Keeping down spending on "stuff"

Along the lines of pressies from boots, why not sign up to pigsback.com There is a whole thread on the freebies board about this. It's free to join, and you earn piggy points just by clicking through adverts for about 5 mins a day. All of the answers to their quizzes are kindly posted by Jules-2005 so it's really easy. The points then can be turned into boots vouchers, amazon vouchers, or whatever you choose! You can do this when you have a spare few mins. I've earned enough for a ten pound boots voucher in less than a month! It's worth a try!

Hope that helps you a bit.

if your level of income/money left after outgoings is less than friends stop trying to match/compete with her spending on pressies- it is the thought that counts not the amount spent- if amount spent is determining factor in friendship how good a friendship is it?
the trick is to shop around- you can get one (or sometimes more than one) good quality present (not rubbish) for about £10. loads of free things for children to do.

Hi Lisa. Well done for coming on here and 'fessing up at least, to us how things really are.

It's really not going to be easy, and we'd all be lying if we said it was, for you to come around to a full on change of 'attitude' towards money. It virtually does take over your whole life. By that I mean you are always on the look out for ways to save or make money. On the look out for a bargain or a present that could be put away for Christmas etc.

Example: personally I usually never think about Christmas till about...December 16th or something stupid like that :rolleyes: by which time it's far too late to look for bargains and I have to panic buy which usually equates to top dollar for gifts. This year, for the first time, I have bought my first Christmas present early!! It's a fantastic big joke book for my brother-in-law and it cost me £3 from the book man at work. Perfect for him, had me in stitches whilst I was reading it so I know he will love it.

I have to say, why don't you turn this thing around with your parents and say to yourself "I'd be furious if someone was furious with me for being honest about a worsening situation I was trying to improve".

Hell, you've realised before it's way too late that something needs to be done and that is to be applauded in this debt riddled day & age. I can understand you don't want to broadcast your news all of a sudden to people - you don't have to do that. You could start planting a few seeds with people though and say things like "We've had a few unexpected bills this month so I'm going to have to pass" when you get an invite to something you can't afford (and may not want to go to anyway) and if anyone asks, you can easily say "I'd rather not go into details". They won't press further.

Those who you are close to and trust, you can confide in, if & when you are ready.

You do have to make an admission to yourself though that you can't spend a fortune on gifts etc for prides sake. I have a friend who did the same and she always had to have the latest stuff too and damn the expense. She's now at the end of her financial tether with nowhere left to turn after remortgaging for what can only be the last time. It's very sad to see someone's penny drop, way too late.

Just remember one thing........landfill sites are running out and they produce greenhouse gases......one day all that money you spend on a gift will probably end up there. So make your gifts cheaper and more thoughtful.....a cinema ticket or trip to a zoo or something. Get creative & alternative. People will envy you your talent rather than opening up yet another off the shelf toy or whatever that they've seen dozens of times before.

Last piece of advice. Scour this site for all the money saving, debt busting & freebie tips you can. It really is a change of mindset but you won't regret it I promise.

Good luck and hope to see you again soon posting progress.

xxLAxx

Another thought for a present (I may pop back from time to time with more ideas....;) )

Do you have a local beautician near you who operates from home or is mobile? They tend to be cheaper.

Female family & friends would probably love you buying them a pedicure or a manicure or even just a file & polish....or a waxing treatment (although careful on that....some people might think you were dropping hints! :rotfl: )

Male family & friends might like an essential oil back massage.


Think about the things your family & friends do with their spare time/how they look after themselves and see if there is something you can work with there....it doesn't have to be something you have to 'wrap'.

Check out this site as well

http://www.fun-vouchers.org.uk/

You could promise to take someone out for a pizza or do some babysitting or whatever springs to mind.

Those who love & care for you for you will be thrilled. Those who just love shiny new things with nice price tags.....frankly you can do without.

The sooner you confide in your family and friends the better. You don't need to spill the beans completely, just say you are 'having to make some economies to stop things getting out of control, the children must come first' etc. You may well be surprised to find you aren't the only one struggling. Make a deal with your friend, set a price limit on the gifts you are going to exchange with her. It is, after all, the thought that counts. Your continued friendship should mean much more to her than the monetary value of your gifts - if it doesn't then dump her quick!
Try shopping more selectively. Get yourself to Lidl or Aldi, you will be surprised at the quality of the goods and you will be amazed how much you can save. If you must shop at a big name supermarket, try own brands or Value range, look out for BOGOF's, make a list and stick to it. Do a meal plan - look on the Old Style board for loads of moneysaving inspiration.
Best of luck