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Dec--k--(ember) the halls with discount holly,

206 replies

economymode · 02/12/2012 15:06

New thread, complete with tenuous title, to help us keep track of finances this month. Come be a Scrooge with me!

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economymode · 02/12/2012 15:07

damn, strikethrough didn't work. Now I just look a bit dim...

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Mum2Fergus · 02/12/2012 15:22

Haha, well I still found it, thats the main thing Smile so much for NSD today. Quick pop into Tesco after recycling...whole fresh chicken for £1.64! Thats on for dinner today with lots of veg, will strip it for chicken and potato pie tomorrow and boil up whats left for basis of soup on Tuesday. Also got a pack of bacon wrapped sausages I can freeze and use for Christmas dinner for 43p...

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Helenagrace · 02/12/2012 15:35

Lots of non spendy days here but only cos we move tomorrowGrin.

Sold a drawer unit for a desk for £10.

I've got a Lidl voucher to use next week so so far so good!

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2Old2BeAChristmasElf · 02/12/2012 16:59

Evening everyone, I spent £1.55 today as I forgot gravy granules for our roast dinner. Not too bad considering Saturdays spending! Xmas Grin

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Fluffycloudland77 · 02/12/2012 18:25

Marking place.

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Mum2Fergus · 02/12/2012 18:42

Good luck with the move Helena!

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economymode · 02/12/2012 19:01

Phew, you found me and my dodgy thread.

It's been a spendy few hours, but all needed.

  • £6.25 for a used, warmer coat for the toddler from ebay (that includes postage)

-£11.90 on a duvet set for the toddler
  • £25 on present for my dad's birthday from Lakeland. By using a promo code I got £5 off when I spent over £25 - his present was £24.99 so I added some vanilla extract, which I then got for free Smile. Also, because it was then technically over £30, I got free delivery.


We're meant to be getting the oven cleaned in December, but I think I am going to change it to Jan as I want to prioritise stuff for the new baby this month (carpet for their room, fleecy blanket like the Bug in Rug (current child was a May baby, so have no really warm stuff!)...)
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Mum2Fergus · 02/12/2012 19:47

I need to get my finger out and get some Ebaying/Gumtree done. Ive 7 items listed just now 6 of which have bidders (the 7th is the car...but I live in hope lol). Ive been decluttering in anticipation of having to move and have an Ikea bag full of clothing to list. Picked up some packing boxes at shop today too so will get another couple packed up tomorrow!

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Ghostsgowoooh · 02/12/2012 23:49

I couldn't get any sparser if I tried. Sad I have nothing spare. I have two pounds in my past to last me till tues, my mum gave me a tenner for gas today so at least we will be warm and I have some food in the cupboard.

I hate being poor

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Ghostsgowoooh · 02/12/2012 23:49

Purse even

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roguepixie · 03/12/2012 06:47

Found you Xmas Grin!!

economy - I think the Method stuff smells lovely and it actually works!! Was quite surprised about that as I didn't expect it to.

fluffy - my DH was the same when I got a free shower head water saver thingy ... he put it on though Xmas Smile and now we save a bot of water. A good thing too...DS is half fish and can spend 45 minutes 'rinsing' Xmas Shock.

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INeedALieIn · 03/12/2012 07:09

Hope you don't mind me asking a question. I am trying to save some money and thought about selling some wicker furniture from next. A chair, 2 seater and a 3 seater sofa. I thought about trying on eBay but in the past when i have sold some excellent furniture it has raised no more than a few pounds.

Do you have any eBay tips how I could be more successful. (Or is there any other place to try to sell).

I think £350 for all 3 items would be great value for the purchaser and also helpful for me.

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roguepixie · 03/12/2012 07:23

Ineed - Ebay has changed a lot over the years and changed significantly in the last few years, in particular. I sold a chest of drawers - got £20.00!!!

If I can suggest anything I would say: photographs - make them clear and adds as many as you can (Ebay often do 12 photo's for free) so do use your allowance. Clean the item to make sure you are showing it in the best light. Be honest in your description but do write it up - make suggestions for use.

This isn't terribly helpful but, back in the day when my parents were younger the second hand market really was good. People had a different attitude to making do and recycling (we tend to think it's a new concept but my Grandparents and Parents did this during and after the war because they had to). There didn't seem to be the stigma attached to taking on a second hand item or buying used clothes. I know people now who spend £1,000's on their DC in terms of clothes ... one woman I know gave her DS's clothes to her local charity shop and they called to say they had raised £1,000 from her donations alone!!!! Now, it's totally up to the individual but nowadays things are sooooooo cheap that perfectly good items go to landfill because we want new rather than used. Sorry Xmas Blush. I am a bit passionate about making do and mending (to coin a phrase) and firmly believe in selling/passing on.

