empowered when I walked past the chocolate and resisted :j