What is your MSE bug bear?

Poosmate

Evening all,

This is such a fabulous thread. So many of us have the same bugbears and opinions - we can't all be wrong.

I guess if this thread does anything, it reaffirms our own beliefs in ourselves that we are doing the best that we can, not only for ourselves and our families but for the planet too. It would be lovely if, one day, people who blatently waste energy/food/resources are seen as being not very nice members of society. I think we are sort of on that road already, my local council have threatened that if we don't recycle more and waste less they will replace our normal size wheelie bins with a slimmer, smaller version. I didn't think much about it until I read letters of rage in the local paper. One letter was from a single person who was really into recycling and bought local, organic produce with little packaging, he didn't generate very much recycling because of this. He saw the threat of a smaller bin as a smack in the face because he was already doing more than his bit. Good on him! I got the impression fromt he letters that it would be a stigma attached to having a smaller bin.

Regarding value foods, my philosiphy is, "Oh well, this Tesco value custard for 8p is only going to be horrible once". So try it. If it really is inedible then you have learnt that that wasn't the custard for you so try the next cheapest custard or a different one from a different shop if that's practical.

Excellent thread Jak. Well done and keep posting everyone!

Poo

wherediditallgo

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

I had colleague once who got really upset and stressed because she had lost her lipstick at work. The hassle she caused. We couldn't understand it and said - it's only a lipstick for goodness sake - yes, she wailed but it is Chanel and cost a fortune! I remember shortly after going into Boots and buying a No 7 lippy and looking at the price of the Chanel ones at the same time just out of curiosity. I was horrified!

I'm with you on this one. I get my make-up from the market - £1-£1.50 for a powder compact & 60p for a lipstick. Mascara is never over £1 for the same makes that Boots or Superdrug have. One of my friends believes that if makeup costs under £10, it must be poor quality, so she flatly refuses to buy it from the market, even though she's been with me & has seen total strangers come up & compliment me on how I've applied my make-up & the colour of my lipstick. Every month it's the same song - "Gosh, make-up's getting more & more expensive these days, isn't it?"

I couldn't tell you the last time I paid for perfume. I go to Superdrug or one of the beauty counters in John Lewis & ask if they've got a sample I can take with me. Do that at a few different counters, & I've got enough to last me for ages - it's not as if I wear it every day. However, my friend would prefer to spend upwards of £15 on a perfume because so & so wears it. The words "So & so isn't living on your budget though, is she?" just fall on deaf ears. :rolleyes:

beanielou

What I really really hate is when people are qute judgemental when I say oh dont have money for x,y& z or I cant afford to buy/do something.
I dont think there is any shame in that & i would rather do that than add to my debt for something I feel to be unneccessary.
The point someone made on weddings is a good one.I cant afford to go abroad for a wedding:eek: and no Im not embarrased about it.

Great thread~thanks Jaq.
Keep them coming guys:D

sophie27

I always shop for perfume at the january sales. The Perfume Shop always heavily discount stuff and I buy a couple of boxsets and they last me the year for about 2/3rds less!

Everyone goes oh I can't be bothered with the jan sales, its so busy! But for things you really need/want, its worth it. I mean all the boots gift sets are at least a half off on boxing day!

youngandreckless

LOVE this thread

I hate when you have to split the bill, the ones that insist are normally the ones that have stuffed themselves with a share they can't afford! I remember a tradition of going out for birthdays and if it is your birthday you don't pay (usually about 8 of us), £50 here, £60 there and my treat? Cost £20 as I didn't want to go all out when I knew my best friend couldn't afford it. More fool me I suppose (ps this tradition hasn't survived and neither have some of the friendships, the people I spend my time with now are friendships that transcend money, status, who can afford what, you should do this and that etc) x

got-it-spend-it

Great thread- totally agree with loads of these.

Splitting the bill is also a bugbear of mine, particularly as I don't eat meat and I've found the veggie option can be half the price of steak or seafood dishes on the menu. I must admit I rarely bother to argue and usually just cough up!

I'm a real Lidl convert- I think loads of the stuff there is great quality. We love their OJ, filled pasta, jam, tinned tomatoes to name a few. I used to spend £40 a week on groceries for me and OH, but now I can easily get it under £20 a week at Lidl or buying Tesco Value and meal planning.

Love reading everyone's posts on here.

GISI

sophie27

The cherry jaffa cakes from Lidl are gorgeous! Seriously hampering my diet efforts.

I must admit I was quite a snob about lidl, netto etc but OH dragged me in as he loves it and I'm a convert! Must admit I get a thrill in poundland when I struggle out with bags of essentials for less than 20 quid.

toadyfrog

My bugbear is telling someone how great this site is, I just know there not listening and will never even bother looking on here.

[Deleted User]

Like everyone else - I agree to most of these comments!

We often get "You're so lucky owning your own house" "You must earn so much money to do it up put central heating, re-wire and decorate throughout etc etc". Not true, I'm 21, DH is 24. Yes we're young, but we've worked REALLY hard. worked 6/7 day weeks & lived like hermits!

When we were renting, the same people who have said the above, were saying that we were tight cos we didnt go out drinking with them, have a decent car, go on good holidays etc.

Now things have changed, people seem to forget that you don't 'OWN' the house, you pay a massive mortage every month, shop at Lidls, stock pile, buy clothes in charity shops and Primark (only if needed), grow your own fruit & veg, have a car thats 12 years old and on its last legs. Thats life I know and I'm happy with it, but sometimes you think why cant people just leave us alone and butt out!! :mad:

I know we're happier living the MSE way, we're living within our means and we're happier together. Thanks for the posts everyone

Deep_In_Debt

I think the food in Lidl is great. Even my cats are getting used to the Lidl catfood so I've managed to wean them off the more expensive stuff. I love the Lidl choccie biccies and I would never buy them before but as my shopping bill has reduced considerably, I can afford to treat myself once a week. My local Lidl is quite close to a big Waitrose superstore and I'm glad to see that Lidl is often busier than Waitrose on a Saturday morning. Perhaps with the hike in the cost of living, people are realising that they need to make cut backs and are shopping more cheaply.