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Ghostsgowoooh · 03/12/2012 09:18

I went to list baby clothes on eBay 2 weeks ago and I found that no one seemed to want them. A few years ago you could stick a bundle of next clothes on and have them sell for a lot of money, people used to pay fifty quid for decent clothes. Now they seem to be going for 99p and only having one or two bids on them before the auction ends. Maybe it's the time of year, being Christmas and all that. I've had more success selling things on the fb selling pages.

eBay has changed I think, I used to buy a lot from there. I don't bother so much now and it's a shame really.

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INeedALieIn · 03/12/2012 10:21

I wonder whether photo/advert in the local shops may be more successful. I think I will give it a try.

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AdoraJingleBells · 03/12/2012 13:19

I found you tooXmas Grin

I had my NSD yesterday, it was the rest of 'em wot spent money!

DDs finished their Xmas shopping (buying my presents so they were allowedXmas Wink ) and OH bought casual trainer type shoe things. To be fair he hardly ever buys shoes as shops here don't stock big enough sizes.

Today I need to get veg/salad and a bar of chocolate, also need puppy food in the next few days.

Rogue I completely agree with the passing on instead of chucking things. Yesterday I was treated to a pre-teen "who recycles bras Confused " from DD1. The answer was - I do when you've outgrown them in 2 months and someone else can use it.

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economymode · 03/12/2012 13:24

INeed and Ghosts, welcome Smile.

With regards to ebay and alternatives, have you tried Gumtree? LOADS of people buy furniture from it round here and we shifted a wardrobe on it recently. Could have sold it 10 times over. I agree about baby clothes - I've never managed to sell any on ebay. I gather Facebook groups are meant to be good for kids' stuff, so maybe worth a try?

Now, a question for Aldi shoppers. Do your local stores still stock bread flour (NOT bread mixes, but the 1.5kg bags of strong white and wholemeal)? The two near me don't have it and haven't had it for a month or so. I'm beginning to think they've discontinued it, but the staff don't know.

Spent £68 on a carpet this morning. £30 to pay for fitting next week. That was on card.

£35 at Aldi, using the £5 off voucher.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 03/12/2012 14:01

My Aldi had bread flour.

Would bulk buying it off amazon work out cheaper?

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CremeEggThief · 03/12/2012 14:02

Found you!

Welcome newbies and Thanks for starting the new thread, economy :).

Total spend of £33.47 today. £25.37 on food and £8.10 on lunch and bus fares.

Walk up to an inch of snow this morning Shock, so the snow boots I invested in a couple of weeks ago came in very handy for our mile and a half walk to school. It's currently 7° and sunny, so I really hope the slush won't ice over...

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CremeEggThief · 03/12/2012 14:02

Woke, not walk!

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economymode · 03/12/2012 14:19

Hmm, maybe Oxfordshire has done something to upset the bread flour gods then fluffy. I was going to look and see if there is somewhere I can order in bulk online. I got some at Sainsbo's yesterday, but I try not to go there too much and it's really expensive at our local coop. Aldi was my saviour!

Creme.., where are you to have all this snow?!

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Buddy80 · 03/12/2012 14:43

ha ha love the title.

I really need to get myself in gear and start saving some money.

As I posted in my other message, Tesco have a good deal on Daz powder. Bought 10 boxes, via online delivery and got cashback. What should have cost £80 cost £30

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CremeEggThief · 03/12/2012 16:02

County Durham, economy, and there's meant to be a LOT more on the way :(. To save on grit, they don't always bother putting it on side roads and footpaths, so it can be really treacherous getting around.

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Mum2Fergus · 03/12/2012 16:57

Buddy...what site do you use for cash ack with Tesco?

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NUFC69 · 03/12/2012 18:16

We had snow this morning, too (waves to CremeEggThief from Northumberland). I did think that the twenty odd ladies I had coming for a meeting wouldn't turn up (they are elderly), but there were twenty five of us for lunch (the committee brought it), but I was so busy that I had a NSD as I didn't even get to look at the "Bring and Buy" at the meeting.

I do not yet admit to being elderly, though I am getting there; but someone upthread mentioned secondhand furniture - when I got married 40 years ago that's about all you had - handmedowns from everyone for which you were very grateful.

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